I wouldn’t say you are in the minority here. We do need solid depth.
I am less worried about that because I believe that the depth will be here through value signings and the draft. I am far less confident that our pass rushing issue will be fixed.
I do not see us bringing in a Maxx Crosby/Hendrikson type player which could get us to the qb with 4. Bradly Chubb would be a value signing I could see, but what does he have left and what is he going to cost? Can a draft pick come in here and produce enough to let us rush with 4 when it matters? Do we juggle our LBs so that we can blitz from anywhere and get there before we are exploited? These are the questions I just do not have a great answer for.
So you are not alone. I just prioritize the pass rush while having faith in the front office to fill in the depth to handle a “reasonable” level of injuries.
Yes, IMHO they are built right. Brad and DC need to continue to build and run the team like they been doing. Injuries hurt this team. The offense wasn’t the problem, but it wasn’t run right either. Improve the OL, get back to stopping the run, and add more power running. Like that team that went to the NFCCG and should have won.
No, at present we are not built for it. But I think we can get there.
Simply put, we need to win both line of scrimmages, consistently, week in, week out.
On D we need an edge and we need Alim to return to form. We’re hoping Reed, Terrion and at least one S to return healthy.
On O we need a C and an OT.
I also want a young SAM. Barnes should have knocked it out of the park this past year and didn’t. Trade him or make him earn his spot - he didn’t last year.
I also want AA back, its hard to find a Will.
Lots of things need to go right, but the biggest thing is getting three new faces in here so that we can consistently win the line of scrimmage, it can cover up alot of other things.
His contract would be near impossible to trade. Hopefully he plays better next year another year removed from knee surgery but I’m starting to think he’s just an average player being overpaid. I’ve always thought he had potential but he’s entering year 6.
If Anzalone does leave then the linebacker core would be pretty weak after Jack.
Yeah, a trade is def wishful thinking if he plays like last year. When Dan said he needs to bring in people to compete with current players, I think he was referring to Barnes front and center.
I see things a little differently. Good players and good coaching wins in the NFL. The Lions have good players on defense. Pro bow-level players. Hutch, Jack Campbell, Kerby, Branch then talented starters in Alim, Arnold, DT Reader (likely gone), CB Reed, DT TyLeik Williams and Barnes. You can win with those guys when healthy.
Depth is a serious concern. Additional talent is a concern. Is coaching a concern? I like what Sheppard did with his defense when healthy.
I don’t know who to blame more: defensive coaching or injuries. We have had FOUR legit ALL PROS on our defense and we were still not that great. Like, how does that happen? Well, you could blame it on injuries I guess. Why do our guys get hurt at this clip. Injuries happen, but I’ve never seen injuries decimate a team multiple years in a row like this.
Then I look at our defensive lineup and I can barely find a guy who doesn’t at least play league average. Alim, Reader, DJ Reed, AA. TA and Amik weren’t THAT bad either. That is nine average-above average starters but our defense as a whole is bottom 1/2 or bottom 1/3ish.
They don’t pay me to solve these problems, but damn if I were them I would start by figuring out what the issue is. Its probably a combination of both. You can’t just pin it on injuries because other teams do more with less IMO. Seattle did not build their defensive front with a lot of capital outside Murphy.
I think BB was definitely an all pro level SS and I doubt he returns to form.
Kirby is a legitimate all pro FS and he’s coming off injury.
While we have some decent CB’s none are all pro level and none can seem to play a full season.
Campbell has pro bowl capabilities at LBer.
AA had one year where he was definitely on the probowl ballot but he declined last year. He’s heading in the wrong direction and we will be moving on.
Barnes has never been in those talks. Mostly been a disappointment. @Cap
Hutch is a stud and one of the best Edge guys in the game.
Alim had a stretch in 24 where he was consistently playing at a probowl level but his career before that and after have been inconsistent.
The rest of our DL has been average to below avg in my book.
So heading into 2026 we have
Hutch who should be a probowler
Kirby and Alim are the unknowns.
Campbell should be in probowl talks.
That is potentially 4 probowl level players.
If the Lions can get that out of those guys and fill in the holes they should have a top 10defense.
I think we need a quality LBer (a sub package type) to replace AA.
I also think we need a quality DE opposite Hutch and this draft is pretty deep with edge players. So if we want one we should have options.
I want to see us improve our depth at CB, find a starting level SS and find an interior DL who can be a spot pass rusher. A guy who can collapse a pocket.
