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2024 Detroit Lions: Draft complete. (10 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
BoerumHill
Footballguy
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
I agree. I feel much worse if one of my friends lose their job and are struggling to make ends meet.
They both have 2 years left on their contract at 3-4 million a year after this season that they will get paid for. So that is a nice severance package.
Houston turmOiler
Footballguy
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I'm surprised he hasn't been offered a big job yet. Definitely the type of a guy an organization should take a shot on.
BoerumHill
Footballguy
Announced in the 4th quarter of the Michigan game.
NutterButter
Footballguy
I hear Jim Caldwell is available
BoerumHill
Footballguy
He’s a good man. Hire him for Ernie Accorsi role?
Jim Harbough might be available soon. Still only 57, has an NFL record (.695) that’s higher than Potsy Clark (1931-36, .689), IOW, higher than any of the Lions 27 Head Coaches.
Bevell to be the Interim HC.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Overpay and beg Louis Riddick to GM and hire Bienemy as coach.
Regardless this is sadly a good day. Wish both well but get outta here.
Regardless this is sadly a good day. Wish both well but get outta here.
TartanLion
Footballguy
Excellent news ! Nothing against Quinn, he seemed like a good guy. Patricia I really grew to dislike tbh. Always came across like he thought he was the smartest guy in the room. 3 years of the defence being turgid was just completely unacceptable for a supposed defensive specialist
Would quite like the Titans OC
Would quite like the Titans OC
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TartanLion
Footballguy
By all accounts Wood has been fine. Only came in when Martha cleaned house, and isn’t involved in football decisions. Ford field got spruced up, the logo change wasn’t bad and we have cheerleaders now. He can stay
Tornacl
Footballguy
That's fine if he's sprucing up Ford Field and considering changing the logo, etc., I just don't want him to have ANY say in who is brought in to be the new GM, and coach. I also want them to bring in a football person to be in charge of all football matters.
needanap
Footballguy
BoerumHill
Footballguy
son has upped his yards of separation significantly in year 2. Just needs an OC to recognize that and start feeding him more.
have seen snarky Tweets today from Ashawn, Ebron, Slay...probably more I’ve missed. Boy did they hate playing for an arrogant #######.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Sheila said at her presser " Rod and I are going to roll up our sleeves and get to work to find a new HC and GM" Rod and I?? Rod Wood is a financial advisor who admitted when hired he does not know much about football.
I can roll up my sleeves, watch YouTube and try to tile my bathroom but if I don`t know what I am doing it won`t matter.
BoerumHill
Footballguy
JetMaxx
Footballguy
BoerumHill
Footballguy
You ever go back with an Ex?
Errrytime they start doing stuff that reminds you why they got dumped in the first place. #forward
‘52-‘57 they won 3 titles and finished runner up another time. 4 NFL Championship games in six years. Everything back then was white, gray or black. Must have been weird bc no color.
Haven’t gone to the NCAA well in 35 years. That or youngest coordinator nobody has heard of are my preferences.
Sea Duck
Footballguy
Jim Caldwell is like the ex-girlfriend that you dumped because she wasn't pretty enough, and then you realize 3 years later that she was a helluva cook and would have made a great wife.
BoerumHill
Footballguy
That’s actually a pretty good analogy. No snark, he is a good man and a leader of men. Had no ####s to give in his weekly presser but the players loved him. Well, the players loved Fontes...more accurate to say they loved AND respected Jim Caldwell.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
First of all congratulations on getting rid of Patricia. He was terrible. It would take great skill and ineptitude to pick someone worse. Maybe the Lions are capable of doing that, but I think the odds are in the Lions favor that the next coach will be an improvement.
I totally agree it has to start with the GM. The GM and HC need to be aligned for the team to make progress.
Here is an article talking about top GM candidates.
I don't see Ridick listed here but he is one of the more intelligent talking heads the NFL has. I think almost anyone will be better than Patricia but thats not saying much.
I totally agree it has to start with the GM. The GM and HC need to be aligned for the team to make progress.
Here is an article talking about top GM candidates.
I don't see Ridick listed here but he is one of the more intelligent talking heads the NFL has. I think almost anyone will be better than Patricia but thats not saying much.
