In light of how the Lions have hung in there over the past month, the anticipation for the offseason is as high as it’s been for some time around here. Dan Campbell’s team has found a whole host of players who look like they’ll be part of the future, plus it’s stocked with — likely — a top-two draft pick, multiple high selections and a little bit of spending money.
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If all goes well, the Lions could cover a lot of ground between now and April.
We’ll get to that. Right now, it’s time to find out what’s on your minds. So, let’s dive into the (almost) end-of-season mailbag. Some questions have been lightly edited for clarity or length.
Given the Lions’ salary cap situation and the recent surge in performance from Jared Goff, how do you think the Lions will approach the QBs this draft? Which of these scenarios do you think is most likely: 1) Trade down or use the top-five pick to draft the best available QB (Matt Corral or Kenny Pickett, probably). 2) Use the Rams pick to draft a QB in the late first round (Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder or Malik Willis, probably). 3) Use a mid-round pick on a QB (Carson Strong, etc.) — Danny Higginbotham and Adam Clark via email
As expected, we got a bunch of questions about the Lions’ future at quarterback. So we’ll start here, but before I answer it’s important to reiterate the first two points raised: The Lions will have more cap space in 2022 than in ’21, but not enough to go make a huge splash on a guy like Russell Wilson; and they do have at least some faith that Goff can win games for them next season, if they put better talent around him.
With all that in mind, I’d take option No. 2 here (using the traded Rams Round 1 pick on a QB). It’s still early when it comes to figuring out exact QB values in this class, but those are the names — Howell, Ridder and Willis — that make sense in the late first/early second. I highly doubt Brad Holmes throws a pick at the quarterback spot just for the hell of it, given where he’s at in the rebuild. Either the Lions will bring in someone they believe can push for the job within a year or two, or they’ll wait until the 2023 draft.
What would y’all think if the Lions took two QBs in the 2022 draft: one in the first round and one on Day 2 or 3 (ideally, Bailey Zappe)? My thinking is both QBs can compete for QB1, and the loser can hopefully be a great QB2, which we desperately need after watching Tim Boyle this season. — Jimmy Jimenez
If I’m reading this right, this would have them moving on from Goff, right? It’s an interesting idea, but that’s probably where my first issue lies. Part of why the Lions wanted Goff in the first place is they believed he had the experience and temperament to handle this difficult situation, so it’d be a severe 180 to roll into next season with two rookie QBs atop the depth chart.
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I’d add that this strikes me as throwing too much capital at the position. Given where the Lions are in their rebuild, for Holmes to spend a Round 1 pick on a quarterback should mean that he feels pretty damn confident in that guy’s upside. Going right back to the well later would be almost a luxury pick, for a team that can’t afford those.
What do the Lions do about the backup QB positions next year? — Christina Cantor
What are your thoughts on signing a mid-tier backup quarterback that can handle an offense and maybe even have his own packages? I think of Marcus Mariota, who is a free agent. Do you think the Lions look his way or into the FA pool at all, or simply retain Boyle? — Seth
Told you there were a lot of QB questions. I really do like the idea of calling someone like Mariota or Tyrod Taylor or maybe even Jacoby Brissett, but money is going to be an issue. Goff’s cap hit next season is $31.15 million — way up from the $10.65 million he’s carrying now. And any of the name backup options are going to cost more than Boyle’s $2.4 million price tag. So, the Lions are kinda stuck.
Which is why, as least right now, I think they’ll try to retain one of Boyle or David Blough (who’s a restricted free agent), then pair that choice with a draft pick behind Goff. They also have had Steven Montez stashed on the practice squad for a bit. He’d be a decent camp body.
Any insight into what Chris Spielman’s role has evolved into? I’m wondering if the Spielman role will be an example for other franchises. — Jordan Higgins
Spielman hopped on “The Dave Pasch Podcast” ahead of the Cardinals game and explained it a bit. But most of what he offered was similar to what he said when he was hired: Wherever the Lions need him, he’ll help. That’s been evident. He observes the linebackers at practice, he chats with Holmes about player evaluations, Fox’s cameras last week even caught him charting plays in the team’s booth.
The “evolution” part really comes from this role not being defined when Spielman took it. Several months later, he’s shown how much help he can be in a variety of areas. Essentially, he’s an all-encompassing adviser, and I’d expect him to be very involved over the next few months as Detroit approaches free agency and the draft.
