Well I think both of you are wrong and he’s rated just right.
Btw, over/under-rated compared to what? Where do we get these ratings? Are they on the dark web? I’ve never been to the dark web. I’ve heard that Iggy lives there.
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I think TJ Saunders is the better of the South Carolina DTs and for me it’s not particularly close. Both will have decent NFL careers. Maybe I’m just too high on Saunders but to me he’s a top 50 player.
I dont have any reason to believe that he will be pigeon holed in one position. They are cross training him yes. But he showed good off man skills in college. They just need slot depth behind BB. Amik is also cross training there… but he is aweful in the slot. So we need someone else with flexibility there. So they made it a priority for Ennis. But long term i see him as an outside in corner.
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The desire to be the poster “who knew” ahead of time cracks me up…. Especially on this topic.
D Payne- 166 tackles, 10 sacks, 16 TFL and 20 QB hits through 3 years.
Q Williams- 136 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 21 TFL, and 32 QB hits in his 1st 3 years.
Jeffrey Simmons- 135 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 19 TFL and 32 qb hits
—- Alim: 112 tackles, 8 sacks, 15 TFL and 20 qb hits through 3 years while being healthy
I’m not sure any of those contracts will age well outside of Q…. All 3 are dominant compared to Alim.
The Lions signed 3 guys to mega extensions. Hutch is coming next. We are one of the good teams now, and have to start accepting the fact that some of our fav, and even good players will be gone. Just like you see happen with the other good teams in the NFL. No longer will this team have high draft picks. This is the problems I’ve always wanted this team to have. It’s part of the balance. Allowing bad teams to move up, while good teams have to maintain.
Good teams have been able to maintain by extending their best players, through the draft, and developing. Like I said before, Alim is good. But he isn’t there yet IMO. If Wingo steps up, then maybe Alim is gone. Unless Alim destroys next season.
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As you suggest, who knows?
But I’ll say that those statistics don’t mesh well with PFF grades except for Williams. In all cases except Alim’s, they were part of strong defenses. Also, Alim’s 2023 performance came after transforming his body to a more specific 3Tech role, and so a repeat of that performance will confirm who Alim is.
Quinnen Williams is in a different stratosphere and if Alim can be mentioned in the same breath at the end of the year, that will be a great dilemma for Brad to have. At some high price point, The Villain will be put to the test. I think he will weigh the performances of Wingo and Onwuzurike, and the 2025 class of DTs will dance in his head like sugar plum fairies. And then, and then, he will…
Who knows?
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I love Alim…he’s not as big or impactful as Dexter Lawrence. He’s not Q Williams.
None of the others has really fully earned that money, and they got it anyway. Maybe J Simmons?
My point was many are saying guys like L Williams, Payne and C Wilkins are getting paid ans so will Lim… I’m saying those guys should have gotten that much and haven’t or won’t be worth it.
I think what separates Brad from former Lions GM’s is that he’s very consistent at staying in the market value.
When Jamaal Williams was a FA most fans thought the Lions would resign him. Brad drew a line in the sand and when Williams balked they signed Monty and upgraded for less money.
They did the same thing with Jackson this offseason Not to mention Big V and Chark too.
I view Alim as a similar situation as Jackson was in. Both had some solid play and stretches of inconsistency too. Let’s not forget Jackson was a probowler and as a result he was a coveted FA who got paid for it.
Alim could to and if he does I think Brad will look to move on as a result.
Obviously it will come down to the money but I do not think Holmes will over pay to keep him.
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One in the hand is worth…well, not picking a DT in the draft and waiting 2 years for them to hit their stride. Keep doing what you’re doing and taking guys that you don’t plan on having to plug and play in the mid rounds. BTW, people comment on how DJ is going to help improve McNeills game, I think that the opposite could actually be the case.
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I think the majority of us agree with that. There are going to be tons of guys we let walk that are solid or even very good players and character fits.
If Iffy stays healthy and has a pro bowl type season, I still think they let him walk. Same with Barnes. Other guys like Carlton Davis fit that same mold.
Alim is not in the same bucket as those guys, IMO. I would even bet that the Lions have already extended him a multi year offer but his camp is likely to wait as he will greatly increase his value this season.
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I wonder about such an offer with the Big 3 getting paid. Maybe there were perfunctory talks with neither side especially motivated.
I think there are advantages for both Alim and Brad to wait. Alim’s value is likely to grow, and Brad will have a 2nd year of “new” Alim information. It’ll all work out with Brad driving the bus…
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Agreed. In the same breath Alim can see what injuries can do to your value by looking at his new teammate.
At age 23, I personally would like to have some serious money guaranteed to me, extending him for 3 years can be a win for both parties. A 3 year extension makes him a FA again in his prime. It will also put guaranteed millions immediately into his bank act.
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I agree, Brad is very much in tune with market value.
He did not hesitate to sign HIS Guys to market leading contracts even when only Penei was arguably the best at his position.
