Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Lions sign veteran FA center to one year deal.
Maybe just insurance, but could compete with Glasgow and the rookies for a starting spot.
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2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 Getting ready for camp. (17 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Lions sign veteran FA center to one year deal.
Maybe just insurance, but could compete with Glasgow and the rookies for a starting spot.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Not bad insurance at all, though I haven't paid attention to him since he left Baltimore. I'm guessing he works as hard now as he did then. And, he can play all three IOL positions.
These kinds of signings will sometimes save your season.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
He’s played 8 snaps at C the last three years. Def a solid IOL who has started all three spots, and big ups for carving out a career after going undrafted. Never been a FT starter - last year a career high 386 snaps - but he's always been known as gritty and hardworking.
Offensive line (9)
Projected StartersLT Taylor Decker - Solid vet
LG Christian Mahogany - Hard to project off two games but boy was he sharp starting once on each side
C Graham Glasgow - I have serious reservations but I'm probably still bitter about how bad he played vs the Commanders in the playoffs
RG Tate Ratledge - Looks like a 10 year guy, we'll see what his ceiling is but love everything about him
RT Penei Sewell - Stud
Projected Backups
IOL Trystan Colon - Probably an upgrade from Awosika
OL Miles Frazier - Started all four G/T positions in college but best suited at G; might be a starter in Y2
OT Giovanni Manu - With his mammoth size you'd think his length makes him ideal candidate to replace Decker, but was a healthy scratch all 18 g last year. Long term project.
Swing Tackle Dan Skipper - Legend who made his first 53-man out of camp last year
Unlikely to make the 53-man but lot of decent options for the practice squad
G Kayode Awosika - I think he is solid but they might prefer Colon's versatility
C Kingsley Eguakun - UDFA Y2, another year on the practice squad seems likely
C Leif Fautanu - UDFA rookie, smallish but only allowed 8 presseures 0 sacks last year
T Jamarco Jones - Camp body
T Mason Miller - UDFA rookie
G Netane Muti - IR all of last year, was having a great TC, but he has a long history of injuries
C Michael Niese - wasn't signed a futures deal in January, resigned in April, just a camp body
OL Colby Sorsdal - If they keep 10 OL instead of 9 I think it's him or Awosika, and given Holmes history, the guy who was drafted has the edge
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I'm admittedly paranoid about OL depth. But I love these kind of multi-positional back-up guys who have been around a while. They've been cut multiple times, yet they keep finding teams that will sign them. Their current team doesn't have to worry about whether they know how to get themselves ready for the season or their work habits.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
You have to quit with the whole guaranteed thing. There is no guarantees in any sports ever.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions adding veteran lineman days after Ragnow retirement announcement
Allen Park — Two days after All-Pro center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement, the Detroit Lions are adding reinforcements to the team's offseason line. On Wednesday, the NFL Network reported the Lions are signing Trystan Colon.
Undrafted out of Missouri in 2020, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound Colon initially signed with the Baltimore Ravens, spending three years with the franchise. More recently, he played the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Colon has logged 15 starts in his career, including a career-high seven for Arizona in 2024. Most of those snaps came at right guard, but he's also seen action at left guard and center. He was a three-year starting center at Missouri.
Update: Colon replaces cornerback Divaad Wilson on the roster. He was signed on Monday but waived with an injury designation two days later.
Wilson entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2023 with Jacksonville, but he's spent most of his pro career with the Cardinals. The six-foot, 195-pounder has appeared in seven games, recording 10 tackles and a pass breakup.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions News: New LB says practice intensity in Detroit is ‘eye-opening’
Lions’ linebacker Grant Stuard noticed a difference in Allen Park from the jumpNew Detroit Lions’ linebacker Grant Stuard has been around the block before in the NFL. The fifth-year linebacker spent his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the last three with the Indianapolis Colts. Two well-run, respectable franchises. However, having spent a little time in the Lions’ offseason program, Stuard has quickly noticed that things are a bit different over in Allen Park.
“It’s been something. It’s been an adjustment period, you know what I’m saying?” Stuard told Kory Woods of MLive following Week 1 of OTAs in Allen Park. “And I’m studying my butt off just because the standard is the standard here. So (I’m) just trying to really match that level of intensity and expectation.”
For someone like Stuard, who is known for how hard he plays the game, to comment on the intensity during practice—you know Lions’ coach Dan Campbell really has things dialed in.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Detroit Lions planned for possibility of Frank Ragnow’s retirement
Reflecting on an offseason’s worth of quotes reveals the Lions were prepared for the possibility of Frank Ragnow retiringBy Erik Schlitt
When All-Pro center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement, many fans and football analysts were caught off guard—but were the Detroit Lions?Some will point to the timing of Ragnow’s retirement on Monday, noting that it occurred after free agency and the draft, and argue that he did the Lions a disservice by not allowing them time to prepare for his departure. However, when you reflect on the offseason and reconsider the messages from the team—both in the media and through their actions, i.e., drafting two interior offensive linemen—it appears that the Lions were aware of this possibility and were making plans to keep the team operating at a high level.
Let’s examine some quotes and decisions the Lions made this offseason to see if we can gain some clarity.
Hints about Glasgow’s future
Reflecting back to late March at the owners meetings, Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked about Graham Glasgow's play at guard and his future with the organization. Here are a few highlights from what he said (Editor’s note: the author made all bolding emphasis throughout this article):At the time, Campbell's response was somewhat confusing, as most questions surrounding Glasgow centered on him playing guard, yet the coach kept returning to his ability to play center. In the moment, we speculated if Campbell was hinting that Glasgow could be headed to a reserve role. But in hindsight, Campbell may have subconsciously given us a clue that they may need Glasgow to play center as soon as this season.
When Campbell was asked about Glasgow shifting from left to right guard, he remained purposefully vague, suggesting they’d find out in camp.
While Glasgow certainly appears to be the frontrunner for the starting center position, the Lions will hold a competition to see who can win the job. But even if the role goes to another player, this post-NFL Draft quote from general manager Brad Holmes suggests the veteran offensive lineman will still be a massive piece to the organization in 2025.
“Versatility” has been a keyword Holmes and Campbell have used throughout the offseason—and really their tenures in Detroit—and it was clearly a critical trait they looked for when starting their youth movement on the offensive line.
Targeting Tate Ratledge
Ratledge played over 2,000 college snaps at right guard but just four at left guard—and didn’t have any snaps at center or tackle at Georgia. But like most elite college programs, Ratledge was being cross-trained at multiple positions. Here’s an excerpt from Ratledge’s post-draft interview discussing his cross-training:While inexperienced at the pivot, Ratledge is very much a team player and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the organization.
Through rookie minicamp and Week 1 of Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Ratledge has gotten his chance to compete by taking the majority of his snaps at center in an effort to further his familiarity with the position.
Here’s Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley talked about Ratledge’s exposure to center:
Fraley confidently suggesting that Ratledge will become comfortable working from the pivot is not by accident. If we reflect on what Holmes said about Ratledge post-draft, we’ll notice that he strongly emphasized Ratledge’s versatility.
When asked to compare Ratledge and Christian Mahogany’s “dirtbag” style of play, Holmes, once again, focused on the rookie’s versatility.
While Holmes clearly believes Ratledge has the potential versatility to play center, he is also very aware that they’ll need Fraley to help him get comfortable with all the position entails.
Hindsight is 20/20
While the Lions likely weren’t certain Ragnow was set to retire in 2025, their actions and statements clearly indicate that they had planned for the possibility.It wasn’t entirely clear at the time, but at every opportunity to discuss Glasgow, both Holmes and Campbell focused their responses on his positional versatility and their confidence in him to contribute in 2025—as well as help the younger interior offensive linemen adapt to the NFL.
The Lions also believe Ratledge has the intelligence, athleticism, and versatility to transition to center—even if it’s not in 2025—while also strongly indicating that they believe Fraley is an elite coach who can help facilitate that move.
Additionally, while it may appear that the timing of Ragnow’s retirement announcement left the Lions in a tough spot, it’s worth noting that his decision to wait until June 2 allowed the team to distribute his salary cap hit in a more team-friendly manner. This suggests that the team was informed of his decision prior to his announcement, and they likely asked him to wait until June 2 to help the organization.
So, how will things play out?
We’ll have to wait until training camp to see the end results, but hindsight suggests the Lions have planned accordingly and put multiple contingencies in place of Ragnow’s retirement.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I thought the timing was kinda interesting. Good move on his part.