TartanLion
Footballguy
They need to hire an experienced football guy exec. Not an Accorsi that seemed to do due diligence, get people in, then just left as it was temporary hire for finding people. Someone of his ilk that doesn’t then just leave a rookie GM to totally do his own thing. From what I’ve read, it isn’t per se a problem with current ownership ie Martha/Shiela era, but a disconnect with how things are run. Football at the training facility, and business side of things were entirely camped at Ford Field where there were no checks and measures as to what’s going on day to day at the training facility.
Need a very experienced Exec at the top who is there to guide and see that standards are being kept up day to day.
Need a very experienced Exec at the top who is there to guide and see that standards are being kept up day to day.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Rumor is Houston is going after him. Working with a young proven franchise QB like Watson makes it a more attractive job than coming to the Lions with an old QB who might be on the way out.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
The Ravens Director of Player Personnel, Joe Horitz (sp?), might be worth a phone call. He came up through the ranks under Ozzie, Savage, and DeCosta. He was their college scouting director, among other duties. He's not incredibly young - he's been with Baltimore for a couple of decades - but has had a ton of input in their drafts and roster-building.
Bisciotti tends to write bigger checks to guys he doesn't want to leave, but Horitz seems to me to be ready to run a team.
Bisciotti tends to write bigger checks to guys he doesn't want to leave, but Horitz seems to me to be ready to run a team.
I really don’t have an answer for ya. But I suspect it’s mostly because it’s the only game on at one o clock lolI am not trying to insult Lions fans, though I feel I may.
Why are people a fan of this team? After some thought, I have no understanding of why even home grown fans are still fans in 2020.
Loyalty some will say maybe, but where has that gotten you in 50 years? No success in 50 years. They dont even make an effort.
They have made hall of famers mad and just retire by their inability to have success. They had players retire instead of being traded to them like Gronk and Im sure many more. They are owned by the Fords, who do nothing to help the team. Being a fan of a team instead owned by them instead of a complete boycott to force the owners to sell is something I think real fans would do.
They have not won the Division since 1993 or won a playoff game since 1991. If you are 30 year old Lions fan, what are you doing with your fandom?
Does being from a city earn your fandom? What have the Lions ever done besides take tax money from their fans as they moved away from Detroit to Pontiac and took more tax money as a bribe to come back? $250 million is what it cost the fanbase for a franchise that has done nothing, not counting the Millions back in 75 for Pontiac, to come back to the city it abandoned.
Lions fans, maybe its time to look at the team you are a fan of...maybe its not the team, its the fan base who continues to tolerate these bad performances by buying merch and I know we are in Covid, but explain why you went to games the previous 50 years?
What are you a fan of? If its some emotional attachment, lol. You get the very performance you deserve.
Lions fans/supporters... Being a fan of this team is an national embarrassment.
Tornacl
Footballguy
He would be my top choice. When is the last time you've said "Man that was a bad pick by the Ravens"? And if you did say it, three years later you were probably thinking, "that pick wasn't so bad." They just seem to own the draft every year, make good cap decisions, etc.
Tornacl
Footballguy
I'm not saying this to be funny, nor to in any way make light of a very serious issue, but in many ways it is probably very similar to why abused spouses stay by their abusers.I am not trying to insult Lions fans, though I feel I may.
Why are people a fan of this team? After some thought, I have no understanding of why even home grown fans are still fans in 2020.
Loyalty some will say maybe, but where has that gotten you in 50 years? No success in 50 years. They dont even make an effort.
They have made hall of famers mad and just retire by their inability to have success. They had players retire instead of being traded to them like Gronk and Im sure many more. They are owned by the Fords, who do nothing to help the team. Being a fan of a team instead owned by them instead of a complete boycott to force the owners to sell is something I think real fans would do.
They have not won the Division since 1993 or won a playoff game since 1991. If you are 30 year old Lions fan, what are you doing with your fandom?
Does being from a city earn your fandom? What have the Lions ever done besides take tax money from their fans as they moved away from Detroit to Pontiac and took more tax money as a bribe to come back? $250 million is what it cost the fanbase for a franchise that has done nothing, not counting the Millions back in 75 for Pontiac, to come back to the city it abandoned.
Lions fans, maybe its time to look at the team you are a fan of...maybe its not the team, its the fan base who continues to tolerate these bad performances by buying merch and I know we are in Covid, but explain why you went to games the previous 50 years?
What are you a fan of? If its some emotional attachment, lol. You get the very performance you deserve.