Alim’s situation is far different than Jamaal Williams, Jonah Jackson, Big V, and Chark.
Alim is a young 23 year old ascending player, at a premium position with skills and abilities that are rare and who is one of HIS Guys.
Dan and Brad have stated that they want to reserve big contracts as rewards for players they know, have developed, and are fits for the culture.
None of those players mentioned above fit the description.
You particularly mention Jackson.
Jackson was coming off one of his worst seasons, was not willing to risk further injury during a Super Bowl run because he was in a free agent season and wasn’t a Brad & Dan Guy. Jackson also played at a position that is the easiest to fill on the team. Mid-round rookie guards can generally come in and start.
If McNeill continues his ascent, Holmes will have no problem paying the market rate to reward him and keep him a Lion.
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I really hope you are correct, but right behind Alim comes Hutch, Kerby, Paschal, Jamo, Decker… More to come.
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There are a few others with contracts expiring at the end of this year in Iffy, Barnes, and Decker.
Iffy has to stay healthy & play well period. He doesn’t have a resume with enough success to warrant a big contract unless he plays a full season.
Barnes is likely brought back because he won’t be expensive and he is the replacement for Anzalone.
Decker is not a Holmes draftee but he has bought in to everything they are about. He can make more with another team but if he is willing to take a shorter term contract I think he is brought back.
Hutch is a “No-Brainer”, the others not so much.
Paschal may not cost a lot or Holmes may need to upgrade.
Kerby may be good but not great and can make more on the free agent market than he is worth to the Lions. It’s not hard to replace a good but not great Safety.
Jamo will be interesting but there is a lot of time to let him develop with a 5th year.
First he has to stay healthy and play well for a full season.
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Could not agree much more with this. This is the first real decision Holmes has had to make as far as his guys.
Context….
Alim- has one year with more than 2 sacks or 7 qb hits
Iffy- has one season where he was even noticed on the field.
Paschal- 3 sacks in 2 seasons over nearly 700 snaps.
Barnes- yet to see 1 int, 3 sacks OR 90 tackles in any of his 3 seasons.
Jamo- so far a career high of 350 yards?
———
I think we see the combo of Reader, Bro Mart,
Wingo and Alim or Levi as pretty awesome. If we let Alim walk… I think that group is still better than Alim, Benito and Alualu…
I think CJGJ was expected to be what Iffy was last year, and I truly Branch will be that and then some
I think a guy like C Harris, Comish or Davenport can walk in off the street each year and replace what we have seen from Paschal.
Anazlone is hopefully LB2 behind Jack this year. Barnes wasn’t much better in 23’ than Rodrigo was in 22’. I don’t think replacing Barnes will be much of a challenge.
We let Reynolds walk to really see what Jamo can be, and did so knowing we really only need 700-800 yards to be whole.
- Kerby could well take a step and be in the Alim class. If he rips 5-6 ints and sires up some
Mistakes he could be a top 10 FS… again he has 2 years left. Hutch and Jamo have 3 if we want. Even Paschal has 2 more.
Sewell was the only redo with 2 years left, and Hutch may follow that.
Let’s say we extend Decker for 2 years.
25’
Goff/Hooker
Decker
Mahogany/Manu
Ragnow
Glasgow
Sewell
Laporta/Wright/Mitchell
ASB/Jamo/Raymond/Green
Gibby/Monty/Vaki
Hutch
Reader/Bromart
Wingo
Paschal
Campbell/Anzalone/Rodrigo/JRM
Arnold
Robertson
Rake
Branch
Joseph
26”
Goff/Hooker
Decker
Mahogany/Manu
Ragnow
Glasgow
Sewell
ASB/Jamo/Green
Laporta/Wright
Gibbs/Vaki
Hutch
Wingo/BroMart
Campbell
Arnold
Branch
Rakestraw
This is our 25 and even 26 depth chart without signing anyone but Decker to an extension….
We have 13-14 draft picks, maybe some comp picks and then we have another 4-6 guys we will sign each year.
Anzalone, Monty, CJGJ, Moseley,
Comish, Marvin, and Glasgow just off the top of my head in 23’ offseason.
Robertson, Reader, Zietler, Moseley, JRM, DPJ, and Davenport this year.
That’s about 4 guys expected to start and 2-3 each offseason on multi year deals.
So add 14 draft picks, 12 free agents and Decker.
Joseph- 3rd
Iffy- 3rd
Barnes- 4th
McNeill- 3rd
I truly think we find a way to keep Joseph and Alim and both are cheaper than many in here expect.
Hutch will get Bosa money and deserve it…. But we won’t feel it til 2027 really… until then Sewell costs 46MM over “3 years!”
So Hutch won’t hurt til 2028… that’s a year Goff has a 61M hit and is his final year…
Ra has a huge hit in 26’ when others don’t so it will balance, it Hutch and Jamo won’t have big hits in 26’ even if both earn huge extensions.
Brad has this.
I still want to see more from both Kirby and Iffy before being sure of their futures here.
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