I'm going to trust Jon Jansen who stated this is a good depth player, but not one we should expect to start.
He believes there are still guys out there we can add such as Brandon Scherff to improve the line.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Are the Lions the NFL's Complete Team?
Check The Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson YT podcast
Sam has them at #2, with the only weakness - and even then it's tertiary - is the second Edge rusher is a guy who is coming off back to back seasons lost to injury. Terrion Arnold has to improve. They've been one of the best drafting teams every single year since Holmes and Campbell became a thing.
Steve has them #1. The Bills probably have a better starting 22, but they don't have the depth or the star power Detroit has. They lost both coordinators but they have enough continuity that shouldn't be a major issue, but it's still a big challenge. Last year they looked like the most dominant team in the NFL for most of the year, so the disappointment of the last two years is going to be a big mental challenge.
But the ranking is for the best roster - who is the best team on paper absent the intangibles.
Top 5 and Worst 5
Sam's List
Steve's List
29. New York Giants
30. New York Jets
31. Tennessee
32. New Orleans
same show, dropped today
Dan Campbell will be at the podium today (around 11:15)
Check The Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson YT podcast
Sam has them at #2, with the only weakness - and even then it's tertiary - is the second Edge rusher is a guy who is coming off back to back seasons lost to injury. Terrion Arnold has to improve. They've been one of the best drafting teams every single year since Holmes and Campbell became a thing.
Steve has them #1. The Bills probably have a better starting 22, but they don't have the depth or the star power Detroit has. They lost both coordinators but they have enough continuity that shouldn't be a major issue, but it's still a big challenge. Last year they looked like the most dominant team in the NFL for most of the year, so the disappointment of the last two years is going to be a big mental challenge.
But the ranking is for the best roster - who is the best team on paper absent the intangibles.
Top 5 and Worst 5
Sam's List
- Philadelphia
- Detroit
- Baltimore
- Buffalo
- Denver
28. Miami
29. Cleveland
30. New England
31. Tennessee
32. New Orleans
Steve's List
- Detroit
- Buffalo
- Philadelphia
- Balimore
- Kansas City
29. New York Giants
30. New York Jets
31. Tennessee
32. New Orleans
same show, dropped today
How Frank Ragnow’s Retirement Affects the Lions
Dan Campbell will be at the podium today (around 11:15)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Today is the final day of OTAs, which means this will the last media appearance at Allen Park for any of the coaches or players until the start of training camp.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
MCDC thought he was sitting down with his old Strength & Conditioning coach for an interview about his time at Texas A & M.
Great video as they had a bunch of Dan’s former teammates & Coach RC Slocum film congratulation messages. Holly & the kids were hiding off camera.
An unforgettable surprise for one of the greats. Congratulations to Aggie legend Dan Campbell for receiving the Lettermen's Association 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award!
(2 minutes)
Man, I don’t how old you are or what you’ve accomplished - being honored by your alma mater is overwhelming. I was asked by the community college I started at to give the commencement address one year. Another time, the school of business at CMU gave me an alumni award. It’s like your dad telling you he’s proud of you…makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Congrats to Coach Dan, well deserved!
Great video as they had a bunch of Dan’s former teammates & Coach RC Slocum film congratulation messages. Holly & the kids were hiding off camera.
An unforgettable surprise for one of the greats. Congratulations to Aggie legend Dan Campbell for receiving the Lettermen's Association 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award!
(2 minutes)
Man, I don’t how old you are or what you’ve accomplished - being honored by your alma mater is overwhelming. I was asked by the community college I started at to give the commencement address one year. Another time, the school of business at CMU gave me an alumni award. It’s like your dad telling you he’s proud of you…makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Congrats to Coach Dan, well deserved!
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' Campbell thanks Ragnow, calls it the right decision, explains team has option, chides talk of contract concerns
Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell delivered the team's first public comments on Thursday regarding the abrupt retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow earlier this week, praising the player and his decision.
"Frank's been an unbelievable teammate, football player, man in the community," Campbell said. "Man, he's done it all. He will be sorely missed. One of the greatest memories I have of Frank is the divisional (round playoff game) against Tampa Bay. Fourth-and-1, we run downhill to Craig Reynolds, man, and he's got big boy (Vita Vea), and he hits him, and he kind of hits a knee, and then he has to get back up, tie up the block, and we score, man. It was huge. That's the type of player he was. So, he'll be missed.
"…I got all the respect for Frank Ragnow and, man, I love him to death."
Campbell acknowledged the team had known for some time that Ragnow was contemplating stepping away, and he was in regular communication with the team.
"We did our best to give him his space and let him sort it out," Campbell said. "It was kind of one of those, 'Hey man, you're going to come to a decision at some point here, we'd certainly like it before the offseason's out,' and he did, and it was time.
"Whenever you know it's your time, it is the right time," Campbell continued. "Because it's not fair to him, and it's not fair to his teammates or anybody else. So I respect the hell out of him for the decision. It's not easy to do. But he knows himself. And I will always respect that."
Campbell said the only surprising part of the decision was that Ragnow was coming off a dominant season, was healthier than he had been in years, and was still in his prime. But, as a former player, Campbell knows it's the physical and mental grind of preparing for Sundays that drives these decisions.
"You've also got to remember the amount of time and work and detail spent on taking care of his body," Campbell said. "The training, the rehab that goes into it. Before he even trains, you're talking about hours and hours and hours. I need to work on this an hour before. I've got to train for two hours. Then, I've got to make sure I get the game plan in, right? That's another hour. Then we've got to get ready for practice. So it's just the physical and mental side of it, man. You've got to be of a certain mind frame. And if you feel like you're not there, the time is right to right away. "
Campbell did make it a point to criticize insinuations that Ragnow's decision had anything to do with his contract status.
"Quite frankly, some of this stuff about contract talk, that's disrespectful," Campbell said. "That's not what this was ever about."
Campbell said if the issue had been contract-related, he's confident that communication would have been open and clear between the two sides, and something would have been worked out.
"I also know Frank and this was not about that," Campbell said. "This was not about that."
Spinning things forward, Campbell acknowledged that the "train rolls on" without Ragnow. He expressed confidence in the collective talent still on the roster, as well as offensive line coach Hank Fraley's ability to prepare the group.
"We need development quickly," Campbell said. "Look, that's why Hank Fraley is the coach in that room. He's done a hell of a job developing talent, and he's going to get these guys right, whoever it is, between (Miles) Frazier and (Tate) Ratledge, and like I said, all these guys, some of these young guys we've got. And, there again, having Graham (Glasgow) helps now. It's huge because he's got the flexibility to play both guard and center."
Asked how important it was to have experience at center once the season starts, Campbell downplayed it at that spot, specifically, but said it's critical somewhere along the interior.
"I mean, experience is big," Campbell said. "It is. But I think it's (either) there or the guy that's next to you. That can help out a lot, too. You're going to need some experience somewhere in there. As long as you have that, you're OK.
"I've mentioned this before, Erik McCoy, now he played center in college at Texas A&M when I was in New Orleans," Campbell continued. "Max Unger had just retired, and we were fortunate we had drafted him. He was plug and play. We put him in and he grew quickly, quickly, quickly. I mean by Game 3, Game 4, he was cooking. Doesn't mean you won't have growing pains, but it can happen fast. The development can happen fast. I'm saying, for example, you put Tate in there — and if not, is it Graham by him at guard who is helping him out? Or is Graham your center? Or is it one of these other guys?"
Beyond Ratledge and Glasgow, who are the presumptive front-runners to replace Ragnow, Campbell highlighted Kinglsey Eguakun as an option. An undrafted rookie last year, he spent 2024 on the team's practice squad.
" It's the next man up," Campbell said. "We will be ready to go when camp hits. We will be ready to go. We got plenty of versatility up there."
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Injury riddled and undermanned, but Detroit did a pretty good job of creating pressure with four man fronts last year:
NFL Pressure Rate Leaders: Four or Fewer Pass Rushers
Denver Broncos 39.3%
Cleveland Browns 38.2%
Seattle Seahawks 36.6%
Philadelphia Eagles 35.5%
Detroit Lions 35.2%
NFL Pressure Rate Leaders: Four or Fewer Pass Rushers
Denver Broncos 39.3%
Cleveland Browns 38.2%
Seattle Seahawks 36.6%
Philadelphia Eagles 35.5%
Detroit Lions 35.2%
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Same article that comes from on PFF says they were 25th from Week 7 onward. Despite missing the last 12 games, Hutch tied for team lead with 45 pressures.
