Over the next several days, leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions’ roster and evaluating how the team might address each unit. Today: Defensive tackles.

Current roster: Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Brodric Martin, Chris Smith

Short-term need: Five out of 10

Long-term need: Eight out of 10

Top prospects: Byron Murphy, Johnny Newton

Day 2 options: Ruke Orhorhoro, Kris Jenkins, Braden Fiske, T’Vondre Sweat

Late-round considerations: DeWayne Carter, Fabien Lovett, Khristian Boyd, Jordan Jefferson

Analysis: On paper, the interior of Detroit’s defensive line looks better than any point since the departure of Ndamukong Suh nearly a decade ago, with optimism rooted in the projected starting tandem of McNeill and Reader.

McNeill, a third-round pick in 2021, carved out an immediate defensive role as a rookie and has steadily developed into a quality 3-technique after the team shifted him to that spot during his second season. A transformation of his body and mindset heading into the 2023 season resulted in a breakout campaign as a pass-rusher. He finished with 5.0 sacks and 43 quarterback pressures in 13 games, both easily career-highs.

Lacking complementary impact from Isaiah Buggs and Benito Jones, the Lions invested heavily in an upgrade via free agency. They signed Reader, a premier run-stuffing nose tackle, to a two-year deal worth $22 million. And while his ability to clog lanes headlines the resume, his pass-rushing prowess shouldn’t be ignored. The 6-foot-3, 335-pounder might only have 9.5 sacks across eight seasons, but his pocket-crushing ability has generated at least 32 quarterback pressures each of the last three seasons and four of the past five.

Where things start getting shaky is Detroit’s depth. It was a pleasant surprise to see Onwuzurike, a former second-round pick, make it through a full season healthy after two years of back troubles, but he only saw 132 defensive snaps. He went into this offseason confident he’ll be ready for a bigger workload in 2024, but no one really knows how much can be put on his plate.

Similarly, Martin is a question mark, but not because of injury. A third-round selection a year ago, the massive, 6-foot-5, 330-pounder out of Western Kentucky was labeled as a developmental project from the start. And that’s how things played out as he was a healthy scratch most of his rookie year, seeing action in just three games. Ideally, he takes a significant step forward in his second season, but it might be foolhardy to bank on those contributions just yet.

That sets the table for Detroit’s immediate desire for depth at the position. Plus, there’s a longer view for needing more ammunition along the defensive interior. First and foremost, McNeill is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Presumably, the Lions are working toward getting something done there, but defensive tackle salaries ballooned this offseason and he’s suddenly in line for a deal that could approach $15 million per season.

Additionally, there are long-term concerns with Reader, led by the fact he’s coming off a season-ending quad tear. It’s an injury he’s rehabbed from before — with the opposite leg — and the good news is he rebounded in that instance to have to have the best season of his career. But he’s a few years older now, so there’s no guarantee it goes as smoothly the second time.

The Lions appear to be accounting for that possibility with his contract structure. The second year of the deal has a cap hit of more than $12 million, but there will only be $5 million in dead money if the production isn’t meeting the cost and the team wants to bail early.

Even if McNeill re-signs and the Reader signing delivers, the Lions can’t go wrong adding another defensive tackle as early as the first round of the draft. Of course, there are hardly any assurances the top two prospects will be available to the Lions at pick No. 29.

With Murphy, there’s a case to be made for making a modest trade up to secure his services. He’s relatively undersized, but plays bigger, especially against the run, where he wins with leverage. He pairs that with a quick first step that allows him to be disruptive as a pass-rusher.

Newton, meanwhile, isn’t as stout against the run, but he might be the best pocket penetrator in the class, using lateral quickness to slice through gaps and affect the quarterback.

Even if the Lions miss out on the top tackle prospects, there should be well-rounded options on Day 2 who could fortify the depth chart. Fiske is intriguing after proving he could port his production from Western Michigan to Florida State before showcasing some of the best athleticism in the class at the combine.

Jenkins, the former Michigan standout, and Orhorhoro, a River Rouge product, also fit the mold, and not just because of their local ties. As for Sweat, he’s unique because of his massiveness. You don’t often see NFL players pushing 370 pounds. But his inability to manage that weight, paired with a recent arrest for a DWI, raise legitimate questions about his fit in Detroit.