The schedule looks brutal next year, so bringing Patrick back makes more sense than bringing in another FA or rook to replace him. The Lions need to hit the ground running and every win in the first quarter of the season is worth the same as down the stretch. Bring Tim back on a one-year deal and draft a late-round doppelganger to develop for next season. Patrick and Goff have got it going now.
1 Like
Tim Patrick will be 32 soon and he has extensive injuries. I think he signs a very modest deal to stay as he got up play here! We value him but teams will not line up with rich contract offers for a 32 year old receiver. I think Tim stays here with a reasonable offer. Maybe $3 million or just above minimum?
I think Holmes does draft a WR as we know he has been looking. Look at our UDFAs these past two seasons.
As of 2025 this club becomes tough for a rookie to crack, esp. if I am right and everyone comes back. Only Davis gets a high contract.
A rookie WR could be #5 but that player will not dress on game days. If Zeitler is back 7 spots are locked down with the starting 5, Mahagony, Manu and Skipper (if back) is 8. Pick a young IL guy for 9 as we have some solid young depth developing. This is BEFORE THE DRAFT!!
Edge needs help even if Muhammad is back. Like Skipper a likely veteran deal brings him back.
At RB we are set with Gibbs, Monty, Vaki and Reynolds/Jefferson if Holmes wants that path.
IF Holmes brings the band back I can see 4th rd. sucks struggling to make this stacked roster. Will the cap allow that AND will Holmes want these guys back? I think yes and yes.
Say the 1st three draft picks are some combination of Edge, WR and say interior OL (and we bring back the band)…is a 4th rd. pick making this roster? If so…what position?
With FA.
With void years we can afford anyone. Although it could backfire badly.
1 Like
Easily
6 Likes
I think so too…but his medical evaluation is the key. No way a new team is giving him big cash unless he passes the physical with flying colors. And that may be an issue for him.
If he settles for a 1 year deal we will know why.
That is the voice I wanted to hear from!
Brad is building a deep and diverse roster at this point. Our guys represent the kind of culture Dan Campbell wants. We drafted almost all these guys OR found them, gave them their shot and they grew here.
Only Zeitler and Davis represent outside players who played a big role as starters. We found/targeted Tim Patrick and Tim loved playing here. We found DE Muhammad and I expect him back to as a 5th DE.
Keep this team together. Have another deep draft, rinse and repeat.
2 Likes
I think because of the offseason people just want change and new signings.
But if you have a 15-2 season , losing 16 players to injury. How much do you really need to change ?
4 Likes
Next year we turn injuries off. Like on Madden. Problem solved 
7 Likes
Completely different situation from last year.
Yeah 16 guys will be healthy
2 Likes
Holmes is not going to re-sign everyone.
Every locker room needs a some fresh faces and new energy.
Dan has said he likes to have some turnover as long as the core is solid.
3 Likes
Can CD3 be one of those core players? I know we didn’t draft him but we also didn’t draft Goff and he is a core player. A case could be made that Brad was involved in drafting Goff but he also traded a 3rd to bring CD3 here. I expect he will miss a few games with injury but I remember him playing this year with a broken hand or finger and that injury sat Iffy out 4 weeks. CD3 will be hard to replace.
2 Likes
As long as no one is the cover
1 Like
I would think the guys they drafted will be their 1st options to be resign
1 Like
That is a real question for every player at some point. Albert Haynesworth was an extreme example, but it has to go through every players mind at some level.
Turn injuries off and give Gibbs 35 carries per game. Easy 3000 yards
I use to do that with Barry Sanders all of the time back in my teenage years.
1 Like
Why isn’t Holmes going to re-sign everyone? Serious question.
Our locker room is filled with guys who want to win by being tough, physical and by bullying other players with better play. Out gets don’t need new blood to work hard. Sewell, Ragnow, Alim, Reader, Anzalone, Joseph, Amon Ra and Goff want to win the whole dam thing. They recited the right way.
Done guys will not be back. Commish for example is likely gone but who knows?
We will draft well, we will have UDFAs and other vets will try to knock someone off their spots.
I think Brad had built a hell of a team and I think most will be back at reasonable prices.
Some guys are merely placeholders. Some are prove-its that legit have a chance at re-signing. But, truth is, some guys are simply here because they were the best option at the time and we’re actively working to seek better options.
Some guys are going to price themselves out of where we want to be. If we think a guy is worth big bucks, we pay them when it’s convenient for both sides, not when they’re hitting Free Agency. If you’re hitting Free Agency, it’s either by your choice or by the team’s. Either way, you wish them well while letting them know there’s a role for them with a salary of “x” if they want to stick around.
Some guys aren’t going to be offered anything by the Lions. They’ll have served their purpose and we’ll be moving on… on purpose.
5 Likes
Spot on. We saw it with Jamaal Williams, Jonah, Josh Reynolds, Chark, and we traded Hock for the same reason, didn’t want to pay him huge money.
All have been pretty bad since leaving Detroit. Hock is the only one producing and starting still. The rest are backups or benched.
Holmes only pays guys he thinks we can’t replace easily.
4 Likes