Through Week 6 (5 g), Aidan had a pass rush win rate in true pass sets (no RPO, play action, or blitzes) of 38.6%. The league leader was at 26%, only 10 Edge rushers topped 20%; the pace he was on was historic & unprecedented. He was almost certainly the clear DPotY leader in the clubhouse when he got hurt in Dallas.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
PFF has been dropping its Top 32 rankings at each position.
OFFENSE
bolded players made the Pro Bowl; retired C Frank Ragnow was one of the eight players selected
edit to add - ARSB, Sewell, Joseph and Fox were 1st team All Pro; Ragnow and PR Kalif Raymond were 2nd Team All Pro
OFFENSE
- QB - Jared Goff 9th
- RB - Jahmyr Gibbs 4th, David Montgomery 21st
- WR - ARSB4th, Jameson Williams 32nd
- QB/Reciever Duo - Goff & ARSB 6th
- TE - Sam LaPorta 5th
- Center - Tate Ratledge 32nd
- Guard - None
- (Kevin Zeitler 8th, Jonah Jackson 31st)
- Tackle - Penei Sewell 6th, Taylor Decker 24th
- DI - Alim McNeil 13th, DJ Reader 22nd
- Edge - Aidan Hutchinson 5th
- 72 pass rush wins through 6 weeks/5 g was an all-time high in the PFF era
- LB - Jack Campbell 8th
- CB - DJ Reed 6th
- (NE Carlton Davis 18th, PIT Darius Slay 21st)
- Safety - Brian Branch 5th, Kerby Joseph 6th
- no player rankings for Kicker, Punter, or ST players, but Detroit was 7th in 2024 ST team grade
- Jake Bates had the 4th highest PFF grade for Placekicking; he was 12th in average kickoff distance and 16th in hang time
- Jack Fox was the All Pro punter, 2nd in gross average, 1st by a country mile in net average (set NFL record), 3rd in hang time, 8th in fewest TB
- Sione Vaki had the 5th highest PFF ST grade at 90.5 (the rookie's 332 ST snaps led the team)
bolded players made the Pro Bowl; retired C Frank Ragnow was one of the eight players selected
edit to add - ARSB, Sewell, Joseph and Fox were 1st team All Pro; Ragnow and PR Kalif Raymond were 2nd Team All Pro
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King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Good point, I didn’t read the whole article. I was surprised by the ranking. Hutch being healthy is the key, which can be said about a lot teams most impactful player.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Hey @Leroy Hoard I thought you'd appreciate this interview with your namesake (unless you actually are LH, in which case you presumably knew about this interview already)
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Thanks for the link. He obviously was one of my favorites both in college and NFL/fantasy.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
I have fond memories of him at UM
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
His coverage improved a lot from Y1 to Y2. He’s always going to be primarily know for being a run stuffing thumper but he was so much more aware in 2024.
Among starting LBs (50% of snaps), AA was 5th in coverage grade and JC was 7th. In run D grade, Alex was 67th, JC was 9th. It’s rare to find a LB who is great at both.
Fred Warner was 2nd in coverage and 8th in RunD. So yeah, Jack Campbell became that good last year.
But yeah, remember how much the defensive intensity turned up the week Anzalone returned from a broken arm? Alex is incredibly underrated IMO, though. He’s the glue guy who knows every players assignment. Even DL and DBs talk about how much #34 helps them in game.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
165 and 2 scores versus the Buckeyes in 1988, 146 and a couple TDs in the 1989 Rose Bowl (he was named MVP.)
I have stated on here often I don’t gamble, and that’s mostly true. But in my last military deployment (1988-89), I let myself get baited by some guys from L.A. The Trojans were 5th ranked, Rodney Peete was the Heisman runner-up, and Bo had lost to USC three times in the Rose Bowl during the 70s.
These guys from South Central were relentless, trying to goad me every day in the mess hall. I finally snapped and told them to put their money where their mouth mouth is; name the price, straight up, I don’t need any stupid points because we’re going to kick your butts. “$100 bucks?” You’re on.
Well I guess you know every guy from L.A. started hitting me up for the next week. $20, $50, 5 bucks….before I knew I had $320 on the line.
Bear in mind as an E-6 with less than 6 years, I was only making $1200 a month $253 and change per week. That was almost more pressure than being in combat, and I had no control over the outcome.
No radio broadcast or telecast available, I was dependent on sporadic scores on the teletype in the radio room. California was9 ten hours behind us…I had the mid-watch, 12 a.m. to 0600. Just before I got off duty, the first update came in.
HALFTIME AT THE ROSE BOWL
USC 14 MICHIGAN 3
I had breakfast & went to sleep. Another watch was coming up at Noon (we were port/l & starboard,12 on/12 off pool because there was some shooting going on.)
Around 11:30 a.m. they woke me up for my next watch. I was still putting my clothes on when Petty Officer Robinson, the biggest loudmouth who started this whole thing, came around the corner and tossed a wadded up Benjamin at me. “You’re the luckiest S.O.B. alive!!”
Michigan won 22-14, and with the game in doubt, intercepted a Peete pass. Then Leroy Hoard ripped off a 61 yarder that let them kneel it out.
ETA Middle East doesn’t observe DST…9 hours rn, 10 hours when we’re on standard time
These guys from South Central were relentless, trying to goad me every day in the mess hall. I finally snapped and told them to put their money where their mouth mouth is; name the price, straight up, I don’t need any stupid points because we’re going to kick your butts. “$100 bucks?” You’re on.
Well I guess you know every guy from L.A. started hitting me up for the next week. $20, $50, 5 bucks….before I knew I had $320 on the line.
Bear in mind as an E-6 with less than 6 years, I was only making $1200 a month $253 and change per week. That was almost more pressure than being in combat, and I had no control over the outcome.
No radio broadcast or telecast available, I was dependent on sporadic scores on the teletype in the radio room. California was
HALFTIME AT THE ROSE BOWL
USC 14 MICHIGAN 3
I had breakfast & went to sleep. Another watch was coming up at Noon (we were port/l & starboard,12 on/12 off pool because there was some shooting going on.)
Around 11:30 a.m. they woke me up for my next watch. I was still putting my clothes on when Petty Officer Robinson, the biggest loudmouth who started this whole thing, came around the corner and tossed a wadded up Benjamin at me. “You’re the luckiest S.O.B. alive!!”
Michigan won 22-14, and with the game in doubt, intercepted a Peete pass. Then Leroy Hoard ripped off a 61 yarder that let them kneel it out.
ETA Middle East doesn’t observe DST…9 hours rn, 10 hours when we’re on standard time
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Every so often he could rip off a long one. And then he would get back to just getting 3.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
stumbling bumbling rumbling
I misremembered, though - that long run setup the go ahead TD
Momma sent a VHS tape of the game that arrived around January 10 lol.
Thanks - I was not aware that he had leveled up that much last year
msudaisy26
Footballguy
He? You mean you!
Moonlight
Footballguy
Read a remark by Matt Waldman that Teslaas has the potential early on to be successful as a Kenny Golliday type player. Which I took to mean a player who wins downfield in contested catch situations. Waldman further remarked that Holliday was a "made" player who benefited from playing with two very good WRs and Stafford.
Golliday was exposed when his lack of separation could not be overcome when he signed as free agent with the Giants and played with lesser talents at WR and QB.
Teslaa has the potential to be more than a Golladay, Keon Coleman type player. He rounds routes but does have some moves already that create separation. He needs to develop consistency, sharpness and additional tools which includes better footwork.
I'm optimistic and hope that with coaching he can become a productive well rounded receiver who would still be used more downfield.
Golliday was exposed when his lack of separation could not be overcome when he signed as free agent with the Giants and played with lesser talents at WR and QB.
Teslaa has the potential to be more than a Golladay, Keon Coleman type player. He rounds routes but does have some moves already that create separation. He needs to develop consistency, sharpness and additional tools which includes better footwork.
I'm optimistic and hope that with coaching he can become a productive well rounded receiver who would still be used more downfield.
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kutta
Footballguy
When the comps being thrown around are Kenny Golliday and Keon Coleman, it doesn’t instill a ton of confidence.
With training camp more than a month away, this is a good time to do a very early analysis of the Lions roster. We know things will change but who cares. Let's do it anyways.
