{"id":288418,"date":"2026-06-22T13:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T17:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=288418"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:08:16","slug":"ranking-2026-lions-competing-to-be-aidan-hutchinsons-complimentary-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/06\/22\/ranking-2026-lions-competing-to-be-aidan-hutchinsons-complimentary-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking 2026 Lions Competing To Be Aidan Hutchinson\u2019s Complimentary EDGE"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Finding a complementary EDGE rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson in 2026 was one of Detroit\u2019s top priorities. After acquiring free agent talents D.J. Wonnum<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and Payton Turner<\/a><\/span>, Brad Holmes traded up in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Michigan Wolverine standout Derrick Moore <\/a><\/span>in the second round. UDFA talents Anthony Lucas<\/a> <\/span><\/span>and Eric O\u2019Neill<\/a> were added soon afterward, joining 2025 NFL Draft pick Ahmed Hassanein<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Of the group, who stands the best chance of being paired with Hutchinson for the starting assignment?<\/p>\r\n

Ranking 2026 Lions Competing To Be Aidan Hutchinson\u2019s Complimentary EDGE<\/h2>\r\n

Hutchinson elevates the play of all those around him, and whoever is tapped for the starting role is likely to benefit statistically. Guarding against Hutchinson\u2019s elite abilities, the opposition often double-teams him, clearing a path for his partner to wreak havoc. Last season, veteran <\/span>Al-Quadin Muhammad took advantage of the benefit <\/span><\/a><\/span>of pairing with Hutchinson to achieve a career best 12.0 sacks. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Together, Hutchinson and Muhammad combined to produce a league-leading 26.5 sacks. The two together seemed the perfect pairing with Muhammad recording 12.0 sacks, 32 hurries, and nine QB hits. However, Muhammad wasn\u2019t nearly as effective in the run defense, posting a 59.3 PFF grade.<\/a> With Detroit allowing an average of 114 rushing yards per game in 2025, the Lions are looking to substantially improve upon that statistic.<\/p>\r\n

Lions Looking to Improve The Run Defense<\/h3>\r\n

One of the ways the team hopes to improve upon the run defense is by adding players with added bulk and length. A larger wingspan provides a defender with a longer tackling radius. He can create separation at the line of scrimmage and is better equipped to get his hands on elusive ball carriers.<\/p>\r\n

Addressing how Holmes has acquired players who provide the added length and size, Campbell enthused, “But we have got some guys now, between Wonnum and (Payton) Turner and this pup (Anthony) Lucas, obviously (Derrick) Moore. We\u2019ve got some length now, we\u2019ve got some size and length and athletic ability on the perimeter\u2026but we are big, we are long, and so you can\u2019t wait for training camp, you just can\u2019t wait.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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6) Payton Turner, Physically Gifted With Untapped Potential<\/h3>\r\n

Turner clocks in at 6\u201d6\u201d 275 lbs. with an impressive 84-inch wingspan. Despite missing time due to collegiate injuries, the former Houston Cougar was a first-round draft pick by New Orleans in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, Turner\u2019s extensive NFL injury history (shoulder, rib, and turf toe) limited him to 31 games in four years with the Saints. During that time, he recorded 50 tackles, 5.0 sacks, four PBUs, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.<\/p>\r\n

Dan Campbell was asked about Turner at OTAs, and he said Turner\u2019s been putting the work in. \u201cWe won\u2019t know until we get into camp. I know this, there\u2019s been nothing he has done that has been a disappointment to us through all of spring since we started this, the offseason program. The meetings have been good, the field work has been good, he\u2019s moving around well, his care factor is up there, seems like he is a pretty smart guy, so you know we\u2019re intrigued. That\u2019s also why we brought him in; we liked him when he was coming out as a pup a long time ago, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Unfortunately, Turner\u2019s ability to stay healthy is a big red flag. For now, he positions best as a rotational piece.<\/p>\r\n

Two UDFAs Turning Heads At OTAs<\/h3>\r\n

5) Anthony Lucas\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n

Kelvin Sheppard first spotted the potential of 6\u20195\u201d 265 lb. Lucas at USC. Marveling that the Lions got Lucas as an undrafted player, he called him a \u201cgame wrecker\u201d for his performance against LSU on September 1, 2024. Describing how Lucas posted three quarterback pressures and two tackles in that game, Sheppard pointed out that he accomplished that while lining up against future New England Patriots\u2019 first-round 2025 draft pick, Will Campbell. Lucas closed out his senior campaign with 37 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 23 pressures, and one forced fumble for a 71.4 PFF grade.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Lucas has already caught the attention of Campbell, with his coach referring to him as a “young pup”<\/em> during OTAs. Will he stand out enough to secure a roster spot this season?<\/p>\r\n

4) Eric O’Neil\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n

A transfer product from the FCS, O\u2019Neill spent his final year of eligibility at Rutgers in 2025. At 6\u20192\u201d and 247 lbs., he lacks the size and length of his teammates. However, a breakout senior campaign at Rutgers earned him an overall 74.5 PFF grade on 471 snaps.<\/a> Recording 41 total pressures as a pass rusher with 4.0 sacks, 27 hurries, and 10 hits, he posted 26 solo tackles for a 73.8 PFF run defense grade. \u00a0O’Neil’s biggest asset is his strong run defense. \u00a0Like Lucas, can he do enough at training camp to secure a roster spot? \u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\"Sep<\/p>\r\n

