2024 season: 15-2, first at NFC North, lost against commanders in divisional qualifiers
Preview: 2024 was a dream season in Detroit until it is. The lions led the most explosive offensive of the NFL and a defense filled with players to a 15-2 file and the N ° 1 seeded of the NFC in their quest for the first trip of the franchise to the franchise Super bowl.
A multitude of defense injuries caught up with them and were worsened by four reversals during a defeat in divisional qualifiers against Washington commanders. No more coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn for head coach stations. And the noise rumbles if Jared Goff can raise this team to a title of the Super Bowl after his three interceptions in defeat against commanders. Can Lions rekindle the magic of 2024 or does this window close?
Key -free agents
CB Carlton Davis
G Kevin Zeitler
DL Levi Onwuzurike
LB Derrick Barnes
Wr Tim Patrick
LB TREVOR NOWASKE
Who is in / out: Davis was out of competition in the Detroit secondary before undergoing a jaw injury at the end of the season in December. He will be one of the most coveted defenders on the free market. It will be a priority for Detroit, but could assess the racing lions.
Zeitler was an anchor of the dynamic stroke racing game and can be done much cheaper than Davis at 35 after playing on an agreement of $ 6 million in a year in 2024. It should be a priority if the price remains just.
Onwuzurike and Barnes are impact defenders, who are due to important pay days at the end of their recruit contracts. The Lions would surely like to keep both, but they will not be cheap.
Key needs for free agent
Rusher on board
Corner
Why the holes? The Lions needed another rusher of passes even before an injury to the end of the season of Aidan Hutchinson. Associating Hutchinson with a free agent like Khalil Mack or Josh Sweat would upgrade this unit in a truly threatening force.
(Maybe they rather make a big splash via the trade with the Browns of Cleveland for Myles Garrett).
Even with Davis’ solid game, the defense of Detroit passes ranked 30th in the league and has an important place for improvement. The lions hope for a stage of the corner half of the first Terrion Arnold round after a season recruited from top to bottom. Detroit should prioritize the addition of aid to the cornerback, whether Davis remains or leaves.
Do they have the money?
The good news for the Lions is that they have money to spend. By Spotrac, Detroit has about $ 55 million In the space of the projected salary ceiling, the eighth plus in the NFL. The first priority for Lions will be to spend to keep their own key agents.
Notable potential cuts
Edge Za’darius Smith,
WR / RS Kalif Raymond
Why they might have left: The Lions acquired Smith before the trade deadline to replace Hutchinson. He owed the second year of an agreement of $ 23 million over two years which he signed with the Browns, a price which could prove too high when approaching 32 years, even after having recorded nine bags Last season. Lions could prioritize the use of $ 4 million in ceiling savings to sign a rusher pass with a higher increase. Detroit could also try to restructure its agreement.
Raymond remained the main reversal of Botté de release de Detroit last season, but played a minimal role in the offensive, with 17 catches for 215 yards. Lions could save $ 3.1 million in ceiling space by releasing it before the Libre agency.
Draft choice
1st round: n ° 28
2nd round: n ° 60
3rd round (compensatory):
4th round (Eagles)
6th round (Bucs)
7th round (jets)
7th round (cowboys)
7th round
Good draft adjustment
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
Why him? With several passing pass projected in the first round, the lions are in a good place to meet a need here if they did not make a sensation by free will. In fact, the options can persuade them to wait for the project.
Jackson would be a good adjustment as leaving the NFL projected with the rise. JT Tuiimoloau and Jack Sawyer from Ohio State, and Mike Green from Marshall are also potential options here.
Each key weapon comes back from an offense that ended first in the NFL in a score and second in total of the yards in 2024, so let’s not be too greedy with regard to the staff. We know that the Lions have the offensive tools necessary to hang 40 points on any opponent at any time. Most of the obvious needs of this team involve their defense. If Jared Goff can raise his shoulders of a six -round qualifying series and the new OC John Morton is not completely facing, the Detroit offensive should again rank among the best levels in the league. –Andy Behrens
