The Detroit Lions defense struggled in 2021, ranking 31st in points allowed, 32nd in net yards per pass attempt allowed, and 21st in yards per carry allowed. But given the crater of a roster this team was handed—including bloated contracts of players like Justin Coleman and Desmond Trufant that had to be discarded—and the tough injuries they suffered, the Lions did what they could.
There were a ton of young players who were thrust into the lineup, both by design and out of necessity. And while many of them displayed the kind of struggles you’d expect from a young, inexperienced athlete, most at least showed a level of improvement as the season went on, and a few established themselves as legitimate starting or depth options in 2022 and beyond.