Whoever yall get needs to be able to play man coverage like AA I believe Louis is the best backer in man in the draft and I believe Brad and Dan will overlook his size because of it. Plus he’s fast.
Louis IS perfect. I agree. It just would be a departure for us. I’m cautiously optimistic that he could be a target.
We’re does he go ?
Rumor is the Seahawks LOVE him at 32, which would be wild.
I have trouble seeing him that high, but he’s 100% going on day 2. Before our pick? I think there’s a 50/50 chance right now, basically.
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Pretty sure Lions aren’t giving up the 1st rounder in 2027 needed to get anywhere near Styles’ draft position….
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I may be in the minority, but just give AA another decent LB contract and call it a day.
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If we were talking 2023 or 2024 AA, I’d be all for it. But I thought he took an appreciable step back last year, and it’s only gonna get worse going forward. Better to move on one year early than one year late, and honestly I think this year might be square in the just right Goldilocks zone.
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Definitely open to having him back. But it’s all about the price. I think he tests free agency to see what he can get and only back if his market isn’t that good.
If he does leave, we would have several holes on defense to fill.
Starting Dend
Will linebacker
2 starting safeties with serious injury concerns.
Nickelback
The starting defense week 1 next year might look very different
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yep.., definitely wouldn’t give Analzone much cash…
maybe a 1year deal with some incentives.
I think he was overplaying his hand unless AG gifts him a deal.
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I doubt AA will come back for Vet Min. He wants one last bag. Too much for what the lions want likely,
And it AINT gonna be rodrego.
Last year and the year prior Nowaske got more Defensive and ST snaps. Yes injuries played a roll.
But even going back to 2023 Julian Okwara had more Defensive snaps. JRM slight less on D but more on ST.
I cant put Rodrego as LB2 when hes been LB5/6 his whole career.
Odds are they will sign an older FA slightly over vet minimum as a place holder (think Grant Stewart) and get a guy somewhere in the draft.
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The performance for dollar may not be ideal. But I don’t think Barnes can do it as well as he could. Maybe Rodrigo could elevate being healthy but yet another unknown that seems to rarely work out for us. So it’s another hole that we don’t need and to even get better than 2025 AA, I think we are talking high pick our high dollar FA and we’ve already got too many of those to use IMO.
Besides, if we do something about being one of the slowest team to get pressure on the QB, a 2026 Anzalone may be just peachy.
My vote…
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My prediction.
Mike: Jack, UDFA/ cheap FA
Will: FA Vet, Draft pick
Sam: Barnes, UDFA/ Cheap FA
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I agree it’s not ideal to create another hole, but his is a decision that DOES need to be made in a vacuum imo. The decision should be independent of the state of the roster. Now if he takes a deal I’m all for it, but rare is the player who takes a deal.
I think Rodrigo will be our backup MIKE in that scenario too. And probably Nowaske our backup SAM
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You don’t need a depth chart behind Jack Fox… Instead, you probably only need one linebacker
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Is Rodriguez from Texas Tech that good in coverage or did he just have a good Senior Bowl.
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He’s OK, but I wouldn’t call it a strength. I just don’t think he’s built to be a WILL