The Detroit Lions don’t have many players that would be better suited elsewhere, but the one ESPN’s Eric Woodyard mentioned is very obvious.
The Detroit Lions have evolved into a player-friendly franchise, with a head coach who cherishes “grinders” and gets emotional when recalling the players from his first season in Detroit. Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes favor “our own” and players who fit with the culture regardless of their talent level.
Levi Onwuzurike was Holmes’ second draft pick as Lions general manager, going 41st overall in the 2021 draft. Despite missing the 2020 season at the University of Washington because to COVID-19, he was projected as a late-first round choice in mock drafts.
Onwuzurike battled through a back injury that dated back to his college career to play 16 games as a rookie. Then, during the first practice of 2022 training camp, he suffered a back injury that required surgery and cost him his entire second season.
Onwuzurike later detailed the extent of that back surgery-a spinal fusion, which cast his future as a football player into doubt. But he was ready to go for training camp last summer, and by all public accounts he was healthy for all of the 2023 season.
But Onwuzurike simply didn’t play much (10 games, 132 defensive snaps), or make much of an impact (one sack, five total tackles).
It is apparent that a Lions player needs a change of scenery.
ESPN’s NFL beat reporters compiled a list of players who need a change of scenery this offseason. Lions writer Eric Woodyard chose Onwuzurike.
“Onwuzurike still has a lot of promise, but he hasn’t found a groove in Detroit, primarily due to injuries. He could profit from a new situation, which would reenergize him on the field. The 2021 second-round pick missed the majority of training camp as a rookie and had little impression when he did play. He then missed all of 2022’s games while recovering from back surgery. He did play in 10 regular-season games this past season, but he was a healthy scratch at times. Things haven’t worked out for him so far in Detroit.”
Back injuries are obviously serious, and the surgery Onwuzurike underwent is likely to be permanent. He still has potential, but where is the ceiling now?
Onwuzurike is one of the Lions’ few, if not only, potential cap casualties. With him entering the final year of his rookie deal, releasing him will save up $1.7 million in cap space ($821,617 in dead money). A trade, in which another team would be interested, may result in a conditional late-round pick.
Any way you slice it, and with events beyond his control, Onwuzurike’s time in Detroit hasn’t gone well. As much as he has a long future in the NFL player, maybe a new team can unlock him a little bit.
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