As feared, I was overwhelmed with other things and failed to make any blog posts after the 2023 draft. Since it's possible that this could continue, I will combine everything into one large blog post for the 2024 draft.
In 2023 the Lions had traded TE T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 second round draft pick, they also sent a fourth round pick in 2023 to the Vikings as well as a conditional pick in 2024, which turned out to be the Lions fourth round pick (129th overall).
Then in 2024 the Lions traded for cornerback Carlton Davis III, giving the Bucs their 3rd round pick in 2024 (92nd overall) but the Lions also received the Bucs 2024 sixth round pick (201st overall) and a 2025 sixth round pick.
So when the draft started Thursday night on April 25th the Lions had picks 29th overall in the first, 61st overall in the second, 73rd overall in the third (from Minnesota as part of the Hockenson trade), 164th overall in the fifth, 201st overall in the sixth (from Tampa), 205th overall in the sixth, and 249th overall in the seventh round.
While Lions fans waited and waited for the Lions pick at 29, the draft continued at first with all offensive players, which pushed some defensive players down the draft order. Brad Holmes couldn't take the chance of their target not making it to 29, so he packaged it along with the remaining 3rd round pick (73rd overall) to the Dallas Cowboys for the 24th overall pick in round one and the Cowboys 7th round pick in 2025. With the 24th overall pick the Lions then drafted CB Terrion Arnold from Alabama. I build my own top 300 board and I had Terrion Arnold ranked as the 11th best player in the draft. For the Lions to draft him at 24 was a steal (giving up a 3rd and getting a 7th next year was not so great). Terrion has a RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 9.27 which is a way of saying he is an elite athlete. I would imagine the Lions were right in not waiting for Terrion at 29, as I do not believe he would still have been available. Here is his draft profile from PFN https://www.profootballnetwork.com/terrion-arnold-draft-scouting-2024/
The Lions next draft pick was the 61st overall spot, and the Lions stayed put and drafted Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr from Missouri. That's right, back-to-back cornerbacks. Ennis has a RAS of 6.17, which is a good score, well above average, just not into the elite category. Many see him as a slot cornerback, which has become a specialty position in the NFL these days. However, he can play outside as well. On my board I had him at 40, so another good pick. Here is the PFN draft profile for Ennis https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ennis-rakestraw-jr-draft-scouting-2024/
Having traded both their 3rd round picks and their 4th round pick away, most fans thought they would be waiting a long time for the 5th round to get here when suddenly the Lions were on the clock in the 4th round. The New York Jets traded pick 126 to the Lions for the Lions 2025 3rd round pick. With their new draft capital the Lions proceeded to draft offensive tackle Giovanni Manu from British Columbia. Giovanni doesn't have a RAS because he's an international pathways player and didn't play U.S. college football. He also wasn't on my top 300 board so I added him at 301, though he is definitely not my 301st overall ranked player. There are very few (if any) draft profiles on him as well, since he wasn't on the radar on novice (and pro) writers. I did find this interview though, and found it very interesting https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/04/23/giovanni-manu-nfl-draft-interview. The Lions must have felt another of the teams who visited with Manu was going to draft him, so they used next year's 3rd round pick to draft him in this year's fourth round.
While everyone was looking up Manu, and not finding much, the Lions were suddenly on the ticker for an upcoming draft pick again. Turns out the Lions traded their 164th overall pick in the 5th round this year and their 4th round pick in 2025 to the Philadelphia Eagles for picks 132nd overall in the 4th round and 210th overall this year in the 6th. With this new 4th round pick the Lions drafted Running Back / Safety Sione Vaki from Utah. Why RB/S? More on that later. Sione has a RAS of 7.95 (very good, near elite status) and was ranked 101 on my board, others though have him ranked much further down. I think the problem is, no one knows for sure how a team will use him, but an utility player even if only on special teams, is a must in today's NFL so this pick could work out very well for the Lions. Here is one profile to see what I mean https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/01/12/sione-vaki-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2024
The Lions have traded away their 5th round pick this year so fans wait to see if any more trades are forthcoming. One more did. The Lions traded picks 205 overall and 249 overall to the Houston Texans for their 189th overall pick in the 6th round. With pick 189 the Lions draft Defensive Tackle Mekhi Wingo from LSU. Mekhi has a RAS of 8.18 (elite) and was ranked 128th on my board. A steal by any sense of the word. He's a bit undersized for a DT but some recent undersized DTs have done very well in the NFL lately due to their skill set. So crossing my fingers on this one a little bit, however I think he'll work out. Here are a couple of profiles on Mekhi https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/04/03/mekhi-wingo-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2024 and https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mekhi-wingo-draft-scouting-2024/
Finally, the Lions kept their 210th overall pick they had acquired earlier and drafted Offensive Guard Christian Mahogany from Boston College. Christian has a RAS of 9.63 (elite) and was 115th on my board. That's even better than Wingo! So if Wingo was a steal, Mahogany is even more so. However, like any steal on day 3 of the draft, he's got work to do. Here is his profile https://www.profootballnetwork.com/christian-mahogany-draft-scouting-2024/
Since the draft is over and the Lions are out of draft picks anyway, you'd think I'd be finished with this post, but there are two more bits of information I'd like to share. After the draft teams race to sign undrafted free agents, guys who didn't get drafted. Like the other 31 teams, the Lions have done just that. Two in particular I will mention here, since both are on my top 300 board. The first is Wide Receiver Isaiah Williams from Illinois. Isaiah has a RAS of 6.34 (very good) and was 234th on my board. The other is Linebacker Steele Chambers from Ohio State who has a RAS of 4.63 (average) and was 245th on my board. The other UDFAs the Lions signed were not on my top 300 but that doesn't mean one or more of them won't make the team, or at least the practice squad. Here are the draft profiles for Isaiah and Steele: https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Isaiah-Williams-WR-Illinois and https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Steele-Chambers-RB-OhioState. The two were deemed a 6th and 7th rounder respectively by that site, and 5th rounders by me. No matter who is right, all these guys might help the Lions win games, including the one the Lions lost last year to keep them out of the superbowl.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Monday, May 8, 2023
The 2023 NFL Draft as it pertains to the Detroit Lions.
Last year I had intended to do more blog write ups on the draft but got overwhelmed with other things and was never able to get back to it. I predict this year may be more of the same so I’ll make one huge draft post for 2023 just in case that’s all I have time for.
Now prior to the draft beginning the Lions traded away Okudah to the Falcons for a 5th round pick, number 159 overall. Using the Jerry Jones trade value chart that equates to 26.6 points and gave the Lions two 5th round picks to work with. Last year the Lions had traded TJ Hockenson to the Vikings for a 2nd rounder this year; that ended up being the 55th overall pick, worth 350 points and giving the Lions two 2nd round picks. And the year prior to that the Lions had traded away quarterback Matthew Stafford and received as the last part of the trade in 2023 the Rams 1st round pick which was 6th overall, netting them an 1800 point value and two 1st round picks to work with.
The Lions wait until they are on the clock at 6th overall and make a trade down to 12th overall with Arizona. The Cardinals received number 6 overall in the first round and number 81 overall in the third round, a total of 1,785 points. The Lions received 12th overall in the first round, 34th overall in the 2nd round, and 168th overall in the fifth round, a total of 1,783 points. They say no one uses the JJ draft value trade chart, but I’m thinking this is rather randomly close if true.
When the Lions finally got on the clock at pick 12 they selected Jahmyr Gibbs, running back. Gibbs has a RAS of 8.07 (elite athlete) and is known to have great hands for catching passes and great vision and quickness to hit the smallest of holes in the run game. I had him ranked 27th but other people had Gibbs ranked much higher. In fact, The Draft Network had him ranked 6th best player in the draft. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/jahmyr-gibbs-9a15a353-4267-4583-8b60-e1c77e08b588/ while The Huddle Report’s Drew Broylhart gave him a first round grade https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3162. Ourlads has already anointed him as the starting running back with Montgomery the backup, who can do many similar things but most importantly, take some of the strain of being a NFL running back for himself probably helping the both of them to remain effective longer.