Lions fans/supporters... Being a fan of this team is an national embarrassment.
And by the way, most Lions' fans say the same thing: "I'm a long-suffering Lions' fan."
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Their big cap "mistake" was signing Flacco after the 2013, which hampered them for years. I put "mistake" in quotes because they really had no choice. Flacco bet on himself and turned into Joe Montana in the '12 SB run. And it wasn't like the Ravens fell off a cliff after that - except for one year, they haven't had a losing season since. They seem to know most of the time when to re-sign or cut bait.
As for their drafts, they have been able to flip their roster several times over the last 20 years and (mostly) remain competitive because they hit a ton of mid-to-late draft picks and UDFAs. And they've also done well with their 1st-rounders.
Baltimore's last 10 1st rounds:
2011 (27) Jimmy Smith CB. He was PB-caliber in his prime, but always missed a few games per season. He's still a valuable DB playing a hybrid CB/S.
2012 No Pick. They traded back into the 2nd, but I can't recall who they chose.
2013 (32) Matt Elam S. Flat out bust.
2014 (17) CJ Mosely LB. Made the PB a couple of times and then got rich when the Ravens couldn't sign him and the NYJ broke open the vault.
2015 (26) Breshad Perriman WR. Flat out bust for Baltimore. He's still playing, though.
2016 (6) Ronnie Stanley OT. All Pro
2017 (16) Marlon Humphrey CB. All Pro
2018 (25) Hayden Hurst TE. Just never seemed to fit, but a good player. Got traded for the pick that became JK Dobbins.
2018 (32) Lamar Jackson QB. All Pro & MVP
2019 (25) Marquis Brown WR. Good rookie season. Bad 2nd season, just like the rest of Baltimore's offense.
2020 (28) Patrick Queen LB. Has flashed really well at times and also looked lost at times.
Average 1st round position is 23.4
Dickies
Footballguy
Tornacl
Footballguy
The Lions routinely miss on top 10 picks. They have no concept of which positions are most important to building a good football team, as evidenced by three 1st round picks on TEs (two of them top 10) since 2009. Instead of building powerful lines, look at the positions they've drafted with top 10 picks since 2000: 2 QBs (necessary); 4 WRs; 2 TEs; 1 LB; 1 CB, 1 DT, and 1 DE (who was an absolute reach - Ansah). One of the TEs (Ebron) is even worse when you look at the 6 picks afterward: Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham Jr, Aaron Donald, Kyle Fuller, Ryan Shazier, and Zach Martin. One of the WRs (Mike Williams) had sat out the college football season, but I'm glad they took him instead of the guy that was being focused on in the "Green Room" for a sudden and unexpected fall, Aaron Rodgers.
Their cap ineptitude with Stafford and Suh made it so they didn't get anything in return except a compensatory pick when Suh left. Since they've never made it to the Super Bowl, they haven't had a chance to overpay a Super Bowl hero.
matuski
Footballguy
I always thought I was a Barry Sanders fan.I am not trying to insult Lions fans, though I feel I may.
Why are people a fan of this team? After some thought, I have no understanding of why even home grown fans are still fans in 2020.
Loyalty some will say maybe, but where has that gotten you in 50 years? No success in 50 years. They dont even make an effort.
They have made hall of famers mad and just retire by their inability to have success. They had players retire instead of being traded to them like Gronk and Im sure many more. They are owned by the Fords, who do nothing to help the team. Being a fan of a team instead owned by them instead of a complete boycott to force the owners to sell is something I think real fans would do.
They have not won the Division since 1993 or won a playoff game since 1991. If you are 30 year old Lions fan, what are you doing with your fandom?
Does being from a city earn your fandom? What have the Lions ever done besides take tax money from their fans as they moved away from Detroit to Pontiac and took more tax money as a bribe to come back? $250 million is what it cost the fanbase for a franchise that has done nothing, not counting the Millions back in 75 for Pontiac, to come back to the city it abandoned.
Lions fans, maybe its time to look at the team you are a fan of...maybe its not the team, its the fan base who continues to tolerate these bad performances by buying merch and I know we are in Covid, but explain why you went to games the previous 50 years?
What are you a fan of? If its some emotional attachment, lol. You get the very performance you deserve.
Lions fans/supporters... Being a fan of this team is an national embarrassment.
Then he retired and I kept rooting for them. I have no idea.
