The Detroit Lions need to improve their defense for 2025, but a Pro Football Focus analyst believes their first move should be to re-sign a key internal free agent.It won’t be an easy choice.

The Lions’ defense struggled with injuries in 2024, and these setbacks were a significant reason for their failure to meet high playoff expectations.

As they head into the offseason, improving the defense will be a major focus. Retaining some of their own free agents will likely be a priority.

One such player is defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. After being fully healthy for the first time in his career, he played all 16 games this season. While his stats aren’t spectacular (28 tackles, 1.5 sacks), he accumulated 45 quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) and earned a top-25 PFF grade among defensive tackles.

With Alim McNeill’s torn ACL raising questions about his availability for next season, it’s no surprise that Dalton Wasserman of PFF highlighted Onwuzurike as the free agent the Lions can’t afford to lose.

Re-signing Onwuzurike seems like a logical move to keep some depth on the defensive line after this year’s injury struggles. But the decision won’t be straightforward.

Onwuzurike dealt with back issues throughout his first few seasons, and a significant surgery sidelined him for all of 2022, nearly ending his career. However, with a full offseason of health, he added weight and had a strong season.

This leaves the Lions in a dilemma. While his progress this season is encouraging, his recurring back issues raise concerns. Is this season his peak, or can he keep improving?

The Lions tend to reward their own players, and they might be willing to offer Onwuzurike a lucrative multi-year deal.

But this decision is more complicated than it may appear, and if Onwuzurike receives a better offer elsewhere, he should consider taking it.