The Lions patiently waited until their own first round pick at 18th overall and then drafted Jack Campbell, linebacker. Campbell has a RAS of 9.98 (high end of elite) and is known as a consistent tackler rarely missing. He has plenty of special teams experience and can play any LB position and is great against the run. I had him ranked 51st but again, others had him ranked higher. The Draft Network had him ranked 41st https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/jack-campbell-d213e4cd-9072-4d5b-bd52-05f43d4151c0/ while The Huddle Report’s Drew Broylhart gave him a 2nd round grade reasoning that most teams wouldn’t know just how to use Campbell correctly (he’s a throwback LB, not so much new age). https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3460 Ourlads has anointed him the starting middle linebacker, I’m just not sure if that is where he will play, his OTA and camp workouts will help to determine all that. One thing I do know for sure, the Lions could really use a sure tackling run defender and they now have one, plus his special teams contributions will help as well.
The Lions next pick due to the trade with Arizona was at the beginning of round 2 with the 34th overall pick where they selected Sam Laporta, tight end. Laporta has a RAS of 9.02 (elite) and is considered one of the top TEs in college football. The Draft Network had him ranked 50th overall while I had him ranked 54th. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/sam-laporta-0cceb5ff-8e5c-4f33-8f4a-9952da224c58/ and the Huddle Report’s Broylhart had him with a first round grade. https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3368 Ourlads as anointed him as the starting tight end but that might not be week 1, then again, it just might be.
Before the Lions could pick at 48 they traded up to 45 with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers received pick 48 and a round 5 pick, 159th overall. The points for the Packers added up to 446.6 while the Lions moving up 3 added up to 450, again very close to the trade value chart being used it would seem. With the 45th pick the Lions drafted Brian Branch, Safety and Slot Cornerback. Branch has a RAS of 5.27 (good athlete) and I had him ranked as the 15th best player in the draft. The Draft Network had him ranked 20th overall and is known for his versatility and violent tackling. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brian-branch-22d1b089-de8b-4e48-9e28-9c5aedd4d0d9/ The Huddle Report gave him a 1st round grade https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3194 Ourlads has him as the backup strong safety to Tracy Walker III but I think he takes over Okudah’s slot duties (eventually) and will get moved all around the defense depending on the play. Some of the other picks were considered “reaches” by many a pundit, but this pick is pretty much universally considered a “steal”.
Instead of using the 55th pick gained from the Hockenson trade, the Lions traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs ended up getting pick 55 and pick 194 in the 6th round (362.2 points) and the Lions got pick 63, pick 122 in the 4th round, and pick 249 in the 7th round (327 points). Points-wise, this was the worst of the many Lions trades.
The Lions weren’t done yet though, they then traded pick 63 to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos got 63 and 183 in the 6th round (301 points) and the Lions received pick 68 in the 3rd round and 139 in the 4th round (286.5 points). With the 68th pick at the top of round 3 the Lions drafted Hendon Hooker, quarterback. Due to injury Hooker has no RAS rating. The Draft Network has Hooker ranked 43rd overall and is considered a developmental starter but no one is entirely sure how his college work will translate in the NFL https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/hendon-hooker-cca46d4a-7198-4211-bed4-94aaa34a7b0a/. Drew Broylhart didn’t hesitate to put a 1st round grade on him though https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3072, so it’s possible the transition will be easier than some think. Ourlads has Hooker as the 2nd string QB behind Goff.
The Lions apparently got nervous about losing their next target as they traded up from 122 to 96 with the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions got pick 96 (116 points) and the Cardinals received pick 122 in the 4th round, pick 139 in the 5th round, and pick 168 in the 5th round as well (109.5 points making it the best Lions trade points-wise). With the 96th pick the Lions selected Brodric Martin, nose tackle. Martin has a RAS of 2.14 which is not an unusual score for a nose tackle. Most places did not rank Martin at all. I had him as my 262nd ranked player. NFL Draft Buzz had him ranked as a 6th round pick https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Brodric-Martin-DT-WesternKentucky and all I know is he’s a big guy (over 330 pounds) but can move fast for a nose tackle. I’m assuming the Lions had word that he might go early in round 4 and felt it necessary to move up to ensure the pick. If he can command double teams (eventually) that frees up the rest of the defense to play one-on-one.
While the draft was going on, D’Andre Swift took exception to the Lions’ first round pick of Gibbs and asked to be traded. The Lions were able to trade him to the Eagles (near his home town) for pick 219 in the 7th round and a 4th round pick in 2025. The Lions also had to give up their 7th round pick of 249 to make the deal. Not sure how you add up points for a 4th rounder 2 years from now, and the other two picks were 1 point and 2 points, so I guess the Lions upgraded the position with a younger player who has a rookie contract just beginning while Swift was on the last year of his deal.
With the 152nd pick in the 5th round the Detroit Lions selected Colby Sordal, OT/OG. He has played both guard and tackle (both sides) and will look to become depth on the OL. Sordal has a RAS of 6.48 (Good) and he says he can play all 5 spots on the offensive line. https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/4/29/23704575/2023-nfl-draft-william-mary-ol-colby-sorsdal-selected-in-5th-round-by-detroit though very few draft pundits knew him at all so there isn’t much to work with as far as links go. If he can transition to the NFL this could very well be another find by Lions GM Holmes. I entered Sordal as my 300th player on my board after his selection.
Finally, at pick 219 in the 7th round the Lions drafted Antoine Green, wide receiver. The Draft Network had Green ranked 186th https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/antoine-green-71d9daa3-23e6-4b4b-b292-b13ed5499174/ and I had him ranked 267th. He is a fast deep vertical threat but I don’t know if he can make the transition to the NFL. Let’s just say the Lions coaches have their work cut out for them.
Now the draft is over but the Lions aren’t done looking under rocks just yet. They endeavor to sign (as far as we know) about 14 undrafted players. Rookie mini-camp is this upcoming weekend so until then the press has been pretty quiet and the undrafted rookies aren’t in Detroit yet to sign their contracts they agreed to so the transactions haven’t hit the wire yet. If the info I have is right, these are the players the Lions have added to their roster, and some of them ranked higher (as usual every year) then those that were drafted.
Brandon Joseph, strong safety, RAS of 6.47 (Good) and ranked 167th on my board (5th round). The Draft Network has him ranked 103rd (top of 4th round) and is known as a ball hawking safety. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brandon-joseph-09ae02d5-1816-4944-9676-280965990890/ In my opinion there is a good chance he makes the final roster or at least the practice squad.
Mohamed Ibrahim, running back, RAS of none (injured) and ranked 231 on my board (7th round). Rumor is the Lions guaranteed $100,000 of his salary in order to sign him. The Draft Network has him ranked 207th and he is known as an instinctive running back. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/mohamed-ibrahim-decdcffb-cf99-45fa-88dc-af782287258c/ In my opinion there a very good chance he makes the final roster especially if the guaranteed salary rumor is true.
Starling Thomas V, cornerback, RAS of 6.63 (good) and ranked 240th on my board (7th round). Draft Buzz has his profile https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Starling-ThomasV-CB-UAB and some other draft pundits figured he’d be drafted in the 6th or 7th round. I’m not sure if he’ll make the team but the practice squad does seem very likely. He is very fast and a sure tackler, so if he can pick up the defense fast enough it could make a lot of difference.
