Here’s what I have heading into next year:
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I forgot Alim may miss possibly half of next season. With Alim coming back from surgery and Levi a free agent, pretty light at dtackle currently heading into offseason.
I think the biggest needs are
DE
CB
OG
DT
S
I think with McNeil out have to look for someone. S need more depth . Dont know if Davis is coming back. Enis is a big question mark. Need to replace the OG. De even with hutch coming back how much more does Smith have left in the tank
What is crazy is that even looking at that roster/depth chart without re-signing anyone or any FAs or draft picks, I think that roster is still good enough, even with Alim out to make the playoffs. (Obviously assuming no one got injured ever, but just on paper)
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Probably fair to say that each of the RFA and ERFA players will be retained (or at least attempted to retain).
Have to believe that Zeitler, Skipper and Commish won’t be difficult to re-sign.
Davenport maybe signs another 1-year deal? Can’t imagine he’s going to find more money anywhere.
Patrick is up there in age. He needs to make as much as he can while he can. Hopefully they work something out.
Barnes, Levi and Davis will be the biggest challenges.
Yeah, ERFA guys are usually a lock. But I remember the Lions choosing to pass one someone last year, which was crazy to me, (looked it up, it was Chase Lucas) so I don’t put them in as locks as I used to. Same with the RFA guys. Never know when a SF is gonna try and steal a Brock Wright.
I’ve learned that it just depends on how the organization feels about this year’s draft. Yeah, it seems like right now we need a DT. But we drafted Wingo and he actually played well before getting hurt. What is his ceiling? Then there is Manu who is almost forgotten about. Will he factor into next year? How much improvement can we expect from Rakestraw and to a lesser degree Arnold? Mahagony might step right into a starting role next year.
But if I had to guess, I would say defensive tackle is a spot that we could use depth. I think an edge rusher is in the cards. Maybe two. How do they feel about paying Jamo? A WR could be good depth play.
I think they are now in a spot where they can just add, at least to some degree, just guys they fall in love with. A great spot to be in.
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Regardless of the roster, I think we’ve seen that they’re just gonna add the best players (or the ones they love the most). It’s worked so far and I don’t expect that to change.
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Biggest needs, in order-
- MUCH larger trophy case
- Three metric tons of talcum powder so as to keep from chafing from Dan’s gigantic balls
- Broadway choreographer so as to increase the volume and quality of our touchdown dances, as we’ll need 60 to 70 new ones next year.
- Cheaper ticket prices and concessions. The bandwagon is expensive apparently
- Monday February 10th designated as a state holiday forever. Super Bowl recovery and celebration
- A lot more baby merch as there’s going to be a population boom in Michigan right about mid November next year
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Great answers to this thread. I believe the Lions will re-sign Iffy, DE Levi O., Zeitler and Za’Darius Smith (in addition to other roles players like Craig Reynolds, Muhammad, Skipper, etc). I think CB Davis walks as he will get a large contract from someone else. And he deserves it.
If that happens we don’t have glaring holes anywhere. BUT…long term concerns at Edge, OG/C, CB and then WR are at the top of my list. Maybe in that order.
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I’ve seen them hit areas in drafts every year they’ve been area though. Like the first draft it was defensive tackles. Then in the second it was defensive ends. Then in the third it was corners. They loved those guys they drafted, but I also think they were doubling up on what they felt were weak areas (or areas they wanted to be strong in) with multiple day one and two picks.
I guess what I was saying is that maybe they won’t feel the need to do that again…
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Yeah for sure, and I also think it speaks to the lack of talent that was on the defensive side of the ball for so long. I’m not sure we’re in that same spot anymore. Nothing surprises me with Brad though and I’ll be fine with whatever he does.
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I think Patrick will be back.
While the WR market can get crazy expensive on the top end, another Brad Holmes value WR + Patrick is probably sufficient for next season.
I wouldn’t draft a WR before rounds 3 or 4.
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Yes to all of this. Err on the side of trenches. We need to find a young, stud center within the next 3 years or so…and at least one G on offense. My main concern is OL, with DL right behind it.
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I do wonder how the draft will be impacted if one or both coordinators are hired away. They might want players to match the new coordinators scheme.
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I’d imagine that Dan will be looking to hire new coordinators that are schematically similar to Glenn’s and Johnson’s.
As long as Goff is the QB, it’s clear that the existing offensive scheme suits his game well.
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I agree bring Patrick back on a 1 year deal.
Top 4 WR’s of St. Brown, Jamo, Patrick and Kalif is a very good unit. I do wanna draft a young guy to develop as WR 5 though. Kalif and Patrick are both 30+ years old.
We had Green developing but sounded like his career may be over.
“Lions biggest needs:”
A Lombardi Trophy.
Stop.
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Patrick is a FA and I think they’re expecting him to test the market. So we might lose him.
I still we would need one more but he could be more developmental type if Patrick resigned.
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If we lose Davis to FA I think CB will be top priority.
Followed by OG, OT, Edge, DL
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