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Lions fans REJOICE! Brad Holmes finally signed a competent edge to play alongside Hutch… sort of.

The Lions have signed EDGE/OLB DJ Wonnum to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Extra emphasis on the “up to” as this likely means the deal has high incentives.

Wonnum, 28, is a 6’5″ 270lb edge defender who can play off ball linebacker at times, adding some much needed versatility. Last season, he had 3 sacks, 29 pressures and 42 total tackles. He is looked at as more of a run stopper than a true pass rusher, but he has some juice there too.

Of course, Lions fans are not actually rejoicing over this move, as there was a lot of “who is that?” or “Brad Holmes bargain bin shopping” and while the latter half may be true, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.

To secure a younger, better player for a similar price tag as Al-Quadin Muhammad is a win in my book. At the same time, I definitely wont go as far as to say the Lions don’t need EDGE anymore, as Hutch, Hassanein, and now Wonnum are the only EDGE defenders on the roster. Last year the Lions came into the season with eight, and I expect them to get closer to that number than they currently sit now.

Upon reviewing some of Wonnum’s film, I like most of what I see. There are some negatives, though. He has a ton of versatility, but lacks a true pass rush. Let’s take a deeper look into the snaps.

RUN DEFENSE:

Wonnum excels as a run defender, for the most part. He can sometimes find himself getting “sticky” or unable to fully get off the blocks, he uses incorrect technique at times, and his hand usage could be better. It also seems like he has to fight extra hard to get off blocks rather than just using power or finesse. Overall, though, Wonnum is a solid run defender who offers a ton of versatility, as he has the ability to play from the 5-tech out, as well as stand up linebacker. I also really like his motor and hustle, as it is pretty similar to Hutch in the way he just keeps fighting. His pad level could use some work as well, as he can get driven out of the play a little too easily at times. He does a decent job at anchoring in the run game for the most part, especially against zone runs where he can feel the linemen trying to get outside, and he can cut under and make a play. He does a good job at diagnosing the player, not being fooled by counters, and being able to feel where the block is going, and go the opposite way. I would like to see a little more up-field movement from him in the run game though. He has a pretty high IQ from what I can see on film as well, usually diagnosing the play correctly, and relatively fast. He isn’t the type to go too far up-field on a run play, or get totally fooled by a read option. Overall, he is smart and disciplined as a run defender and has a good feel for the game in general.

PASS RUSHING:

Wonnum leaves a lot to be desired as a pure pass rusher. He is stiff, with little bend, which makes it hard for him to attack the quarterback coming off the edge, and makes it easier for tackles to “ride the ring” or keep him out of the pocket by essentially circling the quarterback. He also has a lot of the same issues he does in the run game; technique, hands, and getting stuck on blocks too often, but it may be a bit worse when rushing the passer. Wonnum shows flashes, but mostly coming from his motor and hustle, he sometimes just out works the offensive linemen across from him. Personally, I don’t see Wonnum having a lot of pass rush upside in Detroit, but I don’t think he was signed to rush the quarterback. In my opinion, Wonnum will take over the Marcus Davenport role from the last few years; a big, powerful, long edge defender who can play the run well, and push the pocket a little. His overall hand usage and pass rush ‘toolbox’ leaves a lot to be desired. This isn’t a guy who’s going to use a ton of different moves, he wins with pure power, but that means he likely won’t rack up a ton of sacks. I could see him with around 6-8 sacks next year, depending on how often he plays.

COVERAGE:

Sort of odd bringing up pass coverage when talking edge defenders, but with how often Wonnum did it over his career, it’s worth mentioning. I think the Lions signed him to be a swiss army knife, not necessarily THE edge opposite Hutch. Which personally, I understand, and like even more considering that means they know they still need a true starter there. Overall, Wonnum is not a guy you’re going to ask to cover a tight end one on one, or even regularly drop back into coverage. However, having a guy like him really opens up what different looks you’re able to throw at opposing offenses, and that makes Kelvin Sheppard’s job just a little easier. You’re likely not asking him to be a true off ball linebacker, but he can certainly spot drop from the edge. He can do a lot of different things pretty well, and adds a lot of needed versatility to the defense. This allows us to use pretty much any front we want, which allows for so many things on the defensive side of the ball.

Overall, Wonnum is not going to blow you away, or have you jumping for joy because Detroit finally got another guy. However, he is a valuable, versatile piece to this defense that will not only help Hutchinson, but helps the defense by allowing Sheppard to do a lot more. At just $6 million, I am very happy with this signing.

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