I do know that as I get older I care less and less about these things, and therefore lack any real motivation to root for another team (that I also wouldn't care much about).
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Tornacl
Footballguy
Yesterday's optimism was quickly removed by this statement (I'm paraphrasing because I'm too lazy to look up the exact quote) by the owner, Sheila Ford Hamp: Rod and I need to roll our sleeves up and get to work picking a new GM and coach.
Rod Wood admitted when they hired him to be the President that he really didn't know much about football. He should have absolutely no involvement in choosing the next GM and coach. Before they look for a new GM and coach, they need to bring in a "football guy" (or gal) to make ALL football-related decisions. Someone with a competitive instinct that wants to build a winning football team. This person should have total control to decide when the GM or coaching staff needs to go.
The problem with the Lions is that they are loyal to a fault, giving people way more chances than they deserve. Patricia and Quinn showed absolutely nothing in the previous two years to show ANY improvement. Bringing them back with a "win now" mandate was a waste of a year, and worse yet, it destroyed any hope of leveraging their draft position to make some major changes.
How they could not create a situation to get MIA, SD, or some other team to trade up to get one of the QBs is beyond me. A well-run team would've been able to leverage that to get at least a 2nd round pick out of it. Instead, the Lions spent the entire off-season ensuring the rest of the NFL that Matt Stafford was not for sale - thereby telegraphing they would NOT be drafting a QB with the pick. Personally, I would've brought in Stafford and told him: "You are our QB. But we want to get more picks to build around you. Let your wife Tweet whatever she wants. You can help with that by saying you would be open to being traded. We will say we are listening to offers." That simple exchange, and then following up on it, would've created enough pressure for either MIA or SD to believe that standing pat could leave them out. I would've even followed that up as far as drafting Tua (because MIA had better draft capital).
But since two non-football people will be deciding how the franchise will be run, there is no real hope for the future. Same 'ol Lions.
BoerumHill
Footballguy
Lions fans donate to Deshaun Watson’s charity in droves after Thanksgiving blowout
Nice story here; just thanking the man who helped seal the deal. Watson matched the Lions fans effort dollar for dollar.
Errrbody on r/DetroitLions was tossing in $13 last night. One dollar for each of Coach Patricia’s 3-year win total.
.314
Third worst in team history (27 HCs).
Wait a second...
13-29-1
13.50/43 =
.313953488372093
3.1415926535l89793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816062862089986280348253421170679
OK, just had to make sure it wasn’t π
Coach probably doesn’t need any more
Nice story here; just thanking the man who helped seal the deal. Watson matched the Lions fans effort dollar for dollar.
Errrbody on r/DetroitLions was tossing in $13 last night. One dollar for each of Coach Patricia’s 3-year win total.
.314
Third worst in team history (27 HCs).
Wait a second...
13-29-1
13.50/43 =
.313953488372093
3.1415926535l89793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816062862089986280348253421170679
OK, just had to make sure it wasn’t π
Coach probably doesn’t need any more
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BoerumHill
Footballguy
Robert Saleh seems like a good choice
fight me
fight me
Moonlight
Footballguy
I think Sheila is going to be different than Mom and Dad and will strive to be competitive. I'm not too bothered by her statement of Rod Wood helping her. Its all about the process, who they receive input from. GM is first decision and then get input from that GM regarding coaching choice. I'll support SHF until proven otherwise.
LIons have tried different approaches that have failed. Matt Millen was a "football man" but he had no front office experience, refused to move his family to the Detroit area and commuted between PA and Detroit which was a lack of commitment which showed in how he approached the job.
Lions Tried the Patriots approach which seems to fail without Tom Brady.
WCF got input from Hunt which failed.
WCF let Russ Thomas sabotage anyone who got in his way including, Joe Schmidt, the best coach the Lions had in Ford era.
The Captain
Footballguy
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
BoerumHill
Footballguy
GM Candidates
Aside - I’m not considering tv personalities, we know how that ends. Cribbed this from a couple blog posts and yesterday’s SI article on the subject.
1.) Adam Peters, San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel
Peters has learned from one of the most adept individuals at running a front office in John Lynch.
Lynch hired Peters in 2017 to be the team's vice president of player personnel -- a job he still holds to this day with the 49ers.
Prior to joining San Francisco, he spent eight years in Denver (2009-16), starting off as a regional scout and eventually rising to the position of director of college scouting.
