2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 Getting ready for camp. (24 Viewers)

[BobbyLayne]

Distilling a 53-man Detroit Lions roster for the first quarter of the 21st century​

Allen Park — Believe it or not, we've experienced 25 seasons of Detroit Lions football since the turn of the century.

Admittedly, most of it hasn't been good. Anchored by one of the few winless seasons in NFL history in 2008, the team has won less than 40% of its games during that stretch, with only five postseason appearances.

The good news? Things have been trending up as of late. The team broke a three-decade skid without a division title, winning the NFC North the past two seasons. That earned the Lions their first home playoff game in Ford Field’s history and their first playoff victory since 1991. The team followed that up with a franchise-best 15-win campaign last season, although they couldn't replicate the previous year's postseason magic.

There's obviously plenty to reflect on at the quarter-century mark. However, we decided to put a different spin on the topic, producing a 53-man roster based on the performances of players who have worn the Honolulu blue since 2000.

Enjoy.

Quarterback (2)​

In: Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff

First man out: Jon Kitna

Thoughts: There’s no need to shoehorn Kitna, Daunte Culpepper or Joey Harrington onto this roster. Stafford and Goff are more than enough.

Between them, they hold almost every meaningful single-season and career passing record in franchise history. Stafford tops the list when it comes to the majority of the counting stats, buoyed by his 5,000-yard, 41-touchdown season in 2011, while Goff reset the bar for efficiency by completing 72.4% of his passes and posting a 111.8 passer rating in 2024.

Who would be the starter between the two? I’ll leave it for you to debate. Stafford had more arm talent and racked up the fourth-quarter comebacks. Goff, meanwhile, is more efficient and has been the more consistent winner, including division titles and postseason victories that eluded his predecessor.

Running back (4)​

Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, James Stewart, Theo Riddick

First man out: Kevin Jones

Thoughts: In just two seasons each, Gibbs and Montgomery’s spots are secure. They’re No. 1 and No. 2 in rushing touchdowns for the Lions over the past 25 years. Additionally, Gibbs has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and racked up nearly 3,200 yards from scrimmage. Montgomery’s 4.4 yards per carry and 2,248 yards from scrimmage are also beyond respectable, given the timeshare.

Stewart gets the nod after admirably stepping into the void created by Barry Sanders’ abrupt retirement ahead of the 1999 season. Stewart battled some injuries during the final three seasons of his career. Still, he produced a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns, chipped in 101 receptions and found the end zone 19 times for Detroit.

There were several contenders for the fourth spot. D’Andre Swift had the most talent, but durability limited his production. He peaked at 617 rushing yards and 1,069 yards from scrimmage.

Jones’ 761 rushing attempts remain the most for a Detroit running back since the turn of the century. Regardless, he didn’t come close to topping 1,000 yards after his rookie season.

Finally, Joique Bell’s rise to prominence as a Michigan native and former Wayne State standout was a wonderful story to cover. He spent parts of five seasons with the Lions, grinding out 2,235 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

Nevertheless, we went with Riddick because of his expertise as a pass catcher, his effectiveness as a blocker, and his stellar contributions on special teams. Never particularly useful between the tackles, Riddick’s angle route was an unstoppable weapon for the Lions. His 80 catches in 2015 are the most in a season for a running back in franchise history, and his 285 receptions rank sixth among all Lions players since 2000.

Wide receiver (6)​

Calvin Johnson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Roy Williams, Kalif Raymond

First man out: Kenny Golladay

Thoughts: The first five names on this list are no-brainers.

Johnson is one of the greatest receivers ever to play the game. St. Brown is well on his way to setting the franchise record for receptions. And Tate, Jones and Williams are third, fourth and fifth in receptions over the past 25 years, with a sizeable lead over Nate Burleson, who is next on the list.

Burleson, the consummate locker room guy and future media star, had a decent case for the sixth spot. Mike Furrey had one great season, Golladay two, and if we check back in two years, Jameson Williams could be the easy answer. Yet we’re going with Raymond.

Raymond’s 147 receptions and seven touchdowns across four seasons aren’t particularly impressive relative to the other options. However, his contributions as a return man make him the right choice. He’s averaged better than 30 yards on kickoffs and 12.4 yards fielding punts during his time with the Lions, earning second-team All-Pro honors twice for those contributions.

Tight end (3)​

Sam LaPorta, T.J. Hockenson, Brandon Pettigrew

First man out: Eric Ebron

Thoughts: There shouldn’t be too much to debate here. LaPorta rewrote the franchise’s record books as a rookie, and he’s just getting started.

Meanwhile, Hockenson and Pettigrew did an admirable job living up to the lofty standards attached to being selected in the first round. Pettigrew’s 301 receptions rank behind only Johnson, St. Brown and Tate since 2000. And Hockenson’s career was off to a strong start, with 128 combined catches in his second and third seasons, before he was shipped to Minnesota at the trade deadline in the middle of his fourth year.

Hockenson edged out Ebron, another former top-10 pick. The two had nearly identical stat lines during their time with the Lions, but Ebron’s issues with drops were the difference.

We also considered highlighting David Sloan, a block-first tight end. The disqualifier was that his best seasons came before 2000, including a 1999 Pro Bowl selection.

Offensive line (10)​

Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Jeff Backus, Riley Reiff, Frank Ragnow, Dominic Raiola, Rob Sims, Larry Warford, Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow

First man out: Gosder Cherilus

Thoughts: Detroit has had some excellent offensive linemen over the years, even if some weren’t fully appreciated during their careers.

With multiple All-Pro selections apiece, Sewell and Ragnow were some of the easiest names to put on this roster. The rest of the group is set-it-and-forget-it starters.

Backus started 191 of 192 games during his 12-year career. Reiff took over the blindside duties after Backus’ retirement but also offered the flexibility to play on the right side, starting his career there and shifting back when the Lions drafted Decker in 2016. All three were durable and performed above average as pass protectors and run blockers.

On the inside, Sims stabilized the left guard spot for years after coming over in a trade from Seattle. Warford and Jackson, both third-round picks, were stellar in pass protection. Warford, who went on to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections for New Orleans, was also a damn fine run blocker.

Glasgow’s versatility has been so valuable during his two stints with the Lions. He’s had above-average stretches at three different spots in the lineup. And while he arguably makes a third center unnecessary, Raiola’s had an underrated 14-year career that included some of his best work in his later years.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Edge rushers (5)​

Aidan Hutchinson, Ezekiel Ansah, Robert Porcher, Cliff Avril, James Hall

First man out: Kyle Vanden Bosch

Thoughts: The Lions have had a few elite edge defenders over the past 25 years. We’ve obviously only seen the tip of the iceberg with Hutchinson. Throughout his three seasons, he’s shown steady improvement, racking up 28.5 sacks in 39 games.

Hutchinson has been the team’s best pass rusher since Ansah, the raw talent Detroit grabbed with the No. 5 pick of the 2013 draft. He dropped opposing passers behind the line 48 times in six seasons, including 14.5 in 2015, earning him second-team All-Pro honors.

Most of Porcher’s production came before 2000, but he still squeezed out a couple of solid years down the stretch, including a Pro Bowl season in 2001, when he recorded 11.0 sacks.

Avril, a third-round selection out of Purdue in 2008, started his career with a modest 10.5 sacks through two seasons before averaging nearly 10 over his final three years with the franchise.

There wasn’t a particularly strong case for a fifth. Still, we found room for Hall, an undrafted signing out of the University of Michigan who played seven seasons with the Lions. A rotational player early in his career, he ultimately started 67 games in Detroit, reaching his peak with an 11.5-sack season in 2004.

Defensive tackles (4)​

Ndamukong Suh, Alim McNeill, Shaun Rogers, Luther Elliss

First man out: Corey Redding

Thoughts: Suh is a Hall of Fame-caliber talent who proved worthy of being the No. 2 pick coming out of Nebraska. He earned All-Pro honors four times in five seasons and also netted the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2010. His 36.0 sacks in a Lions uniform trail only Ansah and Avril this century.

Rogers isn't far behind with 29.0 sacks, second among defensive tackles. The freakishly athletic nose tackle earned Pro Bowl honors twice in seven seasons with Detroit while racking up 65 tackles for a loss.

McNeill, who had his fourth season derailed by a torn ACL, has developed into a top-10 defensive tackle. Initially a nose to begin his career, he transformed his body, shedding 30 pounds as part of a transition to 3-technique. That's opened up pass-rush opportunities, resulting in 79 pressures and 8.5 sacks across the past two seasons. He's done that while maintaining his stellar reputation as a run-stopper.

Finally, Ellis, like Porcher, had his best years before 2000. Still, there's a Pro Bowl year and 43 starts this century for the man known for getting the home crowd loud in between snaps.

We did give strong consideration to Nick Fairley. The 30-game starter was supremely talented but battled weight and motivation issues that limited his production. Redding also deserves an honorable mention, with 77 starts, 43 TFLs and 16.0 sacks for the Lions.

Linebackers (6)​

Stephen Tulloch, D’Andre Levy, Alex Anzalone, Ernie Sims, Tahir Whitehead, Jalen Reeves-Maybin

First man out: Chris Claiborne

Thoughts: The Lions have had some excellent linebackers this century.

Tulloch and Levy played key roles in the team's first playoff appearance in over a decade, back in 2011. After joining the team as a free agent, Tulloch topped 100 tackles four times during a five-season stretch.

Levy arrived two years earlier via the draft. It took him a couple of seasons to find his groove before he developed into one of the premier coverage linebackers in the league. He recorded 12 interceptions during his career, including six in 2013. He also topped 100 tackles three times, leading the league with 117 solo stops in 2014.

Anzalone, like Tulloch, played a key role in a cultural turnaround. Oft-injured early in his career, Anzalone put most of those issues behind him in Detroit, delivering back-to-back career years in 2022 and 2023, with a combined 254 tackles (14 for a loss), 12 pass breakups and 4.5 sacks.

Sims was a bright spot during a dark era of Lions football. It was always going to be difficult to deliver value as a top-10 pick. Still, he started 50 consecutive games to open his career, topping 100 tackles each of his first three seasons before a regime change facilitated his exit.

Whitehead's inclusion might feel like an upset, but it shouldn't. He started his career as a strong special-teams performer who then transitioned smoothly into the starting lineup after replacing an injured Tulloch in the early stages of the 2014 season. Whitehead would have back-to-back 100-tackle seasons before departing in free agency.

The final spot goes to an All-Pro special teamer in Reeves-Maybin over Claiborne, another top-10 pick with three 100-tackle seasons. His inability to develop into a more effective playmaker led to the Lions allowing him to walk in free agency without much of a fight.

Cornerbacks (6)​

Darius Slay, Dre Bly, Chris Houston, Fernando Bryant, Rashean Mathis, Quandre Diggs

First man out: Jerry Jacobs

Thoughts: Slay would be the No. 1 corner on this roster. The former second-round pick shook off a rocky rookie season to deliver three straight Pro Bowl campaigns, including first-team All-Pro honors in 2017 when he led the league with eight interceptions.

Bly was also a top-tier playmaker after signing with the Lions as a free agent in 2003. In four seasons with the team, he never had fewer than three picks, racking up 19 across the span.

The Lions snagged Houston in a trade from Atlanta for a Day 3 draft pick. That proved to be a steal as he provided 10 interceptions and 45 pass defenses in 54 starts across four seasons before a toe injury prematurely ended his career.

The talent pool starts to thin out from there. Bryant was solid as Bly’s running mate, although injuries limited Bryant to 38 games in four seasons. He did manage to break up 29 passes during that stretch.

Another bargain-bin find, the Lions scooped Mathis off the street during training camp in 2013. It proved fortuitous as he simultaneously replaced the struggling Slay in the starting lineup while mentoring the rookie. Even though Mathis was at the end of his solid career, he still mustered 28 PBUs in 38 games across three seasons.

Diggs is a hybrid defender, having effectively played both nickel and safety during his time with Detroit. Unfortunately, the Lions missed out on his best seasons after the Diet Patriots regime traded him away due to a personality clash.

Safeties (4)​

Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Glover Quin, Louis Delmas

First man out: Tracy Walker

Thoughts: Like the running backs, Detroit’s current tandem makes the cut.

Joseph is an easy case with 16 interceptions and first-team All-Pro recognition through his first three seasons. Branch, on the other hand, is extremely versatile and productive, recording 109 tackles (eight for a loss) and four interceptions in his second season.

Quin was a second-team All-Pro in 2014 when he paced the NFL with seven interceptions. One of the most cerebral defenders in Lions history, he picked off 19 passes across six seasons. He also didn’t miss a start during that stretch.

The fourth spot is debatable. Walker and Kennoy Kennedy have strong cases. In and out of the starting lineup during his six seasons with the Lions, Walker’s 398 tackles rank second among Lions safeties in the past 25 years. As for Kennedy, he racked up 253 tackles, 13 pass defenses and four forced fumbles in three seasons after coming over as a free agent from Denver. He’s certainly on the all-name team.

We have Delmas barely edging those two. A second-round pick out of Western Michigan, Delmas ranks third in tackles and second in PBUs among Lions safeties this century. A big hitter who admittedly had some missed tackle issues, he was more impactful than the others against the run, leading his position with 20 tackles for loss.

Specialists (3)​

Matt Prater, Jack Fox, Don Muhlbach

First man out: Jason Hanson

Thoughts: There's not much that can be said against the inclusion of Muhlbach and Fox. Muhlbach held the long-snapping role for much of the quarter-century, appearing in 260 games across 16 seasons.

And Fox is a record-breaking punter who just established the best single-season net average in NFL history.

Kicker is more interesting. Hanson is an undisputed franchise legend who made 83.6% of his field goals from 2000 to his retirement after the 2012 season. However, in seven years with the Lions, Prater was a bit more accurate, hitting 84.4% of his kicks. He also had a stronger leg, making a pair from 59 yards, which exceeded Hanson's career-long by 3 yards.

In terms of kicks from 50 yards and beyond, Hanson made 37 in his final 13 seasons. Prater converted 38 from that distance in a little more than half the games. He also developed a stronger reputation for clutch kicks during his time with the Lions.

 

[BobbyLayne]

2025 Detroit Lions training camp schedule dates, times announced​

The Detroit Lions have announced the 2025 training camp dates open to fans

The Detroit Lions have announced the dates for their 2025 training camp, which are open to the public. This year, the Lions are opening a total of 10 practices to fans, with six of those practices open up to all fans, three exclusive to season ticket holders, and one being an “Invitation Only Lions Community day.”

Most notably, the Lions will also hold three joint practices open to fans: a pair of bouts with the Miami Dolphins and a single session against the Houston Texans.

Here’s a look at the entire training camp schedule that will be open for fans to attend:

Note: In all instances below, gates to practice open one hour before the listed time.

• Saturday, July 26 (season ticket holders only) — 8:30 a.m. ET
• Monday, July 28 — 8:30 a.m. ET
• Tuesday, July 29 — 8:30 a.m. ET
• Sunday, August 3 — 8:30 a.m. ET
• Monday, August 4 (season ticket holders only) — 6 pm. ET
• Wednesday, August 6 — 8:30 a.m. ET
• Monday, August 11 (invitation only) — 10:30 a.m. ET
• Wednesday, August 13 — Joint practice with Dolphins (season ticket holders only) — 10:30 a.m. ET
• Thursday, August 14 — Joint practice with Dolphins — 10:30 a.m. ET
• Thursday, August 21 — Joint practice with Texans — 10:30 a.m. ET

Attendance is free for fans, but a ticket is required to enter. Registration for tickets begins on Tuesday, July 15, at 10 a.m. ET over at the Lions’ official training camp website. Tickets tend to go fast, so be sure to set yourself a calendar reminder for July 15.

See y’all in Allen Park!

 

[BobbyLayne]

What Dominic Lovett's college tape reveals about what the Lions are getting in the rookie receiver​

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions didn’t have an immediate need for receiving depth ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. After re-signing veteran Tim Patrick in free agency, the team is set to bring back its top four options from the previous season, keeping quarterback Jared Goff’s arsenal intact.

Still, there was a lingering necessity to address the future. Denver letting Patrick go ahead of last season was a godsend for the Lions, who had struggled to find a big-bodied, X-type receiver to round out the corps during the offseason. Yet, on the cusp of his 32nd birthday, he remains a stopgap solution.

Additionally, versatile backup and return man Kalif Raymond is entering the final year of his contract and will turn 31 during training camp. Meanwhile, general manager Brad Holmes has hinted that the team might not be able to afford to retain budding star Jameson Williams when his contract expires after the 2026 season.

So, in hindsight, it wasn’t surprising the Lions showed some urgency to snag Isaac TeSlaa on the draft’s second day, moving up 32 spots to land the Michigan native with a rare combination of size (6-foot-4) and elite athleticism. He’s in need of some development, but can reasonably be penciled in to replace much of Patrick’s workload starting next season.

Regardless, the Lions weren’t done adding to the room. The day after selecting TeSlaa, the Lions used a seventh-round choice on Georgia’s Dominic Lovett. Obviously, there are far fewer expectations with picks at that stage in the draft. Still, Detroit has mined some key pieces on Day 3 during Holmes’ tenure, headlined by All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

So what did the Lions see in Lovett? We reviewed the tape from several of his games last season to understand what the team is getting.

Games watched​

Every 2023 target and 2024 matchups at Kentucky, vs. Florida, at Texas, vs. Notre Dame (playoffs)

Bio​

Lovett split his time between two high schools, starting at Belleville West (Illinois) before transferring to East St. Louis. During his junior season — the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out his senior year — Lovett caught more than 70 balls as his team went undefeated and won the state’s 6A championship.

A four-star recruit, Lovett drew interest from a number of top programs. He initially committed to Arizona State before flipping to Missouri late in the process. He spent two years with the Tigers before transferring to Georgia.

Athletic profile​

Lovett is undersized, measuring 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds during the pre-draft process. His calling card is his straight-line speed. He ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, with equally impressive 10- and 20-yard splits.

Additionally, Lovett demonstrated average leaping ability and slightly above-average agility in the short shuttle. He did not participate in the bench press or the 3-cone drill.

Statistics​

2021 (Missouri): 13 games, 278 offensive snaps, 36 targets, 28 receptions, 177 yards, zero touchdowns, four carries, 40 yards, one touchdown

2022 (Missouri): 12 games, 400 offensive snaps, 76 targets, 56 receptions, 846 yards, three touchdowns, seven carries, 6 yards

2023 (Georgia): 14 games, 511 offensive snaps, 70 targets, 54 receptions, 613 yards, four touchdowns

2024 (Georgia): 14 games, 553 offensive snaps, 91 targets, 59 receptions, 607 yards, six touchdowns

Durability​

Despite his small frame, Lovett proved to be highly durable throughout his college career. In four seasons, he didn’t miss a game due to injury. The lone contest he sat out, the 2022 Gasparilla Bowl against Wake Forest, was due to his entry into the transfer portal.