Every few days I'm going to analyze a position group. I'm going to give a brief opinion of the key players, Then I will offer my opinion on how many the Lions will keep, who the locks are (starters and backups), bubble players that could earn a roster spot, and those on the outside looking in. Bubble players are dependant on how many the Lions keep at each position.
Knowing how passionate Lions fans are, we should have plenty of discussion and I also welcome thoughts from fans of other teams.
It should be a lot of fun.
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running Backs
Part 3: Wide Receivers
Part 4: Tight Ends
90 man roster:
Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
Shane Zylstra
Kenny Yeboah
Zach Horton
Luke Deal
LaPorta had a slow start last year in part because of injuries, posting a modest 14 reception in his first 6 games. But in his last 10, LaPorta had 46/502/6 and finished with a strong 29/335/2 line in his last 5 games. That followed a sensational 86/889/10 line in LaPorta's rookie campaign. LaPorta is one of the best TEs in the NFL and should once again be a big part of the Lions offense.
Wright returns as the #2 TE and plays an important role in the Lions running game. Wright does not offer much in the passing game but he's a good scheme fit as a blocking TE.
Zylstra will battle for the #3 TE spot and is a better receiver than blocker. If the Lions keep a receiving TE, Zylstra is probably the favorite.
Yeboah signed as a free agent and is more of a blocking TE than receiver. If the Lions want a blocking 3rd TE, Yeboah is probably the favorite.
Horton signed as an undrafted free agent and is known for his high motor and grit. He is more of a blocking TE than receiver.
Deal signed with the Lions after a tryout during rookie minicamp. He was a two-time team captain and was one of the better blocking TEs in college football.
Outlook: LaPorta is one of the best TEs in the NFL and Wright is a solid blocking TE. There will be a fierce battle for the #3 TE spot. If the Lions continue their streak of keeping an undrafted free agent, it very well could come from this group.
Prediction: The Lions will eventually have three TEs in their roster but early on they will keep two and call up a 3rd from the practice squad.
Locks: LaPorta, Wright.
Bubble: Zylstra, Yeboah, Horton, Deal
Grade: A-
Every few days I'm going to analyze a position group. I'm going to give a brief opinion of the key players, Then I will offer my opinion on how many the Lions will keep, who the locks are (starters and backups), bubble players that could earn a roster spot, and those on the outside looking in. Bubble players are dependant on how many the Lions keep at each position.
Knowing how passionate Lions fans are, we should have plenty of discussion and I also welcome thoughts from fans of other teams.
It should be a lot of fun.
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running Backs
Part 3: Wide Receivers
Part 4: Tight Ends
90 man roster:
Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
Shane Zylstra
Kenny Yeboah
Zach Horton
Luke Deal
LaPorta had a slow start last year in part because of injuries, posting a modest 14 reception in his first 6 games. But in his last 10, LaPorta had 46/502/6 and finished with a strong 29/335/2 line in his last 5 games. That followed a sensational 86/889/10 line in LaPorta's rookie campaign. LaPorta is one of the best TEs in the NFL and should once again be a big part of the Lions offense.
Wright returns as the #2 TE and plays an important role in the Lions running game. Wright does not offer much in the passing game but he's a good scheme fit as a blocking TE.
Zylstra will battle for the #3 TE spot and is a better receiver than blocker. If the Lions keep a receiving TE, Zylstra is probably the favorite.
Yeboah signed as a free agent and is more of a blocking TE than receiver. If the Lions want a blocking 3rd TE, Yeboah is probably the favorite.
Horton signed as an undrafted free agent and is known for his high motor and grit. He is more of a blocking TE than receiver.
Deal signed with the Lions after a tryout during rookie minicamp. He was a two-time team captain and was one of the better blocking TEs in college football.
Outlook: LaPorta is one of the best TEs in the NFL and Wright is a solid blocking TE. There will be a fierce battle for the #3 TE spot. If the Lions continue their streak of keeping an undrafted free agent, it very well could come from this group.
Prediction: The Lions will eventually have three TEs in their roster but early on they will keep two and call up a 3rd from the practice squad.
Locks: LaPorta, Wright.
Bubble: Zylstra, Yeboah, Horton, Deal
Grade: A-
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
I don’t think @Moonlight is saying those guy’s are his ceiling; in fact, he states plainly he thinks he can be more than Comp A or Comp B.
A comp - in my understanding, I could be off base - is a rough estimate to say a draft prospect is going to be this type of player….not literally you can expect this level of production.
Plus that’s the initial comp; hard to say what his ceiling will be given how little time on task he has at WR. Wing T QB in h.s., two years dominating at Hillsdale, two years on a woeful passing offense at Arkansas.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
YOU CAN’T GIVE EVERYONE AN “A”
I kid, I kid
Think personally I’d give this group a B or B+. Sam is terrific of course, but league wide it’s hard to place him above 5th. He’s an adequate blocker. Where I feel like we have always lagged behind most teams is we don’t have a great blocker at TE2 or TE3. They make it work running 6 OL and putting Skipper inline or at a wing.
Start paying close attention to how other teams are deploying TEs and you start to realize we don’t have a great solution on the group. But schematically we conduct a good job influencing defenders it doesn’t matter.
Picking nits aside, appreciate you doing these write ups! It’s a lot of work.
eta: oops, double posted responding to @kutta when I switched devices
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Moonlight
Footballguy
Were painting a picture that Teslaa has the tools to have some success as a Golladay type WR out of the box as he develops other skills.Golladay did have a couple of thousand yard seasons during his Detroit years.
I suspect or wishfully think he may be able to develop to being more than that. Teslaa is faster thanGolladay and likely has better hands so should be able to contribute as he grows as route runner.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' Rakestraw making positive impression with coaches, teammates entering second season
JUSTIN ROGERSAllen Park — Nothing about Ennis Rakestraw's rookie season went as hoped or expected.
A starter every year since his sophomore season of high school at Duncanville (Texas) High School, there was a mental adjustment to coming off the bench for the Detroit Lions as a second-round pick a year ago. Then, when the team was set to insert him into the starting lineup, Rakestraw suffered a hamstring injury in pre-game warmups. That nagging strain limited him to just eight games and 46 defensive snaps, resulting in his primary contributions coming on special teams.
The totality of the situation lit a fire under Rakestraw as he headed into his first full offseason as a professional.
"Last year I felt like I wasn't available for the most part, and that kind of made me mad and disappointed," he said after the team's final OTA practice last week. "Coming in as a rookie you have these goals for yourself. They drafted me and Terrion (Arnold) so I thought I was going to get to play with him a lot. Wound up not happening. Life, unfortunately."
Arnold, the team's first-round pick, had no such limitations. He was a Day 1 starter and logged 948 defensive snaps, the third most on the team in 2024. His importance to the defense's future is clear. Rakestraw's remains cloudy, especially after the team spent big in free agency to bring in veteran D.J. Reed to fill the cornerback job opposite Arnold.
Regardless, the team remains optimistic, and with Arnold sidelined by an injury this offseason, Rakestraw has been drawing first-team snaps. That's a sign of his opportunity to be a top reserve this season.
"It's up to him," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "He's got an opportunity. We're going to play the best guy. That's what competition is about. The whole roster knows that. If you're the best guy, we're not going to just sit there. It's the best guy. He's going to have a chance to compete. We'd like to keep him outside right now and just let him go. He had a good spring.
"There again, we're in pajamas (not wearing pads), but he's going to get a chance to compete and see how much he's grown and what kind of production he can have for us," Campbell said.
Being pinned to the outside is a change this offseason. As a rookie, the team tried Rakestraw both there and at nickel. When he was going to start that early-season game against Seattle, it would have been in the slot. However, with Amik Robertson returning this season after securing the job while Rakestraw recovered, plus veteran nickelback Avonte Maddox added to the mix this offseason, it was determined that the best path forward for Rakestraw was to concentrate his focus on playing wide.
"Look, we tinkered with some nickel last year, and it was probably a little too much, too fast for him," Campbell said. "We felt like once we did some things with him outside — practice, things of that nature — man, he really began to grow. And I think right now that's where he really belongs."
So far, everyone seems pleased with the progress.
"Ennis has been balling his *** off, Reed said. "…Ennis has been out here and he's playing really well. It is great to see him putting it all together."
Robertson, who has a better frame of reference after competing with Rakestraw last offseason, also sees the growth.
