Alim McNeill named to CBS Sports ‘All-Overpaid Team’

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill has been named to the ‘All-Overpaid Team’ for 2026 by CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell. The designation follows a period of declining production and injury struggles for the player, who is currently earning an average of $24.25 million per year under a four-year, $97 million extension.

McNeill’s performance regressed significantly following an ACL injury suffered at the end of the 2024 season. In 2025, he missed seven games and recorded only 14 tackles and one sack across 10 games. His Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 52.5 ranked 89th out of 127 interior defensive linemen. This follows a trend of availability issues, as he has missed a total of 14 games since 2023.

McNeill has addressed the decline, stating, ‘Physically, I just wasn't all the way there like I wanted to be.’ He noted that attempting to return to the field too early impacted his effectiveness, but expressed confidence in his recovery heading into the new season.