While gearing up for the offseason, I think it is a great time to look at what holes this Detroit roster has. Depth is a concern for Detroit, with few stars and a lot of young/inexperienced players. So with that said, here are the positions I think are most lacking in the Motor City.
Cornerback
The Detroit secondary played a big role in their inability to finish tight games this year, as they ranked 30th in passing yards per game. Jeff Okudah is a solid back, but hasn’t lived up to the potential the Lions saw back in 2020. With bad depth at this position, the talent drops steeply the further you travel, calling for a necessity to bring in skillful players this offseason. The glaringly obvious option is spending big on superstar Jalen Ramsey, who just might be able to bring the energy to the Detroit defense they haven’t had in recent years. Pairing up with former teammate Jared Goff may just be the move for the proven veteran corner.
Linebacker
I have talked about Alex Anzalone’s performance previously, and his 77 tackle season didn’t go unnoticed. However, much like at corner they are heavily lacking depth and talent. While I would love to see Will Anderson in blue and silver, there still lies an issue of not having multiple guys who can anchor the middle of the field. Defense should be a large concern for Detroit, and I expect changes. With multiple FA linebackers, the draft, and a strong trade market there is no excuse to not beef up the linebacker position. Who knows, maybe Bobby Wagner and Jalen Ramsey will team up in Detroit to bring star power to the defense, and additionally would allow these stars to influence the younger guys on the roster.
Wide Receiver
I think it is understood just how remarkable Amon-Ra St. Brown was this season, and with Jameson Williams coming back next season the Lions have a good basis for a strong receiving core. However, DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds were the 2 and 3 receivers in 2022, both of whom failed to reach expectations. Barring turnarounds from the two, Detroit will need to strengthen the receiver position. With good receivers falling through the cracks to the later rounds every year, look for Detroit to capitalize and draft a receiver. With the receiver market only going up, free agency may be too expensive to indulge in. Zay Flowers from Boston College may be a name to look out for.
Quarterback
Yes, Jared Goff is a capable quarterback. Yes, Jared Goff was top 10 in major passing categories such as passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. But Jared Goff is not going to bring a championship to Detroit, and is not a long-term solution. I think it is important to draft a quarterback this season, and possibly invest in a quality backup. I love Jared Goff, but he is not the franchise quarterback, and will only create a ceiling for this team. So while I hope he proves me wrong and outperforms expectations, I do not think that will happen, and so I motion to jump on the Hendon Hooker hype train and bring in a possibly-generational talent to Detroit.
