Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill really broke out in his third season in the NFL, and that is garnering him some recognition from one expert, who called the former third-round pick the Lions' most underrated player.
Per Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar, who listed every team's most underrated player ahead of the 2024 season, McNeill was the choice for the Lions.
Here's what Farrar had to say about McNeill:
From John Randle to Geno Atkins to Aaron Donald, I tend to have a weakness for the potential of smaller defensive tackles. So, when McNeill hit my radar in 2020, I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed his disruptive tape. The 6′ 1⅞”, 317-pound McNeill was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2021 draft, and while it took him a second to get the reps he needed to become a real force on Detroit’s defensive line, he had no issue doing so in 2023. Last season, McNeill totaled six sacks and 43 total pressures, embarrassing a lot of Pro Bowl-level guards and centers along the way.
While McNeill might be underrated nationally, Lions fans are well aware of just how good he is. McNeill tallied a career-best five sacks during the 2023 regular season, and added one more during the playoffs in the NFC Championship Game.
He was also a disruptive force against the run, earning a 79.3 PFF run defense grade. McNeill finished with an impressive mark in the pass-rush (76.2), and sported an elite overall grade (88.5), as well.
McNeill could have even bigger and better things ahead of him, as he'll be joined by D.J. Reader upfront this year, someone who could help further unleash the NC State product by taking pressure off him.
The 24-year-old enters the final year of his deal in 2024 and will secure himself a hefty payday if he can match or better what he did in 2023.