Lovett was limited in a couple of games during that season by a sprained ankle he suffered against Georgia. He returned to finish that contest after suffering the injury.

Usage​

At Georgia, the vast majority of Lovett’s playing time came in the slot. During the 2024 season, he logged 461 snaps in the alignment, compared to just 79 out wide. The only season he played more wide than inside was his freshman year at Missouri.

In terms of special teams, Lovett was a gunner for Georgia’s dominant punt coverage group.

Skill assessment​

Route running: A significant portion of Lovett's production came on routes close to the line of scrimmage, with a variety of screen looks and passes to the flat out of motion.

He can run a full tree, but his consistency declines the further he gets from the line. On non-screens, he's at his best when finding open spaces against zone looks. When working against man coverage, his ability to create separation is inconsistent. He'll benefit from learning some nuances about how to better set up defenders at the top of the route with leverage. He does a good job of maintaining speed coming out of his breaks.

Lovett isn't much of a deep threat. One vertical route where he had decent success was a slot fade.

Releases: Similar to his route stems, Lovett struggles to create separation with his initial steps against press coverage. He's not particularly strong, so physical slot corners will give him issues, often eliminating him as an option early in the snap.

Ball skills: Lovett tracks the ball well at all depths and makes the proper adjustments to off-target throws to give himself a chance. On the slot fades, he demonstrates the ability to track the ball over his shoulder, and he shows good concentration in traffic and through contact on targets across the middle.

Hands: With his frame, Lovett has a below-average catch radius. He can struggle when balls are off his frame, particularly throws that are low or behind him.

The concentration drops that plagued him in 2023 didn't show up nearly as often last season. He's a hands catcher, extending away from his body to snatch the ball before quickly securing it from being poked away by a defender.

After the catch: Nearly 60% of Lovett's production came after the catch last season. He's a tackle avoider, not a tackler breaker. With his below-average play strength, he'll rarely escape the grasp of a defender.

Lovett will use a pursuer's momentum against them, using a jab step to make the first man miss. However, he's at his best when he takes a short throw and his blocking holds up. His first-step acceleration might be his best asset, enabling him to turn a well-executed screen pass into a 15-yard gain.

Blocking: Effort isn't an issue, but he's physically limited in his ability to effectively contribute in the ground game. He's most efficient when lining up tight to the formation and throwing a quick, hard shoulder into the defense end to slow their path to the perimeter.

In space, Lovett doesn't offer a lot. His blocks are easily avoided or quickly shed in situations where he manages to get his hands into the defender's chest.

Conclusion​

When the selection was made, it was easy to think of Lovett as a potential long-term replacement for Raymond. After reviewing the tape, the veteran has a more well-rounded skill set than the rookie demonstrated at Georgia.

Lovett will need to develop his releases and route running if he hopes to replicate Raymond's inside-out versatility. Additionally, Lovett will also need to continue adding strength to become a more serviceable blocker.

As it stands, Lovett is a slot-first backup with the potential to have an impact on shorter throws and screens, as he did for the Bulldogs. He also proved he can serve as eye candy in a variety of offensive looks, causing defensive hesitation with jet motions through the backfield or an immediate QB pump fake looking his way in the flat, potentially opening up a deeper route for a teammate. Georgia used him as a decoy multiple times per game.

Lovett's speed can be a valuable asset as a gunner on punt coverage. He didn't return kicks at Georgia or Missouri. Still, his ball tracking and impressive acceleration make him worthy of a look on punts as a backup to Raymond.

 

[BobbyLayne]

The Detroit Lions believe in Marcus Davenport more than you​

Allen Park — Arguably more than Aidan Hutchinson's recovery from last year's broken leg, there has been greater offseason interest in the Detroit Lions' plans opposite the Pro Bowler.

Each time general manager Brad Holmes has met with the media since the end of last season, he has faced similar questions about the topic, whether he's being asked if the team has enough pass rush or if he feels the team is one piece away from getting over the Super Bowl hump.

In reality, every team has holes somewhere on the roster. No one has Pro Bowl-caliber talent at every spot. Holmes has been quick to point out that the Lions are fortunate to have one of the league's elite edge defenders in Hutchinson. And while Holmes would love a second stud to pair with his young star, logistically, it's nearly impossible because you typically need either a top-10 draft pick or an extra $30-35 million in cap space to land that piece.

Some understandably yearned for the Lions to trade for Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby. Instead, both received extensions from their current clubs. Crosby's deal averages just north of $35 million, while Garrett's four added years will cost the Browns $40 million per season, coincidentally setting a new bar for Hutchinson's impending extension.

The lingering edge-rushing dream for fans, Trey Hendrickson, remains disgruntled with his contract in Cincinnati. He's looking for something in that Crosby stratosphere after leading the league in sacks last season. And he has requested a trade as the Bengals have dragged their feet in meeting his demands, although there were reports that talks were resuming last weekend.

To be clear, in that scenario, an acquiring team would be paying twice, needing to give up premium draft assets to acquire Hendrickson, along with a huge contract to satisfy what's driving him out of Cincinnati in the first place. It's also worth noting that an extension wouldn't take effect until he's 31 years old.

Instead of engaging in those cap gymnastics and abandoning the roster-building strategy that helped the Lions become legitimate championship contenders, Holmes invested the team's offseason resources elsewhere. Detroit re-signed linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. They made a splash on the open market for one of the best man-cover cornerbacks in the league, D.J. Reed. And instead of reaching for a second-tier edge rusher in the first round of the draft, they stuck to their board, selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. That addition filled another short- and long-term roster need.

Meanwhile, at edge rusher, they're set to roll the dice. Not on Hutchinson's recovery from last year's broken leg. That's a relatively safe bet. The bigger gamble — one that will be under a microscope and dissected weekly on local talk radio and social media — was the decision to bring back Marcus Davenport.

At least Holmes got a discount on a discount, getting the oft-injured former first-round pick back in the fold for under $3 million.

Lions fans barely got to know Davenport during his first season with the franchise. He was impressive in a season-opening win over the Rams, tallying six QB pressures and chipping in on a sack. He missed the next game with a groin strain, and his season ended the following week when he suffered a torn triceps while battling with Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

The injury was the latest in a growing list of ailments that have derailed a once-promising career. Still, it's understandable why the Lions are running it back. Obviously, the price was right, but Davenport is, stylistically, a perfect fit opposite Hutchinson.

Davenport crushes the pocket with what teammate Taylor Decker calls one of the best bull rushes he's seen. The force at which the defender collides with an offensive lineman sounds audibly different.

"If it goes the way we think it's going to go, Davenport is going to be a hell of a player," Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

The Lions briefly saw the vision come to fruition against the Rams. Now, as Holmes put it at the league meetings back in April, the team is hoping for a reversal of Davenport's injury luck, which has seemingly abandoned him since he racked up 9.0 sacks for the Saints in 2021.

So far this offseason, there have been few opportunities to evaluate the defensive linemen. Things won't matter until the pads come on during training camp. Still, if you're looking for optimism with Davenport, coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is eager to provide it.

"We all know the only obstacle for Davenport is the health and availability," Sheppard said. "It's never had anything to do with his play. I'm talking about since he hit the scene as a first-round pick for the Saints. It's never been his play. It's always been the availability piece, like it is for every player.

"He's had some setbacks in his career, but I watched that player take no days off this offseason," Sheppard continued. "He's been here just as long as the coaches have, and putting in the work, and his body looks different right now. I firmly believe in speaking with him, his mindset is different right now."

 

[BobbyLayne]

NFL announced the TC reporting dates for all 32 teams today. As expected, the Chargers & Lions will have a 3-day jump on the other 30 teams to prepare for the HoF game.

For Detroit, rookies report July 16 and veterans July 19. Because the league year started a week later, and knowing the team would have a 4th preseason game, Coach Campbell shortened OTAs from 3 weeks to 2, and cancelled minicamp.

 

[Ilov80s]

I am glad the Lions believe in Davenport but there is a lot of evidence to say they shouldn't. The older he gets, the tought it is to believe in his health.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Upcoming summer stories between now and TC:

June 20 - Sheppard/Choice

June 22 - TBA retrospective feature

June 24 - Film review/scouting report - Miles Frazier
June 25 - Story on facility upgrades

June 27 - Ranking NFC North position-by-position

June 30 - Lower-level assistant feature - Dre Thompson
July 1 - Position preview, Quarterback
July 2 - Position preview, Linebackers
July 3 - Position preview, Wide receivers
July 4 - Position preview, Cornerbacks

July 6 - Position preview, Offensive tackles
July 7 - Position preview, Defensive tackles

July 9 - Where can each starter grow (offense)
July 10 - Where can each starter grow (defense)
July 11 - Position preview, Tight ends

July 13 - Position preview, Safeties
July 14 - Position preview, Running backs

July 16 - Position preview, Edge rushers
July 17 - Position preview, Interior o-line

July 19 - A dozen players with something to prove this camp

 

[nysfl2]

I am glad the Lions believe in Davenport but there is a lot of evidence to say they shouldn't. The older he gets, the tought it is to believe in his health.

There’s lots of reasons to worry about his health, but he’s only 28

 

[BobbyLayne]

Lions' Tashard Choice on working with best friend Kelvin Sheppard: 'I may fight him'​

Allen Park — Even during some of the Detroit Lions’ early offseason practices, the energy is elevated, the sideline noisier. But it’s not the players who are the driving force behind the ramped-up intensity. No, it’s Detroit’s revamped coaching staff.

At its heart is a newcomer to the staff and two coaches in new roles. Without question, receivers coach Scottie Montgomery's voice is more recognizable this offseason than it has been the past two years, when he helmed the running back room. Maybe it’s a reflection of the personalities he’s now leading, but Montgomery’s increased chirping is unmistakable.

Then there’s Tashard Choice, the team’s first-year running backs coach, who you could hear over everyone at the first practice open to the media this offseason repeatedly barking, “Barbeque chicken! Barbeque chicken!"

The taunt originated with NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who used the phrase to encapsulate his physical dominance. On a podcast, O’Neal explained how he’d use the delicious summertime dish to describe when he was being defended by someone who couldn’t check him, so he’d devour them like barbeque chicken.

In those moments, Choice is amping his guys up, but he’s also needling Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit’s recently promoted defensive coordinator. The longtime friends are reveling in the opportunity to work together and compete against one another, just as they used to on the practice fields in Buffalo and Indianapolis more than a decade ago.

“That's my buddy,” Choice said. “It is funny, man. I tell y’all this, man, y’all don't understand how close we really are. And it is so cool because I talk to Shep every day — even when I was at Texas, at Georgia Tech — I talked to him every single day.”

As players, Choice arrived and finished his NFL career before Sheppard. Choice entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick for Dallas in 2008 and was done by 2014, having played for four teams in six seasons. Sheppard, who was drafted by the Bills in 2011, played for six teams in eight seasons, logging his last snaps with the Lions in 2018.

While Sheppard was still lacing them up, Choice had already transitioned to coaching. He originally tried his hand at media broadcasting before former Lions quarterback Jon Kitna reached out to see if Choice had an interest in helping out with the high school team Kitna was coaching.

At the first practice, Choice shared a strategy with the kids that he utilized as a professional — picking one thing to focus on during each practice. When he returned to help out again a week later, one of the kids sought him out to share how the advice resonated. Several years later, that player, Jalen Reagor, would be selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Choice was hooked. He interned with the Cowboys in 2016, then transitioned to the college ranks, where he had stops at North Texas, Georgia Tech, and Texas before the Lions came calling. At his previous stops, he worked directly with two of the best running backs college football has produced in the past five years, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Choice will have the opportunity to work with the latter again in Detroit, and he's looking forward to pushing the young superstar to an even higher level.

“Having an opportunity to get around him now, coaching, I'm going to be harder on him even more,” Choice said.

Texas was a good gig, but when Detroit checked in this offseason, it was an easy call to take. Choice had watched how Dan Campbell had hand-selected Sheppard for an opportunity four years earlier, invested in his development and promoted him twice, most recently to defensive coordinator.

“From afar, you love to see that,” Choice said. “That's one of the things that drew me in here because I saw one of my closest friends go from ground zero to see where he's at right now. It's the coolest thing alive, man. I'm excited for him because I know how he's built, and I know what he wants to prove for himself. You know what I mean? I know how good he relates to the players and the coaches. Everybody loves Shep Dog.”

Now, instead of supporting each other from a distance, Sheppard and Choice can work side by side in pursuit of a shared goal. And they’ll eagerly push each other to achieve it.

“I may fight him,” Choice said when asked what the dynamics might look like during training camp. “It's funny. When you're in them lines, I hate him as a player on the team, but I love him at the same time. You know what I mean?

“You'll see, that's how we are,” Choice said. “That's the pushing part. Because we know when they're going against him, they're going to need that. My players are going to want to feed off of me. I'm going to feed off of them, and he's the same way.”

Sheppard will be ready and waiting for Choice to bring it.

“Oh, it's gonna be great,” Sheppard said. “Not only with him, Scottie, the whole gang. I know they’re gonna be waiting on me. I’m gonna be waiting on them. But that's what drives this place, is that right there. And that's why he has fit in so well. It's like he's been here all along,

“…Scottie told me the other day, ‘This dude is out of his mind,’” Sheppard said. “I'm telling you, I don't think he's ever had a bad day. And if he has, he's never let that show when he walks into a building or when he walks into a locker room. He's always going to be the energetic guy, the motivating guy. But I tell everybody, he's a better human being than he is a football player or a coach, and that's why the players gravitate to him. That's why the teammates gravitate to him.”

 

[Ilov80s]

I am glad the Lions believe in Davenport but there is a lot of evidence to say they shouldn't. The older he gets, the tought it is to believe in his health.

There’s lots of reasons to worry about his health, but he’s only 28

You are right he will be 29 this year which is a little younger than I thought but his injury history is quite lengthy for his age: lisfranc, multiple shoulder injuries, 5 surgeries in the 2022 off season, tightrope ankle surgery ending 2023, an arm injury ending his 2024 season.

Hes had 4 sacks in the last 3 seasons.

 

[BobbyLayne]

5 years ago, an unexpected change in ownership altered course of long-lousy Lions​

Allen Park — Five years ago Monday, with the COVID-19 pandemic creating unprecedented uncertainty heading into the 2020 NFL season, the Detroit Lions accelerated the franchise’s succession plan, with Martha Firestone Ford stepping down as the principal owner and handing off the reins to daughter Sheila Hamp.

Hamp, who had worked by her mother’s side following the 2014 passing of patriarch, William Clay Ford, vowed to emulate many of Firestone Ford’s best leadership traits while aiming to learn more about all facets of the organization in an effort to put her own stamp on the franchise.

The switch was met with predictable skepticism. Fans had long viewed the Ford family as the common thread in decades of on-field failure. They had no reason to believe this change would alter those fortunes.

Admittedly, the transformation wasn’t abrupt. A wrecking ball was required. However, after weathering a rocky start to her tenure, Hamp has been at the heart of two improbable turnarounds: Building a legitimate Super Bowl contender and quieting the narrative that her family was incapable of doing it.

The early stages of Hamp's reign were marked by two low points: One where she was partially culpable and another where she was the target of accumulated frustrations that had been building long before her time in charge.

Prior to taking control, Hamp had a hand in retaining coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn for the 2020 season. During a mid-December meeting with a select group of reporters at the team's practice facility, Hamp sat alongside her mother and team president Rod Wood, explaining that decision.

"(Firing them) would have been the popular choice, the popular decision, and we knew that," Hamp said. "But, as I say, we're doing what is right for the organization."

Financially, it was the right decision, but the Lions predictably were unable to transform a roster that went 3-12-1 the previous season into a playoff contender overnight. Things bottomed out on Thanksgiving. The Houston Texans came to town and pummelled the Lions, 41-25. It was the team’s fourth loss in five games, dropping them to 4-7 on the season.

Worse yet, Hamp was captured by former MLive photographer Mike Mulholland during the game with her hands covering her face, a poignant moment that symbolized a city’s frustration with the product.

Two days later, Hamp finally took the necessary action, firing Patricia and Quinn.

Because of the pandemic, the Lions didn’t have fans at Ford Field that season. It wasn’t until next year that they’d have a chance to voice their displeasure.

With the team hosting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3, Hamp was relentlessly booed during a halftime ceremony celebrating Calvin Johnson’s selection to the Hall of Fame. It was jarring, and even though she powered through her comments, she looked shell-shocked.

What those fans couldn’t have realized is Hamp had planted the seeds that would deliver unprecedented success during the Super Bowl era, including two division titles, two playoff victories and a team-best 15-win season.

If the first domino was firing Quinn and Patricia, the next was luring franchise legend Chris Spielman out of the broadcast booth to serve as a special advisor in the search for new football leadership.

Hamp, Wood, and Spielman, alongside Chief Operating Officer Mike Disner, ran an in-house operation to find those leaders. They were hired independently, with a Hamp-led focus on collaboration.

The previous regime, borrowing heavily from its professional upbringing working in New England, had operated with intense secrecy, building up figurative walls throughout the organization. Hamp, and Spielman as her proxy, aimed to take a sledgehammer to those barriers, bringing the entirety of the operation closer together.

"The whole idea that football is secret and we're not going to tell anybody what we're doing, it was like, 'What?'" Hamp told me in an exclusive interview for the Detroit News ahead of the 2021 season. "Obviously, you don't want to tell your opponents what your game plan is, but you want the fans to know what you're doing. I felt like with this organization, I want everyone to feel like they're a part of it, that their piece is important, because it is. We can't do this alone. You can't."

The panel of four ultimately landed on a fresh-faced option for general manager, hiring Los Angeles Rams college scouting director Brad Holmes. And for the coach, the choice was a hard-nosed yet gregarious former Lions tight end, Dan Campbell, who had an unremarkable stint as an interim head coach in Miami six years earlier.

Much like Hamp’s promotion, both hires were met with doubt. Holmes wasn’t only new to the role, he was a relative unknown. He wasn’t even initially on the Lions’ radar until Disner stumbled upon and was impressed by a mock interview the league performs with potential candidates.

Campbell, meanwhile, was not among the fan favorites for the opening. And while some loved the passion of his kneecap-biting introductory press conference, it was the subject of more ridicule than praise, particularly nationally.

Further eroding faith that the outside-the-box hires could work was longtime franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, requesting a trade.

In hindsight, trading Stafford paved the way for Holmes to tear the roster down to its studs. Of course, that meant briefly bottoming out, with the team threatening to go winless in 2021 before a final-play victory in Week 13 led to a 3-3 finish.

Expectations were higher in Year 2, but the Lions stumbled to a 1-6 start, prompting Hamp to offer a public vote of confidence for her coach and general manager.

“I think we really are making progress. We’ve seen it. It’s just this was a huge teardown and then turnaround. We’re only one-third of the way through the season, we’ve got 11 more games to go, so I just don’t want everyone to push the panic button and give up the ship because I think we’ve got the right people in place to pull this off, and I truly believe that, and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t believe it.”