He not only helped construct two AFC championship teams with the Broncos, including a Super Bowl championship squad in 2015, but he also aided in building the 49ers into NFC champions a season ago.
Additionally, San Francisco has drafted well since '17 -- a credit to Lynch but also to Peters. It played a factor in the franchise making a Super Bowl appearance last year.
Quinn, meanwhile, was not known for producing the strongest draft hauls.
So, it'd be a nice change of pace to have someone leading the front office that's capable of doing so.
While there's no guarantee, there's a rather strong possibility that hiring Peters would also result in the hiring of Dearborn, Mich., native and present 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be Patricia's successor.
Although offensive play-callers are more of the hot commodities in today's game, Saleh would be considered a home-run hire due to his ties to the metro Detroit area.
Peters and Saleh would sure be a duo that would make the Lions fanbase happy.
2.) Ed Dodds: Assistant General Manager (Colts)
Dodds will be one of the hottest names on the market within a pool of incredibly qualified candidates, but he may also be the one with the most moxie of the bunch, absolutely.
After helping build one of the best defenses in the NFL in Seattle, the “Legion of Boom,” originally joining the Seahawks in 2007, Dodds has seen similar success with the Colts joining GM Chris Ballard in Indianapolis in 2017. Dodds is a respected scout within the NFL and reportedly declined an interview with the Cleveland Browns in January for its GM post.
This year, however, Dodds will be a lead candidate yet again, and perhaps he won’t pass up on the opportunity.
After spending 10 seasons with the Seahawks, most recently Seattle’s senior personnel executive responsible for evaluating both college and pro talent, Dodds was promoted to assistant GM with the Colts in 2018. Seattle posted six winning seasons, five NFC West titles and 10 playoff wins, along with two Super Bowl appearances (one win), during his tenure.
The Colts, under Ballard and Dodds, have built one of the best rosters in the NFL, and are currently in second place in the AFC South at 7-4.
3.) Mike Borgonzi - Director of Football Operations (Chiefs)
Borgonzi will no doubt be a household name among the teams that need a general manager following the conclusion of the 2020 season, and for good reason. He would be hired as a College Scouting Administrator for the Chiefs in 2009 and work his way up the ladder, eventually landing at the post he holds today as the team’s director of football operations.
Since he’s been witht he Chiefs, they’ve posted just three losing records, once in 2009 (4-12), 2011 (7-9) and 2012 (2-14). Learning under former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, and now current GM Brett Veach, Borgonzi has seen the franchise headed under plenty of success. Primarily a pro scout during his career, Borgonzi has still been heavily involved in the scouting department on collegiate side.
While most would point to quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the great get by the Chiefs during Borgonzi’s tenure, as they should, there have been plenty of “hits” other than the quarterback position, too.
The major hits in the first round include Eric Berry (2010), Dontari Poe (2012), Eric Fisher (2013), Marcus Peters (2015), Chris Jones (2016), Mecole Hardman (2019). The jury is certainly still out on 2020 first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but the early returns are solid enough.
Borgonzi will likely be the No. 1 “prospect” for many teams following the season, and the Jaguars would be smart to bring in someone who comes from such a successful franchise. With no doubt plenty of opportunity to present an efficient scouting department, the team-building aspect that Borgonzi brings should be enticing.
4.) Pittsburgh Steelers general manager/vice president Kevin Colbert
This is definitely a pipe dream candidate right here, as there's been no indication that he'd be willing to leave his post with the Steelers.
He's been with the Steelers since 2000, and has overseen two Super Bowl championship-winning teams.
During his run in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have also suffered just one losing season (in 2003).
Meanwhile, in stark contrast, the Lions have experienced 15 losing seasons in the same time span, and it's 16, if you include the 2020 campaign.
5.) Brandon Hunt: Pro Scouting Coordinator (Steelers)
Hunt will be incredibly tough to get from Pittsburgh as he is widely thought of as the heir apparent to current Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert.
Currently the team’s pro scouting coordinator, Hunt originally joined the Steelers’ personnel department as an intern from 2005-06, before spending two years in Houston as a pro scout, and re-joining the Steelers in 2009. Hunt has now spent 11 years in his current role, scouting opponents and evaluating the pro side of things.
