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Lions add edge rusher D.J. Wonnum

By Thomson Reuters Mar 18, 2026 | 12:39 PM

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent edge rusher D.J. Wonnum, the team announced Wednesday.

Wonnum, ​28, is signing a one-year ‌deal worth up to $6 million, according to multiple reports. The team did not announce terms.

He started 15 ‌of ​the 16 regular-season ⁠games he played ⁠in last season for the Carolina Panthers, totaling 42 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for ​loss, four quarterback hits, one interception and one fumble recovery. ⁠He also started ⁠and made give tackles ​in the Panthers’ playoff game, ​a 34-31 loss to the Los ‌Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round.

Wonnum has 250 career tackles, 30 sacks, 32 tackles ⁠for loss, 59 QB hits, one interception, 15 passes defended, three forced ⁠fumbles and ‌two fumble recoveries — ⁠including one returned for ​a ‌touchdown — in 86 regular-season games (54 ​starts) ⁠for the Minnesota Vikings (2020-23) and Panthers.

Minnesota selected Wonnum in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.

–Field ​Level Media