The Detroit Lions are set to embark on the next phase of the NFL offseason now that May has arrived. General manager Brad Holmes has been busy over the past couple of months, bringing in eager talent via free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft as the team looks to stay in Super Bowl contention this coming season.

Though fans are excited to greet the new additions in Detroit, the wave of newcomers doesn’t bode well for everyone. The Lions’ flurry of offseason activity likely spells trouble for some fringe veterans, including one wide receiver who’s arguably been the franchise’s biggest offseason casualty to date.

Among the Lions’ top offseason losers, defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo stands out.

The Missouri/LSU alum was picked 189th overall by Detroit in the 2024 draft and found it tough to carve out a role during his first NFL season. Wingo only played 220 total snaps (176 on defense, 44 on special teams) across 11 games before a knee injury cut his rookie year short.

Unfortunately, Wingo didn’t make the most of the time he was given. He finished the season with nine combined tackles (just one solo) and earned underwhelming Pro Football Focus grades for pass rush (58.9), run defense (46.4), and overall impact.

Wingo’s situation might seem brighter if the Lions had cleared the depth chart in front of him, but that hasn’t happened. Detroit brought back four defensive linemen (Levi Onwuzurike, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Pat O’Connor, and Mitchell Agude) and added ex-Cardinals DL Roy Lopez, who brings far more experience (50 starts in 63 games) to the table.

To make matters worse for Wingo, the Lions kept stacking the defensive line. In the 2025 draft, they took Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams with the 28th pick and grabbed Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein late in Round 6. They also signed undrafted Houston DL Keith Cooper Jr., who may end up being one of this year’s top rookie finds.

Put simply, Wingo is now facing an even steeper battle for snaps. Even with nearly a full year in the Lions’ system, his underwhelming rookie season and uncertain recovery don’t do him any favors heading into Year 2.

He’ll need to impress coaches like Dan Campbell during the next round of practices if he hopes to stick around. The 291-pound lineman’s next shot to make noise will come when the Lions begin organized team activities on Wednesday, May 28.