Connor Galvin, offensive tackle, RAS of 5.35 (good) and ranked 245th on my board (7th round). The Draft Network has him ranked 280th and he is known as a potential swing tackle in the NFL. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/connor-galvin-aef584db-cd77-4b77-ab7d-2ff8257bf8c5/ He will be in need of NFL coaching and NFL weight training to get his pad level right and to gain strength, after that, it remains to be seen if he can ever unseat some of the Lions depth to make the roster, for now, sounds like practice squad to me.
Chris Smith, defensive tackle, RAS of 8.46 (elite) and originally unranked on my board but I added him at 302. Unranked by most, he stood out at his pro day and Notre Dame has this bio on him https://und.com/sports/football/roster/season/2022-23/player/chris-smith/.
Adrian Martinez, quarterback, RAS of 9.47 (elite) and originally unranked on my board but I added him at 311. I had to once again go to Draft Buzz to find his bio https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Adrian-Martinez-QB-Nebraska and maybe he can make the practice squad depending on how much he can learn from the Lions’ quarterback coach.
Chase Cota, wide receiver, RAS of 9.34 (elite) and rumor is he has $80,000 of his salary guaranteed by the Lions. The Draft Network has him ranked 382 and he is known for his special teams play. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/chase-cota-8f61332f-2436-434f-881f-16574b07bd98/ If the rumor of the guarantee is accurate, he might make the final roster as a special teams player or at least the practice squad.
Brad Cecil, center, RAS of 5.18 (good) and not ranked on my board. Apparently not on The Draft Network either since they have a link but no info https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brad-cecil-ffd89afc-4291-46eb-9394-ff9696e8fef3/ Apparently he’s working towards a masters degree but I’m finding little on the player https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/usfs-cecil-chases-nfl-dream-213012799.html
Isaac Darkangel, linebacker, RAS of 7.16 (good). Another player with a blank bio https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/isaac-darkangelo-24b3d072-309b-47aa-b3c2-b6792b8d6b3f/ I know some have written articles on these guys but I’m not going searching for it, I just don’t have the time.
Cory Durden, defensive tackle, RAS of 4.96 (just shy of a good athlete, however pretty good for a nose tackle, if that is what he plays). The Draft Network has him ranked 308 https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/cory-durden-46f637a4-4b8f-40ca-940e-b8b7ce73a2bc/ but says he missed too many tackles, perhaps the Lions think they can fix that?
Zach Morton, edge, RAS of 9.31 (elite). All I know is that he is a Detroit native.
Keytaon Thompson, wide receiver, RAS of 5.36 (good). The Draft Network ranks him 361. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/keytaon-thompson-7a88839c-506f-4ddc-bcb6-f69c1c738fd4/ I don’t think I’ve ever read a profile mentioning a player who can be a wide receiver, a running back AND a quarterback. Interesting, if not puzzling about where he’d play.
Ryan Swoboda, offensive tackle, RAS of 9.31 (elite). They don’t make too many 6’ 9” OTs these days, must be why his bio is blank https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/ryan-swoboda-cb0e6807-c11c-47ab-acd8-9d82e144be04/
Trevor Nowaske, linebacker, RAS of 9.86 (elite). I know he played at Saginaw Valley State, and that’s just about it.
So there we are… two to four undrafted players that could make the final roster in my opinion and some others that could end up on the practice squad. In addition to all the draft trades affecting the Lions, and the draft picks themselves. The roster is certainly getting crowded with some very talented hard working players, makes me believe the future is very bright indeed.
Update: May 12, 2023... just found out today that another undrafted player was signed, a Steven Gilmore, cornerback. RAS of 6.26 (good athlete) hails from Marshall and The Draft Network has him ranked 356th https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/steven-gilmore-0b9b5ba7-fd2f-4123-88d0-3ba7f18b67d8/ while I didn't have him on my board. Younger brother of New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Now prior to the draft beginning the Lions traded away Okudah to the Falcons for a 5th round pick, number 159 overall. Using the Jerry Jones trade value chart that equates to 26.6 points and gave the Lions two 5th round picks to work with. Last year the Lions had traded TJ Hockenson to the Vikings for a 2nd rounder this year; that ended up being the 55th overall pick, worth 350 points and giving the Lions two 2nd round picks. And the year prior to that the Lions had traded away quarterback Matthew Stafford and received as the last part of the trade in 2023 the Rams 1st round pick which was 6th overall, netting them an 1800 point value and two 1st round picks to work with.
The Lions wait until they are on the clock at 6th overall and make a trade down to 12th overall with Arizona. The Cardinals received number 6 overall in the first round and number 81 overall in the third round, a total of 1,785 points. The Lions received 12th overall in the first round, 34th overall in the 2nd round, and 168th overall in the fifth round, a total of 1,783 points. They say no one uses the JJ draft value trade chart, but I’m thinking this is rather randomly close if true.
When the Lions finally got on the clock at pick 12 they selected Jahmyr Gibbs, running back. Gibbs has a RAS of 8.07 (elite athlete) and is known to have great hands for catching passes and great vision and quickness to hit the smallest of holes in the run game. I had him ranked 27th but other people had Gibbs ranked much higher. In fact, The Draft Network had him ranked 6th best player in the draft. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/jahmyr-gibbs-9a15a353-4267-4583-8b60-e1c77e08b588/ while The Huddle Report’s Drew Broylhart gave him a first round grade https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3162. Ourlads has already anointed him as the starting running back with Montgomery the backup, who can do many similar things but most importantly, take some of the strain of being a NFL running back for himself probably helping the both of them to remain effective longer.
The Lions patiently waited until their own first round pick at 18th overall and then drafted Jack Campbell, linebacker. Campbell has a RAS of 9.98 (high end of elite) and is known as a consistent tackler rarely missing. He has plenty of special teams experience and can play any LB position and is great against the run. I had him ranked 51st but again, others had him ranked higher. The Draft Network had him ranked 41st https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/jack-campbell-d213e4cd-9072-4d5b-bd52-05f43d4151c0/ while The Huddle Report’s Drew Broylhart gave him a 2nd round grade reasoning that most teams wouldn’t know just how to use Campbell correctly (he’s a throwback LB, not so much new age). https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3460 Ourlads has anointed him the starting middle linebacker, I’m just not sure if that is where he will play, his OTA and camp workouts will help to determine all that. One thing I do know for sure, the Lions could really use a sure tackling run defender and they now have one, plus his special teams contributions will help as well.
The Lions next pick due to the trade with Arizona was at the beginning of round 2 with the 34th overall pick where they selected Sam Laporta, tight end. Laporta has a RAS of 9.02 (elite) and is considered one of the top TEs in college football. The Draft Network had him ranked 50th overall while I had him ranked 54th. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/sam-laporta-0cceb5ff-8e5c-4f33-8f4a-9952da224c58/ and the Huddle Report’s Broylhart had him with a first round grade. https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3368 Ourlads as anointed him as the starting tight end but that might not be week 1, then again, it just might be.
Before the Lions could pick at 48 they traded up to 45 with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers received pick 48 and a round 5 pick, 159th overall. The points for the Packers added up to 446.6 while the Lions moving up 3 added up to 450, again very close to the trade value chart being used it would seem. With the 45th pick the Lions drafted Brian Branch, Safety and Slot Cornerback. Branch has a RAS of 5.27 (good athlete) and I had him ranked as the 15th best player in the draft. The Draft Network had him ranked 20th overall and is known for his versatility and violent tackling. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brian-branch-22d1b089-de8b-4e48-9e28-9c5aedd4d0d9/ The Huddle Report gave him a 1st round grade https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3194 Ourlads has him as the backup strong safety to Tracy Walker III but I think he takes over Okudah’s slot duties (eventually) and will get moved all around the defense depending on the play. Some of the other picks were considered “reaches” by many a pundit, but this pick is pretty much universally considered a “steal”.
