The Detroit Lions edge rusher room has been the topic of conversation for fans for years, and 2026 brings a group with genuine depth for the first time in a while. From Aidan Hutchinson’s All-Pro production to a second-round rookie in Derrick Moore to reclamation projects and undrafted steals, Detroit has options at the position. The question is which of these Lions edge rushers will make the 53-man roster and what roles they’ll fill. Let’s break it down.

Aidan Hutchinson is still the guy

Hutchinson is coming off an All-Pro season, and we know exactly what to expect from him. Pressure, pressure, and more pressure. Every offensive line the Lions face is going to gameplan around him. He’s going to get doubled. He’s going to get tripled. He’s going to get chipped. That’s not going away.

What you’re hoping for in 2026 is that the additions around him create more one-on-one opportunities, both for Hutchinson and for the guys who benefit from the attention he draws. The Lions are banking on that.

D.J. Wonnum projects as the Week 1 starter

I think Lions fans look at Wonnum after the Moore selection in the second round and assume he’s just the rotational guy now. I get it. But I think what you’re probably looking at is Wonnum starting opposite Hutchinson in Week 1.

Here’s the reasoning. While Moore can rush the passer, he still has to get better at stopping the run. The Lions could throw Moore into the fire early and hope he figures it out, or they can put Wonnum out there on first and second down to set the edge in the run game. Then, on third downs and obvious passing situations, you bring Moore in as a pass-rush specialist.

By November or so, once Moore has had time to develop his run defense, you can flip the script. Moore becomes the every-down starter, and Wonnum slides into that rotational role. But early on, Wonnum is your guy.

Derrick Moore’s path is clear

Moore is going to come off the bench in a pass-rush specialist capacity to start the season. The Lions drafted him knowing he could get after the quarterback. The development piece is learning how to set the edge and hold up against the run at the NFL level. That takes time, and the Lions seem content to give him that runway.

Ahmed Hassnein’s expectations should be tempered

This is technically Hassanein’s rookie year because he missed his actual rookie season. He only got some training camp reps and a preseason game or two before that. The expectations are high on him, and I think they should be tempered.

I do believe Hassanein could be a good player in this league. But he’s not going to be a Pro Bowler or All-Pro this year. Lions coach Dan Campbell brought up something you can see on film: Hassanein plays with his hair on fire. He needs to be more intentional with what he does. He goes out there thinking “I got to tackle this guy” and throws technique to the side. If he can learn to control that energy and channel it, he could be dangerous. For now, think of him as a big end who sets the edge in the run game with opportunities to rush the passer.

Tyler Lacy vs. Levi Onwuzurike is an either/or situation

Lacy and Onwuzurike are both big-end types who can set the edge and provide some pass rush. This is the role Detroit tried to make work with Marcus Davenport for years but never could figure out. Lacy has been repping ahead of Onwuzurike at OTAs and minicamp, and while that’s still the pajama-party portion of the offseason, it’s notable.

I don’t think both of these guys are on the roster when the season starts. I’m leaning toward Lacy being the one who sticks. With the Lions thin in the middle of the defensive line, I could see either of them sliding inside to that defensive tackle spot more than working as a traditional edge rusher.

Payton Turner is a low-cost experiment

Turner is a former first-round pick, and the Lions were intentional this offseason about getting big, wide, and long with their edge rushers because they want to stop the run. I can say it until I’m blue in the face. The Lions want teams to be one-dimensional. When all you can do is pass, you become predictable, and that’s where the pass-rush opportunities and turnovers come from. Turner brings that edge-setting ability and some pass-rush upside, but he’s never stayed healthy and has struggled everywhere he’s been. This is a true kick-the-tires situation. If it works, Detroit looks like a genius. If it doesn’t, it didn’t cost much.

Anthony Lucas and Tyre West round out the group

Lucas, the undrafted free agent from USC, is the one who makes you wonder how he wasn’t drafted. The word on him is that he flashes in one area while struggling in another, and he hasn’t put it all together yet. If he does, the Lions have a real steal in terms of getting rotational reps out of him earlier than expected.

West, the seventh-round pick out of Tennessee, is one to watch during preseason. I don’t think he makes the 53-man roster, but he projects as a practice squad candidate with a chance to earn some elevations and grow into a bigger role in 2027.