- I can see the Lions take a flyer on a few guys in the draft, not even going to guess who or when.
- Still expecting the Lions to bring in a Vet backup even if they just resign Sudfield, in addition to getting one in the draft.
- I see no reason that the Lions are not content with the TE position. All 3 guys looked good last season. Though I could see them grabbing someone on day 3 of the draft.
- I agree and can see the Lions grabbing one of this young guys.
- GG is on a one year deal, Big V’s back is unknown at this time. JJ is going into his final contract year. The depth we saw last season is terrible. I would suspect the Lions get a OG early and maybe another one later in the draft.
- I am half expecting the Lions to grab a couple of DTs in the draft, both a NT backup for Buggs and a 3T backup for McNeil.
- The Lions are missing a SS, Walker has shown that he cannot play the position, he gets lost in the traffic near the line of scrimmage. Joseph to my knowledge has never played as a SS, so no clue how he would look there, though with his ball skills I would expect him to be a FS. Harris is good as depth but not as a starter. Iffy is a posibility, though since he is learning the position no guess on how he will do. I Would not be surprised to see the Lions grab a couple of SS out of the draft. Side note neither Okudah’s issue with thinking too much would probable look even worse at a new position.
- Nothing to see here, the Lions are not looking for stars at their LB position just solid players.
- Why isn’t Badgley signed for at least another year even if they are planning on looking at rookies?
I think you nailed most of, if not all of the thoughts I have for the coming draft.
Regarding 6. I do think they will move some guys, like Comminsky as you reference inside at times but it is definitely a need. Holmes also likes to take line players so yea somewhere in those five picks, rd1-3, there will be a DL player added maybe two.
Agree with all of this. Great point on the flexibility and becoming harder to crack the starting lineup going forward.
I really believe the key adds Detroit still needs, not in order of importance, is
DL
S
QB
IOL
CB
Not gonna lie I’m assuming V is the starter after redoing his contract, which I shouldn’t do. Guessing it will be one of the positions determined in camp, not a bad thing.
I feel like he would be a very solid addition to our team. If he slips, all the better!
IMHO…interested in your opinions…
- It looks like we’ll add a long term CB w/ Sutton but Moseley is only a one year deal. He isn’t a long term solution. He’s historically injury prone. I see another CB getting drafted by us. It could be more of a project with a ramp up though.
I believe if one of the top CBs fall to 18 we grab them there or if we trade down from 6, CB will be in play. If we pick at 6, I expect one of the top edges.
- You’d have thought we’d have a backup QB by now. The arrow seems to be pointing to getting a young QB in the draft…somewhere…
IF we draft one, it will be that QB we like that fell far. I still expect to sign a veteran that gets left behind.
- No TEs so far. Are the Lions content with what they have? Its a deep TE class
I think they are content, but will grab one on day 3 IF one falls and the value is too good to pass up.
- We signed Monty and re-signed Reynolds. Swift has another year on his deal. Deep RB class as well. I think it makes sense to draft one.
My crystal ball says look to round 2-3. You know how reliable that is.
- Are we done on the OLine? GG fills that interior swing guy. Looks like Big V is staying put.
I think we pick one in the top two rounds. See above crystal ball comment
- No defensive tackles signed other than resigning Buggs. Not sure I should count Cominsky. I definitely think were hitting the draft at this position.
I think we need about 650 lbs of DT. I wonder what Brad thinks.
- Elliott took a cheap deal elsewhere. Will Walker be back? Can we count on that? Kirby has a bright future. Seems like we should either expect a FA signing or look to the draft. We need some help here IMO. I think Harris, if you can call him a swing safety, with the one year deal is a stop gap. Nickel safety looks like a place to draft reading the tea leaves. We do have some young guys like Okudah/Jacobs/Iffy that might step up.
Stay tuned
- AA resigned. I feel like that deal means he is the starter and the Lions like him. So where does that leave LB?
I mentioned this in another post. I think we get caught up in traditional roles and I am starting to believe that our LBs are going to be less traditional because we run nickel and dime so much. I wonder if they see him as that hybrid between big safety in the sub to light LB for coverage. I might be seeing this very wrong.
- For f-sake are we getting a kicker or what
You got that right
see bold above
It’s going to be a lot harder for the 2023 rookies to crack the starting lineup compared to the 21 and 22 drafts where we had so little talent on the roster. And that is a really good thing.
Yup - also → watch how many team go diving into the pile of guys we start cutting. We are going to make some tough decisions this year on “bubble” players. Next year almost every player we cut is NFL roster material.
p.s. Holmes is AWESOME
Is Vaitai staying put? Has anyone heard how those negotiations are going? I imagine he needs to take a big pay cut to stay on the team. i assume GG will be starting RG and Vaitai backup RG/Swing tackle
I’m almost wondering If V & GG both end up sa valuable depth? I feel they are both perfect for that. V can back up 4 spots & GG can back up C & G
That’s pretty sweet.
If Vatai is staying, we’re done with the oline, for this year.
We’re definitely going to take a DT, RB, QB, and Safety.
We’re fine at TE.
A WR would be cool.
We could use another LB.
Our 4th-7th round picks have a tough row to hoe. Making this team isn’t going to be easy, any more.
We just signed a kicker. Bagley is back. I like him.