"I see the game is slowing down for him," Robertson said. "It's slowing down for him. And I know, when he comes back, he's going to get even better. So I expect Ennis to take a huge jump this year."
Until a significant defensive role opens up, most likely because of an injury, Rakestraw still has the potential to be a key special teams contributor. He was drawing more than 10 snaps per game in those roles as a rookie, and he has the inside track for a gunner job on Detroit's record-breaking punt coverage unit.
First, he's got to stay healthy. From there, he wants to make an impact, however that comes about.
"I want to look you all face to face and say I did something to help this team win," Rakestraw said.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
What Tyleik Williams' college film reveals the Detroit Lions are getting in the rookie defensive tackle
Selecting No. 28 overall, the Detroit Lions could have gone a half-dozen different directions with their first-round pick in the 2025 draft. Standing pat with the selection, the Lions let the board come to them before grabbing their highest-graded player, Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
With most outside observers fixated on edge rushers and interior offensive linemen, the defensive tackle group didn't generate the same level of buzz for Detroit heading into the event. Regardless, the pick made plenty of sense, and not just because the Lions deemed Williams the best player available. The roster had both short-term and long-term concerns at the position.
Immediately, the Lions need to bridge the gap while Alim McNeill recovers from the torn ACL he suffered last December.
Long-term, the need is even greater. Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader and Roy Lopez are all scheduled to be free agents at the end of the season, Mekhi Wingo doesn't have the frame to be an effective every-down player, and Brodric Martin might not make the 53-man roster out of training camp.
Williams should alleviate all those concerns. But what exactly are the Lions getting in the mammoth and uniquely athletic defensive tackle? We watched the All-22 film from his final five college games, culminating in the Buckeyes' national championship victory over Notre Dame, to build a scouting report.
Games watched
2024: Vs. Michigan, vs. Tennessee, vs. Oregon, vs. Texas, vs. Notre DameBio
Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., Williams is one of five children. He played his high school ball for Stonewall Jackson (the school has since been renamed to Unity Reed).A first-team all-state performer in football and school record-holder in the shot put, Williams was rated a four-star recruit and selected to play in the All-American Bowl. Recruited by several major programs, he initially intended to go to Alabama, but the school opted for a different defensive lineman for that scholarship slot.
Statistics
2021: 12 games, 16 tackles (seven for a loss), 5.0 sacks, two batted passes, one forced fumble (Freshman All-American)2022: 13 games, 21 tackles (three for a loss), one sack, two batted passes
2023: 13 games, 53 tackles (10 for a loss), 3.0 sacks, five batted passes (Second Team All-American)
2024: 13 games, 46 tackles (eight for loss), 2.5 sacks, one batted pass (Third-Team All-Big Ten)
Durability
Williams battled a number of minor issues throughout his college career but missed minimal time due to the injuries. A knee injury cost him a game during his freshman season, and he missed three games in 2024, including two with a shoulder injury.Most recently, he was a limited participant during the early portion of Detroit's offseason program stemming from a hamstring strain he suffered while running the 40-yard dash at Ohio State's pro day.
Athletic profile
Unfortunately, we didn't obtain concrete measurables during the pre-draft process due to Williams' stumble and injury while running the 40-yard dash. Although unofficial, his 10- and 20-yard splits on the sprint were impressive, particularly given his 6-foot-3, 334-pound frame.Usage
Williams was primarily used as a 3-technique in Ohio State's defensive scheme, despite having a frame more fitting of a nose tackle. He split his playing time evenly between the right and left sides of the formation.In terms of special teams, his primary contributions were on the kick block unit.
Skill assessment
Run Defense: Williams is a load to handle for a single blocker. He controls his gaps with low leverage out of his stance, cinder block hands — which were measured 10.25 inches at the combine — and an advanced ability to shed blockers. The number of times he tossed an offensive lineman aside to make a stop jumps out on tape.Williams also has an impressively quick lateral first step that will catch blockers off guard, allowing him to disrupt the timing of a play immediately after the snap. He pairs that with above-average balance through contact, which allows him to flow with outside and stretch zone runs, consistently maintaining his gaps against those concepts.
Another skill that stands out is Williams’ awareness. He does a good job of keeping his eyes in the backfield throughout reps, allowing him to adjust to the back as he approaches the line of scrimmage. Keeping blockers off his frame with active hands, Williams consistently crosses face late to bring down the ball carrier.
Williams’ biggest area for improvement is improving the consistency of his leverage, which is most evident when he fails to anticipate a down block and against double teams. Williams has a tendency to drop to a knee when taking on a double team as a way to stay low. When he gets high, he will get moved off his spot.
Pass rush: Getting after the quarterback isn’t a strength, but there are foundational skills and some untapped potential to Williams’ game.
At the heart of his ability to affect the pocket is his bull rush. Coming out low from his stance, Williams’ initial contact can be jarring. From there, his legs continue to churn, and he can capably generate pushback into the pocket, moving QBs off their spot.
The lateral quickness Williams demonstrates against the run also allows him to get an occasional edge on an interior lineman, although quarterbacks have minimal issues outrunning him to the perimeter.
Ohio State utilized plenty of stunts and twists with their front, with Williams having an inconsistent impact. Given his frame and power, you’d like to see a more consistent ability to absorb blockers, freeing up a looping teammate. When he gets to the outside at a stunter, he unsurprisingly lacks the speed or bend to run the hoop and threaten the edge.
Williams has a similarly high awareness when rushing the passer as he does defending the run. He shows good recognition of screens, and when his rush effort stalls out, he mirrors the movements of the quarterback in the pocket, limiting escape lanes. He also consistently looks to get a hand in the passing lane, although he should aim to leave his feet less when hunting for a batted pass.
Motor: Williams has impressive endurance for his size. He plays long stretches without coming off the field, consistently giving effort in pursuit well outside the tackle box, regardless of the down-and-distance or the scoreboard.
Conclusion
There's little reason to think Williams won't be able to contribute immediately, much like McNeill did as a rookie four years earlier.Williams possesses an NFL-ready frame, plays with consistently high effort, and offers some high-level techniques as a run defender, utilizing his power, awareness, and block-shedding abilities.
Obviously, like with any rookie, there will be an adjustment period to the speed and strength of the NFL game. Williams will need to improve the consistency of his leverage, particularly when it comes to absorbing double-team blocks.
Even if he doesn't significantly contribute to Detroit's sack count, Williams can impact the rush in the ways Reader has throughout his career, by collapsing the pocket from the inside, moving the quarterback off his spot, and funneling the passer toward the more dynamic options along the front, namely Aidan Hutchinson.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Analyzing what the money and roster fit could look like if Detroit Lions run it back with Za'Darius Smith
Allen Park — OK, let’s revisit the Za’Darius Smith conversation.
The Detroit Lions opted to go in a different, more cost-effective direction this offseason, cutting Smith instead of exercising a $7 million option bonus. Had the Lions retained him under his previous contract, he would have counted nearly $11 million against the cap across the next two seasons.
The Lions put those resources toward retaining two other veteran edge defenders, Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Davenport, coming off another season-ending injury, returns at a significantly reduced price tag. However, it's worth noting that playing time and performance incentives could potentially push his earnings north of $5 million. Muhammad, meanwhile, got a small bump from the veteran minimum he played at last year, netting a $167,500 signing bonus to go with $917,500 in guarantees.
Still, even after making those moves, general manager Brad Holmes didn’t rule out an eventual reunion with Smith, noting at the league meetings in April that he was staying in contact with the player’s representation as the offseason progressed.
However, those chances of reconnection seemingly took a hit when the Lions selected high-motor Boise State defender Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of the draft a few weeks later. Combined with Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal, plus a few young, unproven pieces presumably battling for practice squad spots, Smith felt further than ever off Detroit's radar.
Well, not to Smith. At the BET Awards this week, Smith told USA Today that he still has a strong desire to return to the Lions.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith said. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”
Smith, 32, went on to say that winning a championship is his primary motivation at this stage in his career. He also sold himself as a vet capable of helping Hutchinson further elevate his game.
“He’s still a young guy,” Smith told USA Today. “I can help him with a lot of things. He’s already great, but as a player, there are some tools that I know that I can help him with. And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with.”
Remember, Smith was brought on board at the trade deadline last season to help backfill Hutchinson’s absence. And Smith did an admirable job. It was never going to be a one-on-one replacement. Still, you feel good about getting 36 pressures and 4.0 sacks in eight games. It was enough to wonder how the two might look operating in tandem before the Lions pulled the plug on the idea.