The timing of the statement couldn’t have been much better. The Lions lost their next game, blowing a second-half lead against the Dolphins, before getting red hot. They’d win six of their next seven and had a chance to make the playoffs entering Week 17. They ended up being eliminated before kicking off against the Packers. Still, they won the game at Lambeau, ensuring the division foe also missed the postseason.

The momentum hasn’t slowed since the second half of the 2022 campaign. The Lions won their first division title in 30 years the following season, culminating with two playoff wins before falling just shy of the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth. Then, last year, the team went 15-2 before an inordinate number of injuries to the defense finally caught up with them in the postseason.

“I always wanted to prove her right,” Campbell said ahead of the NFC Championship game in 2024. “That’s not an easy thing to do, to take a chance on somebody that nobody knows about or thinks deserves a shot or whatever it is. And so, to trust your instincts and trust people around you and to pull the trigger, it means a lot. It sure does.

"…She’s one of one,” Campbell said. “She’s unique, and I’ll say this, everything that we kind of are and what we’re about has started with her. It’s really her; it’s her vision. I’m fortunate she allows me to be myself. I don’t feel like I have to be somebody I’m not, and you can’t always do that. You can’t — and so with that, I can coach. I can do what I need to do, and I appreciate that.”

Hamp has uniquely positioned herself as a hands-on owner who doesn’t meddle. One of her early moves as owner was a physical one, relocating her office from the far corner of the practice facility to a central location closer to Holmes and Campbell.

Hamp has also spent time with every department in the organization, on both the football and business side of things. Those meetings, along with detailed annual player surveys, have guided her reinvestments into the product. The Lions have aggressively spent on upgrading their home stadium and practice facility to ensure they are the most conducive environments to maximize players’ happiness and productivity.

“I think everything we do starts with, how does this help the players?” Wood told me earlier this month. “How does this make the players better and help us win more football games?”

At training camp, Hamp warmly hosts guests and ushers players over as if she's introducing a close friend to a family member. She knows the names of every player on the 90-man offseason roster, evident by her checking in and joking with undrafted rookie long snapper Hogan Hatten as he left the field after a camp practice last year.

 

[BobbyLayne]

At her introduction as owner, Hamp was asked if she had a message for fans.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to create a winning organization, especially on the field,” Hamp said. “The fans deserve it, the city deserves it and I am a very competitive person. I grew up playing competitive tennis and it’s and individual sport and it’s me out there by myself and, boy, I hated to lose. I still hate to lose. I guess that’s my message to the fans. I’ll hate to lose as much as they do, and I’ll try not to.”

Losing was unavoidable at the start, and yeah, she shared some of the blame. Regardless, since she voiced support for Campbell and Holmes in 2022, the team has posted a 35-10 record.

Remember those hostile boos Hamp endured during that halftime ceremony in 2021? They’re a distant memory. Fans now chant her name at training camp, games, and when she made opening comments at the team’s uniform unveiling last offseason.

Hamp will never take the credit. She has declined multiple interview requests over the past couple of years to follow up on our 2021 conversation and discuss the turnaround. But make no mistake about it, she’s at the heart of this golden era of Lions football. Without her vision and its implementation, it’s unlikely any of this could have happened.

"Hopefully sooner than later, but if it takes a couple years, that's what it takes," Hamp said when I asked her about her timetable for a turnaround in 2021. "My goal for the football team and the whole organization, I want this to be an organization people really want to work for, to feel good and excited. And I want our football team to be one of the best. I feel like we have a path and hopefully we'll get there.”

 

[BobbyLayne]

How ready is Lions rookie Miles Frazier to compete for starting job? Here's what a study of his college tape revealed​

It was understood going into the 2025 NFL Draft that the Detroit Lions needed to come away with interior offensive line depth. Landing at least one option with early-career starting potential would have been particularly beneficial, following the departure of Kevin Zeitler in free agency and veteran Graham Glasgow coming off one of his worst seasons as he inches toward the end of his career.

It wouldn’t be for another couple of months before we realized how much greater the urgency to address that roster area would become. All-Pro center Frank Ragnow’s abrupt retirement this summer at 29 years old only emphasized the need for an influx of blocking talent.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who stated in January that he wanted to keep the entire garden watered when discussing investing in the line, got off to a strong start with the selection of Georgia’s Tate Ratledge in the second round. Again, we didn’t know it at the time, but the Lions potentially found Ragnow’s replacement with that pick.

After the Ratledge addition, Holmes kept the hose running into the draft’s third day, snagging LSU guard Miles Frazier, a versatile lineman who primarily played guard for the Tigers but has some offensive tackle on his resume from earlier in his college career. He also served as LSU’s backup at those spots, including a spot start at right tackle for his final game at the school.

Unlike Ratledge, Frazier isn’t expected to immediately be in the mix for a starting job with the Lions. However, last year’s sixth-round pick, Christian Mahogany, proved it’s possible to carve out a path to an opportunity quickly. Presumably, the three youngsters — Mahogany, Ratledge and Frazier — could be Detroit’s projected starting interior a year from now.

Before that potential future arrives, we’ve already taken a deeper look at what Ratledge brings to the table via a study of his University of Georgia tape. Now it’s time to do the same with Frazier, to understand his strengths and weaknesses and how he could fit into the team’s future plans up front.

Games watched​

Vs. Ole Miss, @Texas A&M, vs. Alabama, vs. Baylor (bowl game)

Bio​

Born and raised in New Jersey, Frazier split his high school playing days between Cherry Hill West, Woodrow Wilson (Camden) and Milford Academy (New York).

A two-star recruit, he received interest from a variety of lower-level programs, including some MAC schools, before opting to go to Florida International, which was led by former NFL head coach Butch Davis.

After two seasons, including one as the team’s starting left tackle, Frazier entered the transfer portal and generated significantly more interest for his services, ultimately selecting LSU over several top programs, including Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State, Auburn and Miami.

Frazier’s older brother, MJ, also played college football. He was a defensive lineman and tight end, logging time with multiple schools, including Albany, North Carolina A&T and LSU.

Statistics​

2020 (Florida International): Three games, one start, 126 offensive snaps, three QB pressures allowed

2021 (Florida International): 12 games, 11 starts, 648 offensive snaps, 15 QB pressures and four sacks allowed

2022 (LSU): 14 games, 13 starts, 822 offensive snaps, 13 QB pressures and three sacks allowed

2023 (LSU): 13 starts, 785 offensive snaps, six QB pressures and one sack allowed

2024 (LSU): 13 starts, 902 offensive snaps, 13 QB pressures and zero sacks allowed

Durability​

Frazier didn’t miss a game with an injury during his time at LSU. He briefly exited the team’s 2024 matchup against Florida with an ankle issue but quickly returned to action.

Athletic profile​

Frazier is an excellent overall athlete with an NFL-ready frame. He measured 6-foot-6, 317 pounds during the pre-draft process. He tested above average to well above average in every drill, including demonstrating elite explosion in the vertical and broad jumps.

Frazier also put up 27 reps on the bench, ran a 5.24-second 40-yard dash with an impressive 1.79-second 10-yard split, and completed the 3-cone drill in 7.76 seconds.

Frazier has adequate length to play on the inside, but small hands for the offensive line position.

RAS 9.33

Usage​

Frazier started as the blindside tackle for Florida International but was moved inside by LSU. He flipped between left and right guard during his first year with the program before settling into the right guard spot the past two seasons.

Frazier also served as the backup offensive tackle during his time at LSU and started the team’s bowl game against Wisconsin at right tackle to cap his college career.

Skill assessment​

Pass protection: This is, far and away, the strength of Frazier’s game. He has a wide frame and is quick out of his stance, allowing him to dictate the defender’s path in close quarters.

Frazier’s awareness stands out above his other traits. His head is often on a swivel, processing how the defense’s rush plan develops after the snap. He’s adept at adjusting to twists and stunts, smoothly transitioning between assignments to address the imminent threat to his quarterback.

Frazier doesn’t have many issues with speed or power. He has an adequate anchor to stymie most bull rushes and enough short-area burst, paired with his snap timing, to prevent quicker interior defenders from getting an edge to penetrate the pocket.

Run blocking: Frazier’s ceiling as a pro will hinge on his ability to develop more consistency in the ground game.

On the plus side, he has adequate power to drive a defender out of a gap, particularly on angle and down blocks. In these scenarios, he'll continue to churn his legs to generate movement until the whistle. His ability to burst out of his stance at the snap also makes him useful when running outside and stretch zone concepts, particularly when it comes to impeding the pursuit of a backside linebacker.

Frazier otherwise struggles to be effective in the second level. He has the necessary athleticism to quickly climb to an assignment, either directly or coming off a combination block at the line. Still, he regularly flounders when he arrives at his landmark in space to impede the defender. Those struggles to execute also extend to the screen game.

Closer to the line of scrimmage, Frazier often gets caught leaning and lunging. Defenders will take advantage of these balance issues, and he will panic, getting grabby in those moments.

Frazier also labors to consistently maintain a latch inside a defender’s shoulder pads, potentially because his hand size limits his grip strength. This can result in the defender crossing his face to fill a run lane late.

Conclusion​

Watching Frazier’s tape, there were some undeniable similarities to former Lions guard Jonah Jackson. However, coming into the league, Frazier’s pass protection appears to be more refined, while his run blocking is lagging behind the franchise’s longtime starter at left guard.

You could plug Frazier in as a rookie and reasonably believe quarterback Jared Goff wouldn’t notice the integrity of his pockets diminish or less time to throw on the majority of snaps.

On the other hand, the run and screen games would likely suffer, or, at the very least, the playbook would need to be narrowed to hide some of Frazier’s current inconsistencies. The team’s heavy reliance on zone run schemes wouldn’t be negatively affected, plus he’s reasonably effective as a puller, but asking him to neutralize second-level defenders in space would result in a healthy percentage of those plays being disrupted by his responsibility.

A year under the tutelage of offensive line coach Hank Fraley should serve Frazier well, particularly with ironing out some of the issues of playing over his toes in the run game that result in the young lineman ending up on the ground.

With modest improvements as a run blocker, Frazier should be able to compete for a starting job in 2026.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Kind of a dead time in the NFL year so why not some betting futures.

Comeback player of the Year: Hutchinson +250

Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell +2200

Offensive Player of the Year: Gibbs +950

Defensive Player of the Year: Hutchinson +650

 

[BobbyLayne]

Exploring a series of behind-the-scenes investments that have contributed to Lions' cultural turnaround​

Allen Park — The locker room at the Detroit Lions’ practice facility was undeniably outdated.

The wooden stalls lacked the modern bells and whistles professional athletes have grown to expect. The middle of the room was reminiscent of a common area at a frat house, featuring a Ping-Pong table, a pool table, a cornhole set, a large dry-erase board, a standalone Bluetooth speaker, a disc golf basket, a small table for playing cards, a few flatscreen TVs, some lounge chairs, and a beanbag.

And while space has long been an issue, that inadequacy was driven home each season when mid-season injury replacements were assigned lockers in a no man’s land near the entrance, as opposed to with their respective position groups.

So when ownership presented a number of options to the players for reinvestment this offseason, it’s no surprise the locker room won out.

The Lions subsequently partnered with Longhorn Lockers, a Texas-based company that has designed for some of the largest programs in college sports, as well as remodeled facilities for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. A group led by Jesse Giambra, coach Dan Campbell’s chief of staff, collaborated on the design process after visiting the company’s warehouse, incorporating what they felt were some of the best components from previous concepts Longhorn had made.

From there, a couple of prototypes were shipped to Michigan. To rubber stamp the design before mass production, the Lions invited a small group of players to test drive them. Were the seats comfortable? Was there enough space? Could they reach everything?

Some tweaks were requested, and the locker room’s overhaul got its key piece. Among the improvements to each stall are wider seats and a state-of-the-art air-drying system for the players’ shoulder pads, helmets, cleats, and gloves.

The team unveiled the full redesign in an April social media post, coinciding with the players returning for their first round of OTAs. The room was rebuilt, floor to ceiling. The carpet is new, the ceiling redone with an LED version of the team’s logo, there are more stalls, a full Bluetooth sound system, and blue LED lighting illuminates the floor from the base of the lockers.

That hodgepodge mix of items that previously littered the middle of the space? It’s all been modernized and matches the overall design, tying the room together.

"The locker room is great,” defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said. “You can buy nice stuff when you win games, that's for sure."

Determining where to invest​

Starting in 2023, the NFLPA began publishing an anonymous member survey. Teams were evaluated by players and given a letter grade in various areas, including the weight room, dining options, team travel, treatment of families, training staff, and locker rooms.

Frankly, it felt like an effort to shame teams that were falling short in key areas, forcing them to improve through public pressure. In some instances, that strategy proved successful.

In the most recent survey, Detroit’s locker room received a C+. That was the team’s worst grade out of the 11 categories and also the worst mark among the NFC North teams. However, NFLPA pressure wasn’t the root of this offseason’s overhaul.

Renovation plans in Allen Park were underway before those survey results were released in early March. That’s because the Lions have been conducting a similar yet more comprehensive polling of their players over the past few years. Just as with the NFLPA’s data, the results are anonymous, allowing the roster to offer its unfiltered opinions.

Team president Rod Wood said the in-house survey was an initiative implemented by general manager Brad Holmes after his first season on the job.

“It's on a variety of things, not just the building,” Wood said. “It's everything, food, player engagement people, travel, everything. …We've had those results, internally, for three or four years. Then, we also get the PA's survey. I would say they generally line up. But on top of that, we also talk to the captain group once in a while about things.”

Home sweet home​

A couple of years ago, the Lions flirted with relocating their practice facility. The consideration was serious enough that Wood and a few others in the organization went around with a realtor to scout possible locations in Southeast Michigan.

Ultimately, none of the options carried more appeal than the current setup in Allen Park, which opened its doors in 2002.

“Nothing really looked better than this, and nothing was more convenient geographically,” Wood said. “That's the hard thing. Other spots can't really compare because we're right here by Southfield and (I-)94. Where everybody lives, you can get here pretty easily. It's also close to the airport for road trips and bringing players in for workouts.

“So every other place you looked, it had something that was negative,” Wood said. “You were too far from the airport, you were too far away from people lived, I didn't like the neighborhood, you didn't like who the neighbors were. It kept bringing me back to this being the best location.”

With the decision, the Lions had to commit to upgrades. Over the last two years, they upgraded to a monofilament turf on the indoor practice field, expanded the dining area and doubled the size of the training room. The latter now features an upgraded hydrotherapy room with a sensory deprivation tank, additional massage therapy rooms, and a new Normatec room equipped with red light therapy.


Beyond the locker room, the Lions also upgraded their weight room this offseason. That area was previously modernized in 2016. The recent changes include additional floor space for equipment, new flooring and weight racks, new offices for the strength staff, and an upgraded Bluetooth sound system.

The dining area is already on the docket for a second round of renovations next offseason.

One of the few remaining downsides of the current facility is capacity concerns that arise during training camp each summer. As the team has reached new levels of success, demand has increased. Unfortunately, the team can only accommodate around 3,000 fans for public practices. Parking is also an issue, although the team did expand the lot in front of the building this spring.

Wood said the team continues to explore its options and has not ruled out purchasing neighboring property in the future to address the lingering issue.

“If we were able to acquire real estate around us, which is not a 0% chance, you could look at another field, another access point, more parking,” Wood said. “…Those are the things that restrict us on the fan side, but if we can get that done, I could see us being here forever.”

Cultural impact​

Detroit’s investments at the facility, which was rebranded as the Meijer Performance Center last summer, haven't been limited to the physical structure. There have also been improvements to the strength, training and medical staffs during Holmes and Campbell’s tenures with the franchise.

Mike Clark and Jill Costanza were brought on in 2021 as the director of sports performance and the director of sports science, respectively. Interestingly, both have backgrounds working in similar roles with the United States military.

In 2023, Detroit landed the highly respected Brett Fischer to serve as the director of player health and performance and Mike Sundeen as head athletic trainer. Both have earned rave reviews from players, particularly those who have dealt with nagging injuries during their careers, including the recently retired Frank Ragnow and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike.

Each investment is designed to enhance the culture and, ideally, contribute to on-field success.

“I think a lot of it starts with Dan and Brad, basically making this the players' home and office,” Wood said. “You make it so they want to be here, and you want to be responsive to their needs. I think it all plays into if the players are happy, they're playing hard for Dan because they love him as a coach. We're giving them everything they need to be healthy and successful, and hopefully, that shows up on the field.

“Obviously, you'd like to have (the players) here as long as possible, instead of leaving to go get food or massages somewhere else,” Wood said. “If you make it like their home, they'll actually stay in the building longer, and it actually saves them money from having to hire somebody outside to do those things. And if they're here, you build the camaraderie and the teamwork. I haven't been in the locker room with the players, but I'm sure it's a much better hang than before. All of that feeds into team camaraderie, spirit, culture, and all those types of things.”

 

[BobbyLayne]

LaPorta got married

newlyweds getting blessed by a White Sox fan

I'm not RC but to them it's a big deal - my niece's oldest was blessed by the previous guy a decade ago

(that's her husband Ryan in the tv interview - h.s. principal & all around good guy)

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Exploring a series of behind-the-scenes investments that have contributed to Lions' cultural turnaround​

So when ownership presented a number of options to the players for reinvestment this offseason, it’s no surprise the locker room won out.


"The locker room is great,” defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said. “You can buy nice stuff when you win games, that's for sure."

Determining where to invest​

Starting in 2023, the NFLPA began publishing an anonymous member survey. Teams were evaluated by players and given a letter grade in various areas, including the weight room, dining options, team travel, treatment of families, training staff, and locker rooms.

Frankly, it felt like an effort to shame teams that were falling short in key areas, forcing them to improve through public pressure. In some instances, that strategy proved successful.

In the most recent survey, Detroit’s locker room received a C+. That was the team’s worst grade out of the 11 categories and also the worst mark among the NFC North teams. However, NFLPA pressure wasn’t the root of this offseason’s overhaul.

Renovation plans in Allen Park were underway before those survey results were released in early March. That’s because the Lions have been conducting a similar yet more comprehensive polling of their players over the past few years. Just as with the NFLPA’s data, the results are anonymous, allowing the roster to offer its unfiltered opinions.

Team president Rod Wood said the in-house survey was an initiative implemented by general manager Brad Holmes after his first season on the job.

“It's on a variety of things, not just the building,” Wood said. “It's everything, food, player engagement people, travel, everything. …We've had those results, internally, for three or four years. Then, we also get the PA's survey. I would say they generally line up. But on top of that, we also talk to the captain group once in a while about things.”

Home sweet home​

A couple of years ago, the Lions flirted with relocating their practice facility. The consideration was serious enough that Wood and a few others in the organization went around with a realtor to scout possible locations in Southeast Michigan.

Ultimately, none of the options carried more appeal than the current setup in Allen Park, which opened its doors in 2002.

