If you want a great example of why the Detroit Lions are a team built for sustained success, look no further than this list of the best players in the NFL who were born in the 2000s that was recently put together by Pro Football Focus.
According to PFF’s Zoltan Buday, a total of four Lions players made the cut on his “All 2000s Team.” Making the squad is tight end Sam LaPorta, right tackle Penei Sewell, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and defensive lineman Alim McNeill. No other team in the NFL had that many make the cut.
LaPorta is coming off an impressive rookie campaign in which he established himself as one of the better tight ends in the NFL, finishing fourth at the position in catches (86), fifth in yards (889) and first in touchdowns (10).
McNeill had a breakout campaign, also, with career-highs in sacks (five), tackles for loss (six) and QB Hits (10). Sewell has been an elite right tackle for a few years now and Hutchinson posted 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2023, both career-bests.
The bad news for the rest of the league is that each of these players are 24 or under, so they stand to get even better than what they put out there in 2023. McNeill is the only one who isn’t under contract past 2024, though, but there’s a good shot Detroit extends him before he hits the open market.