Obviously, nothing is given, but Smith’s comments rekindle the dream. So, what does it look like? What would it cost? And how would the re-addition impact the current roster?
Let’s start with the money. $11 million was too rich for the Lions a few months ago, and that hasn’t changed. Smith also isn’t a veteran-minimum player, even if he’s seemingly conceding his leverage by stating his strong desire to return to the Lions.
A relatively strong comparison for Smith’s value would be Dante Fowler Jr., who is a couple of years younger but has as many miles on his body, having played in 142 games to Smith’s 140. Both are coming off productive seasons as pass rushers. Smith had 9.0 sacks, Fowler tallied 10.5. Smith had 63 QB pressures and Fowler had 40. And, respectfully, both are below-average run defenders at this stage of their careers.
Fowler secured a one-year, $6 million deal this offseason, with half of that guaranteed. Smith is reasonably in that range. If the Lions wanted to leverage the situation, they could convert some of the salary to playing-time bonuses to mitigate their risk.
That’s not a small chunk of change, but the Lions are in a better position to offer it now than they were a month ago. While the team is understandably stockpiling its cap resources — remember, unused space rolls over — with eyes on future extensions for Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta, Frank Ragnow’s recent retirement cleared more than $9 million off the books this year and $12 million in 2026. That financial flexibility matters.
Now, where does Smith fit into the roster as it’s currently constructed? The Lions clearly believe in Davenport, even if there’s a hint of wishful thinking with the situation, given his injury history. Even if Smith is brought back into the fold, I suspect Davenport remains the projected starter as long as he’s healthy. He plays the run better than Smith, and his pocket-crushing pass-rush style is better suited to what the Lions aim to accomplish schematically.
Paschal, meanwhile, is a significantly better run defender, so that would leave Muhammad and Smith vying for rotational and situational rush snaps. In his prime, Smith was far and away the better player, but Muhammad showed last season that the gap is closer than you might expect. He had 24 pressures on 173 rushes in 2024. That averages out to 58, five shy of Smith’s tally, had he played the same number of snaps in passing situations. Those figures surprised me, too.
Then there’s the trickle-down impact on Hassahein. His background, college tape and draft status already pointed to being a developmental project. Adding Smith further hinders Hassanein's chances of seeing defensive playing time as a rookie. He probably still makes the roster but could end up like Brodric Martin or Gio Manu in recent years, frequently inactive on game days during his debut season.
It also means the team will need to cut a depth piece somewhere else on the roster to make room. That could be a sixth wide receiver, a back-of-the-roster offensive lineman like Kayode Awosika or Colby Sorsdal, or a linebacker/cornerback/safety who could help on special teams.
That's not a deal-breaker, but it’s also not nothing. These are the dominoes Holmes must weigh if he decides to bring back Smith.
Me? I’d find a way to do it.
It’s so difficult to find quality pass-rush depth in the NFL, and Smith proved there’s still gas in the tank last season. He’s motivated, productive, and, yes, has tips and tricks to share with the roster’s younger players, particularly when it comes to hand usage.
Smith might not bring a lot to the table as a run defender, but the Lions have players who check that box. What he does add is Davenport insurance and an extra body to help alleviate some of the workload off Hutchinson’s shoulders. Yes, the superstar can handle 90% of the snaps most weeks when healthy, but it wouldn't hurt to dial that back to 75-80% as he returns from last season’s injury. It will keep him stronger in a given game and across a 17-game schedule, which the Lions hope also includes a deep postseason run.
Whatever minor ramifications there may be, they are tolerable for the potential payoff.
This really surprised me too...and most if not all of that (and his 3 sacks) were in his last 5 games, which means no Hutchinson on the opposite side. Small sample size but he played well and produced.
Still, signing Za'Darius makes a lot of sense.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
If we can get Smith back for another round, I will be a little more content with the position. If I could trust Davenport to stay healthy it wouldn’t be an issue, but we know how that goes.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Z is mostly situational, he kind of sucks at setting the Edge. Still, as a pass rusher he is a really solid #2/2A.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
They like us, they really like us
NFLPA released the top 50 players licensed merch sales; Detroit was the only team with 3 guys inside the Top 20.
Here’s where the Lions players landed on the list:
NFLPA released the top 50 players licensed merch sales; Detroit was the only team with 3 guys inside the Top 20.
Here’s where the Lions players landed on the list:
- Aidan Hutchinson — 7th
- Amon-Ra St. Brown — 8th
- Jahmyr Gibbs — 20th
- Jared Goff — 22nd
- Sam LaPorta — 47th
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
DFN Mailbag, Part I: More on Ragnow and the changing o-line, Jamo extension and other cap conundrums
We're in the true NFL offseason, the several weeks between the conclusion of the early stages of the offseason program and the start of training camp. This is when players and coaches mentally rest and reset for the upcoming season.
But how can we rest when the mailbox is full? Let's see what's on your mind. (Also, don't forget to check back for Part II of the mailbag during the weekend).
Q: Any chance Frank sits out the first half of the season and then unretires to join the team for the playoff run? — Paul Van Randwyk
Justin: I don’t like to slam the door shut on any possibility, however remote, but this scenario strikes me as highly unlikely. This wasn’t an easy decision for Ragnow to make, and he weighed it across multiple months before deciding to call it a career. I have a difficult time believing he will reverse course.
Even if the mental switch flips back to wanting to play, there’s the physical component. Work goes into maintaining 320 pounds on a frame, not to mention the strength and cardio required to play 65-75 snaps per week. It wouldn’t be unusual for Ragnow to stay in shape, but that doesn’t equate to being in football shape, particularly for an offensive lineman.
If a lineman were to come out of retirement, it would be far more likely during the offseason, when they can physically reacclimate to the game's demands over a few months.
Q: What are the chances Colon, Awosika, or Frazier upset the top favorites for a starting IOL spot — @CHEN313
Justin: Relatively low. Trystan Colon just got here, so he’s starting at the bottom of the depth chart. Meanwhile, Kayode Awosika was jumped by Christian Mahogany last season. I don’t see any reason the situation would revert to what it was.
The wild card is Miles Frazier, the fifth-round pick out of LSU, but he’s still a long shot. Dan Campbell said he wants a veteran somewhere on the interior, and it would be quite the upset if Frazier beats out Mahogany or Tate Ratledge, who was selected more than 100 picks earlier in April's draft.
Frazier will more likely be competing for a top backup spot with Awosika, Netane Muti and Kingsley Eguakun.
Q: What does Jameson Williams have to do this year to get himself an extension? — @TheGameSheet
Justin: In some ways, this is a Catch-22 conversation. If Williams makes himself undeniable — both through his on-field contributions and off-field maturity — it means the projected price tag will grow even more.
I haven’t sat down and dug into the contractual comps after general manager Brad Holmes said he wasn’t currently pursuing an extension with the speedy receiver. It's within the realm of reason that the outlook has changed with the cap space freed up by Ragnow's retirement. Still, if Williams puts together another 1,000-yard season, it likely pushes him into Jaylen Waddle territory with inflation.
Waddle netted a three-year deal worth nearly $85 million. So you’re potentially looking at $30 million per for Williams if he remains on his current trajectory.
Once the Lions get an extension done with Aidan Hutchinson, whether it’s this offseason or next, I’ll have a better idea of what kind of flexibility the Lions still have. Regardless, it isn’t easy to see a new deal for Williams, particularly if the team prioritizes some combination of Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta.
Q: In 2026, the Lions are projected to be 40-50 million over the cap. Of course, they can restructure a bunch of deals to spread out the cap hits and get relief that way, but if you had to guess which core contributors might be either cap casualties or not re-signed, who are the top candidates? — PJ
Q: With 40 million in cap space (this year), is there a big free-agent move to be made before the season, or is that money spoken for in extensions? — @1979Cdn
Justin: Two entirely different cap conversations, but I’m going to lump the responses together.
Let’s start with 2025. It’s been a while since I’ve updated my charting of the team’s space, but with Ragnow’s retirement, the team definitely has more than $40 million in space. However, the spending power is closer to $20 million when you factor in some incoming charges associated with the regular season, including two extra roster spots that count toward the figure, a 16-man practice squad, and approximately $10 million reserved for injury replacements. The team also reserves some wiggle room for playing time and performance bonuses that will be earned, typically $2-3 million more.