I could see them cutting Vaitai 6/1 then bringing him back. Makes me wonder why we haven’t seen a restructure yet. His 9.5 million salary and 12 million cap hit this year isn’t going to fly
I could see them cutting Vaitai 6/1 then bringing him back. Makes me wonder why we haven’t seen a restructure yet. His 9.5 million salary and 12 million cap hit this year isn’t going to fly
I could be way off, but I think he might be recovering well so far, but has a long ways to go to be fully healthy. That’s why they added GG as insurance. It’s only March, they are hoping he makes it back by the season, if not he might be an injury settlement. If they straight up didn’t want him, he’d already be cut IMO to give him a shot at free agency.
Just my 2 cents. BJ did say in his end of year presser the entire starting O-line was coming back and he was excited about that and it was one of the reasons he wanted to return to Detroit! hmmmmm
True. And I’m not saying they don’t want them back. But nobody’s gonna pay 10 million for an older marginal starter backup/swing guard coming with back issues
I think even in 2021 when he was healthy, he was our lowest graded starting lineman
I think they should cut ties with Big V and move on. I don’t even want him as a back up. The offense and the blocking schemes have changed since he last played and I just don’t see a fit even if he is healthy. When he was younger and healthy he was not good at RT and was moved to G. I think bringing in Glasnow shows we want Gs that can move and get to the 2nd level. I honestly don’t know why we hold on to this guy.
True. And I’m not saying they don’t want them back. But nobody’s gonna pay 10 million for an older marginal starter backup/swing guard coming with back issues
Agreed. Either big pay cut like Charles Harris or injury settlement. Don’t see any other options.
If Ben J and Hank F want him back then I’m all for it. The reasons you give for not wanting him back could also apply to Glasnow.
Clearly the grading tool doesn’t love that draft and it’s far from my ideal, but I think it’s really realistic….
There are still quite a few safeties sitting there in FA, and we have just Joseph and a recovering Walker… it’s a light safety class, and waiting for the draft for a potential starter would scare me…
Seeing us let Swaggy walk that cheap, and getting Monty for 3 years at a decent price tag screams speed back in mid to late round if you ask me….
Seeing Deckers deal ending in 2 years, and knowing we can keep Jackson’s cap number pretty low in 23’ and 24’ along with Sewell and Rags being set for 3 years indicates OL won’t be high priority if we are truly keeping Big V…. Appears so with Glasgow and Awosika being our top backups….
- What’s left?
DT- needs a starter and backup… I see AA as 3/4 DT/DE next to Benton and Alim. In our 4 man fronts he plays 3T or BDE on passing downs, and on run downs it’s Benton and Alim…. I think this pair gives us a nice and well rounded young DT room
CB- Gonzo, Sutton, and a healthy Okudah could be a really high end CB group, or guys like Moseley and Jacobs can scratch out snaps.
RB- Spears has vision, balance, acceleration and hands- he and Monty could do damage…
TE- Washington is like a mini OT3, a bulldozing lead blocker when in motion, a monster that it would be tough to jam at the line… and a red one freak-
WR- the big and fast WR that we expect 15 catches from in 2023…. Gives us the potential for a Chark type player if Jamo isn’t a WR1…. We have vets to take snaps if Jamo isn’t elite and Ford-Wheaton isn’t a steal
If Ben J and Hank F want him back then I’m all for it. The reasons you give for not wanting him back could also apply to Glasnow.
Glasnow and Big V are not similar Gs. Glasnow is much better at blocking in space and getting to the 2nd level. He lacks a good anchor and gets by with technique and levarage in pass protection. Big V does have a good anchor in pass protection but lacks movement skills to block in space and lacks the athleticism to engage defenders at the 2nd level. I don’t see how they are the same.
You may be right, but GG hasn’t been all that good the last year plus, dealing with his own injuries.
I will defer to BH/Hank F if they cut him or restructure all good.
I believe they’re taking a wait and see approach with Vaitai… The fact that they haven’t reworked his deal yet makes me think he’s not progressing like they would like. If they go guard early (first 2 rounds), I’d expect an injury settlement with HV shortly after the draft.
IMHO…interested in your opinions…
My opinion on what I would do (not what I think Holmes does):
6- Smart Money Skoronski RG/T
18- Brian Executive Branch NB/SS
We have two guys Glasgow/Big V wrong side of 30 with injuries. Skoronski makes us elite OL for next 5 years at least.
Brian Branch fits perfectly with our DB room. Starting NB, missed 4 tackles in 3 years in SEC, plus with Tracey coming off achilles injury he could be the S next to Kerby.
48) Jack coach Campbell MLB - Ok Anzalone is great at mentoring young LB, give him an athletic freak to be the future leader inside
55- perfect spot to trade down with Nick Cesario of Texans who loves trading up (get our 4th back)
Darious Rush hour CB Raw long armed athletic CB, perfect to sit behind Moesely/Okudah for a year. A future star… 2nd round pick just like Darius Slay
81 Tucker Kraft TE- Finally our next David Sloan
5- Jerrod Clark DT or SEC DT Young, Pickens, Dexter whichever dude falls like James Mitchell last year position of need adds to rotation with McNeil, Buggs, and hopefully Ashawn/Wormely
6- HORTON EDGE guy that can play the inside/outside edge setter like Cominsky. Replaces austin bryant…takes over for Romeo next year.
6b- Blackmon/Howden DB or Winters/Miller LB or QB bennett/tune
7th rounder some how- draft Moody Kicker
Trade for Matt Corrall
if we can acquire a 4th in trade down— grab a RB like Miller,Gray,McBride, Vaughn Brown etc or WR Mingo