An Intriguing Developmental Talent<\/h3>\r\n

3) Ahmed Hassanein\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n

6\u20192\u201d. 275 lb. Hassanein was drafted as a promising developmental prospect a year ago. An Egyptian-born athlete who only began playing football after moving to the US in 2023, he racked up an impressive 22 sacks, 68 tackles (32 TFLs), and two forced fumbles in two years. During the 2025 NFL Combine, NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein noted that Hassanein plays \u201cwith a strong motor<\/a> and impressive production, but a lack of NFL-ready instincts.\u201d\u00a0

Whatever technical skills Hassanein might lack, his passionate desire to prove himself worthy of his new team makes up for it. After a video surfaced of the Lions’ rookie telling his new head coach he “would die for him,”<\/em> he quickly endeared himself as a Detroit fan favorite.

However, Holmes already loves what he sees in him. <\/a>\u00a0 “Hassanein’s physicality, toughness, and motivation jumped off the tape. We acquired him because he plays with his hair on fire.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Stating that he\u2019s not afraid to make mistakes and just wants to learn and grow, Hassanein recognizes special teams might be his path to the Lions’ roster. Stating a year ago that he never played special teams at Boise, he declared, \u201cI really want to grow on that. I played a lot of special teams today; at Boise, I never played special teams. Here, I want to learn special teams because I want to help the team as much as I can.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

D.J. Wonnum and Derrick Moore, The Top Competitors\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Realistically, the competition comes down to Wonnum as the current frontrunner based on experience and Moore as the eventual starter if he performs as expected. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n

2) D.J. Wonnum\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Former Carolina Panthers<\/a><\/span> EDGE Wonnum would appear to be the frontrunner to start the season as Hutchinson\u2019s complementary mate.\u00a0 <\/span>Campbell has indicated that Wonnum looked good at OTAs, and he was pleased with his progress. \u201cI like where Wonnum is at. He was coming off that injury, all that, and hasn\u2019t missed a day with us, has been putting in the work, and so he\u2019s doing a good job in the spring.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Still recovering from a foot injury that sidelined him for much of the 2024 season, Wonnum’s stats in 2025 weren’t great. He earned a 54.8 overall PFF defensive grade<\/a> with a pass-rush grade of 49.9 \u00a0and a run defense grade of 60.4 on 688 snaps.<\/p>\r\n

However, as Panthers’ teammate Derrick Brown pointed out, “DJ does the dirty work<\/em><\/a>, so he forces the guys to step up in the pocket. He does things that don’t show up in the stat sheet…\u00a0<\/span>It’s one of those things where he sets the edge, the ball comes back. I mean, so he’s a big part of this defense but doesn’t get credit for it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Acknowledging at the time that his stats weren’t always reflective of his game, Wonnum stated, “I know my time is coming, whatever it is, but as long as I’m doing my job being disruptive, being effective in the game, that’s all that matters…I love seeing everybody eat.”\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

1) <\/b>Derrick Moore\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n

If Moore lives up to his Draft potential, he will fully justify Holmes’ decision to trade up for him in the second round. Pairing Moore with Hutchinson could establish a new standard for an NFL EDGE duo. \u00a0A former Michigan grad like Hutch, the two were schooled in the same athletic program and philosophy. As a 6\u20194\u201d, 255 lb. senior, Moore was named Michigan’s Defensive Player of the Year and awarded the Bo Schembechler MVP honor.<\/p>\r\n

Described by Zierlein as \u201ca bull-rush aficionado<\/a><\/span>, piling up pressures and sacks,” he posted an impressive <\/span>89.9 overall PFF defensive grade with a pass-rush grade of 92.4 <\/a>and a run-defense grade of 76.3. Playing 440 snaps, Moore generated 17 solo tackles, 41 total pressures, 11.0 sacks, 21 hurries, 9 hits, and forced 2 fumbles in 2025.<\/p>\r\n

Moore is the total package, bringing size and length with 33 3\/8 arms, physicality and athleticism, and elite production. \u00a0Although he is a rookie and destined to have an NFL learning curve, this is the player the Lions envision as Hutchinson\u2019s long term complimentary EDGE partner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Finding a complementary EDGE rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson in 2026 was one of the Lions’ top priorities. After Brad Holmes acquired several talented DE’s in the offseason, who stands the best chance of being paired with Hutchinson for the starting assignment?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5208,"featured_media":288827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,24,6431,33916],"tags":[33453,34573,6563,32903,34791,7879],"class_list":["post-288418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-news","category-lions","category-nfl-teams","category-power-rankings","tag-ahmed-hassanein","tag-anthony-lucas","tag-d-j-wonnum","tag-derrick-moore","tag-eric-oneill","tag-payton-turner"],"modified_by":"Sue Levine","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288418"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":288890,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288418\/revisions\/288890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}