The Detroit Lions missed the playoffs last year, and a big reason was the Green Bay Packers. The Packers won both meetings with Detroit in 2025, and while their offensive line struggled as a whole, they seemed to play their best when seeing Honolulu Blue.

The Lions couldn’t get to Packers quarterback Jordan Love as he was pressured 20 times but was not sacked in 56 dropbacks in the two meetings, according to Pro Football Focus. But as teams have shuffled their rosters during the offseason, Green Bay’s offensive line looks much different than it did last season, and it could give Detroit a big advantage when the two division rivals clash in 2026.

Lions Regain Advantage in the Trenches After Packers’ FA Moves

The Lions’ defensive line hasn’t had a massive overhaul this season, but you could argue it just needed some time to regroup. Aidan Hutchinson bounced back from a broken tibia and fibula that ended his 2024 campaign to log 14.5 sacks, but the rest of the defensive line was a work in progress with rookie Tyleik Williams learning the ropes, and Alim McNeil working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in December 2024.

Detroit lost some key pieces along the defensive line during free agency, including Roy Lopez and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Fortunately, they gained one by signing D.J. Wonnum and another when Levi Onwuzurike’s one-year contract tolled due to a season-ending injury before training camp. While Williams and McNeil need to take a step forward, and Wonnum should free up other players to get to the quarterback, you can see a vision that should help the Lions take advantage of teams with a weak offensive line.

The Packers weren’t an awful offensive line, but they slumped all the way to 19th in PFF’s final rankings for last season. The lack of performance triggered several moves to be made, but many of them were either lateral moves or a step back heading into next season.

Rasheed Walker, who has started at left tackle for Green Bay over the past four seasons, left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency. While 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan is set to move back to his natural position to replace him, Morgan hasn’t been inspiring as he bounced along the offensive line, posting a 62.0 overall grade and five penalties on 819 snaps and allowing 25 pressures and four sacks on 445 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

The Packers also made a change at center that’s not that much of a change. After Elgton Jenkins failed in his position change to accommodate Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan filled in, posting a 59.2 overall grade on 876 snaps and allowing 29 pressures and a sack on 480 pass-blocking snaps. Despite this, he was given a three-year, $33 million contract extension that locks him into the starting role next year.

Then there’s Anthony Belton, who was selected in the second round by the Packers in 2025. After being a penalty machine in the preseason (eight on 145 total snaps), Belton wasn’t much better when he was inserted at right guard, posting an overall grade of 50.0 and 23 pressures with no sacks on 243 pass-blocking snaps.

Even the incumbents are cause for concern in Green Bay, with Banks coming off an underwhelming first season with the Packers and Zach Tom coming off a partially torn patellar tendon. If the Packers solved their woes, it may not show early in the season, and even if they add depth in the draft, that player is unlikely to start in their rookie season with the starters established.

It’s a situation where the Lions are looking to get back to their roots, while the Packers are hoping their linemen find the secret ooze that turns them into legitimate starters. It’s a minor victory for the Lions after free agency and one they can ride to have more success putting Love into the turf next season.

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