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Detroit Lions: Can’t Afford Haloti Ngata to Decline in 2015

By Andrew C. Fisher

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The Detroit Lions are starting a new chapter at the defensive tackle position in 2015. With Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley both leaving the team in free agency, the Lions will be relying heavily on Haloti Ngata to help fill the void.

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The first and most obvious thing that jumps out about Ngata versus Suh and Fairley is age. Ngata is 31 years old with double the mileage on his body. Five years after drafting Suh and four years after drafting Fairley, it’s unlikely Detroit envisioned them both being gone at this point. Two possible long-term foundation pieces, are out of the picture.

Ngata is definitely a well above average replacement. Over the past nine years he’s had a fantastic run in Baltimore, including five straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 2009-2013 and a Super Bowl championship.

But Ngata’s reputation and credibility took a hit last season when he was suspended four games by the NFL for a violation of its substance-abuse policy. The defensive tackle admitted to taking Adderall, an amphetamine used to treat ADHD. Athletes use Adderall for assistance with energy and focus.

Adderall, if in fact that’s what Ngata really took, is certainly not in the same category as steroids when it comes to public scrutiny. I’m sure countless amounts of NFL players have taken far worse things.

Regardless, the veteran defender has something to prove next season. He has to show he can stay clean while performing at the same high level with a new team for the first time in his career.

“With my suspension last year, I just feel like I didn’t want to end off on something like that, and that be my legacy. I just wanted to continue to play. And my body feels great, so I just wanted to continue to keep on playing,” said Ngata last month to Kyle Meinke of mlive.com.

“With my suspension last year, I just feel like I didn’t want to end off on something like that, and that be my legacy. I just wanted to continue to play. And my body feels great, so I just wanted to continue to keep on playing.” – Haloti Ngata

There was a lot of turnover on the Baltimore defense during Ngata’s lengthy tenure, but he’s never gone through the massive transition that is changing teams.

The future of the 6’4″, 335-pounder in Detroit is up in the air because of an expiring contract, but the early word (again according to Meinke) is that both sides are open to an extension. However, you’d think the Lions would exercise caution while opening up their checkbook for a soon to be 10-year veteran with 136 career games under his belt.

It’s hard to see the Lions extending him before they get a chance to see him play, but you never know when two sides will come together on a win-win contract. Teams need the stability of proven players and players need money.

The reality is that there are two large voids along the Lions’ defensive line. Those voids don’t just need to be filled in 2015. If the coaches and front office folks are certain they’ve acquired the same Haloti Ngata that’s been a huge force in Baltimore since 2006, that the positive Adderall test was just a fluke and that he’ll be a fit both on and off the field, then it wouldn’t be the worst move to lock him up for another season or two.

But whatever the call ends up being on an extension for the veteran defensive tackle, it cannot be a miss.

Next: Detroit Lions: 5 Best Offseason Moves

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