“Nothing really looked better than this, and nothing was more convenient geographically,” Wood said. “That's the hard thing. Other spots can't really compare because we're right here by Southfield and (I-)94. Where everybody lives, you can get here pretty easily. It's also close to the airport for road trips and bringing players in for workouts.

“So every other place you looked, it had something that was negative,” Wood said. “You were too far from the airport, you were too far away from people lived, I didn't like the neighborhood, you didn't like who the neighbors were. It kept bringing me back to this being the best location.”

With the decision, the Lions had to commit to upgrades. Over the last two years, they upgraded to a monofilament turf on the indoor practice field, expanded the dining area and doubled the size of the training room. The latter now features an upgraded hydrotherapy room with a sensory deprivation tank, additional massage therapy rooms, and a new Normatec room equipped with red light therapy.

Beyond the locker room, the Lions also upgraded their weight room this offseason. That area was previously modernized in 2016. The recent changes include additional floor space for equipment, new flooring and weight racks, new offices for the strength staff, and an upgraded Bluetooth sound system.
The dining area is already on the docket for a second round of renovations next offseason.
One of the few remaining downsides of the current facility is capacity concerns that arise during training camp each summer. As the team has reached new levels of success, demand has increased. Unfortunately, the team can only accommodate around 3,000 fans for public practices. Parking is also an issue, although the team did expand the lot in front of the building this spring.
Wood said the team continues to explore its options and has not ruled out purchasing neighboring property in the future to address the lingering issue.
“If we were able to acquire real estate around us, which is not a 0% chance, you could look at another field, another access point, more parking,” Wood said. “…Those are the things that restrict us on the fan side, but if we can get that done, I could see us being here forever.”

Cultural impact​

Detroit’s investments at the facility, which was rebranded as the Meijer Performance Center last summer, haven't been limited to the physical structure. There have also been improvements to the strength, training and medical staffs during Holmes and Campbell’s tenures with the franchise.
Mike Clark and Jill Costanza were brought on in 2021 as the director of sports performance and the director of sports science, respectively. Interestingly, both have backgrounds working in similar roles with the United States military.
In 2023, Detroit landed the highly respected Brett Fischer to serve as the director of player health and performance and Mike Sundeen as head athletic trainer. Both have earned rave reviews from players, particularly those who have dealt with nagging injuries during their careers, including the recently retired Frank Ragnow and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike.
Each investment is designed to enhance the culture and, ideally, contribute to on-field success.
“I think a lot of it starts with Dan and Brad, basically making this the players' home and office,” Wood said. “You make it so they want to be here, and you want to be responsive to their needs. I think it all plays into if the players are happy, they're playing hard for Dan because they love him as a coach. We're giving them everything they need to be healthy and successful, and hopefully, that shows up on the field.
“Obviously, you'd like to have (the players) here as long as possible, instead of leaving to go get food or massages somewhere else,” Wood said. “If you make it like their home, they'll actually stay in the building longer, and it actually saves them money from having to hire somebody outside to do those things. And if they're here, you build the camaraderie and the teamwork. I haven't been in the locker room with the players, but I'm sure it's a much better hang than before. All of that feeds into team camaraderie, spirit, culture, and all those types of things.”

Not the type of thing that registers with a lot of fans, but good to hear that they take care of their players. And the type of thing that could be a tiebreaker for a FA deciding between 2 teams with similar money offers.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Ranking and evaluating each position group within the NFC North: Where do the Lions reign supreme?​

The best path to a Super Bowl typically starts with winning your division. After a drought that extended beyond three decades, the Detroit Lions have claimed the NFC North crown each of the past two seasons. The franchise will be looking for its first three-peat since the league consisted of just 12 teams, split into two divisions.

It won’t be easy. Winning a division comes with a first-place schedule, heavy on other teams that similarly topped their division a year ago. For the Lions, that includes road trips to Kansas City and Los Angeles to battle the Chiefs and Rams.

Regardless, there are no excuses, only goals, so let’s see how the Lions stack up against the competition in Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago at each position.

Quarterback​

1. Detroit
2. Green Bay
3. Chicago
4. Minnesota

This is a conversation of production vs. potential. Arguably, the division's three other starters have higher ceilings than Detroit's Jared Goff. Still, he's the only one who has consistently proven his abilities.

Goff is coming off a career year. While his volume was down, the efficiency was humming. He completed a career-high 72.4% of his throws and posted a 111.8 passer rating, resulting in his fourth Pro Bowl selection.

Meanwhile, Jordan Love stayed stagnant in his second season as the Packers' starter. Likely hindered by an early-season knee injury, his completion percentage dipped, his interception rate ticked up, and he barely ran, averaging 5.5 yards per game.

Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick a year ago, had more downs than ups as a rookie in Chicago. He thrived at avoiding interceptions but took an absurd number of sacks due to his tendency to hold the ball too long. The flashes, including some impressive downfield throws, reveal his lofty potential, which is further buoyed by his dual-threat ability (489 rushing yards). With a couple of seasons under the guidance of Ben Johnson, Williams could top this list in the not-so-distant future.

Finally, there's J.J. McCarthy, who has yet to throw an NFL pass. He was a first-round pick for a reason. However, until he demonstrates that he can manage an NFL offense as effectively as he did while winning a national title at Michigan, we have no choice but to rank him last.

Running back​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Green Bay
4. Chicago

There are some great backs in the North, but Jahmyr Gibbs is the best of the bunch. When paired with the steadily reliable David Montgomery running between the tackles, there might not be a better one-two punch in the league.

The runner-up conversation in the division is tight. Josh Jacobs is the second-best back, but Aaron Jones isn't that far behind, particularly when you factor in his edge as a receiving option for Minnesota.

What gives the Vikings the overall edge is the remainder of their rotation. Picking up Jordan Mason in a trade was a sneaky offseason addition. He's averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per carry during his three-year career. Meanwhile, Ty Chandler is coming off a down year but showed his well-rounded abilities in 2023, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and catching 21 of 25 targets that season.

Chicago is comfortably the caboose with D'Andre Swift as their No. 1 option. He's unquestionably been more reliable since leaving Detroit. Still, he falls well short of the other top backs in the division. Meanwhile, backup Roschon Johnson doesn't look like a threat to blow past Swift on the depth chart after averaging a paltry 2.7 yards per carry in 2024.

We'll see if seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai can shake things up for the Bears. He was highly productive the past two seasons at Rutgers (nearly 2,700 yards from scrimmage, 5.1 yards per carry, 22 touchdowns), but he's a below-average athlete, relative to the position.

Wide receiver​

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

There aren’t many receivers in the NFL I’d rank above Amon-Ra St. Brown, but Justin Jefferson is easily one of them. Jefferson has Hall of Fame talent and is a far bigger threat in the deeper parts of the field than his counterpart in Detroit.

As for the rest of the corps, it’s close to a wash. Jameson Williams and Jordan Addison are both premier big-play threats with premium speed, while Jalen Nailor and Tim Patrick do a nice job filling the No. 3 roles for their respective clubs.

In Chicago, the Bears have provided Caleb Williams with a talented arsenal. D.J. Moore has averaged better than 1,100 yards over the past six seasons. Rome Odunze, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, is primed to make a second-year jump. And rookie Luther Burden is a crafty slot who is dangerous with the ball in his hands, adequately backfilling the departure of veteran Keenan Allen.

The Packers have been a collective of No. 2 options since they traded Davante Adams. Jaylen Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are fine talents, but none has emerged as a No. 1 option. The team added Matthew Golden in the first round of this year’s draft, hoping to fill that void.

Tight end​

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

As a rookie for the Lions in 2023, Sam LaPorta outproduced what his predecessor, T.J. Hockenson, had given the Lions the previous three years. Meanwhile, Hockenson’s production trended up after the trade to Minnesota, resulting in more catches and yards than LaPorta that same season.

The two are the best the North has to offer. However, Minnesota’s Josh Oliver is more productive in the passing game and a far more reliable run blocker than Detroit’s Brock Wright, giving the Vikings the overall edge at the position.

Chicago is looking to challenge the divisional hierarchy with the selection of Michigan’s Colston Loveland No. 10 overall in this year’s draft. He’ll be paired with former second-round selection Cole Kmet, who has averaged a respectable 58 catches for 587 yards across the past four seasons.

Green Bay might be last on this list, but marginally. Tucker Kraft blossomed in his second season, catching 50 of 70 targets for 707 yards and seven scores. Meanwhile, complement Luke Musgrave is undoubtedly a talented pass-catcher as well, but he struggles with durability. After tallying 34 grabs as a rookie, he was limited to seven games in 2024.

Offensive line​

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Green Bay
4. Chicago

This might be mildly controversial, given that Detroit has been the gold standard in the division for the past few years. Nonetheless, the recent retirement of Frank Ragnow shakes things up.

The Lions remain concrete at offensive tackle but face legitimate questions throughout their interior. They’ll be leaning on some combination of inexperienced options and veteran Graham Glasgow, who is getting long in the tooth and coming off one of his worst seasons.

That’s opened the door for Minnesota to take the top spot. Like Detroit, they have outstanding tackles, and the Vikings invested heavily in improving along the inside this offseason, signing top free agent guard Will Fries, adding a solid veteran center in Ryan Kelly, and using their first-round pick on Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson.

Assuming the chemistry develops as expected, it’s the best collective of starting talent in the North.

Green Bay returns four starters from a year ago, headlined by the versatile and talented Elgton Jenkins and criminally underrated right tackle Zach Tom. They bolstered the group with a potential free-agency overpay to lure guard Aaron Banks from San Fransico. Sean Rhyan and Rasheed Walker are serviceable to round out the starting five. The key could be rookie Anthony Belton, a massive tackle who could push Walker for the blindside job.

As for Chicago, they also aggressively remodeled this offseason, trading for veteran guard Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, and signing the consensus top center available in free agency, Drew Dalman. Paired with rapidly emerging tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, the recipe is there for a quick turnaround for a group that allowed a league-high 68 sacks a year ago.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Defensive line​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

The evaluation of Detroit's defensive front as the best in the division admittedly hinges on the unit's health.

Aidan Hutchinson, far and away, is the best edge rusher in the North. That said, Minnesota's tandem of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel surpasses what Detroit offers, particularly if the injury bug bites Marcus Davenport again. The Vikings' first-round pick from a year ago, Dallas Turner, also has a higher ceiling than the next wave on the edge for Detroit.

On the inside, Detroit has amassed a wealth of talent, bolstering a solid veteran core with first-round pick Tyleik Williams. As he acclimates, he'll be supported by D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez and Alim McNeill, once he returns from last year's torn ACL.

Minnesota's starting interior is strong, with Harrison Phillips and the addition of Javon Hargrave, but it can't match Detroit's depth.

Chicago is in a similar spot, with quality starters but a lack of depth. On the edges, Montez Sweat and newcomer Dayo Odeyingbo bring physicality. Inside, veteran Grady Jarrett provides a second pass-rushing presence to pair with Gervon Dexter Jr., who racked up 39 pressures and 5.0 sacks in his second season. But beyond that, it's mostly unproven commodities.

Green Bay has proven talent, but the group battled through a rocky transition to a defensive scheme that didn't necessarily fit their skill sets last season. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are still forces in this league. However, former first-round edge rusher Lukas Van Ness hasn't come close to clicking through his first two years, while fourth-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt has been one-dimensional, struggling to have an impact against the run.

Linebackers​

1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. Green Bay

Despite a down year for the tandem amid a midseason coaching change, T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds remain formidable, with each logging more than 1,000 defensive snaps last season.

Edwards is well-rounded, racking up big tackle totals, generating a healthy amount of pressure as a blitzer, and he’s more than capable in coverage from his typical weakside alignments. Edmunds also topped 100 tackles with a strong 8.6% whiff rate. His coverage hasn't been as good since coming over from Buffalo. Still, he managed to break up a respectable eight throws across the middle last season.

In Minnesota, Cashman proved to be a good free agent signing, tallying 112 stops, 4.5 sacks and eight PBUs in 14 games. He was complemented by Ivan Pace Jr., who took significant steps forward as a run defender and pass rusher in his second season despite regressing in coverage and tackling.

Detroit's situation has stabilized in recent years. Jack Campbell improved in his second season, although there's still plenty of room for growth in coverage. Derrick Barnes has developed into a versatile chess piece. And captain Alex Anzalone, despite turning 30, continues to be the heartbeat of the unit.

Finally, Green Bay got stellar contributions out of rookie Edgerrin Cooper, who figures to be in the conversation for the division's best linebacker for years to come. But former second-round pick Quay Walker continues to hover around being a replacement-level player despite his tremendous athleticism. The team also brought back Isaiah McDuffie, who chipped in a career-high 97 tackles in 17 starts last season.

Overall, there isn't a significant gap separating these four units. The rankings could easily flip next offseason.

Cornerbacks​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

More than any position in this exercise, this is where I feel the most uncertain. And, admittedly, it feels wrong to rank Detroit's cornerbacks at the top of the list. On the other hand, it's justifiable.

The addition of DJ Reed was the best-case scenario following Carlton Davis' departure. The newcomer might not be a top-tier playmaker, but he's sticky in coverage, posting one of the better passer ratings against when targeted during his three years with the Jets.

He'll pair nicely with Terrion Arnold, who came on strong at the end of his rookie season after some penalty issues tied to overaggressiveness to begin the campaign. A second-year jump is incoming.

And the room is rounded out nicely by nickelback Amik Robertson, who thrived in the role last year after early-career inconsistency when aligning inside.

Minnesota also has a strong case for the top spot. Byron Murphy was the best playmaking cornerback in the division in 2024, with six interceptions and 14 pass defenses. He'll be complemented by the incoming Isaiah Rodgers, who was stellar in spot duty for the Eagles last season, plus the returning Mekhi Blackmon, who was steady as a rookie in 2023 before missing last season with a torn ACL.

Chicago is led by Jaylon Johnson, who has been one of the best young corners in football over the past two seasons. The supporting cast isn't bad, either. Tyrique Stevenson allowed just 53.1% of the passes his way to be completed last year, and slot corner Kyler Gordon has improved each of his three seasons, making notable strides as a run defender in 2024.

Green Bay faces the biggest question marks after cutting ties with Jaire Alexander. He's essentially being replaced in the lineup by free-agent addition Nate Hobbs, who has been decidedly less effective during his first four seasons with the Raiders.

The Packers' group is rounded out by Keisean Nixon, an average outside option, and Javon Bullard in the slot. A second-round pick a year ago, he's still developing, but there's a ton of upside there.

Safeties​

1. Detroit
2. Green Bay
3. Minnesota
4. Chicago

The Lions arguably have the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Joseph earned first-team All-Pro honors after pacing the NFL with nine interceptions last season, while the do-everything Branch led the team in passes defended while chipping in four picks.

Yet, Green Bay’s duo is nipping at Detroit’s heels. Xavier McKinney went back and forth with Joseph during the season, finishing with one fewer interception, earning the other first-team All-Pro slot. He was complemented by rookie Evan Williams, who isn’t quite as versatile as Branch but a well-rounded performer in his own right.

In Minnesota, Harrison Smith keeps chugging along at 36 years old. He’s had a remarkable career and continues to perform at a relatively high level, tallying 87 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 16 starts last season.

The team did lose Camryn Bynum in free agency, but Josh Mettelus will step in to fill the void after splitting his time between the box and slot last season. He’s one of the better run-defending and tackling defensive backs in the NFL.

Chicago rounds out the list with the pairing of the long-reliable Kevin Byrard and Jaquan Brisker. Byard will turn 32 this year but has shown no signs of slowing down. He remains exceptional against the run, even if the interceptions aren’t coming in droves like they were a few years back with Tennessee.

Brisker, the 26-year-old former second-round pick, will be looking to rebound after missing a big chunk of last season with lingering concussion symptoms.

Special Teams​

1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Green Bay
4. Minnesota

The pieces change significantly each year, but consider the following: Detroit led the division in field-goal percentage, kickoff and punt return average, plus set the NFL record for net punting behind Jack Fox and a tremendous coverage group. There are some moving parts with that unit, but the addition of linebacker Grant Stuard to the mix shouldn’t be downplayed.

Chicago was second in most of those categories. Kicker Cairo Santos continues to thrive in difficult conditions, including a division-leading eight makes from 50 yards and beyond. The team will be replacing return man DeAndre Carter this season, though, after he signed with the Cleveland Browns. Incoming receiver Devin Duvernay is the frontrunner for those roles.

The Packers found an upgrade at kicker last season, scooping up Brandon McManus in October. The team’s punting situation is less reliable as Daniel Whelen and company finished in the bottom half of the league in net average. Meanwhile, the team likely moves away from Nixon as their dynamic return man now that they’ve added receiver MeCole Hardman.

The Vikings have young, ascending talent at kicker and punter, particularly 2024 draft pick Will Reichard, who converted 80% of his field goals as a rookie, including going 8-for-11 from 50 yards and beyond.

Minnesota’s return jobs are up for grabs. Nailor, Chandler and Rodgers all figure to be in the mix, with Brandon Powell still a free agent.

 

[Payne]

Defensive line​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

The evaluation of Detroit's defensive front as the best in the division admittedly hinges on the unit's health.

Aidan Hutchinson, far and away, is the best edge rusher in the North. That said, Minnesota's tandem of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel surpasses what Detroit offers, particularly if the injury bug bites Marcus Davenport again. The Vikings' first-round pick from a year ago, Dallas Turner, also has a higher ceiling than the next wave on the edge for Detroit.

On the inside, Detroit has amassed a wealth of talent, bolstering a solid veteran core with first-round pick Tyleik Williams. As he acclimates, he'll be supported by D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez and Alim McNeill, once he returns from last year's torn ACL.

Minnesota's starting interior is strong, with Harrison Phillips and the addition of Javon Hargrave, but it can't match Detroit's depth.

Chicago is in a similar spot, with quality starters but a lack of depth. On the edges, Montez Sweat and newcomer Dayo Odeyingbo bring physicality. Inside, veteran Grady Jarrett provides a second pass-rushing presence to pair with Gervon Dexter Jr., who racked up 39 pressures and 5.0 sacks in his second season. But beyond that, it's mostly unproven commodities.

Green Bay has proven talent, but the group battled through a rocky transition to a defensive scheme that didn't necessarily fit their skill sets last season. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are still forces in this league. However, former first-round edge rusher Lukas Van Ness hasn't come close to clicking through his first two years, while fourth-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt has been one-dimensional, struggling to have an impact against the run.

Linebackers​

1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. Green Bay

Despite a down year for the tandem amid a midseason coaching change, T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds remain formidable, with each logging more than 1,000 defensive snaps last season.

Edwards is well-rounded, racking up big tackle totals, generating a healthy amount of pressure as a blitzer, and he’s more than capable in coverage from his typical weakside alignments. Edmunds also topped 100 tackles with a strong 8.6% whiff rate. His coverage hasn't been as good since coming over from Buffalo. Still, he managed to break up a respectable eight throws across the middle last season.