The team could put some of that remaining space toward re-signing Za’Darius Smith, but I wouldn’t anticipate another splash. The free-agent market is picked over, and the Lions aren’t looking to take on a big contract via a trade, particularly someone like Trey Hendrickson. That move would require sending back high-end draft assets and a market-rate extension for a player nearing the end of his physical prime. If they're on the fence about extending Williams, where do you find $30-35 million per season for a 31-year-old Hendrickson?
Your assessment of that money being earmarked for in-house extensions, specifically Hutchinson, is reasonable.
As for 2026, again, I haven’t added things up lately, but Ragnow’s retirement bettered the situation. I still think it’s highly likely they execute a simple restructure on Jared Goff’s $69.6 million cap hit, spreading it out over a few years to quickly get compliant.
As for projecting cap casualties, I'd rather not engage in that speculation. It’s my preference not to predict who might lose their job. Logistically, players who would offer significant cap relief with their releases are Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, David Montgomery, Jack Fox and Brock Wright.
In terms of players who might not be re-signed in 2026, the conversation currently centers on linebacker Alex Anzalone. I wouldn't expect DJ Reader to be re-signed after this season. Meanwhile, Levi Onwuzurike, like Jameson Williams, could become too expensive with back-to-back healthy seasons, especially if the sack production picks up in 2025. The only reason he's back this year is his contract came in below market.
Q: Campbell's comments about it being disrespectful to think Ragnow's retirement was contract-related, is he sending any messages to Anzalone through that? — @tyler_sauer
Justin: Not at all. That was strictly a criticism of the narrative and the media’s role in spreading it.
I don’t know the genesis of the correlation. I didn’t hear anything similar, so I never reported that information.
Q: Tons of fun games slated for this year’s schedule, but which one are you most looking forward to during the regular season? — @C_Robbins_
Justin: Even though road primetime games are brutal for travel and sleep, there’s a great deal of appeal with the Week 3 matchup against Baltimore. That’s a team that’s had the Lions' number and really took it to them in 2023.
He might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve always had a great appreciation for Lamar Jackson’s rare athleticism at the quarterback position, plus the way the Ravens utilize the deep ball to keep opposing defenses off balance.
Defensively, Baltimore has historically played fast and hit hard. Ultimately, it should serve as a great measuring stick for the Lions in the early stages of the 2025 campaign.
Q: The NFL recently changed the rule to allow teams to wear alternate helmets with any uniform. Any word on whether the Lions will be swapping decals on the blue helmet to wear with blue or white jerseys once or twice this year? — @cliffordnotcliff.bsky.social
Justin: I haven’t heard anything on that front, but it makes all kinds of sense to toy with the new combination possibilities. I'd also like to see them occasionally utilize the older logo that was initially paired with the blue helmets.
One thing I’ve been told is the team has no plans to incorporate a third alternate helmet, different than the blue and silver, in 2025. I still love the idea of a white helmet to cap the "snowman" uniform combination.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Agreed, not a world beater by any means. Just comforting to have another capable body as a pass rusher.
Moonlight
Footballguy
Listened to Holmes’ recent interview with Chris Long. Apparent to me that they were both surprised and disappointed that Ben Johnson took the Chicago position. The Bears position was acknowledged as a good one potentially but behind the lines I have the sense that they viewed it as being somewhat disloyal to where he was groomed and came from.
I’ve mentioned this before but Johnson is taking a different approach than the Lions in a couple areas off the bat. They continue to have Swift as the lead back which suggests that there was a difference of opinion about Swift. Swift is a good fit for an outside zone attack but there were whispers regarding his toughness and following his blocking. The Bears passed on RBs in the draft except for a 7th rounder and also passed on the FA RBs.
The Bears also drafted Burden at WR whose work ethic and commitment were deemed as questionable entering the draft. Burden wouldn’t have met the Lions criteria regarding character.
Ben Johnson also to me seems more tightly wired than Campbell. I may be wrong here as BJ hasn’t coached a game yet as head coach. Campbell has proven he can handle the grind and pressure of Head Coach. BJ is unproven.
Holmes also talked about the edge position. You definitely got the impression that he was satisfied with where the Lions were. He mentioned that the Lions were third in QB pressures last year which I hadn’t realized. If Hutch and Davenport stay fit they will be OK and Holmes has hopes for Hassanein developing. Holmes also said it was more important to stay strong up the middle than the edge which seemed to justify the Tyleik Williams pick as opposed to a DE.
Holmes compared TeSlaa to St. Brown regarding blocking, determination and hands. The scouting staff had earmarked him even before his impressive combine.
I made a point to draft TeSlaa in my rookie fantasy draft.
I’ve mentioned this before but Johnson is taking a different approach than the Lions in a couple areas off the bat. They continue to have Swift as the lead back which suggests that there was a difference of opinion about Swift. Swift is a good fit for an outside zone attack but there were whispers regarding his toughness and following his blocking. The Bears passed on RBs in the draft except for a 7th rounder and also passed on the FA RBs.
The Bears also drafted Burden at WR whose work ethic and commitment were deemed as questionable entering the draft. Burden wouldn’t have met the Lions criteria regarding character.
Ben Johnson also to me seems more tightly wired than Campbell. I may be wrong here as BJ hasn’t coached a game yet as head coach. Campbell has proven he can handle the grind and pressure of Head Coach. BJ is unproven.
Holmes also talked about the edge position. You definitely got the impression that he was satisfied with where the Lions were. He mentioned that the Lions were third in QB pressures last year which I hadn’t realized. If Hutch and Davenport stay fit they will be OK and Holmes has hopes for Hassanein developing. Holmes also said it was more important to stay strong up the middle than the edge which seemed to justify the Tyleik Williams pick as opposed to a DE.
Holmes compared TeSlaa to St. Brown regarding blocking, determination and hands. The scouting staff had earmarked him even before his impressive combine.
I made a point to draft TeSlaa in my rookie fantasy draft.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Good stuff, @Moonlight
Brad Holmes interview with Chris Long
2:35 - 2024 Lions Season
6:12 - Lions Coaching Turnover
14:23 - Replacing Frank Ragnow
19:15 - Lions Interior DLine
21:35 - Lions Edge Rush
25:10 - Lions Draft Class
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
DFN mailbag, Part 2: Injury outlooks, Lions' all-time o-line and the future of the podcast
If you loved Part I of this week’s mailbag, you’re going to love Part II (hopefully).
Q: Will last season’s injuries still play a major factor this year? What’s the timeline for guys like Rodrigo, McNeill, Barnes, Wingo, and pretty much everyone else who were sidelined last year? — @terbybickford75
Q: How is Khalil Dorsey’s recovery going? — Jan Shuart
Justin: Only in the sense that a small number will linger into this season. Malcolm Rodriguez and Alim McNeill are unlikely to be ready to go until midseason. On the other hand, I expect Derrick Barnes and Mekhi Wingo to be available for Week 1. Barnes was close at the end of last season, and Wingo was well on the road to recovery after surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
I don’t have an update on Dorsey. His injury was similar to Hutchinson’s but occurred two months later in the year. That doesn’t mean the recovery will be exactly two months longer. There are nuances with bone breaks, and each body heals differently. Still, the fact that he received a two-year contract this offseason hints that the team is optimistic about the prognosis.
Q: Should the Lions give Bryce Perkins a tryout? — @GreeneTorkelson
Justin: I don’t see the harm in bringing in the Michigan Panthers standout for a workout if only to get an up-close look, but there’s no need to use a roster spot on a fourth quarterback who wouldn’t see any reps in practice or the preseason.
Interestingly, the Rams signed Perkins as an undrafted rookie when Brad Holmes was still the team’s college scouting director, so there’s already some level of familiarity.
Q: There's a story from Chris Burke that's sat in my brain for years now because it was a fascinating look into the life of a head coach during the offseason. It's the story where he flew with Matt Patricia to a coaching clinic in Alabama. It was just an article about following him and detailing the entire trip (if you don't remember it).
How do these types of stories and access to a coach like this come about for a beat writer? Is it something you have to come up with and pitch to the team, or did the team approach Chris about this opportunity? Do you have any story ideas you'd like to pitch to the team? — Nick Olah
Justin: I don't know how that particular story came about. I can't speak to whether it was a proposal from The Athletic or Burke, or something the Lions presented as an opportunity because they felt The Athletic's long-form format would be an ideal fit.
