Free Agency (& Draft) Preview

The War Room Detroit Lions — The Den
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I’ll mention some names maybe you aren’t familiar with here. Take a look at them and their 2023-24 seasons.

OFFENSE.

#2 Outside WR
&
Backup Outside WR
…I’m not a big fan of taking a WR in the first two rd’s…but maybe building on strength is the best option if that’s how the board works out. I’d personally like to see Josh Reynolds brought back to fill one of these spots…he’s about as good as it gets for his price. And I’d like to see either Noah Brown or Michael Thomas brought in as the other.

#2 TE. There’s some really nice looking TEs in the middle rds of this draft. Ben Sinnott from K-State is my favorite, and should be available in the 3rd.

LG. Sounds like Jackson’s gone. I like Greg Van Roten as his replacement…should be a reasonable price.

RG. Sounds like Glasgow will be back. That would be great.

Backup OC/OG. This 3-position backup is essentially a starter (especially with Ragnow’s health). I’d like to see ex-Lion Evan Brown brought back.

Depth.

-#3 QB. No problem with Sudfeld being brought back. He’s already got two yrs in the offense. Maybe there’ll be an upgrade, though.

-#3 RB. No problem with Reynolds being brought back. He’s always delivered. Maybe there’ll be an upgrade though.

-FB. No problem with Cabinda being brought back. Staff seems to have always loved him. Maybe there’ll be an upgrade though.

-#3 TE. No problem with Wright being brought back for this role. He’s solid as a #3 (not 2). Mitchell’s a PS player…

-#3 OT. No problem with Skipper being brought back. He’s always delivered. Maybe there’s an upgrade though.

-#3 OG. No problem with Awosike being brought back. He was okay last yr.

DEFENSE:

NT. Need a new starter here. I think DaQuan Jones would be great for the price.

RE. Need an elite pass-rusher opposite Hutch. It’s a weak FA market; mediocre players are going to be paid like stars. I’d trade whatever 2025 picks it takes to move up and get Jared Verse in the 1st. He’s going to be a star.

#1 CB
&
#2 CB
…Free Agency wise, I like Kendall Fuller, Stephon Gilmore and Steven Nelson, in that order. Need one of them. Maybe two. I’d prefer to draft a second CB though. TJ Tampa is my favorite in the draft…wouldn’t have to give up a ton to get into the late 1st to get him.

Depth:

#3 DT
&
#4 DT
…I don’t mind Tyson Alualu being brought back for one of these spots. Would like to see one of our 3rd Rd picks go towards FSU’s Braden Fiske though. He looks like a future star. TAMU’s McKinnley Jackson looks great too…but as a nose.

#2 RE / SLB. Need some insurance in case Houston never gets back to rookie form. I think Andrew Van Ginkel would be the perfect cheap addition.

#3 S. I like Kirby and Iffy as starters. If the money’s reasonable, though…I don’t mind Gardner-Johnson being brought back (who can also back up Branch).

#4 S. Shouldn’t be too hard a position to fill. If DeShon Elliott’s cheap enough, he’d be perfect.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

K. For the love of God, bring a proven veteran in. I like Greg Zeurlein.

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I’m with you on Evan Brown & Deshon Elliott being brought back for depth.

Jacobs didn’t play NB here. Will Harris did. So did Lucas.

Williams and/or Fuller for CB1

DJ Reader DT

Edge I hope we go for the gusto here. Hunter, trade for Josh Allen. Something like that.
I like Van Grinkel but I think he needs to be in a 3-4

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Welcome back Blue.

Will Ferrell Old School Movie GIF

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Thought Jacobs played some nickel in 2022-23…before taking an outside starting job…and had the ability to back up both positions. Either way, Harris/Lucas isn’t the solution either. Need to find someone.

If Van Ginkel was a traditional every down 4-3 end with his ability/stats…he’d be getting $20M/yr this season. Fortunately he’s not, and he’d be a perfect addition here, as a pass-situation specialist. He’s also 6-4, 242…not a 6’1 James Houston-type…and tough enough against the run to play all situations when needed.

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I hope you’re right on Van Grinkel…I just think he needs to be used like Clay Matthew’s.

Maybe it’s just the hair that got me?