In Minnesota, Cashman proved to be a good free agent signing, tallying 112 stops, 4.5 sacks and eight PBUs in 14 games. He was complemented by Ivan Pace Jr., who took significant steps forward as a run defender and pass rusher in his second season despite regressing in coverage and tackling.

Detroit's situation has stabilized in recent years. Jack Campbell improved in his second season, although there's still plenty of room for growth in coverage. Derrick Barnes has developed into a versatile chess piece. And captain Alex Anzalone, despite turning 30, continues to be the heartbeat of the unit.

Finally, Green Bay got stellar contributions out of rookie Edgerrin Cooper, who figures to be in the conversation for the division's best linebacker for years to come. But former second-round pick Quay Walker continues to hover around being a replacement-level player despite his tremendous athleticism. The team also brought back Isaiah McDuffie, who chipped in a career-high 97 tackles in 17 starts last season.

Overall, there isn't a significant gap separating these four units. The rankings could easily flip next offseason.

Cornerbacks​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

More than any position in this exercise, this is where I feel the most uncertain. And, admittedly, it feels wrong to rank Detroit's cornerbacks at the top of the list. On the other hand, it's justifiable.

The addition of DJ Reed was the best-case scenario following Carlton Davis' departure. The newcomer might not be a top-tier playmaker, but he's sticky in coverage, posting one of the better passer ratings against when targeted during his three years with the Jets.

He'll pair nicely with Terrion Arnold, who came on strong at the end of his rookie season after some penalty issues tied to overaggressiveness to begin the campaign. A second-year jump is incoming.

And the room is rounded out nicely by nickelback Amik Robertson, who thrived in the role last year after early-career inconsistency when aligning inside.

Minnesota also has a strong case for the top spot. Byron Murphy was the best playmaking cornerback in the division in 2024, with six interceptions and 14 pass defenses. He'll be complemented by the incoming Isaiah Rodgers, who was stellar in spot duty for the Eagles last season, plus the returning Mekhi Blackmon, who was steady as a rookie in 2023 before missing last season with a torn ACL.

Chicago is led by Jaylon Johnson, who has been one of the best young corners in football over the past two seasons. The supporting cast isn't bad, either. Tyrique Stevenson allowed just 53.1% of the passes his way to be completed last year, and slot corner Kyler Gordon has improved each of his three seasons, making notable strides as a run defender in 2024.

Green Bay faces the biggest question marks after cutting ties with Jaire Alexander. He's essentially being replaced in the lineup by free-agent addition Nate Hobbs, who has been decidedly less effective during his first four seasons with the Raiders.

The Packers' group is rounded out by Keisean Nixon, an average outside option, and Javon Bullard in the slot. A second-round pick a year ago, he's still developing, but there's a ton of upside there.

Safeties​

1. Detroit
2. Green Bay
3. Minnesota
4. Chicago

The Lions arguably have the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Joseph earned first-team All-Pro honors after pacing the NFL with nine interceptions last season, while the do-everything Branch led the team in passes defended while chipping in four picks.

Yet, Green Bay’s duo is nipping at Detroit’s heels. Xavier McKinney went back and forth with Joseph during the season, finishing with one fewer interception, earning the other first-team All-Pro slot. He was complemented by rookie Evan Williams, who isn’t quite as versatile as Branch but a well-rounded performer in his own right.

In Minnesota, Harrison Smith keeps chugging along at 36 years old. He’s had a remarkable career and continues to perform at a relatively high level, tallying 87 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 16 starts last season.

The team did lose Camryn Bynum in free agency, but Josh Mettelus will step in to fill the void after splitting his time between the box and slot last season. He’s one of the better run-defending and tackling defensive backs in the NFL.

Chicago rounds out the list with the pairing of the long-reliable Kevin Byrard and Jaquan Brisker. Byard will turn 32 this year but has shown no signs of slowing down. He remains exceptional against the run, even if the interceptions aren’t coming in droves like they were a few years back with Tennessee.

Brisker, the 26-year-old former second-round pick, will be looking to rebound after missing a big chunk of last season with lingering concussion symptoms.

Special Teams​

1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Green Bay
4. Minnesota

The pieces change significantly each year, but consider the following: Detroit led the division in field-goal percentage, kickoff and punt return average, plus set the NFL record for net punting behind Jack Fox and a tremendous coverage group. There are some moving parts with that unit, but the addition of linebacker Grant Stuard to the mix shouldn’t be downplayed.

Chicago was second in most of those categories. Kicker Cairo Santos continues to thrive in difficult conditions, including a division-leading eight makes from 50 yards and beyond. The team will be replacing return man DeAndre Carter this season, though, after he signed with the Cleveland Browns. Incoming receiver Devin Duvernay is the frontrunner for those roles.

The Packers found an upgrade at kicker last season, scooping up Brandon McManus in October. The team’s punting situation is less reliable as Daniel Whelen and company finished in the bottom half of the league in net average. Meanwhile, the team likely moves away from Nixon as their dynamic return man now that they’ve added receiver MeCole Hardman.

The Vikings have young, ascending talent at kicker and punter, particularly 2024 draft pick Will Reichard, who converted 80% of his field goals as a rookie, including going 8-for-11 from 50 yards and beyond.

Minnesota’s return jobs are up for grabs. Nailor, Chandler and Rodgers all figure to be in the mix, with Brandon Powell still a free agent.

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Defensive line​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

The evaluation of Detroit's defensive front as the best in the division admittedly hinges on the unit's health.

Aidan Hutchinson, far and away, is the best edge rusher in the North. That said, Minnesota's tandem of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel surpasses what Detroit offers, particularly if the injury bug bites Marcus Davenport again. The Vikings' first-round pick from a year ago, Dallas Turner, also has a higher ceiling than the next wave on the edge for Detroit.

On the inside, Detroit has amassed a wealth of talent, bolstering a solid veteran core with first-round pick Tyleik Williams. As he acclimates, he'll be supported by D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez and Alim McNeill, once he returns from last year's torn ACL.

Minnesota's starting interior is strong, with Harrison Phillips and the addition of Javon Hargrave, but it can't match Detroit's depth.

Chicago is in a similar spot, with quality starters but a lack of depth. On the edges, Montez Sweat and newcomer Dayo Odeyingbo bring physicality. Inside, veteran Grady Jarrett provides a second pass-rushing presence to pair with Gervon Dexter Jr., who racked up 39 pressures and 5.0 sacks in his second season. But beyond that, it's mostly unproven commodities.

Green Bay has proven talent, but the group battled through a rocky transition to a defensive scheme that didn't necessarily fit their skill sets last season. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are still forces in this league. However, former first-round edge rusher Lukas Van Ness hasn't come close to clicking through his first two years, while fourth-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt has been one-dimensional, struggling to have an impact against the run.

Linebackers​

1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. Green Bay

Despite a down year for the tandem amid a midseason coaching change, T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds remain formidable, with each logging more than 1,000 defensive snaps last season.

Edwards is well-rounded, racking up big tackle totals, generating a healthy amount of pressure as a blitzer, and he’s more than capable in coverage from his typical weakside alignments. Edmunds also topped 100 tackles with a strong 8.6% whiff rate. His coverage hasn't been as good since coming over from Buffalo. Still, he managed to break up a respectable eight throws across the middle last season.

In Minnesota, Cashman proved to be a good free agent signing, tallying 112 stops, 4.5 sacks and eight PBUs in 14 games. He was complemented by Ivan Pace Jr., who took significant steps forward as a run defender and pass rusher in his second season despite regressing in coverage and tackling.

Detroit's situation has stabilized in recent years. Jack Campbell improved in his second season, although there's still plenty of room for growth in coverage. Derrick Barnes has developed into a versatile chess piece. And captain Alex Anzalone, despite turning 30, continues to be the heartbeat of the unit.

Finally, Green Bay got stellar contributions out of rookie Edgerrin Cooper, who figures to be in the conversation for the division's best linebacker for years to come. But former second-round pick Quay Walker continues to hover around being a replacement-level player despite his tremendous athleticism. The team also brought back Isaiah McDuffie, who chipped in a career-high 97 tackles in 17 starts last season.

Overall, there isn't a significant gap separating these four units. The rankings could easily flip next offseason.

Cornerbacks​

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Green Bay

More than any position in this exercise, this is where I feel the most uncertain. And, admittedly, it feels wrong to rank Detroit's cornerbacks at the top of the list. On the other hand, it's justifiable.

The addition of DJ Reed was the best-case scenario following Carlton Davis' departure. The newcomer might not be a top-tier playmaker, but he's sticky in coverage, posting one of the better passer ratings against when targeted during his three years with the Jets.

He'll pair nicely with Terrion Arnold, who came on strong at the end of his rookie season after some penalty issues tied to overaggressiveness to begin the campaign. A second-year jump is incoming.

And the room is rounded out nicely by nickelback Amik Robertson, who thrived in the role last year after early-career inconsistency when aligning inside.

Minnesota also has a strong case for the top spot. Byron Murphy was the best playmaking cornerback in the division in 2024, with six interceptions and 14 pass defenses. He'll be complemented by the incoming Isaiah Rodgers, who was stellar in spot duty for the Eagles last season, plus the returning Mekhi Blackmon, who was steady as a rookie in 2023 before missing last season with a torn ACL.

Chicago is led by Jaylon Johnson, who has been one of the best young corners in football over the past two seasons. The supporting cast isn't bad, either. Tyrique Stevenson allowed just 53.1% of the passes his way to be completed last year, and slot corner Kyler Gordon has improved each of his three seasons, making notable strides as a run defender in 2024.

Green Bay faces the biggest question marks after cutting ties with Jaire Alexander. He's essentially being replaced in the lineup by free-agent addition Nate Hobbs, who has been decidedly less effective during his first four seasons with the Raiders.

The Packers' group is rounded out by Keisean Nixon, an average outside option, and Javon Bullard in the slot. A second-round pick a year ago, he's still developing, but there's a ton of upside there.

Safeties​

1. Detroit
2. Green Bay
3. Minnesota
4. Chicago

The Lions arguably have the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Joseph earned first-team All-Pro honors after pacing the NFL with nine interceptions last season, while the do-everything Branch led the team in passes defended while chipping in four picks.

Yet, Green Bay’s duo is nipping at Detroit’s heels. Xavier McKinney went back and forth with Joseph during the season, finishing with one fewer interception, earning the other first-team All-Pro slot. He was complemented by rookie Evan Williams, who isn’t quite as versatile as Branch but a well-rounded performer in his own right.

In Minnesota, Harrison Smith keeps chugging along at 36 years old. He’s had a remarkable career and continues to perform at a relatively high level, tallying 87 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 16 starts last season.

The team did lose Camryn Bynum in free agency, but Josh Mettelus will step in to fill the void after splitting his time between the box and slot last season. He’s one of the better run-defending and tackling defensive backs in the NFL.

Chicago rounds out the list with the pairing of the long-reliable Kevin Byrard and Jaquan Brisker. Byard will turn 32 this year but has shown no signs of slowing down. He remains exceptional against the run, even if the interceptions aren’t coming in droves like they were a few years back with Tennessee.

Brisker, the 26-year-old former second-round pick, will be looking to rebound after missing a big chunk of last season with lingering concussion symptoms.

Special Teams​

1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Green Bay
4. Minnesota

The pieces change significantly each year, but consider the following: Detroit led the division in field-goal percentage, kickoff and punt return average, plus set the NFL record for net punting behind Jack Fox and a tremendous coverage group. There are some moving parts with that unit, but the addition of linebacker Grant Stuard to the mix shouldn’t be downplayed.

Chicago was second in most of those categories. Kicker Cairo Santos continues to thrive in difficult conditions, including a division-leading eight makes from 50 yards and beyond. The team will be replacing return man DeAndre Carter this season, though, after he signed with the Cleveland Browns. Incoming receiver Devin Duvernay is the frontrunner for those roles.

The Packers found an upgrade at kicker last season, scooping up Brandon McManus in October. The team’s punting situation is less reliable as Daniel Whelen and company finished in the bottom half of the league in net average. Meanwhile, the team likely moves away from Nixon as their dynamic return man now that they’ve added receiver MeCole Hardman.

The Vikings have young, ascending talent at kicker and punter, particularly 2024 draft pick Will Reichard, who converted 80% of his field goals as a rookie, including going 8-for-11 from 50 yards and beyond.

Minnesota’s return jobs are up for grabs. Nailor, Chandler and Rodgers all figure to be in the mix, with Brandon Powell still a free agent.

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

Let’s circle back to this one in 6 months

 

[Zeppelin]

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

How can they be below the Bears? That's ridiculous to me.

 

[BobbyLayne]

There are now 4 players left from the Quinntricia era:

1. Taylor Decker (2016-)
2. Graham Glasgow (2016-19, 2023-)
3. Dan Skipper (2017, 2019-)
4. Mr Jack Fox (2020-)

5 guys from the 2021 draft class on their 2nd contract: Penei Sewell, Levi Onwuzurike, Alim McNeil, ARSB & Derrick Barnes

Other holdovers from the Y1 team:

1. Jared Goff
2. Kalif Raymond
3. Alex Anzalone
4. Tom Kennedy
5. Anthony Pittman
6. Craig Reynolds
7. Brock Wright
8. Shane Zylstra

 

[Ilov80s]

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

How can they be below the Bears? That's ridiculous to me.

Looking at the success the head coaches of the Lions, Vikings and Bears have had it's pretty insane for someone to rank a Ben Johnson staff ahead of them.

 

[Payne]

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

How can they be below the Bears? That's ridiculous to me.

Not ridiculous at all.

Lions have two, completely inexperienced coordinators. Both.

Chicago has our former OC as head coach.
And their DC, Dennis Allen, has 30 years at the professional level including two as a head coach.
He's also shown he is a very good D coordinator.

I've heard of rose-colored glasses but come on.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Hidden Figures: Dre Thompson's path from 12th man at Texas A&M to multi-faceted QC role with Lions​

Note: This is the first installment in a multi-part series that explores the background, responsibilities, and aspirations of the Detroit Lions’ lower-level assistant coaches, starting with defensive quality control coach Dre Thompson.

Allen Park — No one could ever question Dre Thompson’s love of football, but he admits he needed a break from the game after his college career came to an end in 2012. But understand they don’t hand out the No. 12 jersey to just anyone at Texas A&M.

There’s powerful symbolism with that number at the school, dating back more than a century. That’s when E. King Gill, a former player, was called out of the stands by coach Dana X. Bible to serve as an emergency substitute when injuries ravaged the Aggies’ lineup in the 1922 Dixie Classic.

Gill never entered the game, but the 12th man symbolism endures as a moniker for the school’s fan base, representing a willingness to serve when called upon. The number is also given each season to a special teams performer who embodies the program’s core values and is a selfless teammate.

Thompson earned that distinction, and his selflessness hasn’t been limited to the gridiron. After a graduate year at Memphis, he passed on an opportunity to immediately transition into a coaching role, opting to return home to Houston to help his mother, Angela McGary, who had recently undergone knee surgery.

Thompson also applied for a teaching job during that time. The prospect that presented itself was working with kids who had special needs. Despite having no prior experience in that area, he accepted the job. It proved to be transformative.

A decade removed from the role, Thompson still has photos of some of those students on his phone. He glows as he shares a story about spending weeks teaching a young girl to write her name and the joy both experienced when she finally completed the task. Thompson led her around the school's halls, where she proudly showed off her accomplishment to her peers.

Still, it wasn't long before Thompson’s love for football sparked from the smoldering ashes where it had lain temporarily dormant. When Barry Odom, his defensive coordinator at Memphis, called about a graduate assistant opening at Missouri, Thompson asked when he would need to start.

It was Tuesday. Odom needed Thompson by Friday. He hung up the phone, walked to the principal’s office, and gave notice that his last day would be Thursday, then packed a truck for the 13-hour drive to Columbia.

Like many young coaches, Thompson has bounced around quite a bit over the past decade, largely drawing on his connections at A&M to open doors.

After a brief stint at Missouri, he returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant under Kevin Sumlin for three seasons. From there, it was on to Campbell University in North Carolina. Former Texas A&M defensive backs coach Weston Glaser, who was serving as Campbell's defensive coordinator, brought on Thompson to work with the team's secondary.

Thompson then moved to the University of Buffalo, where the school had hired former Texas A&M defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist to lead the program. And another Aggie connection paved the path for Thompson to make the jump to the NFL. A former defensive analyst at the school, Christian Parker, was coaching the Denver Broncos’ defensive backs and recommended Thompson for an opening.

“We had three guys there at the same time,” Thompson recalled. “It was like, you go here, you go here, you go here, and y'all rotate. We all were doing different tasks, we sat down at the end of it and the defensive coordinator (Ed Donatell) was like, 'Hey, y'all did a good job, we're hiring Dre.' I was in a full suit. He said, 'Thank you,' handed me a computer and was like, 'Go to work.' That's how I was. I never had a chance to go home and do anything.”

Unfortunately, that staff was broomed out at the end of the season, leaving Thompson looking for another job. Again, it was a Texas A&M relationship that got his foot in the door with Detroit, just not the one you might think.

Thompson had never met Dan Campbell. His first memories of the Detroit coach were playing as him in a Madden football game. Thompson frequently heard Campbell's name while at Texas A&M, but the two never crossed paths during Thompson's playing days or early coaching career. Thompson did know the Lions’ defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, another A&M alum. The two attended the same Houston church when Glenn was playing for the Texans. However, Thompson doesn’t believe there’s any way Glenn would have remembered those passing interactions.

Instead, it was Detroit's former assistant defensive line coach Cam Davis who helped Thompson get an interview. The two had been grad assistants together at A&M in 2016.

Thompson's interview in Detroit was different than the one in Denver. Thompson stood in front of the defensive staff and drew up an install of a play from Denver, explaining the concept and verbiage as if he were running a position meeting. He then fielded questions, including one he described as an off-the-wall wrench from Campbell, to see how Thompson would react. Once again, he impressed enough to secure the job as the team's William Clay Ford minority assistant, which has effectively morphed into a defensive quality control position.

Thompson is now entering his third season in Detroit. His hybrid role is part scout, part coach, and part IT specialist. Among his duties, he studies and prepares reports on upcoming opponents each week, helps build the physical and digital playbook for the defensive coordinator, creates and runs slide shows for position group meetings, and works directly with the team’s nickelbacks in the classroom and on the field.

That meant he was heavily involved with Brian Branch during his standout rookie season, as well as Amik Robertson and Ennis Rakestraw last year.

“Dan definitely puts a lot on my shoulders because he thinks I can handle it,” Thompson said.

As a coach, Thompson applies a valuable lesson he learned while teaching special needs students in Houston. Recognizing everyone learns differently, his ultimate goal is to make complex ideas accessible and easy to digest. The less a player has to think, the faster they can play.

With Branch, the proof was in the pudding. He thrived during his debut season, including a pick-six in his first game.

“You slow things so he can think faster and just go play, which is his superpower,” Thompson said. “You don't want a player like that overthinking things. Here's your role, here's your expectation.