The team doesn't often make pitches like this, but they can arise from a broader request for access opportunities to an individual. My requests are typically specific. I pitch somewhere between 10-20 stories a year because they require access to individuals I can't interview without the team granting permission.
Honestly, most fail to get greenlit. Sometimes, it's because the ask is too ambitious — like trying to watch the mock interview video that first put Holmes on the team's radar — while with others, there's a reluctance from individuals to participate. That requires me to either approach it from a different angle or move on to the next.
However, every once in a while, everything comes together perfectly, and you get something like last year's Rob Lohman feature.
Q: Regarding film, do you have any insight into how it is made available to the players? Is there some giant database of film with applicable metadata (like players involved, type of play, team etc...)? — Justin Khami
Justin: Each team employs an in-house crew that chops up the tape, play-by-play, immediately after the game. It's made sortable in multiple ways, extending beyond the types you mention.
That’s uploaded to a database that players can access through team-issued tablets. They have access to their film, their opponents’ film, and an extensive historical catalog. They can also request specific cutups.
Q: Did the Lions know about Ragnow's retirement when they let Zeitler leave? — @Kyle_Katarn586
Justin: They didn't know Ragnow was going to retire because that decision wasn't formalized until later in the offseason. While I don't know the exact timetable regarding how Ragnow's thinking evolved this spring. There is a strong chance that the team and player discussed the possibility before free agency and definitely ahead of the draft.
Q: If the interior of the o-line is a weakness, what realistic schemes can be run to protect it? — Dennis Grey
Justin: I’m not sure if it was in the previous mailbag where this was discussed, but the biggest adjustment the Lions could incorporate is more quick-strike passing plays, where Jared Goff gets the ball out in under 2.5 seconds.
Given the YAC potential of the quarterback’s arsenal, that wouldn’t necessarily be a negative.
Q: Does Brodric Martin make the cut again? — @Sub3BFish
Justin: I maintain what I've been saying since the addition of Roy Lopez in free agency; the third-year defensive tackle is firmly on the bubble. The Lions have a wealth of interior options, and the room got more crowded with the team using its first-round pick on Tyleik Williams.
Martin will have to show meaningful development in camp to justify a spot. The team already has five jobs spoken for between Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, Lopez and Wingo. Also in the mix is Pat O'Connor, who had more impact than Martin last season.
Q: When’s the podcast coming back? — @crap.town
Justin: We’re intending to fire it back up to start the season. The planning was admittedly poor this offseason from a scheduling standpoint. If the pod continues in its current form, we need to be better next year.
That said, it’s not a lock that it will continue in its current format. Presently, it makes no money. That’s a hit I can absorb, but it’s not reasonable to expect Will to tack it on at the end of a long day for minimum wage pay. The same for Stoney, who was recording with me after those primetime games at 2:30 a.m.
If Audacy doesn’t find a sponsor this year, we will likely pull the plug at the end of the season. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop doing multimedia. However, I’ll probably lean into the same independence I have with the Detroit Football Network rather than partnering with a corporate entity.
Q: If you had to estimate how much of the playbook was purely Ben Johnson vs. collaboration with other coaches vs. Dan Campbell, what would the split be? — Anthony Kuehn
Justin: Ben Johnson wasn't necessarily designing plays. He was incorporating plays and philosophies he learned as both a player and a lower-level assistant. There were pieces of many playbooks in his scheme, including a heavy dose of the West Coast offense, which former Lions coordinator Darrell Bevell utilized. That will have a significant overlap with John Morton's background, as well.
What made Johnson a great coordinator wasn't the plays as much as it was his demand for precision, his ability to game plan and attack opponents' weaknesses, his ability to build on concepts throughout a game and a season, his connection with players that allowed him to adjust to meet their preferences, and a knack for calling the right plays at the right time.
The plays matter, but not nearly as much as the ability to game plan and the timing of the calls.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Q: What is the Lions' all-time starting offensive line? — @JasonPevitt
Justin: Great and difficult question. A good one to close on, for sure.
There are different ways to approach this, but I want to focus on dominance within their era. It's not fair to assume we could drop someone from the 1950s into the modern game and think they'd be able to compete.
LT: Lomas Brown
Brown was named to the Pro Bowl his final six seasons with Detroit, including first-team All-Pro honors in 1995 and two second-team selections during that stretch.
LG: Lou Creekmur
I'm cheating a little bit here because Creekmur spent most of his career at left tackle, playing only his first two seasons at guard. He was an ironman, playing in more than 160 consecutive games and earning All-Pro recognition for eight straight years. He's one of only a handful of offensive linemen in franchise history to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
C: Frank Ragnow
Recency bias? Maybe a little, but Ragnow edges out a group of strong contenders that includes two-time All-Pro Alex Wojciechowicz, four-time Pro Bowler Ed Flanigan, and another modern-era stud, Kevin Glover, who scored three Pro Bowl nods blocking for Barry Sanders.
The only thing Ragnow doesn't have on some of those other greats is longevity, but the recent retiree was smart, physically dominant and as tough as they come, earning four Pro Bowl and three second-team All-Pro selections.
RG: John Gordy
I almost went with Larry Warford, who was both a great run blocker and pass protector as a four-year starter for the Lions. However, all of his accolades came after his departure, with three consecutive Pro Bowl selections as a member of the Saints. Instead, we'll stick with Gordy, who was named to Detroit's 75th anniversary team in 2008.
Gordy spent his entire career with the Lions, starting 128 games. He was named to three Pro Bowls and got first-team and second-team All-Pro recognition from UPI and AP.
RT: Penei Sewell
No disrespect to some of the other contenders, but Sewell is already the most talented and dominant right tackle to ever lace them up for the Lions. He's a rare athlete who opens up the playbook in ways linemen rarely do. In five seasons, he's already earned first-team All-Pro honors twice. He has legitimate Hall of Fame potential if he continues to perform at his current level for another five or so seasons.
Lions 75th Anniversary Team OL:
T - Lou Creekmur, Lomas Brown
G - Harley Sewell, John Gordy
C - Ed Flanagan, Kevin Glover, Alex Wojciechowicz
(there were 26 players named to the all time team, not sure why that included 3 centers)
Justin: Great and difficult question. A good one to close on, for sure.
There are different ways to approach this, but I want to focus on dominance within their era. It's not fair to assume we could drop someone from the 1950s into the modern game and think they'd be able to compete.
LT: Lomas Brown
Brown was named to the Pro Bowl his final six seasons with Detroit, including first-team All-Pro honors in 1995 and two second-team selections during that stretch.
LG: Lou Creekmur
I'm cheating a little bit here because Creekmur spent most of his career at left tackle, playing only his first two seasons at guard. He was an ironman, playing in more than 160 consecutive games and earning All-Pro recognition for eight straight years. He's one of only a handful of offensive linemen in franchise history to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
C: Frank Ragnow
Recency bias? Maybe a little, but Ragnow edges out a group of strong contenders that includes two-time All-Pro Alex Wojciechowicz, four-time Pro Bowler Ed Flanigan, and another modern-era stud, Kevin Glover, who scored three Pro Bowl nods blocking for Barry Sanders.
The only thing Ragnow doesn't have on some of those other greats is longevity, but the recent retiree was smart, physically dominant and as tough as they come, earning four Pro Bowl and three second-team All-Pro selections.
RG: John Gordy
I almost went with Larry Warford, who was both a great run blocker and pass protector as a four-year starter for the Lions. However, all of his accolades came after his departure, with three consecutive Pro Bowl selections as a member of the Saints. Instead, we'll stick with Gordy, who was named to Detroit's 75th anniversary team in 2008.
Gordy spent his entire career with the Lions, starting 128 games. He was named to three Pro Bowls and got first-team and second-team All-Pro recognition from UPI and AP.
RT: Penei Sewell
No disrespect to some of the other contenders, but Sewell is already the most talented and dominant right tackle to ever lace them up for the Lions. He's a rare athlete who opens up the playbook in ways linemen rarely do. In five seasons, he's already earned first-team All-Pro honors twice. He has legitimate Hall of Fame potential if he continues to perform at his current level for another five or so seasons.
Lions 75th Anniversary Team OL:
T - Lou Creekmur, Lomas Brown
G - Harley Sewell, John Gordy
C - Ed Flanagan, Kevin Glover, Alex Wojciechowicz
(there were 26 players named to the all time team, not sure why that included 3 centers)