Hunt has, however, worked along wide Colbert and the Pittsburgh scouting department on the collegiate end, playing an active role in acquiring linebacker Devin Bush, drafted 10th overall in 2019, and running back Benny Snell in the fourth round of the same draft.
The Steelers have been one of the most-successful NFL franchises in the NFL over the past two decades, posting just one losing record (6-10, 2003). Currently, Pittsburgh is the only undefeated team in the NFL, boasting one of the deepest rosters - offensively and defensively - in the NFL.
Hunt, while he is primarily accustomed to the “pro” side of things, would come with plenty of experience and success in one of the best franchises in the NFL. While his scouting department would have to be deep, he should have no problem filling it.
6.) Joe Hortiz: Director of Player Personnel (Ravens)
If, by now, you’ve noticed a trend, you’re not wrong. The candidates on this list, for the most part, come from hugely successful franchise and Hortiz is no different.
Currently in his 22nd season with the Baltimore Ravens, second as the team’s director of player personnel, Hortiz comes with plenty of experience and is part of what is widely thought of as the best front office in the NFL. Hortiz worked his way from the bottom of the scouting department to essentially the top.
Prior to his recent promotion in 2019, Hortiz spent nine years as the team’s director of college scouting, responsible for all aspects of the college process, coordinating schedules, and cross-checking duties of the area and regional scouts.
Under both former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and current Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz helped assemble one of the best rosters in the NFL, and was responsible for draft preparation and the evaluation and ranking process of “hundreds” of NFL draft-eligible prospects.
According to the Ravens’ PR, Hortiz scouted several of the Ravens’ top players, including Ronnie Stanley (2016), C.J. Mosley (2014), Brandon Williams, Rick Wagner and Kyle Juszcyk in 2013, among others. Hortiz also scouted former Ravens guard Ben Grubs in 2007.
The Jaguars would be wise to pluck from one of the best front offices in the NFL, especially landing someone such as Hortiz who comes with plenty of experience and success. The Ravens have consistently been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past decade and change, posting just two losing records since 2006 (5-11, 2007 and 5-11, 2015).
7.) Ex-Houston Texans GM Rick Smith
Before former Texans head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien destroyed the franchise with roster-crippling moves, such as trading star wideout DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, Smith had started to put the pieces in place to make Houston a consistent playoff contender.
Smith took over as the team's general manager in 2006, and was later elevated to the position of executive vice president of football operations.
He stepped down in 2017 to care for his ailing wife.
While in charge of the Texans' front office, he was responsible for drafting some high-end talent, including Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson, who ended up being his final first-round pick with the organization.
Detroit is in dire need of a young franchise passer, and should be selecting one in next year's NFL Draft.
If Smith's up to the challenge and ready to return to the NFL, I wouldn't mind entrusting him with such a responsibility.
8.) Former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff
Dimitroff was fired along with Dan Quinn earlier this season, after the Falcons jumped out to a disappointing 0-5 start to the campaign.
He's primarily on this list, because he built the Atlanta squad that won the NFC during the 2016 season.
However, it should also be noted that the Falcons made the playoffs in four of Dimitroff's first five years in Atlanta, including during his very first season in 2008.
He was more successful than not during his 12-year run in Atlanta (2008-2020), as the Falcons went 113-90 in that span.
His resume tells me that he definitely at least warrants consideration for Detroit's general manager vacancy.
Aside - I’m not considering tv personalities, we know how that ends. Cribbed this from a couple blog posts and yesterday’s SI article on the subject.
1.) Adam Peters, San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel
Peters has learned from one of the most adept individuals at running a front office in John Lynch.
Lynch hired Peters in 2017 to be the team's vice president of player personnel -- a job he still holds to this day with the 49ers.
Prior to joining San Francisco, he spent eight years in Denver (2009-16), starting off as a regional scout and eventually rising to the position of director of college scouting.
He not only helped construct two AFC championship teams with the Broncos, including a Super Bowl championship squad in 2015, but he also aided in building the 49ers into NFC champions a season ago.
Additionally, San Francisco has drafted well since '17 -- a credit to Lynch but also to Peters. It played a factor in the franchise making a Super Bowl appearance last year.
Quinn, meanwhile, was not known for producing the strongest draft hauls.
So, it'd be a nice change of pace to have someone leading the front office that's capable of doing so.
While there's no guarantee, there's a rather strong possibility that hiring Peters would also result in the hiring of Dearborn, Mich., native and present 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be Patricia's successor.