Instead of using the 55th pick gained from the Hockenson trade, the Lions traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs ended up getting pick 55 and pick 194 in the 6th round (362.2 points) and the Lions got pick 63, pick 122 in the 4th round, and pick 249 in the 7th round (327 points). Points-wise, this was the worst of the many Lions trades.
The Lions weren’t done yet though, they then traded pick 63 to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos got 63 and 183 in the 6th round (301 points) and the Lions received pick 68 in the 3rd round and 139 in the 4th round (286.5 points). With the 68th pick at the top of round 3 the Lions drafted Hendon Hooker, quarterback. Due to injury Hooker has no RAS rating. The Draft Network has Hooker ranked 43rd overall and is considered a developmental starter but no one is entirely sure how his college work will translate in the NFL https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/hendon-hooker-cca46d4a-7198-4211-bed4-94aaa34a7b0a/. Drew Broylhart didn’t hesitate to put a 1st round grade on him though https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=3072, so it’s possible the transition will be easier than some think. Ourlads has Hooker as the 2nd string QB behind Goff.
The Lions apparently got nervous about losing their next target as they traded up from 122 to 96 with the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions got pick 96 (116 points) and the Cardinals received pick 122 in the 4th round, pick 139 in the 5th round, and pick 168 in the 5th round as well (109.5 points making it the best Lions trade points-wise). With the 96th pick the Lions selected Brodric Martin, nose tackle. Martin has a RAS of 2.14 which is not an unusual score for a nose tackle. Most places did not rank Martin at all. I had him as my 262nd ranked player. NFL Draft Buzz had him ranked as a 6th round pick https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Brodric-Martin-DT-WesternKentucky and all I know is he’s a big guy (over 330 pounds) but can move fast for a nose tackle. I’m assuming the Lions had word that he might go early in round 4 and felt it necessary to move up to ensure the pick. If he can command double teams (eventually) that frees up the rest of the defense to play one-on-one.
While the draft was going on, D’Andre Swift took exception to the Lions’ first round pick of Gibbs and asked to be traded. The Lions were able to trade him to the Eagles (near his home town) for pick 219 in the 7th round and a 4th round pick in 2025. The Lions also had to give up their 7th round pick of 249 to make the deal. Not sure how you add up points for a 4th rounder 2 years from now, and the other two picks were 1 point and 2 points, so I guess the Lions upgraded the position with a younger player who has a rookie contract just beginning while Swift was on the last year of his deal.
With the 152nd pick in the 5th round the Detroit Lions selected Colby Sordal, OT/OG. He has played both guard and tackle (both sides) and will look to become depth on the OL. Sordal has a RAS of 6.48 (Good) and he says he can play all 5 spots on the offensive line. https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/4/29/23704575/2023-nfl-draft-william-mary-ol-colby-sorsdal-selected-in-5th-round-by-detroit though very few draft pundits knew him at all so there isn’t much to work with as far as links go. If he can transition to the NFL this could very well be another find by Lions GM Holmes. I entered Sordal as my 300th player on my board after his selection.
Finally, at pick 219 in the 7th round the Lions drafted Antoine Green, wide receiver. The Draft Network had Green ranked 186th https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/antoine-green-71d9daa3-23e6-4b4b-b292-b13ed5499174/ and I had him ranked 267th. He is a fast deep vertical threat but I don’t know if he can make the transition to the NFL. Let’s just say the Lions coaches have their work cut out for them.
Now the draft is over but the Lions aren’t done looking under rocks just yet. They endeavor to sign (as far as we know) about 14 undrafted players. Rookie mini-camp is this upcoming weekend so until then the press has been pretty quiet and the undrafted rookies aren’t in Detroit yet to sign their contracts they agreed to so the transactions haven’t hit the wire yet. If the info I have is right, these are the players the Lions have added to their roster, and some of them ranked higher (as usual every year) then those that were drafted.
Brandon Joseph, strong safety, RAS of 6.47 (Good) and ranked 167th on my board (5th round). The Draft Network has him ranked 103rd (top of 4th round) and is known as a ball hawking safety. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brandon-joseph-09ae02d5-1816-4944-9676-280965990890/ In my opinion there is a good chance he makes the final roster or at least the practice squad.
Mohamed Ibrahim, running back, RAS of none (injured) and ranked 231 on my board (7th round). Rumor is the Lions guaranteed $100,000 of his salary in order to sign him. The Draft Network has him ranked 207th and he is known as an instinctive running back. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/mohamed-ibrahim-decdcffb-cf99-45fa-88dc-af782287258c/ In my opinion there a very good chance he makes the final roster especially if the guaranteed salary rumor is true.
Starling Thomas V, cornerback, RAS of 6.63 (good) and ranked 240th on my board (7th round). Draft Buzz has his profile https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Starling-ThomasV-CB-UAB and some other draft pundits figured he’d be drafted in the 6th or 7th round. I’m not sure if he’ll make the team but the practice squad does seem very likely. He is very fast and a sure tackler, so if he can pick up the defense fast enough it could make a lot of difference.
Connor Galvin, offensive tackle, RAS of 5.35 (good) and ranked 245th on my board (7th round). The Draft Network has him ranked 280th and he is known as a potential swing tackle in the NFL. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/connor-galvin-aef584db-cd77-4b77-ab7d-2ff8257bf8c5/ He will be in need of NFL coaching and NFL weight training to get his pad level right and to gain strength, after that, it remains to be seen if he can ever unseat some of the Lions depth to make the roster, for now, sounds like practice squad to me.
Chris Smith, defensive tackle, RAS of 8.46 (elite) and originally unranked on my board but I added him at 302. Unranked by most, he stood out at his pro day and Notre Dame has this bio on him https://und.com/sports/football/roster/season/2022-23/player/chris-smith/.
Adrian Martinez, quarterback, RAS of 9.47 (elite) and originally unranked on my board but I added him at 311. I had to once again go to Draft Buzz to find his bio https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Adrian-Martinez-QB-Nebraska and maybe he can make the practice squad depending on how much he can learn from the Lions’ quarterback coach.
Chase Cota, wide receiver, RAS of 9.34 (elite) and rumor is he has $80,000 of his salary guaranteed by the Lions. The Draft Network has him ranked 382 and he is known for his special teams play. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/chase-cota-8f61332f-2436-434f-881f-16574b07bd98/ If the rumor of the guarantee is accurate, he might make the final roster as a special teams player or at least the practice squad.
Brad Cecil, center, RAS of 5.18 (good) and not ranked on my board. Apparently not on The Draft Network either since they have a link but no info https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/brad-cecil-ffd89afc-4291-46eb-9394-ff9696e8fef3/ Apparently he’s working towards a masters degree but I’m finding little on the player https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/usfs-cecil-chases-nfl-dream-213012799.html
Isaac Darkangel, linebacker, RAS of 7.16 (good). Another player with a blank bio https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/isaac-darkangelo-24b3d072-309b-47aa-b3c2-b6792b8d6b3f/ I know some have written articles on these guys but I’m not going searching for it, I just don’t have the time.
Cory Durden, defensive tackle, RAS of 4.96 (just shy of a good athlete, however pretty good for a nose tackle, if that is what he plays). The Draft Network has him ranked 308 https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/cory-durden-46f637a4-4b8f-40ca-940e-b8b7ce73a2bc/ but says he missed too many tackles, perhaps the Lions think they can fix that?
Zach Morton, edge, RAS of 9.31 (elite). All I know is that he is a Detroit native.
Keytaon Thompson, wide receiver, RAS of 5.36 (good). The Draft Network ranks him 361. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/keytaon-thompson-7a88839c-506f-4ddc-bcb6-f69c1c738fd4/ I don’t think I’ve ever read a profile mentioning a player who can be a wide receiver, a running back AND a quarterback. Interesting, if not puzzling about where he’d play.
