It’s hard not to think about it when you’re watching them. The contrasting skill sets, the controlled chaos, the relentless pursuit. You’re so accustomed to what this has been, you almost pause at the idea of what it could be.What we’re seeing from the Detroit Lions’ defensive line might be real. They need it to be.Now more than ever.“I think all of those guys are just going to elevate each other’s games,” coach Dan Campbell said of his D-line. “I like where we’re at.”As the regular season nears, a unit that’s historically been a weakness is looking like a strength. Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams are at the forefront of a group that believes it’s built to win in the trenches, in ways we haven’t previously seen.When Hutchinson was on the board at No. 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft, Lions GM Brad Holmes could hardly contain himself. A homegrown, face-of-the-franchise talent at a major position of need had fallen into his lap. Since then, Hutchinson has grown into the star player the Lions never doubted he’d become.The only problem has been finding him a complementary partner.Former starting edge Romeo Okwara, with a 10-sack season two years before Hutchinson arrived, wasn’t the same player after a torn Achilles. Charles Harris, following a 7.5-sack season in 2021, never matched his production in 2022 and 2023. James Houston had a special run as a rookie (eight sacks in seven games), but was a liability against the run and never repeated those totals in Detroit. Marcus Davenport was signed and re-signed to be the power edge the Lions envisioned opposite Hutchinson, but finished with more IR stints (two) than sacks (1.5) over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.The most productive edge rusher Hutchinson has played with in his career — statistically speaking — is Al-Quadin Muhammad. Signed to be a reserve rush end, Muhammad was forced into the starting lineup after Davenport injured his pec last season. He recorded 11 sacks rushing opposite Hutchinson — the type of pass-rush production that should be applauded, if not for what was sacrificed versus the run.When Muhammad was on the field last season, the Lions allowed 4.8 yards per rush, per TruMedia, which would’ve ranked 27th. Detroit’s defensive rushing success rate of 58 percent when Muhammad was on the field would’ve ranked 23rd among teams last season. It fell to 53.8 percent in the second half of the season (Weeks 10-18), which would’ve ranked 31st. Muhammad, 31, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. It felt like the Lions needed to move on from him.With that, the Lions were back to square one this offseason. Before free agency and the draft, Campbell, Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Detroit’s defensive staff sat down and watched every snap of the 2025 season. Where were they susceptible to explosive plays? What was viewed as a player error? Were the coaches putting their guys in the best positions to succeed? What would be their focus for the 2026 season?“What we’ve done is we’re tearing off all the Band-Aids, trying to look through every crack, crevice to see where the good things were, the bad things were, and where can we improve as coaches, players in totality,” Sheppard said.One of those conclusions, based on what the Lions added this offseason, was improving the pass rush without sacrificing in the run game. The Lions needed players who could not only win a rush, but set a physical edge and contain the pocket. They believe they have the horses to do so now.The Lions have been rotating their defensive line at higher rates than we’ve seen under Campbell. It feels like there’s intent behind the madness. Guys aren’t just coming off the field because they need a breather — this staff is mixing and matching.Tyler Lacy, a post-cutdown roster addition a year ago, has been a mainstay with the first-team defense. Known for his size and length, Lacy profiles as an early-down/run-package option. He can play big end or kick inside to rush, offering the Lions versatility. He has had a full offseason in the system and will be relied upon to do the dirty work for this defensive line.Veteran DJ Wonnum signed with the Lions this offseason after spending the 2025 season with the Carolina Panthers. Wonnum says this is arguably the best he’s ever felt in training camp. He’s healthy, hungry and he sees the opportunity in front of him, rushing opposite of an elite edge like Hutchinson. The last time he did that, he was in Minnesota with Danielle Hunter — recording a pair of eight-sack seasons in four years, while being a plus against the run.“We love where Wonnum’s at right now, man,” Campbell said. “He’s another one of these guys. He’s a smart football player. He’s crafty. He knows how to use his length. He’s got a couple of different rushes that are a little bit of a problem and plays the run.”“I put it on tape early in my career,” Wonnum said. “I’ma go do that this year and prove to myself, prove to my coaches, that I’m a dog.”And then there’s rookie second-rounder Derrick Moore — a player with all the tools to develop into a long-term answer along this defensive line. Moore has a little bit of everything in his bag. Speed to power, length, versatility to rush inside or on the edge, a motor that stays hot and a developing pass-rush repertoire that should only get better with age. He’s displayed it this preseason, and has been a sub-package rusher with the first-team defense since returning from a groin injury. He’s got the goods to make an impact this year.Expectations are high for rookie Derrick Moore (9), who had a sack against Washington in the preseason. (David Reginek / Imagn Images)“Dating back to the spring, ever since we drafted and acquired Derrick Moore, since the day he showed up, he just has the presence of an older guy,” Sheppard said. “Just being around him, he doesn’t feel like a rookie. I kind of say that to the staff all the time. He’s very mature. He’s kind of introverted, but once you get to know him, he’s just a man’s man and he just comes to work every day with his head down. ‘Coach, what do you need of me? What are you expecting of me? What is the standard?’ And he goes out and tries to meet that.”On any given play, you could see Hutchinson and Wonnum, Hutchinson and Moore, Hutchinson and Lacy, Lacy and Wonnum, Lacy and Moore, you name it. With more seasoning, Ahmed Hassanein and his relentless motor could join this rotation. Then there’s the defensive tackle room.McNeill said he feels like himself again after working his way back from a torn ACL. He was playing at a Pro Bowl level two years ago, and his teammates say it’s night and day in terms of where he was last year and this year. Williams, a 2025 first-round pick, has shown promise as a disruptive nose tackle. He’s been excellent against the run, and his power is impressive. After showing up to camp heavier than he’d like, he dropped 50 pounds and banked some trust from Campbell. Elsewhere, Levi Onwuzurike returns from a torn ACL, sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard has been the talk of camp as a three-tech with serious juice, and a vet like Chris Smith or Ben Stille could round out the room for extra depth.“I feel really good with where our D-line is at right now,” Campbell said. “I feel that group of guys, plus bench. I feel really good, man. I feel like it’s a good group. It’s a versatile group. There’s depth in there. There’s pieces. You can ask them to do different jobs. … I feel really good about it.”Because the Lions will be without starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, there’s pressure on this defensive line to produce. There’s too much talent, and too much depth, for things not to come together. It hasn’t been a strength historically, but when evaluating how the Lions are going to get it done defensively this year, it all starts up front.It has to.