Our Detroit Lions season preview continues. Predicting the team’s defensive MVP for 2024.
Our 2024 Detroit Lions preview series continues now with the defense. This year, the Lions made some monster changes on that side of the ball in the hopes of improving a unit that ranked 23rd in points allowed last year. Whether it be free agent additions like DJ Reader, drafted talent like Terrion Arnold, or players they traded for like Carlton Davis, there are players that will certainly offer some reasons for optimism in 2024.
But who will be the Lions’ defensive MVP this year? Here are our selections.
Previously:
2024 Detroit Lions Defensive Player of the Year
Brandon Knapp: Aidan Hutchinson
With an improvement to the secondary and the defensive line, Hutchinson will benefit the most from it. With the coverage being able to do their job for longer, it will give Hutchinson more time to get to the quarterback. What also helps is the addition of DJ Reader to help the interior defensive line become an even bigger threat, which should have Hutchinson see fewer double teams.
John Whiticar: Aidan Hutchinson
While I think the overhaul in the secondary will be a boon for the front seven, Hutchinson should still be the unquestioned defensive MVP on this team. His pressure total (101) outweighed his sack total (11) by a fair bit, but he was also the only edge playing worthwhile football last year—Alim McNeill was second on the team with total pressures. With a better secondary behind him and added linemen like DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport, Hutchinson is being set up for an excellent year.
Jeremy Reisman: Aidan Hutchinson
I love that there are actual options this year like Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Jack Campbell, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch, but Hutchinson will again take the honors. He quietly had a dominant training camp, and with a better cast of players around him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn what was the most pressures in the league last year into a 15+ sack season.
Ryan Mathews: Brian Branch
Brian Branch is going to solidify himself as the most valuable player in this Lions defense for a variety of reasons, but let’s start with his positional versatility. Branch is a player who came into Detroit a year ago and was so ready to contribute at a high level, the Lions made him the team’s starting nickel cornerback and changed course with their plans for veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson. In Year 2, he’s moving to safety, but not out of necessity–it’s to ensure he’s on the field as much as possible after having a dynamite rookie campaign manning the slot (first among rookie CBs in run-defense stop rate [7.8%] and 11th in passer rating against).
Morgan Cannon: Aidan Hutchinson
This was a really tough call, but because of the position he plays and the impact he can have on the game, I am going with third-year edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. The former University of Michigan star was wildly productive in 2023 with a supporting cast that didn’t always do him a ton of favors. Now with a deeper and more talented interior defensive line group, Hutchinson should see more one-on-ones this year which will hopefully lead to more sacks.
If Hutchinson can elevate his game to the level of the elite tier of rushers in the NFL, it will go a long way towards this defense making some pretty giant strides in 2024.
Meko Scott: Brian Branch
I have to admit that this one is some wishful thinking on my part. I know that Aidan Hutchinson is the Lions best player and I fully expect him to continue to climb the ranks of the NFL’s best pass rushers, but I really think we could see something special from Brian Branch this season. The move to safety will give Branch more opportunities to do something he did quite often in his rookie season, and that is make plays and generate turnovers. He played at a level last year that I believe was worthy of All-Pro honors at the nickel position in Aaron Glenn’s defense, and I think he picks up where he left off and takes things to another level by becoming one of the best young safeties in the NFL.
Erik Schlitt: Aidan Hutchinson
The Lions invested heavily in the secondary and added more depth to the linebacker core, but the addition of DJ Reader should open the door for Aidan Hutchinson to get more one-on-one opportunities, which will be a problem for Lions opponents. The Lions’ offseason moves have put talent across the defense, but Hutchinson remains the most impactful player and should take his game up another level.
Hamza Baccouche: Alex Anzalone
I want to say Aidan Hutchinson here, but I truly think it’s Alex Anzalone. He may not get there in the flashiest way, as we learned last year. Anzalone graded out as one of the league’s best coverage linebackers, and it was often through quarterbacks not being able to throw his way, rather than interceptions or pass breakups. The more I pay attention to it, the more I believe Anzalone is key to holding down the second level and softening the blow from the injuries and turnover that have plagued the Lions secondary in recent years. With a much younger secondary entering 2024, Anzalone will be a glue for this defense once again.
Max Gerber: Aidan Hutchinson
Detroit’s defensive MVP has to go to Aidan Hutchinson. While he might have hit a bit of a sophomore slump compared to his rookie season, he still was one of the league’s best edge defenders in 2023. I expect a double-digit sack season from Hutchinson this year.
Alex Reno: Aidan Hutchinson
Last year, Hutchinson didn’t have a ton of help along the defensive line, and he still put up ridiculous numbers despite teams using nearly all of their resources to try and stop him. Now, with a revamped D-line and some legitimate threats alongside him, we could be talking about Defensive Player of the Year numbers from Hutchinson if all goes well.
Jerry Mallory: Aidan Hutchinson
The king of pressures and double teams is getting some help this year. He will still see his fair share of double teams but it will be harder to do with upgrades to the defensive line (DJ Reader, Marcus Davenport). He will see his first All-Pro nod and continue to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks.
Al Karsten: Alim McNeill
Aidan Hutchison will be the most popular and justifiable answer here for this season and the next decade, but I am going with the player who will benefit the most from the DJ Reader signing and that is Alim McNeill. Reader is the first tectonic-plate-shifting, people mover that McNeill has played next to. That will lead to more single blocks assignments in the run game. Hutchinson may still get additional blocking help on passing plays, which will lead to McNeill shooting the gap to be freed up for 17+ TFLs and 12+ sacks. I fully expect both Hutchinson and Brian Branch to be Pro Bowlers and in contention for first or second team All Pro this season, but with those figures, McNeill will be in discussion for the best season by a defensive tackle in 2024 (and hopefully fresh off a contract extension).