Ryan Swoboda, offensive tackle, RAS of 9.31 (elite). They don’t make too many 6’ 9” OTs these days, must be why his bio is blank https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/ryan-swoboda-cb0e6807-c11c-47ab-acd8-9d82e144be04/
Trevor Nowaske, linebacker, RAS of 9.86 (elite). I know he played at Saginaw Valley State, and that’s just about it.
So there we are… two to four undrafted players that could make the final roster in my opinion and some others that could end up on the practice squad. In addition to all the draft trades affecting the Lions, and the draft picks themselves. The roster is certainly getting crowded with some very talented hard working players, makes me believe the future is very bright indeed.
Update: May 12, 2023... just found out today that another undrafted player was signed, a Steven Gilmore, cornerback. RAS of 6.26 (good athlete) hails from Marshall and The Draft Network has him ranked 356th https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/steven-gilmore-0b9b5ba7-fd2f-4123-88d0-3ba7f18b67d8/ while I didn't have him on my board. Younger brother of New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions
The Lions started out day 3 with three draft picks. Eventually they would trade from 181 to 188 and gain pick 237 in the seventh round for a total of four draft picks. I haven't had time yet to do much research on any of the day 3 picks, none of them who were I had thought the Lions would draft, so I am unprepared to go into detail on any of them without researching first. In the end they drafted pretty much every position I figured they would with one exception, no backup offensive tackle and/or backup offensive guard. I guess they had to save something for 2023 on the line of scrimmage.
In round 5, at pick number 177, the Lions selected TE James Mitchell from Virginia Tech. He has no RAS score as his injury prevented him from completing all the drills necessary to produce a score. He'll start out as a backup, learning the craft and working the gym while on an NFL diet to build body mass. His versatility and coachability will allow the Lions to mold him into a great player for the team. If you want to read why I am saying that, read this: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/james-mitchell/0D6sbufrAw Once you read that you can easily see the appeal to the Lions in acquiring his various talents. Remember though, he's a round 5 pick on day 3, he was not drafted to be a ready-to-play-on-the-first-day kind of player. I had him ranked at 220, a full round later then when he was taken. I can live with that, teams (all teams) were taking players from all over the place ranking-wise.
As I said earlier, at 181 the Lions opted to trade down 7 picks to 188 and gain a mid-7th round pick. At 188 in the 6th round they selected with one of their two picks in this round; LB Malcolm Rodriguez from Oklahoma State. Malcolm has an elite RAS score of 9.28 and I had him ranked at 173. He will play middle linebacker but also be able to handle coverage tasks, a skill many LBs tend to lack. For a 6th round pick it appears at first glance that there isn't much work to do for the coaches, but I think the fitness guys need to get to him first, then the position coaches. For the complete details read: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/malcolm-rodriguez. In the end, I'm looking forward to watching his development on defense in the middle of the field.
The other pick in round 6 was at pick 217, where the Lions selected DE James Houston IV. I looked up his RAS score, and they have him listed as a LB. His RAS score is 7.92 but I did not have him included on my original board, so I am adding him. Some have him graded as a 7th rounder or undrafted free agent. I believe the Lions took him due to the interest in him from Dallas. My normal sources have no info on him, so I went to the opposition. This will give you all the details you need to see what the Lions have to start working with: https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/james-houston-2022-draft-profile/. He's raw, but he's an end of the 6th round draft pick, so that matches up fine. If he can match up with offensive opponents eventually he'll prove to be a good pick as well.
With the acquired pick in the 7th round, the Lions drafted CB Chase Lucas of Arizona State. My board listed him as a nickle cornerback with an RAS score of an elite 8.89. I also had him ranked at 218 on my board, ahead of both TE Mitchell the 5th round pick and James Houston, the second 6th round pick. The Lions drafted him 237th overall, I would imagine they were surprised to still find him available. My source shows him to be rated as a 4th round pick, a bit more than I had him, due to his speed, but I'm not sure if his instincts won't completely negate that shortcoming. Read up on him here: https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/chase-lucas-9c4b09df-21b8-4138-b2a9-3db995fbfc7a/. This player may turn out to be my favorite of all the players selected on day 3 by the Lions.
There are the specifics of each pick, my next blog post will be more of a general overview of the entire 2022 draft, and perhaps the state of the roster with these additions, I'm just waiting now for the list of undrafted rookies the Lions sign... my board has quite a number of options there that the Lions might be interested in, but they have room for only a few (unless they make cuts or trades). The next few days should prove as interesting as the past few days.
Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions didn't make any more trades on day 2 of the draft. Instead they selected two players that should help the team in positions of need. In fact, I put those very needs in my estimated depth chart weeks ago. So here is my take on the 2nd and 3rd round picks for the Lions this year.
At pick 46 (from last night's trade with the Vikings) the Lions selected DL Josh Paschal. The NFL at the time showed him as being a DE, but he can play anywhere on the DL and my source has him listed as a 5T defensive tackle, a postion I expected the Lions to draft to rotate with Brockers (and evenutally replace him). Paschal was 88th on my board, and he would not have made it to pick 97 (along with many others) so this was their 2nd round target. Paschal has an RAS score of 9.7, which means he is an elite athlete compared to other DL candidates in this draft. TheHuddleReport had him at 71 but they have no bio on him, so I had to look elsewhere. The only link you need to read to see why the Lions drafted this player is right here: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/josh-paschal. If after reading all of that you don't understand the pick, then you don't understand Holmes.
Next is the Lions pick at 97. Safety Kerby Joseph was ranked 100th on my board, but doesn't have a RAS score due to limited information. TheHuddleReport.com also has no bio on this player, so once again looking elsewhere. Choosing the same site, with a slightly less than glowing bio, here is the read on the Lions late 3rd round pick, which is technically about what you would expect from a player at that spot in the draft. https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/kerby-joseph/wGwqSPGAxb Personally I think, in a year or two, he'll become a good safety, but he's not ready to start just now.
Since that was it for the Lions picks, this should be the end of my blog entry, but allow me to toot my own horn a bit. Each year I check to see how my top 100 does against Mel Kiper and others, and this year is no different. My total for 2022 was 82 right. I won't know the score of the competition for a day or three, so we'll see how I did then. Meanwhile, one other bit of info if I may.
RAS is a score that compares one athlete to the others. It consists of things like 3 cone, and 40 yard times, and long jump, and height and weight, and so forth. It is completely factual. From data less than 2 months old. Above average is usually 5.0 or higher, meaning a good athlete (not football player, athlete) is from around 5.0 to about 7.9, the higher the better. An elite athlete is 8.0 or higher, maximum of 10.0, again, the higher the better. It is no more possible to know if a player with a high RAS will do well in the NFL than an interview or a flip of a coin would. However, NFL teams DO like athletic players, so even though RAS might not prove good or bad players of football, it does have a tendency to help determine if a player will get drafted, purely by accident really, teams don't use RAS score as far as I know.
Oh, I forgot my point. There were 105 selections in the first 3 rounds of the 2022 draft. At 100 I had 82 right (drafted before pick 101). The next 5 picks were taken from my board ranked 93, 74, 58, 209 and 158. That means a total of 20 picks were beyond my top 100 list after 105 picks. Of those 20, eleven were elite, seven were above average to real good, and two were not scored due to lack of information. That leaves none at average or below average. I'll say that again. Of the 20 players taken later then my rank of 100, not one was an average to below average athlete. Does that mean they will have successful NFL careers, you got me, but they did get drafted. There are more elite and good athletes remaining, but there are also 4 more rounds of drafting to go, what happens next should be interesting.
As for the what the Lions will do, my guesses at this point, a cornerback, a backup offensive tackle and/or guard, and a blocking style tight end. Instead they could go in any direction, this is just my guess. Saturday will show what they are really thinking.
