​Earlier this week, we published our latest SB Nation Reacts survey, sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook, asking Detroit Lions fans which defensive player, not named Aidan Hutchinson, will record the most sacks in 2026. For this poll, fans could choose from five players: defensive tackle Alim McNeill, edge rusher DJ Wonnum, rookie Derrick Moore, and linebackers Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes.
Let’s dive into the results. More than 75 percent of the votes went to the two newly added edge rushers expected to share time opposite Hutchinson, with the rookie Moore drawing the bulk of the confidence. Moore certainly possesses the skill set to mirror the production he showed in college, where he posted 10 sacks in 12 games last season. However, he’ll need to quickly conquer the learning curve to have a chance at double-digit sacks in the NFL. Looking at recent trends, the NFL rookie sack leader over the last decade has cleared at least 7.5 sacks in their first season, with four reaching double digits. It’s a tall order—it’s worth noting that Hutchinson himself had 9.5 sacks as a rookie. Still, if Moore can hit the 7.5-sack threshold, that would likely validate the poll voters’ pick, and that number could very well be enough to lead the team in sacks outside of Hutchinson.
Now, turning to the fan commentary from the original article to illustrate why Moore was favored by some and why others champion different players (slightly edited for clarity): Sprtn66 explained, “I went with Derrick Moore. I think the Lions finally found the answer opposite Hutchinson.” UpAllNight offered, “Derrick will start out slow, but as the season progresses he will become more moore accustomed to the game.” Detroit_vs_everyone weighed in, “I think if we get 5 out of Alim, Wonnum, Moore and Hassanein, that’s a great tie for second. Throw in 1-2 from Branch and Tyleik and half a dozen from the LB Corps, and you’ve got 50+ when you add Hutch’s 15+. I think it will be Moore though, with 10.” LeeCountyFlyDog predicted, “As much as I want it to be Moore, it’s going to be ‘The Wonnz’.” Toreyj01 added, “To be fair, Wonnum shines when he is DE2. He is a solid addition to this team and will probably be second on the team in sacks this year. I can see him getting 10 sacks.” Blueingreer said, “Hope it’s Captain Jack. Open it up and let Campbell loose. That guy is so violent, and his instincts are so good. Shep talks about giving his LBs freedom to make decisions on the field; let him know blitzing the QB, delayed or from the snap, should be high on the list.”
As a reminder, this survey was sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook, which currently lists the Lions at +1700 to win this year’s Super Bowl, +800 to win the NFC Championship, and +145 to win the NFC North, reflecting the team’s status as the current divisional favorite.
Throughout the year, we’ll continue to ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions for better SEO and broader fan engagement.