I am not giving up on 2022 as I think the Lions can still finish with a strong record all things considered. The Lions are 4-7 with 6 games to go. I think the Lions have a real strong shot at a winning record the Jags and Vikes at home the next two weeks, then the Jets and Panthers on the road and then the Bears at home and Packers away to close the season. I LOVE the way this team is playing right now.
I am starting to really look at 2023 though and for my $ I am hoping Holmes decides to solidify this roster by mostly keep what we have already. For example these are the guys I want to re-sign (not in any order):
WR D.J. Chark. Not what we wanted from him but at this point I bet he signs a team-friendly deal if we stick with him.
RB Jamaal Williams. I am not letting my team leader get away. Should be very reasonable $.
G Jonah Jackson. I will spend $ to retain him.
G/C Evan Brown. I am willing to cut Vaitai if necessary but I want Vaitai back too.
DT/DE John Cominsky. he ain’t going anywhere if I am in charge. 28 years old in Nov. 2023.
CB Mike Hughes is staying put too.
Safety Deshon Elliott is also not going anywhere for my $.
LBer Alex Anzalone is also coming back for my $ and I want someone to beat him out. Barnes and Rodrigo should be our starters in 2023 but I am also adding a rookie to this mix too.
Not a single gamebreaker there but great locker room guys and these are glue guys. I am willing to spend big on Jonah Jackson. I am also not letting Evan Brown walk. He is 27 in September and he is a crazy valuable guy as he can play C/G and he is a viable starter too.
We are also getting DE Romeo Okwara back at some point (James Houston makes Julian Okwara irrelevant for my $) as well as Safety Walker (he may be out of a job at this point but I love him as expensive depth). DT Levi O. is also coming back but I am not counting on him anymore. If he plays great.
This 2023 Lions team then has 2 1sts, 2 2nds and our 3rd to see how we can fill out remaining roster needs. Back up QB is an issue. WR depth is an issue. Safety depth is an issue. DT is an issue.
But damn, with these 5 picks Holmes can do a LOT of damage cementing this core roster. For my $ adding a top DT, top CB and safety can really stock this defense. Adding WR really gives us dangerous depth and allows us to move past Chark in 2024 if necessary. Adding a RB in RD. 3 would be really, really smart.
Give this defense say DT Jalen Carter, say safety Antonio Johnson (with the Lions 2nd 1st rd. pick), CB Cam Smith/Brian Branch/Joey Porter, and then maybe a Noah Sewell late 2nd would really round out this defense.
Add a RB in rd. 3…like Tank Bigsby for example gives the Lions RB options. Tank looks liek a solid RB who can do it all and will likely be there in rd. 3 (if we are lucky).
Point is this roster suddenly looks like a VERY solid foundations with needs that this draft can fill. ESP. if we can add a top rookie DT the sky is the limit for this impressive young roster.