What pass rushers and guards are still available?

NFL Detroit Lions
1

I still think it would be a major mistake not adding another legitimate edge to our group, outside of the draft. I also think we should be bringing in legit competition at guard in FA to replace losing Zietler. I love bringing Davenport back at that cost, but Holmes and Campbell would be unwise to bank on significant contributions from him. Below are the list of guys still available who I think would be worth looking into.

Mekhi Becton - Haven’t heard much of a market for Becton. He had weight issues early in his career, but has appeared to turn the corner. He may need another solid season before a team is willing to commit long term. He is only an option if the cost is right. 1 year, 8mil

Brandon Scherff - Scherff would be my preference as a reliable vet. He may be a slight step down from Zietler. 1 year, 7mil

Will Hernandez - Coming off injury, but has been a solid starter. This would be another 1 year contract. 1 year, 5mil

Dalton Risner - Has started the majority of his career and is serviceable. Reminds me a lot of Glasgow in some ways and is a few years younger. 1 year, 4mil

Azeez Ojulari - Has not been consistent and is likely looking for opportunity more than anything. This is likely another 1 year prove it deal. He adds a skillset to the pass rushing group that we currently lack. 1 year, 6mil

Calais Campbell - Not sure the fit with Levi back and Pashcal, as all three can play inside and out. We showed previous interest and he would give up 400-500 quality snaps. 1 year, 4mil

Dante Fowler - Not sure if he is a fit culturally, but has been a reliable pass rusher most of his career. Had double digit sacks last year and is probably going to come at a reasonable cost. Holmes also overlapped with him on the Rams. 1 year, 7mil

Matthew Judon - Only two years removed from putting up 15.5 sacks. May be interested in coming back home on the cheap. 1 year, 5mil

Dennis Gardeck - Now this guy is a Dan Campbell player. Now he is more pass rushing linebacker, than an edge so I’m not sure of the fit with Barnes back. With that said, I would love to have him. 2 years, 8mil

Emmanuel Ogbah - Still a solid pass rushing, has 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Another cheap vet option. 1 years 4mil

Von Miller - Miller is one of my favorite targets. He adds an element that we lack in our pass rushing group and I think his veteran presence would be amazing for the group. He should be limited to mostly passing downs at this point. Played less than 300 snaps last year, but managed 6 sacks. I would bring his snaps up closer to 400-500. I think he could contribute 8+ sacks opposite Hutch as a pass rushing specialist. 1 year, 8mil.

Zadarius Smith - If his market is colder than expected, I could see an avenue where he is back. He is a culture fit, said he wanted to come back to Detroit previously, and was still productive last season. 1 year, 6mil.

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2

Good list. Definitely would like to add another pass rusher. Doesn’t have to be a starter. But someone who can bring juice on 3rd downs and get after the qb. A few guys on that list fit the bill.

Hutch
Davenport
Paschal (Can at least set an edge, needs to be replaced by a pass rusher on money downs)
Vet Pass Rusher
Early draft pick, round 1 or 2

Something like that for DE would work

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3

I don’t believe that he has a ring yet. The Lions are the time and place for that to happen, if he can get beyond the business decision Brad made.

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4

Vet OG is not in the cards, IMO.
GG is the OG, along with last year’s draft pick.
This year will see another draft pick or UDFAs.
Niese, Muti, Sorsdal… In a pinch, without adding another player, would be called into duty. Obviously they’re not done with the position group, but I think we’re talking about rookies being added, not vets.

By the way, we probably shouldn’t rule out Yode yet. No, they didn’t pay him the tender amount, but he’s still available if he’ll sign for less.

5

I would be a little disappointed with that approach. This team is heavily reliant on its OLine, and I think Glasgow has shown signs of slowing down as a full time starter. Relying on a rookie and Mahogany could lead to a lot of growing pains. Just my two cents.

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6

Other then Smith there is no one left with out taking a big step backwards as DE goes, there is a few good Gs out there but not alot. I look for both to be top draft pics.

A guy I really like is Jonah Savaiinaea in the second , should be plug and play RG from day one.

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7

I’ve always been underwhelmed by Glasgow compared to most fans. When he left for more money, I wasn’t bothered in the least.

But, by the end of the 2023 season, his return was mentioned alongside AA and D-Mo as Brad’s best Free Agency moves.

The addition of Zietler last year upset the apple cart a little with GG, moving him to LG. This year I believe the team is committed to the old guard (Decker, GG and others), re-committing to Glasgow the same vision they began 2024 with, prior to signing Zietler. I think they’ll be rewarded in that effort, seeing Glasgow return to his 2023 form. There are backup-caliber players on the squad. What there aren’t at Guard are starting-caliber. They’ll get that in the draft. If they wanted to pay for starting-caliber, they would have re-signed a willing Zietler.

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Me too, dude looks ok at times mostly because how good everyone is around him, he is such a weak link. And is or should be a back up at this point.

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I was just providing a bit of perspective on the guy. I’m no fanboy, but I still expect a return to solid, vs the clear weak link he was last year.