“...I feel like my ability to connect with a guy and teach, those are two of the things I do best,” Thompson said. “I take something complex, shrink it down and feed it to you to where it tastes good to you.”

While playing a part in the development of young talent, Thompson is also developing. He’s soaking up every bit of knowledge he can from Glenn, Campbell, current defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and defensive back coaches Deshea Townsend and Jim O’Neil.

Thompson notes his biggest areas of growth since joining Detroit’s staff have been learning to be more efficient with his time in his multi-faceted role and an enhanced understanding of situational football, which Campbell consistently emphasizes.

Thompson explained how the head coach regularly brings scenarios into staff meetings and challenges the coaches to explain what they’d do, often leading to a healthy debate.

“He'll just call on anybody,” Thompson said. “‘What are you doing?’ And then it's a discussion. I think that's the thing that's been sharpened most under Dan, just because everything in the NFL is always what the situation is and how should you handle the situation.”

Thompson remains on one of the lower rungs of the NFL coaching ladder, but things can change fast. Sheppard was in a similar spot four years ago, and now he’s embarking on his first season as a coordinator.

Thompson has similarly lofty goals but isn’t impatient.

“I just learned everything's not on my time, it's on God's time,” Thompson said. “He has me right where he wants me to be and will bring me where he needs me to be next. I'm not forcing anything. I'm in a beautiful situation. I'm around some great coaches. I don't know what's next, but I know whatever it is, the plan is already written. I'm just following footsteps at this point.”

That doesn’t mean Thompson doesn’t have a vision for himself.

“If you say, ‘Hey, Dre, perfect world, what are you doing?’ I'd be the best defensive play caller in the league,” Thompson said. “Then, if an opportunity came for me to be the face of the organization, I think that could be a possibility. But just as far as right now, what I see is I want to be like Shep and AG (Glenn). When people are talking about the best defensive minds, I want my name be the first thing that pops up.”

 

[Ilov80s]

Not ridiculous at all.

Lions have two, completely inexperienced coordinators. Both.

Chicago has our former OC as head coach.
And their DC, Dennis Allen, has 30 years at the professional level including two as a head coach.
He's also shown he is a very good D coordinator.

I've heard of rose-colored glasses but come on.

The Bears have a 1st year head coach with no head coaching experience at any level. The Lions head coach is entering his 5th season looking to win a 3rd consecutive division title. They went 15-2 last year. He has 2 playoff wins. Yes they bring in a new OC and new DC. Shep has been the LB coach for 4 years. Morton has been the pass game coordinator for 3 years. The long time OL coach is the run game coordinator. Same QB coach. The new DL/Run game coordinator was the DL coordintor for Tampa when they won the SB. Was the DC for Todd Bowles Jets. He's got an incredible resume. The defensive passing game coordinator has experience as a secondary coach and pass game coordinator with 2 previous NFL teams. The new LB coach was the assistant LB coach last 2 years. They have another defensive assistant who has 2 previous stints in the NFL as a DC. Fipp the special teams coordinator has done a great job with the unit, just like he did for 7 years with the Eagles. He constently delivers great all around special teams. The Lions have new coordinators but there is a lot of experience and continuity overall. It's not like this is Dan Campbell and a bunch of first year coaches.

There isn't a coaching staff in the league led by a 1st year HC that I would dream of putting a head of a team led by a young coach coming off consecutive coach of the year nominations and consecutive division wins and a 15 win season. I don't care who where or what about the coordinators.

 

[Zeppelin]

What about something just as important, coaching staffs?

SI has the Lions last. I would have them third above GB.

How can they be below the Bears? That's ridiculous to me.

Not ridiculous at all.

Lions have two, completely inexperienced coordinators. Both.

Chicago has our former OC as head coach.
And their DC, Dennis Allen, has 30 years at the professional level including two as a head coach.
He's also shown he is a very good D coordinator.

I've heard of rose-colored glasses but come on.

The Lions have one inexperienced coordinator (Morton was O/C for the Jets). But Ben Johnson is a first time head coach and nobody knows if he is head coaching material. That uncertainty by itself puts the Bears last in the division.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Ben Johnson is a first time head coach and nobody knows if he is head coaching material. That uncertainty by itself puts the Bears last in the division.

Which is one reason why they are most likely the team to finish last in the division. Forget Detroit, I would be more confident in both Minnesota and Green Bay than the Bears.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Ben Johnson is a first time head coach and nobody knows if he is head coaching material. That uncertainty by itself puts the Bears last in the division.

Which is one reason why they are most likely the team to finish last in the division. Forget Detroit, I would be more confident in both Minnesota and Green Bay than the Bears.

The NFL is a QB driven league and Minnesota is a wildcard, it all depends on how JJM does. Until I see him in game action, I have Minnesota at the bottom of the division.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Some minor intrigue surrounding backup QB job​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the quarterbacks.

Roster​

Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen

Starter outlook​

The Lions had one of the most prolific scoring offenses in NFL history last season, averaging 33.2 points. The surprising contrast to the barrage is Goff attempted fewer passes per game than in any other season outside his seven starts as a rookie.

That didn't stop him from earning Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time, thanks to a career-best completion percentage (72.8%) and passer rating (111.8), finishing second among qualified players in both categories.

As he's matured with experience, Goff has become increasingly reliable and consistent. Over the past three seasons, he's compiled a passer rating over 100 while maintaining an interception rate under 2.0%. Early-career concerns regarding his propensity for unforced errors no longer persist.

"There's very little left for Jared to accomplish, other than a Super Bowl championship," position coach Mark Brunell said in May. "He's been in the Pro Bowl, and he's one of the best in the business right now. But he's in pursuit of winning a championship. That is what drives him. And he understands full well, which I love about him, that what you do in May has everything to do with what happens in February."

Camp competition to watch​

Hooker will enter training camp with the leg up for the backup role. Still, he'll have to fend off a challenge from Allen, an experienced veteran who signed as a free agent this offseason.

Despite continuing to express confidence in Hooker, the Lions cast doubt on his grasp on the job when they re-signed Teddy Bridgewater for the stretch run in 2024. Adding a known commodity to the mix this offseason keeps those questions afloat.

"He's doing great," Brunnel said. "It's a new opportunity for him, a new year. Another year of growth. Remember, what is this, Year 3? He's a puppy. He's still young. Does he have a lot to grow? Yeah. There are some things that we've got to work on, but that's the same case for every other young guy that's going into his third season."

After spending most of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL, and suffering a thumb injury during the early stages of last year's offseason program that significantly impacted his accuracy, Hooker needed a late surge to beat out Nate Sudfeld.

Hooker held the job through the regular season — seeing limited action in the closing stages of some blowouts — before Bridgewater displaced him for the team's playoff game against Washington.

Allen comes in as a longtime backup, joining his fifth roster in many years. However, he hasn't started a game since 2022, throwing just one pass across the past two seasons.

"He's been on multiple teams, different systems," Brunnel said. “(He's) very smart. What I loved about the tape that we saw (was that) he made good decisions with the ball. He managed very well. You could tell he was operating within whatever offense he was in. Just has a good grasp on how to play at this level, and has for a while."

It's unlikely, but not inconceivable, that the Lions enter the season with three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. In most cases, that spot is better utilized somewhere else. The team can always add a third quarterback, potentially from the practice squad, to serve as an emergency option late in the season and into the playoffs.

A burning question​

Brunell is correct; there's not a ton left for Goff to accomplish in the regular season. He's not going to morph into a dual-threat suddenly, so we're left to ponder how he improves on last year's impressive efficiency.

The answer likely lies in his still-growing connection with Jameson Williams. The two unquestionably took things to another level in 2024, but there's still room to sand some rough corners. While Goff hit on better than 72% of his targets to his other top options, Williams came down with just 63.7% of the throws his way.

Yes, some of that has to do with the average depth of those targets. Regardless, if the catch rate improves, particularly on deep balls where the tandem connected on just six-of-15 tries in 2024, Goff could easily rewrite Detroit's record books again.

Setting an over/under​

4,700 passing yards for Goff

Despite fewer attempts last season, Goff's 4,629 passing yards fell just 59 short of a new personal best. He's now topped 4,600 three times, including twice with the Rams. With a tougher schedule likely requiring the Lions to throw more this season, there could be an opportunity for Goff to set another personal mark.

For what it’s worth, Matthew Stafford still holds the three highest single-season yardage marks in franchise history, led by his 5,038 yards in 2011.

 

[BobbyLayne]

my 2025 NFC North predictions:

Team	Wins	Losses
Detroit	16	1*
Minnesota	11	6
Green Bay	9	8
Chicago	9	8

*at Baltimore Week 3 MNF

Spoiler

kidding see the next post eh

 

[BobbyLayne]

Kyle in Michigan doing the 'Win-Loss game' on The Rich Eisen Show

 

[BobbyLayne]

All 22 Films - Penei Sewell: the unique archetype redefining the tackle position

 

[Da Guru]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Some minor intrigue surrounding backup QB job​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the quarterbacks.

Roster​

Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen

Starter outlook​

The Lions had one of the most prolific scoring offenses in NFL history last season, averaging 33.2 points. The surprising contrast to the barrage is Goff attempted fewer passes per game than in any other season outside his seven starts as a rookie.

That didn't stop him from earning Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time, thanks to a career-best completion percentage (72.8%) and passer rating (111.8), finishing second among qualified players in both categories.

As he's matured with experience, Goff has become increasingly reliable and consistent. Over the past three seasons, he's compiled a passer rating over 100 while maintaining an interception rate under 2.0%. Early-career concerns regarding his propensity for unforced errors no longer persist.

"There's very little left for Jared to accomplish, other than a Super Bowl championship," position coach Mark Brunell said in May. "He's been in the Pro Bowl, and he's one of the best in the business right now. But he's in pursuit of winning a championship. That is what drives him. And he understands full well, which I love about him, that what you do in May has everything to do with what happens in February."

Camp competition to watch​

Hooker will enter training camp with the leg up for the backup role. Still, he'll have to fend off a challenge from Allen, an experienced veteran who signed as a free agent this offseason.

Despite continuing to express confidence in Hooker, the Lions cast doubt on his grasp on the job when they re-signed Teddy Bridgewater for the stretch run in 2024. Adding a known commodity to the mix this offseason keeps those questions afloat.

"He's doing great," Brunnel said. "It's a new opportunity for him, a new year. Another year of growth. Remember, what is this, Year 3? He's a puppy. He's still young. Does he have a lot to grow? Yeah. There are some things that we've got to work on, but that's the same case for every other young guy that's going into his third season."

After spending most of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL, and suffering a thumb injury during the early stages of last year's offseason program that significantly impacted his accuracy, Hooker needed a late surge to beat out Nate Sudfeld.

Hooker held the job through the regular season — seeing limited action in the closing stages of some blowouts — before Bridgewater displaced him for the team's playoff game against Washington.

Allen comes in as a longtime backup, joining his fifth roster in many years. However, he hasn't started a game since 2022, throwing just one pass across the past two seasons.

"He's been on multiple teams, different systems," Brunnel said. “(He's) very smart. What I loved about the tape that we saw (was that) he made good decisions with the ball. He managed very well. You could tell he was operating within whatever offense he was in. Just has a good grasp on how to play at this level, and has for a while."

It's unlikely, but not inconceivable, that the Lions enter the season with three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. In most cases, that spot is better utilized somewhere else. The team can always add a third quarterback, potentially from the practice squad, to serve as an emergency option late in the season and into the playoffs.

A burning question​

Brunell is correct; there's not a ton left for Goff to accomplish in the regular season. He's not going to morph into a dual-threat suddenly, so we're left to ponder how he improves on last year's impressive efficiency.

The answer likely lies in his still-growing connection with Jameson Williams. The two unquestionably took things to another level in 2024, but there's still room to sand some rough corners. While Goff hit on better than 72% of his targets to his other top options, Williams came down with just 63.7% of the throws his way.

Yes, some of that has to do with the average depth of those targets. Regardless, if the catch rate improves, particularly on deep balls where the tandem connected on just six-of-15 tries in 2024, Goff could easily rewrite Detroit's record books again.

Setting an over/under​

4,700 passing yards for Goff

Despite fewer attempts last season, Goff's 4,629 passing yards fell just 59 short of a new personal best. He's now topped 4,600 three times, including twice with the Rams. With a tougher schedule likely requiring the Lions to throw more this season, there could be an opportunity for Goff to set another personal mark.

For what it’s worth, Matthew Stafford still holds the three highest single-season yardage marks in franchise history, led by his 5,038 yards in 2011.

Good read, been concerned what the Lions were going to do about the "Hendon Hooker situation"!

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: What's the next step for returning trio of starting LBs?​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the linebackers.

Who is on the roster?​

Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham, Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, DaRon Gilbert

Starting lineup outlook​

The Lions have maintained multi-year stability at the position group, with the Anzalone/Campbell/Barnes trio set for a third season together.

Anzalone, who didn’t attend the voluntary portions of the offseason program, isn’t hiding his desire for a contract extension that would keep the group together even longer.

It’s obviously a delicate conversation. Anzalone has played a critical role in Detroit’s rebuild. He’s been a leader in the locker room and on the field, delivered the best seasons of his career, and has been relatively durable. He did miss some time last year when he broke his arm in a friendly fire incident, though his value was driven home by some of the defensive struggles during his absence.

On the flip side, he’s on the wrong side of 30. And while he hasn’t shown signs of regression, this is where they commonly take hold with football players. The Lions have to make an honest assessment about whether his future contributions can match what he’s brought to the table so far.

The still-ascending Campbell factors into that equation, as well. He’s taken over the middle linebacker responsibilities from Anzalone while becoming Detroit’s top tackler. Campbell also has a firm grasp on the scheme to handle the sideline communications. What Campbell still lacks at this early stage of his career is Anzalone’s instincts in coverage.

Barnes, who earned a three-year extension from the Lions this offseason, is something of a schematic x-factor. He has a deep understanding of the system and can play multiple positions, aligning on the line of scrimmage, off the ball, and in the slot in the same game. His 2024 season was cut short by a cut block that tore ligaments in his knee. Still, in that early window of games, Barnes’ awareness and positioning were disruptive, creating opportunities for his teammates.

Camp competition to watch​

With Rodriguez still rehabbing from a torn ACL, the backup roles are up for grabs.

Stuard, a free-agent addition, figures to be the frontrunner for off-ball roles, while Nowaske will look to build on last year’s playing time as Barnes’ backup at the SAM.

There’s certainly some intrigue at the back end of the depth chart. The Lions went into last season with seven linebackers on the 53-man roster after getting back Nowaske off waivers from the Cardinals. Initially, that felt excessive, but it proved to be insufficient after injuries decimated the team’s depth throughout the year.

With Rodriguez likely to miss the start of the season, it’s possible the Lions keep seven again with the starting trio, plus Stuard, Nowaske, Turner and Pittman. Those four backups are all high-end special teams contributors, bolstering their cases.

However, if the Lions believe they need depth elsewhere, or look to carry a developmental player at another position, it may come down to Pittman or Turner.

We can also include Cunningham in that conversation, even though he just arrived. Remember, he's a guy who had three consecutive 100-tackle seasons at the start of his career, including a league-best 164 stops in 2020. And he’s not that far removed from significant playing time, logging 85 tackles in 13 games for the Eagles in 2023.

A burning question​

Will a Lions linebacker emerge as a playmaker? Tackles are fun, but where are the sacks, forced fumbles and interceptions?

Campbell had 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 2024, while only five of his 131 tackles resulted in a loss of yardage. Anzalone has just two picks and one forced fumble in four seasons with Detroit. Meanwhile, Barnes has no regular-season interceptions, although he delivered a memorable one in the playoffs to seal a win over Tampa Bay.

Detroit is blessed with a pair of playmaking safeties. Still, it would be nice to get more impact in this area from the linebacking corps. It’s one of the most athletic starting groups in the league.

Setting an over/under​

Jack Campbell tackles: 140

The highly durable Campbell has appeared in all 34 games in his first two seasons, logging nearly 1,000 defensive snaps last season. With that increase in playing time, his tackle total rose from 95 to 131, tying him for 19th in the NFL.

Still, there’s meat on the bone. Campbell played under 75% of the team’s defensive snaps four times in the first half of last season but 100% in the final seven games.

If Campbell can reach 140 combined stops, he’d be only the fourth Lions player to reach the mark since the league started tracking the stat in 1978. The last Lions player to deliver that kind of tackle production was DeAndre Levy in 2014.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Can the team squeeze a sixth WR on its roster?​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the wide receivers.

Who is on the roster?​

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell, Jackson Meeks, Malik Taylor, Jakobie Keeney-James

Starting lineup outlook​

The Lions are returning their top-four receivers from last season, led by the ultra-reliable St. Brown. He's racked up 340 catches, 3,939 yards and 28 touchdowns across the past three seasons, earning first-team All-Pro honors each of the past two years.

St. Brown is complemented by Williams, the rapidly ascending speedster who took a massive step forward with his consistency in his third season, finishing the campaign with 1,001 yards — including six gains of 40 or more yards — and seven scores.

The starting trio is rounded out by veteran Tim Patrick, who was picked up just ahead of last season after he was released by the Broncos. After missing back-to-back seasons with significant leg injuries, he rebounded by catching 33 of 44 targets for 394 yards and three scores while providing steady blocking on the perimeter.

Camp competition to watch​

It’s reasonable to suggest that five receiving jobs are all but locked up heading into camp. Beyond the starting trio, Raymond is a trusted depth piece with enhanced value as a return man. And TeSlaa, a third-round draft pick, is a long-term investment who is likely to replace Patrick’s workload in 2026.

Is there room for a sixth receiver on the 53-man roster? It would take a promising camp and preseason for the Lions to feel compelled to go that route.

The leading contender would be Lovett, a seventh-round draft pick who thrived in the slot for Georgia. There’s some special teams ability there, as well, and both the player and coaching staff believe he’s not caged to playing inside.

Another name to watch will be Meeks, Lovett’s former Georgia teammate. Meeks didn’t do much beyond special teams with the Bulldogs but broke out as a senior transfer for Syracuse with 78 grabs for 1,021 yards and seven scores. He’s a big target who, despite below-average athleticism for the position, knows how to use his frame, thriving in contested-catch situations.

A burning question​

There will be some oversized expectations placed on TeSlaa based on where he was drafted and the assets the Lions surrendered to move up and select him. The reality is he's a bit of a project who might not have a significant offensive role as a rookie while acclimating to this level.

The bigger question pertaining to maximizing the team's offensive output in 2025 is what does the next step look like for Williams? As noted, he took a sizeable leap forward in his third season, but there's still plenty of meat on the bone and rough edges to smooth out.

Remember, Williams had a game last season where he caught one pass for 9 yards and another where he finished with -4 yards on the afternoon. Detroit has an impressive arsenal, so there will be a revolving door of players who have down weeks. That's just the nature of their beast. However, if Williams can be a little more efficient and eliminate the dud performances, 1,200 or more yards is well within reach.

