The Top 5 Unaddressed Positions of Need in the NFC

Detroit Lions, Interior Defensive Line

What do you do when your two Pro Bowl defensive tackles hit free agency at the same time, a season after they completely dominated the league and posted a league-leading -66.85 Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP? Let them both walk in free agency, obviously.

Despite the Lions’ complete dominance from the interior with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, to the tune of 22 more NEP saved than the second-best run-stopping unit in the league, both joined new teams this spring, leaving the Lions without two men who comprised 1,139 snaps in the middle for the team last season including the playoffs.

How does this dominant defense hope to recoup their losses? They did trade for Haloti Ngata, the longtime Ravens’ star, who will likely play the 3-technique (Suh’s old position) in the Lions’ base defense. After him, however, there’s a motley assortment of parts and prospects. Tyrunn Walker –- a former Saints’ backup -– is penciled in as the starting 1-technique, and 2014 fifth-round draft pick Caraun Reid hopes to earn some playing time as well, but needs to refine his technical skills to hold the point of attack. Gabe Wright was selected out of Auburn in the 4th Round of this year’s draft, but it’s likely he will need development time before he contributes.

Best Solution So Far: Haloti Ngata, trade from Baltimore