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10

My question would be why ? Why with money to spend and draft pics why in the world would you want to just go ahead and depend on Glasgow . Even when you say solid he is still the worse player on that line. Why would not wanna try to improve. These are the moves I think that will cost you when you play top teams and need to win that big game.

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11

While I agree an upgrade would be nice, every year you have to make sacrifices at certain parts of the roster. Sometimes that’s deciding to go cheap like Patrick, Davenport, Levi, etc… Sometimes that’s deciding to go with youth like Mahogany, Arnold, etc… You can’t fully stock every spot on the roster, the league rules don’t allow it.

Additionally, it’s a widely held belief that for an OL, the objective is to not have any weak links. You’d be better off with 5 average starters than 3 studs and 2 chumps. Chumps can be singled out and attacked.

With that in mind the question becomes, is Glasgow an average starter or a chump? Two years ago he was above average, last year he was probably a shade below. He was clearly our weakest link which is why we noticed him, but overall we still had a very good line.

I would greatly prefer to upgrade on Glasgow as well and think we still might in the draft. But I understand not PAYING to do it, especially with these insane contracts. And on paper at least, this interior looks better than two years ago. Glasgow was coming off a terrible stint in Denver then. And 2 years ago it worked great.

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12

Zeitler got almost 9mil. Big difference signing someone for less than half that. This is a superbowl caliber team and the OLine is the engine. Just think it would be unwise to expect Mahogany to be a plus starter, Glasgow to return to 2023 form, and both of those guys, plus Ragnow to stay healthy. Getting a vet guard for 4mil or less with quality starting experience is well worth the investment.

13

That is exactly what I expect, and I don’t feel unwise at all for it. He played twice as a rookie, coming off a missed off-season and mono recovery, and gave us two plus starts. Plus-plus starts even. At some point you have to trust your young guys.

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14

Some might guess there is a leading candidate….

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:face_with_head_bandage:

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15
Rk Player School Year Pos Pos Rk HT WT
2 Abdul Carter Penn State Jr EDGE 1 6-3 250
9 Jalon Walker Georgia Jr EDGE 2 6-1 243
10 James Pearce Jr. Tennessee Jr EDGE 3 6-5 245
16 Mykel Williams Georgia Jr EDGE 4 6-5 260
18 Mike Green Marshall Soph EDGE 5 6-3 251
22 Nic Scourton Texas A&M Jr EDGE 6 6-3 257
37 Jack Sawyer Ohio State Sr EDGE 7 6-4 260
42 Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College Sr EDGE 8 6-3 248
46 Princely Umanmielen Ole Miss Sr EDGE 9 6-4 244
61 Landon Jackson Arkansas Sr EDGE 10 6-6 264
62 JT Tuimoloau Ohio State Sr EDGE 11 6-4 266
64 Ashton Gillotte Louisville Sr EDGE 12 6-3 264
65 Jared Ivey Ole Miss Sr EDGE 13 6-6 274
87 Kyle Kennard South Carolina Sr EDGE 14 6-4 254
95 David Walker Cent. Ark. Sr EDGE 15 6-1 263
100 Bradyn Swinson LSU Sr EDGE 16 6-4 255
102 Josaiah Stewart Michigan Sr EDGE 17 6-1 249
114 Que Robinson Alabama Sr EDGE 18 6-4 243
135 Elijah Roberts SMU Sr EDGE 19 6-4 285
136 Barryn Sorrell Texas Sr EDGE 20 6-3 256

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/edge/

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16

My guess is you’ll see a heavy Dline/Oline draft.
That’s our most glaring need, at the moment.
It wouldn’t hurt our future to draft nothing else.
I’d be very comfortable with taking two of each with the first 4 picks.

17

I get this but this is not the case, 9 million for a Zeitler wasnt gonna hurt us , or stop us from doing anything. Same with Smith we still got alot of cap , what are you going to do with it that is better then keeping a strong Oline together. Witch is very much needed to keep our strength. I also get not over spending but neither of these deals were that.

And Glasgow is the chump, he looks better then he is playing between great players, I mean anyone gonna look better playing between Rags and Sewell .

Anyone know were we sit cap wise ?

18

I agree but I think you let them 2 battle for one spot , not depending on both,

19

At some point the wheels come off for a 35 year player. It wasn’t a ton of money, you’re correct, but they have to budget for Hutch and soon others.

20

It’s possible even that wouldn’t have been enough. Word from the insiders it was retire or go home. We like to think he would have come back if we’d ponied up that kind of money, but who knows?

And honestly I don’t feel the drop off from Zeitler to Glasgow at RG is as dramatic as the upgrade from Glasgow to Mahogany at LG. I also think by the end of the year we’ll be talking about Mahogany as one of the top 5 or 10 OGs in the league. And while you may prefer this:

The fact is every good team has to rely on youngsters at some point. You think Eagles fans weren’t worried about Mitchell and DeJean getting so many snaps for them last year? I mean DeJean missed most of camp too and was worked in very slowly. Mahogany doesn’t have their draft pedigree, but that’s moot in the face of his actual performance.

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