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Anthony Lynn is pretty much a certain to be gone in two weeks … but are there any other coaches on the staff who might depart? Mark Brunell, Antwaan Randle El, Kelvin Sheppard, Dom Capers? — Ed Wood
There’s always the possibility of turnover — Year 1 to Year 2 of a coaching regime often is a prime spot for it — but there hasn’t been much buzz yet about the Lions losing anyone, aside from Lynn (and perhaps Aaron Glenn, if he gets head-coaching interviews). Down the line, I could see any of those former players you mentioned moving on to bigger things. As I mentioned on this week’s podcast, Sheppard intrigues me because he just spent a year as a player-development guy at LSU and might get some college coordinator opportunities, eventually.
Capers will be 72 in August. Does he still want to coach? It seemed like it, but the Lions also brought him in to help ease this transition and set their defensive scheme. Those things happened.
Don’t rule out Aubrey Pleasant popping up as a defensive coordinator candidate, either. He’s probably right on the brink of taking that next step.
Cam Akers returned this week from an Achilles tendon injury. Where in comparison are Jeff Okudah and Romeo Okwara in their processes? — DBrooks
Akers returned five months after tearing his Achilles, so it’s not fair to compare other situations to his — that’s superhuman. For the two Lions you mentioned, the hope remains that they’re ready to go for camp in July/August, but every Achilles rehab is different. The coaches have talked about how engaged both players have remained around the building, which is great. Personally, I haven’t spotted Okwara much, but Okudah has been around the practice field a lot. Within the last two weeks, I’ve seen him catching some throws and just gradually trying to bring mobility back to his leg.
It’s a long process.
With a top-two pick pretty much locked up, do you see anyone joining the conversation to be selected by the Lions other than Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson? — Ricky
Do the Lions fall in love with a quarterback? That’s really the starting point whenever a team is picking this high, so we can’t rule out Matt Corral or Kenny Pickett or someone soaring up the boards over the next four months. Aside from that possibility, the only other name that I’d put up there right now is Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton — it’s a need, both on this roster and in the modern NFL, and he’s absolutely an elite prospect for the position.
How common is it for a GM to be as enthusiastically involved in the locker-room celebrations after wins as Brad Holmes is? Seems like he carries himself with a “one of the guys” mentality, which is fun to see. — Kieran Steckley
Not every GM hops in there, certainly, but it’s not all that uncommon. What is a little unusual is just the sheer level of emotion Holmes shows. We’ve also seen that from him on a consistent basis, though — the Penei Sewell draft video comes to mind, immediately. That’s all part of the positive culture this regime has been building. We’ll see how it plays when Holmes has to make tough decisions on some of his guys, like Goff or Michael Brockers or the recent draft picks.
The rookie class has been really solid overall, but I’ve been a little disappointed with Levi Onwuzurike. What does he appear to be struggling with and what does he need to work on in order to get better? — Greg Martin
Above all, I’m not sure that Onwuzurike has ever been healthy this season. He missed multiple weeks in camp with a back injury, then sat out Week 1 with a hip issue. Add all those absences to his 2020 opt-out, and we’re seeing the results — both performance-wise and in terms of how long it took him to get to game shape. His game is built on explosive power. If he doesn’t have full range to hit that, and he doesn’t have NFL experience to fall back on … well … here we are.
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The flashes are still very promising, as are the gradual improvements. He’s going to be a productive, three-down option in this league.
1) Do you think Will Harris’ best bet is to play cornerback all offseason and into next year? 2) Do you think the Lions need one or two wide receivers this offseason, assuming they re-sign Josh Reynolds and Quintez Cephus can come back healthy? — George Templeton Strong
On No. 1: From where I sit, Harris’ best bet is to lean into this hybrid corner/safety role he’s fallen into this season. I doubt he’ll ever be a lock-down, top-two cornerback on a fully stocked depth chart, so providing versatility that can get him on the field in any situation would be huge.
Think about it even from a Lions 2022 roster-building perspective. If they’re trying to round out their secondary and have an affordable in-house option who can play slot corner, outside corner and any safety slot — even if he’s only borderline serviceable at a couple of those jobs — it’s a boost.