Friday, April 29, 2022
Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions
Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft is in the books. The Detroit Lions came away with their original number two overall pick (no trades) and chose Edge Player Aidan Hutchinson (the number one player on my big board) from Michigan. He is a Campbell/Lions type of player. Loves the game. Never stops. Wants to keep getting better. All the things the Lions want in a player. For his bio, check this out: https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=2118
I figured that either Walker (first overall pick by the Jaguars) or Hutchinson was going to be the Lions pick almost a week ago, and that is how it worked out. Hutch was the overall number one player on my draft board and the Lions got him with the second overall pick. If they can coach him up, and I have no reason to believe they can't, he could easily become a Lion to remember for all those watching during his career. As with any draft pick, he could fail utterly, but it is much harder to fail if you are willing to work hard, play hard, and learn from good coaching.
Yes, I like the pick, though I would have liked about a handful of other options too. One of those "can't go wrong" things, possibly. There are no guarantees in the draft.
As the night proceeded suddenly it was announced the Lions had traded up, to 12, from 32. I dreaded learning what it cost. I only realized later on that the Lions traded with a division rival in the Minnesota Vikings. A huge no-no. You don't trade with division rivals. The Lions did, and according to the value charts, actually came out on top, if you care about that sort of thing.
The cost to move up 20 spots in round 1 was to move down 12 spots in round 2 AND to completely give up to the Vikings the 2nd overall pick in round 3 (number 66). I don't know yet who the Vikings will take at 66, and that will play into the value of this trade heavily, but for now just know I absolutely HATE trading two draft picks for one draft pick. That's like trading two dollars for one dollar in my book. True it doubles the odds that you have a counterfeit buck, but I just don't care for it in a general sense.
So the Lions trade two picks to move up and then select a wide receiver. Not just any WR but Jameson Williams, who tore his ACL just a number of months ago. So an injured player. In the first round. Trading away two picks to do it, along with moving down 12 spots in round 2. I was/am not happy about that.
Now, having said all that, Williams is a very fast WR (when his knees are working). He gets open, is a bit underweight but not under height (you can't grow taller but you can gain muscle mass), and he has good hands and plays fearless, when he can actually walk. So it may take some time to heal, to get into condition, to learn the NFL from an injured position which is harder than from a healthy position. But eventually, it is quite possible, the pick will be a huge difference maker on a team that needs that sort of player. There are asteriks all over the place on this pick, it is a gamble, it was a target, it might work out great, or not. Most believe it will work out great, I have no reason to think overwise, but I'm a Lions fan, my thinking on this type of situation might be rather skewed, to say the least.
Williams was the 13th player on my board, despite his injury. The Lions selected him 12th. So the tally to date is, got the 1st place player second and the 13th place player twelth. No reaches, no falling into the lap. The Lions are worse off for round 2, and lost out an early third round pick, so there is ground to be made up, and I'm curious to see what is made of day two. Nervous yes, but curious also. Who will they target next and what will the cost be?
Oh, and Williams bio? Here you go... from the same source... https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=2290 and you might note, that at 1.40, it makes him the best player in the draft based on film alone (no defensive player scored above 1.41 and no offensive player either). So at least one person thinks the Lions did fantastic, and others will surely follow.
Me? I'm still upset about the trade. The drafting of an injured WR in round 1. And having to consider I just might be wrong. That part really sucks.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
The 2022 Detroit Lions Roster, What are the Real holes in it?
In order to complete this blog entry I visited the Lions depth chart at https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/pfdepthchart/DET and then compared that to what a team needs at https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-each-position-s-importance-from-quarterback-to-returner-0ap3000000503855 based on importance. Free agency is about half way over (pre-draft) and the Lions have 9 picks in the upcoming draft so allow me to talk a bit about what the team has and needs (as far as starters go).
QB Jarrad Goff. Do I think he's the complete answer at quarterback? Probably not. But he will be the starting QB for 2022 regardless, and if he proves to be better than in the recent past, he might be the QB in 2023 as well. Meanwhile, the rest of the team needs to be worked on and at some future point, whoever is at QB, will benefit from these improvements.
Designated pass rusher 1 (RDE/ROLB) The actual position depends on what defense the team operates. The Lions are paying Romeo Okwara to be the starter here, with Michael Brockers and him rotating in and out. To this point that isn't working too great, considering the importance of the position, and Brockers is looking to maybe hit free agency next year. A first round draft pick at this position is not entirely out of the question.
Left tackle Taylor Decker. Lions extended his contract and he's been playing the position very well (when not injured). I doubt there are any plans to insert a different player at this position any time soon.
Left cornerback Amani Oruwariye. There is talk about extending his contract this year and his play has improved each of the past two seasons. He isn't exactly as household name or called an island, but until he loses a step he should remain the top CB for the Lions.
Wide receiver 1 DJ Chark. If he can stay healthy this new Lion could prove to be the solution to the top WR position on the team. I am uncertain though if he's the pro bowl type or if he can stay healthy, so depth here is a major concern (his backup is Kalif Raymond).
Defensive tackle Alim McNeil, last year's third round draft pick, is the current favorite to be filling the 6th most important position. He will need to improve his run defense and command double teams to prove it though, and it's unknown if he can do that. Next to him plays last year's second round draft pick Levi Onwuzurike, a much larger player, perhaps better suited for the double team and run stuffing role... but boy if the both of them could up their play and both do well, the defensive line would be boosted an aweful lot.
Running back D'Andre Swift, when healthy, is a force to be reckoned with. The Lions have pretty good depth at RB as well, I don't foresee too much draft capital being spent here.
Designated pass rusher 2 (LDE/LOLB) Charles Harris was re-signed to fill this role, and he was improving last year as time went by, he gets rotated in and out with Julian Okwara (3rd round 2020). Should the improvement continue for both of them this position could be considered well outfitted.
Middle linebacker Derrick Barnes, the 4th round pick from last year, needs to take that next step if he's to be the main starting MLB for the Lions. If the Lions are in the 3/4 scheme he would play next to Alex Anzalone and at times Jarrad Davis. The depth at LB is about as questionable as the starters, so a draft pick or even two at LB isn't out of the question, but neither is the Lions saying they are set out of the question. It all depends on how well they feel about who is going to step up.
Tight end TJ Hockenson is set to have a great season, just like last year, if he stays healthy. There is a lot of potential in the depth behind Hock, no one knows for sure though if they will produce (or can block well).
Free safety Will Harris is definitely a weak link in the defense and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Lions look to upgrade the position and make him fight for his starting role.
Weak-side linebacker Jarrad Davis, if that is what he ends up playing, can fill a gap and blitz. I'm just not sure he is the full time answer for the Lions, and I wonder if the Lions are wondering that too, enough to use draft capital on LB (as explained earlier).
Right tackle Penei Sewell was last year's first round draft pick and after a rocky start proved to be every bit a great RT for the Lions. I fully expect that development to continue and the Lions not worrying too much about this position.
Right cornerback Jerry Jacobs? Ifeatu Melifonwu? I fully expect last year's other 3rd round draft pick to win this positional battle, even though Jacobs played okay later in the year last season.
Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai plays RG quite well, but was signed to a RT contract. The cap hit to cut him was too steep before and now he's proven his worth at RG (and emergency backup RT) so for now that position seems to be filled.
Wide receiver 2 or possession receiver Josh Reynolds won the job late last year when Quentiz Cephus went down with an injury. I think the Lions consider this position filled.
Center Frank Ragnow along with backup Evan Brown is about as solid of a position on the roster as the Lions can get. No changes foreseen.
Strong safety Tracy Walker III was recently re-signed and is set to fill this starting role.
