Predicting Lions' Breakout Defensive Players

The Detroit Lions finished the 2024 season as a top-10 defensive unit (seventh in points allowed per game; 20.1/g). 

And they will enter the 2025 campaign with multiple high-impact defenders, including Pro Bowl EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and a pair of standout safeties in 2024 All-Pro Kerby Joseph and Pro Bowler Brian Branch.

Yet, there is always room for improvement, including the chance for breakthrough performances from individual players. 

Without further ado, here are three Lions defensive players who have a chance of “breaking out” in 2025.

EDGE Marcus Davenport

It's all about staying healthy with Davenport. The soon-to-be 29-year-old – he turns 29 September 4 – has played in just seven total games the past two seasons, including only a pair of games with Detroit last season. Yet, if he does stay on the field, there's a good chance he's productive.

In Davenport's most recent season of playing in double-digit contests (which came in 2022 with New Orleans), he produced a 76.8 overall Pro Football Focus grade. Plus, he earned a 75.0 pass-rushing mark. This came a year after he received career-high PFF marks for both his overall grade (88.8) and pass-rushing efforts (82.0).

He's expected to be a vital member of the Lions’ defense in 2025 as the EDGE running mate for Hutchinson. I'm projecting Davenport to suit up for 12 games this season and to amass 35 total pressures and 4.5 sacks.

CB Ennis Rakestraw

Rakestraw enters a big second season for himself. He played in just eight games as a rookie due to being unable to stay on the field, and he subsequently made a minimal impact.

The 2024 second-round pick is packed with a ton of upside, though, and has the ability to line up both on the boundary and in the slot. He's expected to suit up primarily on the outside in 2025, and if healthy, should play a key role as a top reserve in the Lions’ secondary.

“You don't play this game to get injured,” Rakestraw told the Detroit Free Press during OTAs in June. “Sometimes though it’s just very unfortunate. I had a lot of stuff to deal with. I was very hurt about it. Didn't get to do nothing and let my teammates down when everybody went down and I wasn't there to help them. So, I was already fighting battles with that as myself. But just to see somebody who don't know nothing about this or don't play it, say something like that, it really just fuels me.”