On No. 2: Yes, and that’s even if Reynolds is a priority to re-sign (he should be) or the Lions want to keep Kalif Raymond (they might — he’s everything they want from a personality standpoint). But this also is a position they ought to address during the draft. When they’re closer to the finish line on this project, they can go out and chase a superstar at receiver, if they want. But there are just so many talented pass catchers coming into the league via the draft, that it’s almost a position you should be taking every single year. A grouping of Reynolds, Amon-Ra St. Brown and, say, Treylon Burks, Drake London or Chris Olave would be strong.
What do we think about keeping a lot of the defensive pieces the same (guys like Tracy Walker, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Alex Anzalone, Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah, Jerry Jacobs, Bobby Price, A.J. Parker), just adding more talent? We still have Michael Brockers, the Okwaras and Trey Flowers. — Chandler Bos
This came up on last week’s podcast. It’s great that so many players have stepped up for the ’21 Lions, but how many still fit if Holmes manages to upgrade at a bunch of spots this offseason? That said, most — maybe all — of those players you mentioned at first seem like they’ll be in the 2022 plans. Two wild cards: 1) We don’t know where Okudah will be in his recovery. 2) Are the Lions willing to pay Walker what he might find on the free-agent market?
Also, I wouldn’t count Flowers among the ’22 roster locks. The Lions would have to take upward of a $12.5 million dead-money bath to release him, but can they afford to carry a $23.2 million-plus hit, given his injury issues and struggles to produce?
When does Riley Patterson get locked up for 2022? — Dale Disill
This offseason. Patterson is an exclusive-rights free agent, so the Lions can hand him a one-year deal at the league minimum to stay (and he can’t decline it to sign elsewhere). Punter Jack Fox falls under that same category, although Holmes might consider rewarding him with a more lucrative, longer-term offer.
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Evan Brown has held up well at center. Is he a viable guard option for next year? — HalfSpaces
He’s a restricted free agent, for starters, so the Lions have to get him locked up first. I assume they will.
It would make sense to get Brown back into guard/center reps during the offseason — he’s played guard before, including for the Lions last season. The Lions could wind up with a starting right guard job available if they bail on Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but Brown shouldn’t be thought of as a plug-and-play replacement there. Both mentally and physically, he has a brighter future in the league as a center, and the Lions love what he brings to the table there.
What positions do you think the Lions will be looking to fill in free agency? Any high-priced guys, or all middling contracts? Who are your guesses for the guys we’re going to bring back? — Derrick
What position group do they target in FA? — Aaron Luneke
Not to ruin the first question there, Derrick, but we’ll get into who we think will (or won’t) be back shortly after the Lions wrap their regular season. There are a lot of good discussions to be had, more than can be covered in a couple of sentences.
Holmes will have more money to spend — the Lions are projected to have around $38 million available, and that number should go up. Still, count on the front office giving it at least another year before the money starts flying. All along, the plan has been to build from within, through the draft, and that’s not going to change when Detroit is loaded up with picks over 2022 and ’23. The additions could be a bit of a step up from what they were this past offseason, but don’t expect any massive, four- or five-year signings.
The position groups they should hit include receiver (depending on how Rounds 1 and 2 of the draft go), safety (for sure), tight end and cornerback. The Quinton Dunbar signing fell apart, and Dean Marlowe has struggled to make a huge impact, but those spots in the secondary tend to be prime for short-term, useful additions.
More of a statement: This is the first time since mid-Caldwell era that I’ll be sad the season is over — for a two-win team it’s remarkable how much fun they’ve been. Couldn’t be happier with the rebuild and who they’ve got in place from the top down. — Travis Mulhauser
Kind of amazing, isn’t it? The Lions are 2-12-1, they didn’t pick up that first victory until freaking December, they have tons of needs on the depth chart … and yet, they’ve put a fairly quality product on the field. The fans should be rallying around them, as they are, because the signs of life for the future have taken shape.
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If I can slap my fan hat on for a second: The way you’re talking there, Travis, is how I felt about the Tigers last season. There never was any realistic chance that they’d push for the postseason — and they wound up under .500 — but they were entertaining and energetic. They’re also further along in their rebuild than the Lions are, but the feelings of hope carry over.
(Top photo of Jared Goff: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)