Although offensive play-callers are more of the hot commodities in today's game, Saleh would be considered a home-run hire due to his ties to the metro Detroit area.
Peters and Saleh would sure be a duo that would make the Lions fanbase happy.
2.) Ed Dodds: Assistant General Manager (Colts)
Dodds will be one of the hottest names on the market within a pool of incredibly qualified candidates, but he may also be the one with the most moxie of the bunch, absolutely.
After helping build one of the best defenses in the NFL in Seattle, the “Legion of Boom,” originally joining the Seahawks in 2007, Dodds has seen similar success with the Colts joining GM Chris Ballard in Indianapolis in 2017. Dodds is a respected scout within the NFL and reportedly declined an interview with the Cleveland Browns in January for its GM post.
This year, however, Dodds will be a lead candidate yet again, and perhaps he won’t pass up on the opportunity.
After spending 10 seasons with the Seahawks, most recently Seattle’s senior personnel executive responsible for evaluating both college and pro talent, Dodds was promoted to assistant GM with the Colts in 2018. Seattle posted six winning seasons, five NFC West titles and 10 playoff wins, along with two Super Bowl appearances (one win), during his tenure.
The Colts, under Ballard and Dodds, have built one of the best rosters in the NFL, and are currently in second place in the AFC South at 7-4.
3.) Mike Borgonzi - Director of Football Operations (Chiefs)
Borgonzi will no doubt be a household name among the teams that need a general manager following the conclusion of the 2020 season, and for good reason. He would be hired as a College Scouting Administrator for the Chiefs in 2009 and work his way up the ladder, eventually landing at the post he holds today as the team’s director of football operations.
Since he’s been witht he Chiefs, they’ve posted just three losing records, once in 2009 (4-12), 2011 (7-9) and 2012 (2-14). Learning under former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, and now current GM Brett Veach, Borgonzi has seen the franchise headed under plenty of success. Primarily a pro scout during his career, Borgonzi has still been heavily involved in the scouting department on collegiate side.
While most would point to quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the great get by the Chiefs during Borgonzi’s tenure, as they should, there have been plenty of “hits” other than the quarterback position, too.
The major hits in the first round include Eric Berry (2010), Dontari Poe (2012), Eric Fisher (2013), Marcus Peters (2015), Chris Jones (2016), Mecole Hardman (2019). The jury is certainly still out on 2020 first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but the early returns are solid enough.
Borgonzi will likely be the No. 1 “prospect” for many teams following the season, and the Jaguars would be smart to bring in someone who comes from such a successful franchise. With no doubt plenty of opportunity to present an efficient scouting department, the team-building aspect that Borgonzi brings should be enticing.
4.) Pittsburgh Steelers general manager/vice president Kevin Colbert
This is definitely a pipe dream candidate right here, as there's been no indication that he'd be willing to leave his post with the Steelers.
He's been with the Steelers since 2000, and has overseen two Super Bowl championship-winning teams.
During his run in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have also suffered just one losing season (in 2003).
Meanwhile, in stark contrast, the Lions have experienced 15 losing seasons in the same time span, and it's 16, if you include the 2020 campaign.
5.) Brandon Hunt: Pro Scouting Coordinator (Steelers)
Hunt will be incredibly tough to get from Pittsburgh as he is widely thought of as the heir apparent to current Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert.
Currently the team’s pro scouting coordinator, Hunt originally joined the Steelers’ personnel department as an intern from 2005-06, before spending two years in Houston as a pro scout, and re-joining the Steelers in 2009. Hunt has now spent 11 years in his current role, scouting opponents and evaluating the pro side of things.
Hunt has, however, worked along wide Colbert and the Pittsburgh scouting department on the collegiate end, playing an active role in acquiring linebacker Devin Bush, drafted 10th overall in 2019, and running back Benny Snell in the fourth round of the same draft.
The Steelers have been one of the most-successful NFL franchises in the NFL over the past two decades, posting just one losing record (6-10, 2003). Currently, Pittsburgh is the only undefeated team in the NFL, boasting one of the deepest rosters - offensively and defensively - in the NFL.
Hunt, while he is primarily accustomed to the “pro” side of things, would come with plenty of experience and success in one of the best franchises in the NFL. While his scouting department would have to be deep, he should have no problem filling it.
