Story by
Detroit Lions bring back DT Levi Onwuzurike on short-term free agency deal
- Story by
- Detroit Lions bring back DT Levi Onwuzurike on short-term free agency deal
The Detroit Lions have made a habit of re-signing their 2021 draft picks. On Wednesday, they kept another one in the fold.
Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Lions on the first official day of free agency, the Free Press has confirmed.
Advertisement
A second-round pick out of Washington , Onwuzurike was the second-ever draft pick by Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
ON THE LINE: NFL free agency preview: No Maxx Crosby, but Detroit Lions have options to upgrade DL
In the past 12 months, the Lions have re-signed four of their seven selections from the 2021 draft to long-term extensions. Last year, they signed first-round pick Penei Sewell , third-rounder Alim McNeill and fourth-rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown to contracts that totaled $339 million , and Friday they agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal to keep fourth-round pick Derrick Barnes from testing free agency.
Advertisement
Jermar Jefferson , the Lions' seventh-round pick in 2021, has spent most of the past three seasons on practice squad and was not offered a futures deal after the season. Ifeatu Melifonwu , the Lions' other third-round pick from that year, agreed to a one-year free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.
Onwuzurike had a modest four-year run with the Lions, making 10 starts and appearing in 42 games, but was coming off his healthiest and best season in 2024.
He played 16 of a possible 17 games as a backup as a rookie, then missed the 2022 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery . Onwuzurike played 10 games upon his return in 2023, and had 1½ sacks last year while playing both as a big end and defensive tackle on the Lions' defensive front.
The Lions tried to re-sign Onwuzurike before the start of last season, but the 27-year-old opted to bet on himself and his improved health and play out the season.
Advertisement
At defensive tackle, the Lions return McNeill and D.J. Reader as starters, and Chris Smith and Brodric Martin as backups. McNeill is coming off a torn ACL and might not be ready to start the season, and the Lions are expected to add to the position both perhaps in free agency and April's draft.
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library.
Order your copy here .
Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions free agency: DT Levi Onwuzurike re-signs on one-year deal
