Many were waiting patiently for the Detroit Lions to make a move and secure some help at defensive end. Though it isn’t the splashy move some were hoping Brad Holmes to pull off, DJ Wonnum, at the very least, provides for rotational support in a spot where Detroit had a roster hole heading into this offseason.
But what exactly are the Lions getting in Wonnum? What was his role in Carolina? Does he have the upside of being a starter opposite of Aidan Hutchinson?
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To get the inside perspective, we spoke with Jonathan DeLong—a write for Cat Scratch Reader—who had a chance to cover Wonnum in Carolina and offered insight into what Lions fans can expect from Wonnum. Here’s what he had to say.
1. The Lions have been without a dependable edge defender opposite of Aidan Hutchinson, so it’s no surprise the team made a move on Wonnum. Do you think he’s a player the Lions can trust with starter-level snaps if they need that sort of workload from him?
Wonnum was entrusted with starter-level snaps in Carolina, so he’ll at least be comfortable in that situation. That said, he’s really a role player caliber player in that spot. The Panthers didn’t have a lot of difference making talent around him, and he wasn’t able to elevate that group. That said, having a player opposite him that demands as much attention as Hutchinson does might make him look better as a starter.
2. Wonnum had spent the last two seasons in Carolina, but missed the majority of his first season with the Panthers while recovering from torn quadriceps he suffered on Christmas Eve of 2023. How was his availability after returning from that injury, and did it look like his game was affected by it at all?
I wasn’t all that familiar with Wonnum before he got to Carolina, so I’m not too sure about his before and after, but he didn’t seem too worse for the wear. He was never a particularly explosive player and he’s not going to be flying down field to make plays from behind, but he’s okay-ish. He didn’t really have any issues with injuries once he got back.
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3. Where did you most notice Wonnum’s impact on the field? As a pass-rusher, edge setter in the run game?
Relative to the rest of the Panthers edge rushers, he was noticeable as a pass rusher. But he’s probably better as a run defender at this point in his career.
4. What stood out most about Wonnum’s intangibles—whether it was his leadership, work ethic, competitiveness, or another quality—that made him valuable to the Panthers? Do you think the Panthers made a mistake in not re-signing him at the term he’s reportedly agreed to in Detroit?
I don’t think the Panthers necessarily made a mistake in letting him walk. What stood out the most about him is probably how little he stood out in either direction. He didn’t pop off with any dominant displays, but there were also very few moments where you could point to him and say “this guy was the problem here.” He’s a nice secondary starter that fits well in a rotation but doesn’t elevate the group. The Panthers simply had a numbers game and elected to let him walk to chase bigger fish in Jaelan Phillips.
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