Strong-side linebacker is probably Chris Board but no one is sure who will be the starter or even if it matters as the Lions aren't likely to play with 3 LBs on the field at the same time too often, they might, but it's not likely.
Left guard Jonah Jackson is not all pro material, yet, but he seems to be holding his own. If the rest of the line plays better then he does the OL will be pretty good for both the run and the pass.
Nose tackle Alim McNeil and John Penisini were talked about above, I think the Lions are pretty much set at this position.
Wide receiver 3 or the slot WR Amon Ra St-Brown was last year's 4th round pick and even as a rookie proved he is the starting slot WR. I look forward to watching him be a 2nd year player for the Lions.
Kicker Riley Patterson proved me wrong and became a solid kicker for the Lions last year. I think they actually found a diamond here.
Punter Jack Fox has also proved to be the guy at punter. No changes foreseen here either.
Return specialist Igwebuike? Raymond? or someone new? Lions haven't exactly proven they have the perfect return specialist just yet. If a draft pick can also return he might be more coveted then an equal player who can not.
The last two not mentioned in the article the Lions are also set at, Long Snapper Scott Daly did well last year as did Fullback Jason Cabinda who was re-signed to that position.
So what upgrades are needed? It differs for different people. I'd say the Free Safety for sure, a designated pass rusher, and a cornerback are up there, in no particular order. Followed closely by a deep receiving threat, a linebacker or two, and perhaps more cornerback depth, heck depth everywhere, but only depth that can actually beat out the current depth players.
QB Jarrad Goff. Do I think he's the complete answer at quarterback? Probably not. But he will be the starting QB for 2022 regardless, and if he proves to be better than in the recent past, he might be the QB in 2023 as well. Meanwhile, the rest of the team needs to be worked on and at some future point, whoever is at QB, will benefit from these improvements.
Designated pass rusher 1 (RDE/ROLB) The actual position depends on what defense the team operates. The Lions are paying Romeo Okwara to be the starter here, with Michael Brockers and him rotating in and out. To this point that isn't working too great, considering the importance of the position, and Brockers is looking to maybe hit free agency next year. A first round draft pick at this position is not entirely out of the question.
Left tackle Taylor Decker. Lions extended his contract and he's been playing the position very well (when not injured). I doubt there are any plans to insert a different player at this position any time soon.
Left cornerback Amani Oruwariye. There is talk about extending his contract this year and his play has improved each of the past two seasons. He isn't exactly as household name or called an island, but until he loses a step he should remain the top CB for the Lions.
Wide receiver 1 DJ Chark. If he can stay healthy this new Lion could prove to be the solution to the top WR position on the team. I am uncertain though if he's the pro bowl type or if he can stay healthy, so depth here is a major concern (his backup is Kalif Raymond).
Defensive tackle Alim McNeil, last year's third round draft pick, is the current favorite to be filling the 6th most important position. He will need to improve his run defense and command double teams to prove it though, and it's unknown if he can do that. Next to him plays last year's second round draft pick Levi Onwuzurike, a much larger player, perhaps better suited for the double team and run stuffing role... but boy if the both of them could up their play and both do well, the defensive line would be boosted an aweful lot.
Running back D'Andre Swift, when healthy, is a force to be reckoned with. The Lions have pretty good depth at RB as well, I don't foresee too much draft capital being spent here.
Designated pass rusher 2 (LDE/LOLB) Charles Harris was re-signed to fill this role, and he was improving last year as time went by, he gets rotated in and out with Julian Okwara (3rd round 2020). Should the improvement continue for both of them this position could be considered well outfitted.
Middle linebacker Derrick Barnes, the 4th round pick from last year, needs to take that next step if he's to be the main starting MLB for the Lions. If the Lions are in the 3/4 scheme he would play next to Alex Anzalone and at times Jarrad Davis. The depth at LB is about as questionable as the starters, so a draft pick or even two at LB isn't out of the question, but neither is the Lions saying they are set out of the question. It all depends on how well they feel about who is going to step up.
Tight end TJ Hockenson is set to have a great season, just like last year, if he stays healthy. There is a lot of potential in the depth behind Hock, no one knows for sure though if they will produce (or can block well).
Free safety Will Harris is definitely a weak link in the defense and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Lions look to upgrade the position and make him fight for his starting role.
Weak-side linebacker Jarrad Davis, if that is what he ends up playing, can fill a gap and blitz. I'm just not sure he is the full time answer for the Lions, and I wonder if the Lions are wondering that too, enough to use draft capital on LB (as explained earlier).
Right tackle Penei Sewell was last year's first round draft pick and after a rocky start proved to be every bit a great RT for the Lions. I fully expect that development to continue and the Lions not worrying too much about this position.
Right cornerback Jerry Jacobs? Ifeatu Melifonwu? I fully expect last year's other 3rd round draft pick to win this positional battle, even though Jacobs played okay later in the year last season.
Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai plays RG quite well, but was signed to a RT contract. The cap hit to cut him was too steep before and now he's proven his worth at RG (and emergency backup RT) so for now that position seems to be filled.
Wide receiver 2 or possession receiver Josh Reynolds won the job late last year when Quentiz Cephus went down with an injury. I think the Lions consider this position filled.
Center Frank Ragnow along with backup Evan Brown is about as solid of a position on the roster as the Lions can get. No changes foreseen.
Strong safety Tracy Walker III was recently re-signed and is set to fill this starting role.
Strong-side linebacker is probably Chris Board but no one is sure who will be the starter or even if it matters as the Lions aren't likely to play with 3 LBs on the field at the same time too often, they might, but it's not likely.
Left guard Jonah Jackson is not all pro material, yet, but he seems to be holding his own. If the rest of the line plays better then he does the OL will be pretty good for both the run and the pass.
Nose tackle Alim McNeil and John Penisini were talked about above, I think the Lions are pretty much set at this position.
Wide receiver 3 or the slot WR Amon Ra St-Brown was last year's 4th round pick and even as a rookie proved he is the starting slot WR. I look forward to watching him be a 2nd year player for the Lions.
Kicker Riley Patterson proved me wrong and became a solid kicker for the Lions last year. I think they actually found a diamond here.
Punter Jack Fox has also proved to be the guy at punter. No changes foreseen here either.
Return specialist Igwebuike? Raymond? or someone new? Lions haven't exactly proven they have the perfect return specialist just yet. If a draft pick can also return he might be more coveted then an equal player who can not.
The last two not mentioned in the article the Lions are also set at, Long Snapper Scott Daly did well last year as did Fullback Jason Cabinda who was re-signed to that position.
So what upgrades are needed? It differs for different people. I'd say the Free Safety for sure, a designated pass rusher, and a cornerback are up there, in no particular order. Followed closely by a deep receiving threat, a linebacker or two, and perhaps more cornerback depth, heck depth everywhere, but only depth that can actually beat out the current depth players.
Sunday, January 9, 2022
State of the Detroit Lions, 2022 edition.
Today the Detroit Lions finished their 2021 season with a win against the Green Bay Packers 37-30 for a 3-13-1 record. Today also is my first blog post since the end of the 2020 NFL draft. What with the pandemic and numerous other issues that I shall not go into, this was the first chance I really had to create an entry.
Instead of trying to catch up with the 2020 season, the 2021 draft, the coaching change last year, and all the roster moves since, I'll pick up where they are at as the 2022 off season officially begins, which is tomorrow. First note, the offensive coordinator hired a year ago has been fired today. Head Coach Dan Campbell has been calling the plays since mid-season 2021, so it remains to be seen if they will search for a new OC or promote from within or have Campbell wear two hats in 2022.
