It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).
Detroit, MI
D.J. Wonnum signs with Detroit Lions, first edge defender added
D.J. Wonnum, 28, has had three sacks in every season since 2020, when the Vikings drafted him in the fourth round out of South Carolina.
The Detroit Lions have finally added an edge defender in free agency.
Veteran D.J. Wonnum has reached an agreement to join the Lions on a one-year deal after working out for the team on Tuesday, his agency confirmed via social media. Full financials of the deal are not immediately known.
Wonnum, 28, has had three sacks in every season since 2020, when the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the fourth round out of South Carolina. He had eight sacks in the 2021 and 2023 seasons, both with Minnesota, before compiling seven total sacks over his last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He had four sacks in 2024 but was limited to eight games because of injury and health complications.
Wonnum is the first defensive lineman to join Detroit in free agency and the third outside free-agent signing on defense, along with defensive backs Christian Izien and Roger McCreary.
How many edge defenders do the Lions have?
The addition of Wonnum gives Detroit three true edge defenders on the roster and two defensive ends with starting experience. The Lions also have star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and Ahmed Hassanein. Hutchinson is coming off a 14 1/2-sack season after a broken leg cut his 2024 season short, while Hassanein didn’t appear in a game during his 2025 rookie season after suffering a severe pectoral injury in the preseason.
The Lions also roster a few defensive linemen who profile as inside defenders but have some experience on the edge, such as Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, and Alim McNeill, as well as strong-side (Sam) linebacker Derrick Barnes.
What are D.J. Wonnum’s stats?
Wonnum has been a relatively consistent pass-rushing presence throughout his six seasons in the league. His numbers peaked in 2021, when he had 42 pressures and eight sacks, but he was on track to best or match both marks in 2024, which was cut short by complications stemming from quad surgery the previous year.
Last season, Wonnum registered 31 pressures — fewest since his rookie season (22) — and had three sacks to go with 42 combined tackles, a fumble recovery and three pass deflections.
During the 2023 season, his final in Minnesota, Wonnum set career-highs in pass breakups (six), tackles (62) and tied career-highs in sacks (eight), tackles-for-loss (seven) and quarterback hits (15).
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez shares the microphone with his daughter Mia
Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez signed a new one-year deal to stay in Detroit for a fifth NFL season.
4Warn Weather – SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy skies. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds and hail. High: 71.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies, becoming partly cloudy skies late. Low: 45.
SUNDAY (MOTHER’S DAY): Mix of sunshine and clouds, cooler temperatures. High: 61.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies. Another chilly night. Low: 41.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny skies, remaining chilly. High: 58.
After a beautiful end to the week on Friday with sunshine and a little cloud cover, with warmer temperatures moving into the region as well, some of us are waking up to some patchy dense fog on Saturday morning. Some places south of M-59 are seeing reduced visibilities down to around a mile. If you do run into some patchy dense fog, be sure to use your low beams.
That warming trend continues into the start of the weekend on Saturday, but it also brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Another cold front will work through the region by Saturday afternoon and early Saturday evening and that will bring our thunderstorm chance. High temperature is warming into low 70s by Saturday afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the region under a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5) on our severe weather scale for the start of the weekend. Gusty winds and hail are the primary threats as we work through the start of the weekend, but this will not be a widespread threat for severe thunderstorms.
Behind that cold front for the end of the weekend on Sunday, we will keep a mixture of sunshine and clouds into the forecast. High temperatures running about 10 to 15° cooler to end the weekend. Expect high to warm into the upper 50s to lower 60s by Sunday afternoon.
Drier weather sticks around for the start of next week, before another chance of rain moves into the region by the time we get to Tuesday. The cooler-than-average temperatures will continue into the start of next week as well. Expect high temperatures to remain in the 50s for Monday and Tuesday.
Temperature start to warm up by the middle of next week, and Drier weather moves back in by Wednesday behind another cold front moving into the region. Expect high temperatures into the lower 60s on Wednesday to warm into the upper 60s by the time we get to Thursday. Above average temperatures move back into the region as we look ahead into the end of the week, expect high temperatures back into the lower 70s by the time we get to Friday.
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But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.
Although, if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.
Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand the injuries.
But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.
However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
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