6.) Joe Hortiz: Director of Player Personnel (Ravens)
If, by now, you’ve noticed a trend, you’re not wrong. The candidates on this list, for the most part, come from hugely successful franchise and Hortiz is no different.
Currently in his 22nd season with the Baltimore Ravens, second as the team’s director of player personnel, Hortiz comes with plenty of experience and is part of what is widely thought of as the best front office in the NFL. Hortiz worked his way from the bottom of the scouting department to essentially the top.
Prior to his recent promotion in 2019, Hortiz spent nine years as the team’s director of college scouting, responsible for all aspects of the college process, coordinating schedules, and cross-checking duties of the area and regional scouts.
Under both former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and current Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz helped assemble one of the best rosters in the NFL, and was responsible for draft preparation and the evaluation and ranking process of “hundreds” of NFL draft-eligible prospects.
According to the Ravens’ PR, Hortiz scouted several of the Ravens’ top players, including Ronnie Stanley (2016), C.J. Mosley (2014), Brandon Williams, Rick Wagner and Kyle Juszcyk in 2013, among others. Hortiz also scouted former Ravens guard Ben Grubs in 2007.
The Jaguars would be wise to pluck from one of the best front offices in the NFL, especially landing someone such as Hortiz who comes with plenty of experience and success. The Ravens have consistently been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past decade and change, posting just two losing records since 2006 (5-11, 2007 and 5-11, 2015).
7.) Ex-Houston Texans GM Rick Smith
Before former Texans head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien destroyed the franchise with roster-crippling moves, such as trading star wideout DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, Smith had started to put the pieces in place to make Houston a consistent playoff contender.
Smith took over as the team's general manager in 2006, and was later elevated to the position of executive vice president of football operations.
He stepped down in 2017 to care for his ailing wife.
While in charge of the Texans' front office, he was responsible for drafting some high-end talent, including Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson, who ended up being his final first-round pick with the organization.
Detroit is in dire need of a young franchise passer, and should be selecting one in next year's NFL Draft.
If Smith's up to the challenge and ready to return to the NFL, I wouldn't mind entrusting him with such a responsibility.
8.) Former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff
Dimitroff was fired along with Dan Quinn earlier this season, after the Falcons jumped out to a disappointing 0-5 start to the campaign.
He's primarily on this list, because he built the Atlanta squad that won the NFC during the 2016 season.
However, it should also be noted that the Falcons made the playoffs in four of Dimitroff's first five years in Atlanta, including during his very first season in 2008.
He was more successful than not during his 12-year run in Atlanta (2008-2020), as the Falcons went 113-90 in that span.
His resume tells me that he definitely at least warrants consideration for Detroit's general manager vacancy.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
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BoerumHill
Footballguy
The Bears have lost 5 straight, and were boat raced by the Pack. Trubisky played like, oh right, Trubisky. Which of course means he’ll look like Russ Wilson Sunday. Literally the only three good games he’s had the last two years were versus the Lions (3-0.)
But if the Chicago death spiral continues, Arizona loses its 3rd straight and 4/5 against the Rams - their only November win was the miracle to Nuk v the Bills - well guess what, folks? We’re playing meaningful games in December.
I’m NOT suggesting any of those things happen. What I am observing is holy crap do you realize how close we came to not firing Patricia? Tip of the hat to Watson and the recently departed Fuller - we owe you guys one
But if the Chicago death spiral continues, Arizona loses its 3rd straight and 4/5 against the Rams - their only November win was the miracle to Nuk v the Bills - well guess what, folks? We’re playing meaningful games in December.
I’m NOT suggesting any of those things happen. What I am observing is holy crap do you realize how close we came to not firing Patricia? Tip of the hat to Watson and the recently departed Fuller - we owe you guys one
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BoerumHill
Footballguy
BoerumHill
Footballguy
Sorry, middle age.
Trubisky is 4-0 in his last four starts va the Lions, and he threw 3 TDs in all of them. In 21 other starts against NFL teams during that time, he had two other 3 TD games (and 3 INTs in those 2.)
12 TDs, 1 INT. That ratio is 22-19 against the rest of the league.
Twice he has topped 338 yards vs Detroit, which is one more than the number 300 yard games he has against everyone else.
QB Rating VS. Patricia‘s D 125.5
QB Rating VS. Errrrybody else 77.8
If Julio can’t go Sunday I’m rolling with Darnell Mooney