The Lions have a small amount of salary cap space to carry over into the 2022 season, so with the current contracts in place for 2022 they should have roughly $35 to $40 million to work with as they begin the year if my numbers are correct. The Lions do have some dead cap for 2022 already, mostly from the LB Collins cut plus a couple others cut after June 1st. So $8,165,786 is set to be dead cap space in 2022 before they even get started working on the roster. There are also only 37 players under contract for 2022 at this point in time. One player at risk of being let go due to cap reasons is Flowers, who they might not view as being worth a $16 million salary, but cutting him creats more dead cap space, yet saves about $10.3 million in cap space for 2022.
There are a large number of unrestricted free agents they may or may not re-sign, along with restricted free agents they may or may not tender an offer to, and even a number of eRFA's that will either agree to the league minimum contract the Lions might offer them or sit home, as eRFA's don't have enough years in the league to negotiate contracts with other teams, like at all.
Player Pos. Type Snaps Age
Tim Boyle QB UFA 17.2% 28
Jalen Reeves-Maybin LB UFA 51.1%
Nicholas Williams IDL UFA 54.8%
Josh Reynolds WR UFA 39.9% 27
Alex Anzalone LB UFA 77.2% 28
Charles Harris EDGE UFA 75.4% 27
Kalif Raymond WR UFA 67.1% 28
KhaDarel Hodge WR UFA 22.8% 27
Dean Marlowe S UFA 59.3% 30
Tracy Walker S UFA 76.0% 27
Tyrell Crosby RT UFA 0.0% 27
Shaun Dion Hamilton LB UFA 0.0% 27
Joel Heath IDL UFA 0.0% 29
Evan Brown C RFA 71.9% 26
Jason Cabinda LB RFA 0.0% 26
Will Holden LT RFA 3.8% 29
David Blough QB RFA 0.4% 27
C.J. Moore S RFA 13.6% 27
Josh Woods LB RFA 10.5% 26
Godwin Igwebuike S eRFA 0.0% 28
Jack Fox P eRFA 35.6% 26
Matt Nelson RT eRFA 59.1% 27
Jessie Lemonier EDGE eRFA 12.4% 25
Bobby Price S eRFA 14.1% 24
Jalen Elliott S eRFA 8.6% 24
Scott Daly LS eRFA 29.1% 28
Tom Kennedy WR eRFA 12.8% 26
Rashod Berry TE eRFA 0.0% 26
Mark Gilbert CB eRFA 4.4% 25
Riley Patterson K eRFA 6.3%
Tommy Kraemer LG eRFA 20.5% 24
Brock Wright TE eRFA 24.8% 24
Ryan McCollum C eRFA 6.7% 24
Anthony Pittman LB eRFA 6.9% 26
Shane Zylstra TE SFA? 7.9% 26
Rodney Smith RB SFA? 3.4% 26
The Lions also have draft capital, their 3-13-1 record nets them 2nd overall picks in the rounds they still have picks in. Plus an extra 1st round pick for the Stafford trade. Plus comp picks and other moves they have made. The final spots won't be determined until the Rams exit the playoffs, so we'll save that for a future post.
It's too early yet to determine who will get a chance to make the Lions roster in 2022, but a number of years ago an NFL writer ranked the importance of each position on a team. Though running the 3-4 defense makes some of it harder to interpret. The article can be found at https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-each-position-s-importance-from-quarterback-to-returner-0ap3000000503855
I think if you go through the list in that article, you'd likely agree the Lions are in need of a Safety, a couple of Linebackers, a Wide Receiver, and an Edge rusher to start with (not in this order). There are other positions that could maybe use competition or an upgrade, but those first 5 stand out as must upgrades to me. I was going to go through each and every one, and still might, but for now I'll just leave you with the link as this post is getting rather long as it is.
More to come later. Thank you for reading my State of the Lions report.
Instead of trying to catch up with the 2020 season, the 2021 draft, the coaching change last year, and all the roster moves since, I'll pick up where they are at as the 2022 off season officially begins, which is tomorrow. First note, the offensive coordinator hired a year ago has been fired today. Head Coach Dan Campbell has been calling the plays since mid-season 2021, so it remains to be seen if they will search for a new OC or promote from within or have Campbell wear two hats in 2022.
The Lions have a small amount of salary cap space to carry over into the 2022 season, so with the current contracts in place for 2022 they should have roughly $35 to $40 million to work with as they begin the year if my numbers are correct. The Lions do have some dead cap for 2022 already, mostly from the LB Collins cut plus a couple others cut after June 1st. So $8,165,786 is set to be dead cap space in 2022 before they even get started working on the roster. There are also only 37 players under contract for 2022 at this point in time. One player at risk of being let go due to cap reasons is Flowers, who they might not view as being worth a $16 million salary, but cutting him creats more dead cap space, yet saves about $10.3 million in cap space for 2022.
There are a large number of unrestricted free agents they may or may not re-sign, along with restricted free agents they may or may not tender an offer to, and even a number of eRFA's that will either agree to the league minimum contract the Lions might offer them or sit home, as eRFA's don't have enough years in the league to negotiate contracts with other teams, like at all.
Player Pos. Type Snaps Age
Tim Boyle QB UFA 17.2% 28
Jalen Reeves-Maybin LB UFA 51.1%
Nicholas Williams IDL UFA 54.8%
Josh Reynolds WR UFA 39.9% 27
Alex Anzalone LB UFA 77.2% 28
Charles Harris EDGE UFA 75.4% 27
Kalif Raymond WR UFA 67.1% 28
KhaDarel Hodge WR UFA 22.8% 27
Dean Marlowe S UFA 59.3% 30
Tracy Walker S UFA 76.0% 27
Tyrell Crosby RT UFA 0.0% 27
Shaun Dion Hamilton LB UFA 0.0% 27
Joel Heath IDL UFA 0.0% 29
Evan Brown C RFA 71.9% 26
Jason Cabinda LB RFA 0.0% 26
Will Holden LT RFA 3.8% 29
David Blough QB RFA 0.4% 27
C.J. Moore S RFA 13.6% 27
Josh Woods LB RFA 10.5% 26
Godwin Igwebuike S eRFA 0.0% 28
Jack Fox P eRFA 35.6% 26
Matt Nelson RT eRFA 59.1% 27
Jessie Lemonier EDGE eRFA 12.4% 25
Bobby Price S eRFA 14.1% 24
Jalen Elliott S eRFA 8.6% 24
Scott Daly LS eRFA 29.1% 28
Tom Kennedy WR eRFA 12.8% 26
Rashod Berry TE eRFA 0.0% 26
Mark Gilbert CB eRFA 4.4% 25
Riley Patterson K eRFA 6.3%
Tommy Kraemer LG eRFA 20.5% 24
Brock Wright TE eRFA 24.8% 24
Ryan McCollum C eRFA 6.7% 24
Anthony Pittman LB eRFA 6.9% 26
Shane Zylstra TE SFA? 7.9% 26
Rodney Smith RB SFA? 3.4% 26
The Lions also have draft capital, their 3-13-1 record nets them 2nd overall picks in the rounds they still have picks in. Plus an extra 1st round pick for the Stafford trade. Plus comp picks and other moves they have made. The final spots won't be determined until the Rams exit the playoffs, so we'll save that for a future post.
It's too early yet to determine who will get a chance to make the Lions roster in 2022, but a number of years ago an NFL writer ranked the importance of each position on a team. Though running the 3-4 defense makes some of it harder to interpret. The article can be found at https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-each-position-s-importance-from-quarterback-to-returner-0ap3000000503855
I think if you go through the list in that article, you'd likely agree the Lions are in need of a Safety, a couple of Linebackers, a Wide Receiver, and an Edge rusher to start with (not in this order). There are other positions that could maybe use competition or an upgrade, but those first 5 stand out as must upgrades to me. I was going to go through each and every one, and still might, but for now I'll just leave you with the link as this post is getting rather long as it is.
More to come later. Thank you for reading my State of the Lions report.
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