Setting an over/under​

65 receptions for receivers not named Amon-Ra or Jameson

As long as he stays healthy, St. Brown is almost certain to catch at least 100 balls. And Williams, the top vertical threat in Detroit’s offense, should see at least 60 receptions after snagging 58 a year ago. But once you factor in the weapons at the other positions — Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, to name a few — there aren’t many leftovers for the other receivers.

Raymond’s production took a massive dip last season to almost a third of what it was two years ago. And Patrick, despite netting 641 snaps with the offense, finished with only 33 catches. Totaled, Detroit’s receivers outside the top two combined for 55 receptions.

Will quarterback Jared Goff spread it around a bit more in 2025? Assuming a similar workload, Patrick should see a boost that comes with familiarity. Plus, there should be a concerted effort to get TeSlaa some tastes to better prepare him for a bigger role in 2026.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: With starters set, can Rakestraw earn top CB backup job?​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the cornerbacks.

Who is on the roster?​

Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Avonte Maddox, Rock Ya-Sin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Starting lineup outlook​

It's been head-spinning to watch the Lions remake their cornerback room multiple times since 2021.

General manager Brad Holmes inherited Jeff Okudah and Amani Oruwariye before the team rode undrafted free agent Jerry Jacobs for three years. Then, the GM had one of the biggest whiffs of his tenure when he signed Cam Sutton in free agency.

Holmes righted the ship at the position with an aggressive overhaul last offseason, trading for Carlton Davis, signing Amik Robertson and drafting Terrion Arnold. The trio wasn't perfect, but it was a massive upgrade from the team's recent combinations in the back end.

Unfortunately, the mix was short-lived. Davis cashed in as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, netting a huge offer from the Patriots. But Holmes was able to pivot, landing one of the NFL's premier man-coverage corners, Reed, for less than it would have cost to retain Davis.

Reed is coming off three years with the New York Jets, where he allowed a completion percentage of 60.1% when targeted. And even though he's on the smaller side at 5-foot-9, 188 pounds, he's a ferocious competitor in run support, making him a natural fit for the way the Lions play defense.

Reed will be paired with Arnold, who battled through some early-season penalty woes as a rookie to piece together a strong debut, headlined by allowing just 55.6% of passes his direction to be completed. He finished his first season with 10 pass breakups and zero interceptions, so generating takeaways will be a focus in Year 2.

Robertson, meanwhile, will go back to the nickel spot where he thrived in 2024. Another feisty competitor, the undersized defender plays like he's the biggest man on the field.

Camp competition to watch​

Warning: This is going to be a cop-out.

There is admittedly always wiggle room for things to shift, but the positional pecking order feels clear. As noted, the starters are expected to be Arnold, Reed, and Robertson. As for depth, Maddox should end up the top backup at both nickel and safety.

If there's an injury on the outside, the team can either shift Robertson wide and bring in Maddox or turn to Rakestraw. The room should be rounded out by Dorsey and Ya-Sin, who will primarily be counted on for their special-teams contributions.

More than a battle between two players, let’s see if Rakestraw can do enough during camp to earn the coaching staff's trust as the first option off the bench in case of an injury to Arnold or Reed.

The second-year cornerback out of Missouri, selected in the second round a year ago, spent most of his rookie year battling a nagging hamstring injury. Early in that debut campaign, he was slated to start in the slot before aggravating the hamstring in pregame warmups. Now, the intention is for Rakestraw to be used exclusively on the outside. He should get a heavy workload in the preseason to show he's up for the task.

A burning question​

Arnold, Reed and Robertson combined for zero interceptions in 2024. The only Lions cornerback to pick a pass last season now plays for the Patriots. Can this current group reverse this trend?

There are admittedly some restraints. Detroit's heavy reliance on man-to-man coverage has the corners with their backs to the quarterback on most downs, making it more difficult to make plays on the ball. Still, you'd like the interception tally to be more than zero.

Interestingly, all three projected starters had a penchant for takeaways in college. Reed had five interceptions during his final season at Kansas State, Arnold had five for Alabama the year before the Lions drafted him, and Robertson snagged 14 across three seasons at Louisiana Tech. So, playmaking is coded into their DNA; they just need to find ways to tap back into the skill.

Setting an over/under​

Arnold interceptions: 2.5

Seemingly every week during last season, Arnold would predict he would get his first interception in the upcoming game. It never happened, but that's the type of unyielding confidence he has in his abilities.

Arnold has the footwork, speed, size and leaping ability to be a ballhawk at this level. Last season, he had a tendency to play the man rather than the ball. That led to a slew of flags early in the year. Now that he's adapted to the size and speed of NFL receivers, as well as the aggressive way defensive backs are officiated, Arnold should be able to snap his skid.

From there, we're just banking on the oft-repeated idea that when turnovers come, they come in bunches.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Depth chart at OT hinges on Manu's development​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the offensive tackles.

Who is on the roster?​

Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Dan Skipper, Giovani Manu, Jamarco Jones, Colby Sorsdal, Miles Frazier

Starting lineup outlook​

Detroit has enjoyed a great run of continuity at the bookends, with Decker and Sewell set to start their fifth season together in 2025.

Sewell needs no introduction. The first draft pick of general manager Brad Holmes' tenure, the lineman quickly emerged as a franchise cornerstone. He’s earned three Pro Bowl selections and twice been named a first-team All-Pro in his first four seasons.

The Lions got ahead of the curve, locking up Sewell with a long-term extension two years before his rookie contract expired. And to the surprise of no one, he's not resting on his early-career laurels. The 24-year-old captain spent the offseason in Detroit working with the team's strength staff, aiming to get bigger and stronger. That has to be a scary thought for the edge rushers on the Lions' docket this season.

As for Decker, he also earned an extension last offseason, pushing him closer to his goal of playing his entire career with the Lions. A first-round pick in 2016, he's held down the blindside since Day 1, starting 126 of a possible 148 games during his nine-year career.

Decker has consistently performed above average, both as a pass protector and run blocker. He's allowed a little more pressure and a few more sacks during the past couple of years, but that didn't prevent him from getting Pro Bowl recognition for the first time in his career in 2024.

Camp competition to watch​

There will be a spotlight on Manu this offseason. How much has he developed a year after being drafted from the Canadian college football ranks? During his first training camp and preseason, he often looked overwhelmed. Still, behind-the-scenes reports toward the end of the season were encouraging. He followed that progress up by replicating Decker's offseason work with respected offensive line trainer LeCharles Bentley.

Will it be enough to push Skipper for the swing tackle job? Or could JaMarco Jones, who drew seven starts with the Seahawks between 2021 and 2023, force his way into the mix? That remains to be seen.

Skipper is your classic backup. He's good enough to serve as a stopgap in a pinch but not a threat to push for a starting job. He's been around this team for a long time, reaching folk hero status for his role in the infamous "reporting eligible" fiasco in Dallas a couple of years back.

Skipper started three games in place of Decker last season and held his own. Plus, Skipper adds value on game days as a third tight end in heavy packages. He's primarily in there for his blocking, but the Lions like to throw a pass his way every once in a while, including one that went for a touchdown last year, to keep the defense on its toes.

Ideally, the Lions would love for Manu to make a significant leap, earn the job, and be trending toward becoming a viable replacement for Decker in a year or two.

A burning question​

There’s no bigger question at the position than Manu’s development, but since we addressed that, we’ll take a look a little further down the depth chart. Is this the end of the line for Sorsdal?

Immensely likable, the former fifth-round pick hasn’t clicked through two seasons as he’s bounced between guard and tackle. A strong contender for the swing job entering camp last season, Sorsdal was soundly beaten out by Skipper, resulting in the former being a healthy scratch in all but one game.

This offseason, the Lions are testing Sorsdal at center, trying to find a home for the William & Mary product. The addition of Frazier would seem to loom large over Sorsdal’s future. We think of Frazier as a guard because that’s what the rookie played at LSU over the past three seasons. However, before that, he was an offensive tackle for Florida Atlantic. Additionally, he was the third tackle on LSU's depth chart, ready to shift outside if a starter had gone down.

Setting an over/under​

Sewell: 0.5 sacks allowed

Sewell is otherworldly when it comes to protecting the quarterback. In more than 1,400 protection snaps the past two years, he’s allowed just one sack each season.

Is this the year Sewell pitches a shutout? Would you bet against him?

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Team in good shape at DT to weather McNeill's early-season absence​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the defensive tackles.

Who is on the roster?​

Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez, Brodric Martin, Mekhi Wingo, Pat O'Connor, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Raequan Williams

Starting lineup outlook​

McNeill, Detroit’s best defensive tackle, will start the season on the shelf. He’s recovering from a torn ACL, which he didn’t have surgically repaired until January, once the swelling subsided. At this point, we shouldn’t expect him back until the middle of the season.

Fortunately, the Lions are constructed to withstand McNeill's absence. In four-man fronts, Onwuzurike is capable of playing the 3-technique alongside Reader, the veteran run-stuffer. Onwuzurike, coming off the first healthy season of his career, was a force as a pass rusher, racking up 47 pressures. Of course, he’ll be looking to convert more of those disruptions into sacks after finishing with just 1.5 in 2024.

When the Lions go to five-man fronts, which they utilized frequently last season, don’t be surprised to see Williams work his way into significant playing time with the starting group. The first-round pick has a similar build and skill set to a younger McNeill, which should allow Onwuzurike to play some wider alignments where he’s been most effective.

Camp competition to watch​

There are questions at the back end of the rotation beyond the trio discussed above. Lopez figures to spell Reader at nose tackle, but it’s a little unclear how Wingo and O’Connor will fit into the rotation.

Wingo should be fully healed to start camp after last season’s meniscus tear. The undersized defender didn’t do much as a rookie. Still, the Lions appreciate his football character and remain intrigued by his inside/outside versatility.

With O’Connor, he’s got plenty of experience and was one of the “Northern Savages” who helped hold the defense together when it was ravaged by injuries a year ago. He can do a little bit of everything across the front. Plus, there’s a trust factor there, especially with the Lions bringing in Kacy Rodgers, his former position coach from Tampa. It wouldn't be surprising to see O’Connor fend off younger options for snaps.

A burning question​

Will Martin go down as Brad Holmes' first bust? We're not counting some of the Day 3 picks that haven't worked out, acknowledging they're inherently more of a scratch-off ticket, despite Holmes' impressive hit rate in the later rounds.

Martin, on the other hand, was a third-round choice that the Lions moved up to get. And through his first two seasons, he hasn't proven useful. The long-armed behemoth was showing some flashes during his second training camp, only for that positive momentum to be derailed by a hyperextended knee that shelved him for several weeks. When he returned to action and got a shot to play, his longstanding issues with leverage persisted, landing him back on the bench.

After the Lions signed Lopez and drafted Williams this offseason, the room is suddenly crowded. Martin is unquestionably entering camp on the bubble, and despite Detroit giving their draft picks a longer leash to figure things out, it wouldn't be surprising to see them pull the plug on the experiment if there aren't obvious and significant improvements this camp.

Setting an over/under​

Onwuzurike sacks: 4.5

For the second consecutive season, Onwuzurike will be playing for his next contract. That was secondary to proving his back was healthy a year ago, and his market suggested that teams still aren’t sold on his long-term health, allowing the Lions to retain him for another year at a relative bargain.

Backs are problematic, and the fusion surgery he underwent to resolve his issue comes with understandable concerns. Regardless, logging more than 600 snaps last season answered a lot of questions. A repeat performance, accompanied by an uptick in sack production, should alleviate lingering unease and lead to a substantial payday for the defender.

Onwuzurike was a man on a mission last offseason. That determination and dedication paid dividends. I expect more of the same in 2025.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Setting an over/under
Onwuzurike sacks: 4.5

For the second consecutive season, Onwuzurike will be playing for his next contract. That was secondary to proving his back was healthy a year ago, and his market suggested that teams still aren’t sold on his long-term health, allowing the Lions to retain him for another year at a relative bargain.

Backs are problematic, and the fusion surgery he underwent to resolve his issue comes with understandable concerns. Regardless, logging more than 600 snaps last season answered a lot of questions. A repeat performance, accompanied by an uptick in sack production, should alleviate lingering unease and lead to a substantial payday for the defender.

Onwuzurike was a man on a mission last offseason. That determination and dedication paid dividends. I expect more of the same in 2025.

Contract years don't always work out but they are a proven motivator. I'm expecting good things from Levi this season.

 

[BobbyLayne]

A proposed area of improvement for each projected starter on Detroit Lions' offense​

At the end of each campaign, as NFL players head into their offseason, they go through exit interviews. Often included in that process is a personal improvement plan, suggestions on how to take their game to the next level.

As the Detroit Lions prepare to report for training camp later this month, we thought we’d explore potential areas of improvement for each of the team’s starters.

We’re going to start with Detroit’s record-breaking offense, which led the league in scoring while posting the most points in franchise history in 2024.

Quarterback Jared Goff​

Where to improve: Protecting the ball

The final memory we have of Goff’s 2024 season was tossing a trio of interceptions and losing a fumble in a Divisional Round loss to the Commanders.

That mistake-filled outing certainly wasn’t reflective of his year, which included career bests for completion percentage and passer rating. Still, Goff did throw 12 picks despite attempting his fewest passes per game since his rookie year. That resulted in a 2.2% interception rate, his worst in four seasons with the Lions.

It is worth continued acknowledgment that interceptions aren’t always on the quarterback. There are missed blocks, deflected passes and route miscommunications. Still, Pro Football Focus assessed Goff with 17 turnover-worthy plays last season. That ranked bottom-10, on par with rookie Drake Maye and Will Levis, one of the league’s worst starters.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs​

Where to improve: Develop a wheel route

Finding an area of improvement for Gibbs was a daunting challenge. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry, was a big-play machine, regularly made tacklers miss at all levels, and sharply increased his efficiency as a receiver from his rookie season, going from 6.1 yards per catch to 9.9.

Gibbs is a superstar in every sense of the word.

Obviously, he can improve in pass protection, but asking him to stay in the backfield to block feels like a waste of his talents. Instead, we’d love to see him expand his effectiveness as a downfield pass catcher. He’s dynamic on many of the standard routes run out of the backfield, including a rapidly developing angle pattern. However, he has yet to unlock the wheel route. He clearly has the speed, but the separation never seems to be there when the Lions try it.

Perhaps new offensive coordinator John Morton and incoming running backs coach Tashard Choice can unlock this downfield weapon.

Running back David Montgomery​

Where to improve: Tighten up pass protection

We shouldn't let Gibbs’ unreal talent overshadow how good Montgomery was last season. He led the NFL in success rate — defined as gaining 4 or more yards on first down, at least half the remaining distance on second down, and converting on third or fourth down. He also made tacklers miss at a high rate. The biggest reason his yards per carry dipped was the blocking. His yards before contact dropped from 2.3 to 1.9 yards, year to year.

On top of his rushing production, Montgomery was also wildly efficient as a receiving option out of the backfield, catching 36 of 38 targets.

If there was a clear deficiency, it was his pass protection. On 41 attempts, he allowed seven pressures, a sack and committed a hold. It’s difficult to complain about anything else.

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell​

Where to improve: Allow less pass-rush pressure

A two-time first-team All-Pro, Sewell is already an elite talent. Still, his pass protection has always taken a backseat to his dominance as a run blocker.

To his credit, Sewell doesn’t allow many sacks, a trend that extends back through his college career (and likely high school, as well, if we’re being honest).

Regardless, that doesn’t mean Sewell doesn’t surrender his fair share of hurries, including 28 last season. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's Lane Johnson and Tampa Bay's Tristan Wirfs finished with 10 and 12 pressures allowed in 2024, respectively.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker​

Where to improve: Allow fewer sacks

Taylor Decker has always been above average at protecting his quarterback’s blindside, allowing between 29-38 pressures in the previous five seasons he’s played in at least 14 games.

The mildly concerning trend is how many of those pressures have resulted in sacks the past two years, with Decker permitting Goff to be dropped behind the line of scrimmage eight times each season.

With some moving pieces along the interior of the front, it would relieve some stress on the offense if Decker could keep some of that heat off his QB.

Interior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow​

Where to improve: Rediscover his 2023 run blocking

Glasgow’s pass protection wasn’t good last season. Still, it might surprise you to learn he surrendered nearly the same amount of pressure as the previous season. That performance was good enough to earn him a three-year extension from the Lions, while last year’s had some fans wishing the team would reverse course and cut the versatile veteran.

Perceptions of Glasgow’s struggles were inflated by two dreadful performances late in the season, including the team’s playoff loss, where he was battling through injury.

However, the more concerning decline was his run blocking. Perhaps it was as simple as playing alongside Sewell in 2023, or the number of minor injuries Glasgow was dealing with. Still, he notably regressed after one of his best seasons opening holes for Detroit’s backs.

Interior offensive lineman Tate Ratledge​

Where to improve: Develop snapping and front identification

Ratledge has a million things to work on as a rookie. Still, the Lions are gauging his potential as Frank Ragnow’s replacement at center. There are physical and mental hurdles Ratledge needs to clear to prove worthy of that opportunity.

Physically, he needs to continue refining his snapping technique, both when the quarterback is under center and in the shotgun. That will be the easier of the two hurdles. Ratledge will just need to build up the muscle memory, having never previously played center in a game.

Mentally, there’s a lot of information a center is expected to process before the snap and relay to the rest of the offensive line. Glasgow can handle many of those identifications and adjustments, even if he’s playing guard. Still, it’s an area where the Lions will need Ratledge to develop rapidly in case Glasgow needs to miss time with an injury.

Guard Christian Mahogany​

Where to improve: Prove consistency

Mahogany was shockingly good in two spot starts last season, but it's risky to trust a small sample size. There’s a reason he dropped to the sixth round of last year's draft. Then, he missed his entire first training camp due to mono.

It’s easy to think those two starts are representative of the player he’ll be going forward, but don’t be surprised if he battles some rookie-like inconsistencies in his first full season.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown​

Where to improve: Reverse run-blocking trend

Another star talent worthy of a “no notes” commentary. St. Brown is one of the game’s most productive and efficient receivers, who comes down with most of the high volume of throws his way.

As a younger player, St. Brown carved out a reputation for his relentlessness in all phases, establishing himself as one of the better blocking receivers in the league. Last year, it just didn’t look the same. I wouldn’t question the in-game effort, but the execution certainly slipped.

Getting a new voice as his position coach, particularly one who emphasizes blocking like Scottie Montgomery does, should reignite St. Brown’s fire to put safeties in the dirt.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams​

Where to improve: Expand his route tree

Williams made tremendous strides in his third season, most notably with the reliability of his routes and hands. This offseason, coach Dan Campbell noted that the speedy receiver has demonstrated growth with patterns coming back to the quarterback, saying the receiver’s ability to stop on a dime can be a tremendous weapon.