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Guaranteed Lion…

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QB: Goff, Hooker, Sudfeld
RB: Monty, Gibbs, Reynolds
FB: Cabinda
SE: Reynolds, *Brown/Thomas
FL: Jameson
SL: ASB, Raymond
TE: LaPorta, *Sinnott (3rd), Wright
LT: Decker
LG: *Van Roten, Awosike
C: Ragnow, *Brown
RG: Glasgow, Sorsdal
RT: Sewell, Skipper

NT: *Jones, *McKinnley (5th/Trade Up)
DT: McNeill, *Fiske (3rd), Alualu
LE: Hutch, Paschal
RE: *Verse (1st/Trade Up), Van Ginkel, Houston
MLB: Campbell, Barnes
WLB: Anzalone, Rodrigo, JRM
CB1: *Fuller, Sutton
CB2: *Tampa (1st/Trade Up), Moseley
NC: Branch
BS: G-Johnson, *Elliott
DS: Iffy, Kirby

K: *Zuerlein
P: Fox
LS: Daly

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What I wouldn’t do.
Sudfeld, Cabinda, Verse, Tampa, Brown/Thomas

What I would do.
There has to be a better option than Sudfeld.
Cabinda has barely played in the last 2 seasons and offers nothing as a RB or receiver. Dallin Holker in the 5th gives you a legit offensive player who also can be the blocking back you are looking for.
Tampa IMO is over rated. I’ve seen him play and he’s OK but IMO we have better options.
Bring back DJ Chark.

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Verse and Tampa I think are the best pass-rusher and corner in the draft. We’re not going to reconcile there.

With Sudfeld, you’re talking about a guy who ideally won’t even dress for a game all season. A capable, experienced QB who knows the system in and out…I think…is quite a thing for that role.

Similarly with Cabinda…we almost never use a FB…but you keep one on the 53-man roster and dress him for some gameplans (where you need more than Rodrigo)…and the coaching staff really loves him. For a role where the guy only dresses half a dozen times a yr…what more do you want?

In either case…of course maybe there are upgrades. But maybe not smart ones price-wise, for such small roles.

Re: Chark vs Brown or Thomas. Reynolds already beat out Chark when he was here. I believe we’re looking for someone who can potentially beat out Reynolds. It won’t be Chark. Brown I find especially interesting (look at his numbers last yr). And Thomas was still pretty good in a bad offense in NO last yr. He could really blow up again with us, potentially. Either choice excites me more than Chark, DPJ, etc.

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Well almost always

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I want a guy who’s a threat in the passing game. Imagine how versatile that would make our offense. Imagine what a creative guy like Ben could do with that. For my money the Niners are the only ones using the FB position correctly, it should be a FB/TB/RB hybrid, and they should be used all over the offense. The ideal of this to me would be Brock Bowers, but obviously that’s not happening. But as @1CasanovaJack said Holker’s a great option on day 3. Westover might be as well.

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Too soon bro

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Check out Ben Sinnott from K-St…should be available in the 3rd.

He’s not gonna run the ball…but could operate out of the FB, H-Back spot.

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I like Holker too. The big TE from Minnesota is interesting too. 3 really nice mid-rd TEs available between them and my favorite Ben Sinnott

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I like Sinnott too but think he’ll be gone before I’m comfortable picking a TE. He would work too though, and I think you could hand it to him in some surprise situations. Jaheim Bell is another who would work but who I expect to go too soon.

Spann-Ford, the Minny TE, is more of a pure blocking TE, which is fine as well. But it’s a different spot than the FB/TE/RB hybrid. He also turns 25 during the season, which hurts his stock.

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Jack Westover

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Too much draft capital to trade up for Verse. Get a DE or DT in FA, just like CB, and add another in the draft. We need immediate results on D, that’s going to take some veterans. I’ve seen TJ play enough to know that he’s a Top 10 but that doesn’t make him a first rounder. First round and third round I would look hard at OL, 2nd and 4th pick go D. With re to Cabinda you can’t have him on a 53 man roster, not here, not anywhere. And I think you’re taking some serious liberties saying that Reynolds beat out Chark. Reynolds played in front of an injured Chark. Chark isn’t likely to cost much and he played in 14 games last season on a shitty team. Make him an offer.

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TJ Tampa a top 10 player in this draft?

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CB?

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C’mon in the SAME sentence that you cut off I said, “BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE HIM A FIRST ROUNDER”,