The Detroit Lions made headlines during the 2024 season by locking in defensive tackle Alim McNeill with a lucrative four-year deal worth $97 million. While the team clearly sees him as a core piece moving forward, some league analysts question whether that investment was justified.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently named McNeill the most overcompensated defensive tackle in the NFL. The fifth-highest-paid player at his position, McNeill is viewed by Davenport as not living up to the elite-level salary.
“McNeill holds his ground well against the run and occasionally makes an impact as a pass-rusher,” Davenport noted. “However, he’s never recorded more than five sacks in a single campaign and has just 11.5 total in his professional career. For someone earning over $25 million annually, you expect a disruptive presence. Unfortunately, right as he appeared to be trending in that direction, he suffered a devastating knee injury.”
That injury—an ACL tear—occurred following Detroit’s Week 15 matchup with the Buffalo Bills in 2024. His rehab will likely keep him off the field until at least October or November of the 2025 season, leaving Detroit without one of its starting interior linemen to begin the year. The timing of the extension, in hindsight, has raised eyebrows.
Though his sack totals may not dazzle, McNeill’s value can be seen in the trenches. The 25-year-old has built a reputation as a dominant run-stopper who commands double-teams and opens up opportunities for teammates to get into the backfield.
He’s also quietly contributed as a pass-rusher despite the modest sack numbers, registering over 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons. His interior presence has helped generate disruption even when he doesn’t finish plays himself.
Looking ahead, McNeill will need to elevate his performance further to match the hefty payday. Still, having improved steadily since entering the league out of NC State, he remains an integral figure in the Lions’ defensive strategy moving forward.