If Williams can be more effective while running hitches and curls, it could actually open the door for more deep shots. A cornerback who doesn’t want to concede a 15-yard grab might cheat up, making them susceptible to a double-move.

Tight end Sam LaPorta​

Where to improve: Keep growing as a run blocker

If you weren’t paying close enough attention, you might think LaPorta suffered a sophomore slump. Yes, he had a sluggish start due to a lingering hamstring strain suffered during training camp. Still, he made meaningful improvements with his catch rate, yards per reception, and success in contested situations.

LaPorta also acknowledged this offseason how much pride he took in his improvements as a run blocker. Given his frame, he’s never going to be dominant in that facet of the game. However, he can always improve his consistency in executing his assignments.

Like St. Brown, LaPorta will have a new position coach this year. The former leader of the room, Steve Heiden, brought plenty of experience as a 10-year NFL veteran, but Tyler Roehl, a former college fullback, brings a different type of scrappy edge to the group.

 

[BobbyLayne]

anybody watch Quarterback or whatever it's called on Netflix? Goff is apparently in it

have never watched it....didn't watch Receiver either, ARSB was on last summer

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Will LaPorta see more targets and who claims third TE job?​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the tight ends.

Who is on the roster?​

Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Kenny Yeboah, Shane Zylstra, Zach Horton, Luke Deal

Starting lineup outlook​

The Lions run a lot of two-tight-end formations with LaPorta and Wright dominating the playing time and passing-game targets.

LaPorta is unquestionably the centerpiece at the position. Despite a dip in production from his record-setting rookie year, he’s still one of the premier receiving threats at the position, and a willing blocker in the run game, if nothing else.

Wright, meanwhile, has averaged more than 500 offensive snaps the past three seasons, peaking at 583 in 2024. He’s a blocker, first and foremost, offering minimal contributions as a receiver. He’s finished with just 13 receptions each of the past two seasons.

Camp competition to watch​

There haven’t been many opportunities for a third tight end to contribute since LaPorta came on board. In 2024, the other tight ends combined for fewer than 200 offensive snaps, led by Zylstra’s 109.

This offseason, the Lions brought in Yeboah from the New York Jets to compete for that role. Zylstra and Yeboah offer contrasting styles. The incumbent is a former college receiver who has consistently demonstrated the ability to contribute in the passing game on the practice field over the past few years.

Yeboah, meanwhile, is a bigger, more physical player who had plenty of success as an in-line blocker for the Jets. The decision could boil down to the identity they want from that spot, in addition to how Zylstra and Yeboah fare on special teams. For what it’s worth, Yeboah’s contract carries significantly more guarantees, but probably not enough to influence the roster decision.

Horton and Deal will also get a fair shot, but the two undrafted rookies will have to close a lot of ground to overtake the veterans.

A burning question​

Whether LaPorta catches 60 or 90 passes hinges less on his ability and more on how much the Lions throw the ball and how frequently his number is called compared to the team's other weapons. Travis Kelce has long been the guy in Kansas City. The Raiders threw to Brock Bowers 132 times last season out of necessity. The Lions, meanwhile, have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs to feed, in addition to LaPorta.

So, while it's fair to wonder if Detroit's young star can come close to replicating his rookie production, it's also worth noting he was more efficient last year, catching a higher percentage of his targets and gaining more yards per grab.

I'm more interested in the potential impact of position coach Tyler Roehl. The biggest area of potential growth for both LaPorta and Wright is as blockers. That was a point of emphasis for the previous position coach, Steve Heiden, but Roehl has an equally strong background in blocking, both as a player and a coach. If he can elevate the performance of Detroit's tight ends in this area, the entire offense will benefit.

Setting an over/under​

LaPorta receiving yards: 825

Quarterback Jared Goff only attempted 539 passes last season, his fewest per game since his rookie year. Some of that was schematic, while another part of it was scoreboard-driven.

Odds are, given the difficulty of Detroit’s 2025 schedule, they’ll need to throw it more this season. That alone should boost LaPorta’s production from the 726 receiving yards he finished with last season. But with Williams and Gibbs now a bigger part of the offense, and potentially a few more balls going to Tim Patrick and rookie Isaac TeSlaa, LaPorta won’t have an easy path to threatening his franchise record of 889 yards, set during his rookie year in 2023.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: What's the encore for team's tremendously talented and productive safety duo?​

Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the safeties.

Who is on the roster?​

Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Avonte Maddox, Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland, Morice Norris, Erick Hallett, Ian Kennelly

Starting lineup outlook​

The outlook is pretty, pretty good.

The pairing of Joseph and Branch operated as envisioned after the Lions shifted the latter to safety after caging him to nickel during his rookie season.

Joseph's improvements were one of the underappreciated stories from the 2024 season. He sharply bettered his tackling and reined in his risk-taking, which often left him exposed to big plays over the top when he went hunting for interceptions underneath.

Obviously, Joseph's takeaway production was headline-worthy. His nine interceptions paced the league, after all. But the bigger story might have been how much he developed into a complete safety during his third season. The Lions certainly valued the total package, rewarding him with a market-resetting extension this offseason.

Joseph earned first-team All-Pro honors, but Branch was arguably playing at a higher level at midseason. He's the more versatile of the two, able to not only produce turnovers (four interceptions and a forced fumble in 2024) but also rack up TFLs in run support or reliably cover a tight end man-to-man on third down.

The Lions can extend Branch next offseason, and the price tag could end up similar to the four-year, $84 million pact Joseph signed. Still, it will unquestionably be tempting for the Lions to do everything in their power to keep the tandem together for years to come.

Camp competition to watch​

The Lions said goodbye to the third safety on last year's depth chart, Ifeatu Melifonwu. He signed with Miami as a free agent, ending a frustrating four-year run in Detroit, where a string of injuries limited his contributions.

To backfill the loss, the Lions signed Maddox. The versatile defensive back hasn't played safety full-time since his rookie season in 2018. However, he showed that ability was still there while serving as a postseason fill-in for the Eagles in 2023.

The true battle is for the fourth job, where five young options will duke it out. The group includes three returning players and two rookies.

Coming back are Strickland, Norris and Hallett. Strickland and Norris were undrafted signings a year ago, and both had stints on Detroit's 53-man roster. Almost all of their playing time was on special teams, although Norris was forced into action on defense during the team's playoff loss to Washington. Meanwhile, Hallett, a former sixth-round pick for Jacksonville, spent most of last season on Detroit’s practice squad.

The incoming contenders are Jackson and Kennelly. The Lions invested a seventh-round pick on Jackson, a gritty and physical safety who worked his way up from being a walk-on to starting for the talent-rich Georgia defense.

Kennelly is a local talent who played both his high school and college ball in the state. He possesses tremendous size and physical gifts, which could make him a solid developmental candidate for the practice squad if he doesn't make the roster.

A burning question​

If there's one criticism of Detroit's starting duo, it's Branch's proclivity for penalties. He was flagged nine times last season, including four pass interference calls, two for unnecessary roughness, and another for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Branch isn't dirty, but he does have a tendency to drop his head when lining up a big hit. It's muscle memory that needs to be conditioned out because it will continue to draw flags and fines.

The good news is it's on the team's radar. Position coach Jim O'Neil had the equipment staff purchase a pad designed to lower Branch's aiming point away from the neck and shoulder area of pass-catchers.

Big hits can unquestionably set a tone, but 15-yard penalties can be killers. Plus, Branch is risking injury to himself — he knocked himself out with a hit against Arizona — or a suspension if the league labels him a repeat offender of rules put in place for player safety.

Setting an over/under​

Combined takeaways for Joseph/Branch: 10.5

The starters combined for 12 interceptions and a forced fumble last season. However, there can be an ebb and flow to turnovers from year to year. Joseph has been remarkably consistent, netting at least four interceptions each of his first three seasons, but repeating last year's takeaway count is unlikely.

There's room for Branch to bridge a dip in Joseph's interception tally, and both can be better at forcing fumbles. Branch is seemingly always hunting for a punch-out, while Joseph had some early-career success, knocking two balls loose in his first few starts as a rookie but none in his past 42 starts.

 

[BobbyLayne]

A proposed area of improvement for each projected starter on Detroit Lions' defense​

Allen Park — Last week, we offered a potential area of improvement for each of the Detroit Lions’ projected starters on offense. Now, we turn our attention to the team’s defense, which battled through unprecedented attrition in 2024 and has a new coordinator in Kelvin Sheppard.

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson​

Where to improve: Run defense

Hutchinson has steadily improved through his first three seasons. After his torrid start to the 2024 season, he’s entered the conversation as one of the league’s truly elite edge rushers. It's now a matter of consistency, especially coming back from a broken leg.

His ability to wreak havoc in the pocket is and will continue to be the most important thing he can bring to the Lions. Where he has the most room to grow is as a run defender.

Hutchinson isn’t a slouch as an edge setter, and he’s relentless in backside pursuit. Still, he isn’t as dominant against the run as some of the other stars at the position, most notably T.J. Watt, a player some compared Hutchinson to coming out of Michigan.

Another example of an elite run-stopping edge, one closer to the end of his career, is Khalil Mack. He and Watt are the type of defenders who own their side of the line at all times. That’s the next frontier for Hutchinson as he returns from last year’s injury.

Defensive end Marcus Davenport​

Where to improve: Stay healthy

Recognizing there’s only so much a player can do to ensure their durability and availability, everything seemingly hinges on Davenport’s ability to avoid a serious or nagging injury in 2025. By all accounts, he has been putting in the preventative work with his body this offseason.

The last time he was close to full strength for an entire season, he racked up 9.0 sacks and 42 quarterback pressures for New Orleans in 2021. If he can bring anything close to that level of production to the Lions this year, the team’s pass rush should be just fine.

Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike​

Where to improve: Convert pressures to sacks

Speaking of durability, it was a joy to see Onwuzurike fully put his nagging back injury in the rearview last season, logging more snaps in 2024 than his first three years combined. He also demonstrated the pass-rush ability that had the Lions thrilled to draft him in the second round a few years ago. He recorded an impressive 45 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Unfortunately, sacks remained elusive. For all of that pocket disruption, Onwuzurike only managed to drop opposing passers 1.5 times. That, combined with his injury history, likely suppressed his earning potential as a free agent this past offseason. If he can rack up some sacks this year, he’ll likely rack up the stacks next March.

Defensive tackle DJ Reader​

Where to improve: Rediscover dominance two years removed from injury

The Lions rolled the dice on Reader, coming off a quad tear in December. That risk was mitigated by knowing the nose tackle had recovered and returned to form after the same injury a few years earlier.

Reader was solid as a 15-game starter for the Lions, actually setting a career-high with 3.0 sacks. His four tackles for loss were also his most since 2019. What was missing was the down-to-down dominance he has showcased throughout his career, both against the run and when rushing the passer.

Age may be catching up with Reader. He turned 31 this month. However, rehabbing his quad sidelined him for the entire offseason program, likely leaving a considerable accumulation of rust heading into the 2024 campaign. We often see players rebound two years after a major injury, so we should have a better sense of how much the veteran nose tackle has left in the tank this season.

Linebacker Derrick Barnes​

Where to improve: Find a go-to pass-rush move

The Lions significantly altered Barnes’ role last season, sharply increasing the percentage of snaps the versatile defender was playing along the line of scrimmage.

Despite not being used that way most of his first three seasons, it’s not unfamiliar territory. Barnes was more of an edge defender for Purdue, including a 7.5-sack junior season in 2019.

We only had an opportunity to see Barnes rush the passer 30 times in 2024 before a knee injury prematurely ended his season. Within that small sample size, he netted a single QB pressure. If he’s going to remain in that role, he’ll need to be more effective.

Looking to expand his pass-rush tool set, Barnes would often work with former teammate James Houston after practice last year. If Barnes can channel his high-end athleticism into a pass-rush move or two that consistently work for him, it would be a massive asset for Detroit’s defense.

Linebacker Jack Campbell​

Where to improve: Zone coverage

Like Hutchinson, Campbell continues to improve steadily. In his second season, he racked up a team-leading 131 tackles and broke up five passes, compared to one as a rookie.

Still, Campbell has considerable room for growth in coverage, particularly with his zone assignments. Whether it’s overcommitting on play-action, a lack of awareness with the routes developing behind him, or the quarterback too easily manipulating his positioning, the young Mike linebacker concedes more than he should across the middle.

Campbell is instinctual with action that develops in front of him. As his conceptual understanding of the scheme continues to grow, the way it has for Barnes, Campbell should be able to develop a keener sense of his role and positioning in space, rounding out his overall skill set.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone​

Where to improve: Turnover production

The multi-year captain continues to be the heartbeat of Detroit’s defense. The unit unquestionably suffered during his injury-related absence in 2024, missing both his energy and production.

Switching to the weak side to accommodate Campbell logging more time in the middle, Anzalone’s tackle tallies predictably dropped. Still, he remains the team’s best linebacking option in coverage. Still, what has lacked over the past couple of seasons is turnover production. The veteran hasn’t intercepted a pass or forced a fumble since 2022.

Additionally, a newfound ability to consistently affect the passer in 2023 — resulting in a career-high 25 pressures and 3.0 sacks — dried up as quickly as it appeared. As Anzalone pushes for an extension, more game-altering plays would strengthen his case.

Cornerback Terrion Arnold​

Where to improve: Stay the course

Arnold predictably struggled with being overly reliant on his hands to begin his rookie season, resulting in an early flurry of penalties. Encouragingly, those sharply declined as the campaign progressed, as he got better at trusting his footwork and playing the ball rather than the man.

Above all else, Arnold needs to stay on this path, continuing to refine the fundamentals required for the heavy percentage of man-to-man coverage snaps Detroit asks him to play.

From there, he can work toward taking the next step, which is turning some of his pass breakups into interceptions. His lack of a pick during his rookie season unquestionably ate at him.

Cornerback D.J. Reed​

Where to improve: Double moves

The newcomer is an established veteran with impressive credentials. He excels in man coverage and defending the run despite being undersized for the position. Reed does commit a few more penalties than the average corner, but that comes with the territory in man-to-man, especially when you’re sticky and play with physicality.

Combing through Reed’s tape earlier this offseason, one thing that stuck out as a negative was his aggressiveness being used against him. One of the most important things for a cornerback to avoid is getting beat over the top, and Reed does occasionally bite on a double-move because he’s so effective breaking up throws downhill.

Cornerback Amik Robertson​

Where to improve: Allow less YAC

After winning the nickel job out of camp, Robertson faced a ton of targets during the season and more than held his own. He allowed receptions on 45 of the 79 throws where he was in coverage. He was also stellar in run support.

If there’s an area to tighten up, it’s the amount of per-snap production he allowed in coverage. His 1.61 yards per coverage snap ranked 21st out of 25 cornerbacks with at least 200 snaps in the slot.

Much of that was the 6.33 yards receivers averaged after the catch when working against him, which was bottom-10 among all cornerbacks. Five missed tackles in coverage didn’t help.

Safety Brian Branch​

Where to improve: Trim the penalties

Branch was flagged nine times last season, including three for unnecessary roughness and another four for defensive pass interference.

One of the best man-cover safeties in the league, the latter issue comes with the territory. But Branch can easily eliminate the 15-yard infractions by keeping his head up and being more precise with his aiming point, avoiding the head and neck area when receivers are, by rule, defenseless.

With fines starting to mount for the third-year defender, his bank account will appreciate an adjustment.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Safety Kerby Joseph​

Where to improve: Bring back the punchouts

Joseph took his playmaking to another level in his third season, earning first-team All-Pro honors after leading the league in interceptions.

He’s always had a knack for generating takeaways, picking off at least four passes each of his first three seasons. What’s vanished, after recording two in his first seven games, are the forced fumbles.

If going after the ball was a necessary sacrifice with Joseph’s impressive improvements as a tackler last season, then so be it. Still, Branch has found a way to reliably do both.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Not sure who needs this, but training camp tickets will be made available tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10 a.m. I imagine they go quickly these days.

Training camp schedule

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Will o-line changes derail 4-year trend of ground game improvements?​

Over the past couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we've been taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We’ve analyzed the projected starting situation, highlighted a key camp battle, explored a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

As we near the end of the series and the start of camp, today we’ll be looking at the running backs.

Who is on the roster?​

Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki, Kye Robichaux, Anthony Tyus III

Starting lineup outlook​

The Lions are blessed with one of the most talented and productive backfield tandems in NFL history. The duo of Montgomery and Gibbs combined for more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage in 2024 while averaging better than 5.0 yards per carry. The pair also found the end zone 32 times.

Montgomery continues to carry the starter tag. He was on the field for the first offensive snap in each of the 14 games that he wasn’t sidelined by an injury.

Gibbs, meanwhile, is unquestionably the more dynamic weapon. Earning Pro Bowl honors in his second season, he racked up 1,929 combined rushing and receiving yards, scored 20 times, and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

In three late-season starts, Gibbs proved he's more than capable of shouldering a larger share of the pie. He tallied 487 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns during that stretch. Regardless, even though that will only have fans and fantasy players clamoring for more of that type of workload this upcoming season, the Lions will push forward with a nearly even time split to ensure both backs are operating at maximum efficiency throughout the grueling regular season.

Camp competition to watch​

Can anyone unseat Reynolds for the No. 3 job?

It’s not a particularly important role until there’s an injury. The veteran has averaged just 115 offensive snaps during his four seasons with the Lions. Still, when his number has been called, Reynolds has been reliable in all facets of the position.

Across those four seasons, he’s averaged 4.3 yards per carry, caught 24 of the 28 balls thrown his way, and been steady with his pass protection assignments.

As a rookie, Vaki proved to be considerably behind Reynolds on the depth chart outside of select two-minute situations. The gap will remain tough to close, and the same challenge exists for Robichaux and Tyus, two undrafted rookies. Reynolds’ impact on special teams only strengthens his hold on a roster spot.

A burning question​

What more, if anything, can Vaki bring to the table in his second season?

The converted safety was predictably limited in his offensive role as a rookie, registering just 26 snaps, with nearly 40% of those coming in a blowout over Jacksonville.

Vaki’s primary contributions were on special teams, where he has tremendous value. Still, there’s a reason the Lions put him at running back despite most of his college playing time coming on defense. Vaki is dynamic with the ball in his hands, and it feels like a year in the system should lead to a handful more opportunities, particularly in the passing game, where he can flourish in space.

Setting an over/under​

Team rushing average: 4.8 yards per carry

Under coach Dan Campbell, the Lions’ rushing average has been trending up for four straight seasons, going from 4.1 yards per attempt in 2020 to 4.7 per pop last season. That’s the best figure since Barry Sanders’ 2,000-yard season in 1997.

Detroit’s commitment to the run isn’t about to change, and the team has added some young interior talent with reputations for being maulers. Oh, and did you hear that All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell’s offseason focus has been on getting bigger and stronger?

Look, the blocking is going to need to iron out its chemistry with the new pieces, particularly following the retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, but with Montgomery’s consistency and Gibbs’ big-play potential, Detroit’s backs can continue the upward trend.