Detroit Lions 2024 Offseason Thread

[1984Echoes]

3 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I think McNeil can really blossom and learn a lot with Reader at his side....

I think this also delays a "need" to put Brodric Martin into the starting lineup or even a rotation.

It means Brodric may be entering "Reader School" and may not even emerge, in a meaningful way, until 2026.

And I don't see that as a negative on Martin either.

It may be an unknown...

But if he truly loves this game and both can be patient as well as have the ability to truly learn and grow his technique in this game... It will be interesting to see what comes out the other side of his "Reader School of Dominant D-Line Play."

And when.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, NYLion said:

I think Josh is the likely signing but Tyler Boyd would be my choice of the realistic solutions, might be bit pricey though. The receiver market is flooded with good players.

Players want to come to Detroit. That's something we're not used to. And some even take pay cuts to stay! <ducks>

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, SkyBlue said:

Agree with this and also think he will benefit B Martin quite a bit as well. 

That's what I was thinking also...

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

I like Dorsey. The Lions 1st kick of the season, in Kansas City, he was near the returner. Got knocked on his butt, got up and was still the 1st player to make the tackle. That's an MCDC man, total hustle.

[1984Echoes]

28 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

With Reader in, Brodric Martin potentially being elevated in year 2, and McNeil already your top DT on the roster, where does this leave Levi? Will he make the roster and if he does, is he last on the depth chart?

I wouldn't call him "last" as much as I would call for the need to stay healthy.

IE: If he's the 3rd best DT in training camp then he's the #3 DT in the regular season as well, as long as he can remain healthy and productive. And Martin is #4 and has to both learn more and wait his turn.

But it's the NFL and injuries happen so I wouldn't write anything in stone. What depth # would we have given Tyson Alualu and Quinton Bohanna? As they each played a few games in 2023.

I think I would look at Levi more at the end of the season with the question "what was he able to bring to the Lions in 2024?"

Just my 2 cents...

[Sports_Freak]

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Tenacious D]

16 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

4th rounder?  Hate to see him in the division (2X) since he torched us last season.  Might not be so bad with a rookie QB throwing to him.

[buddha]

the bears are going to be better.  hopefully a rookie qb holds them back next year.

[MichiganCardinal]

Figures that right as we finally get our heads out of our ass as a franchise that the rest of the division would too. The Bears should be pretty good next year. Packers too. I expect the Vikings to struggle a little with their rookie quarterback, but they should still hover around .500, there is talent on that roster.

It's going to be an extremely competitive division next year. No games are easy in the NFL, but it's nice when you can count on two games against a bottom feeder.

[buddha]

24 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Figures that right as we finally get our heads out of our ass as a franchise that the rest of the division would too. The Bears should be pretty good next year. Packers too. I expect the Vikings to struggle a little with their rookie quarterback, but they should still hover around .500, there is talent on that roster.

It's going to be an extremely competitive division next year. No games are easy in the NFL, but it's nice when you can count on two games against a bottom feeder.

i agree.

however, everyone said the same thing about the nfc west last year too.  the nfl is so random for 80% of the league.  10% sucks.  10% is great and everyone else can beat everyone else on any sunday, just depends on luck, refs, and injuries.

[buddha]

keenan allen is also 32 years old and very expensive.  how many years does he have left before he becomes an expensive possession receiver?

[RatkoVarda]

3 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

With Reader in, Brodric Martin potentially being elevated in year 2, and McNeil already your top DT on the roster, where does this leave Levi? Will he make the roster and if he does, is he last on the depth chart?

no real reason to think that Martin will pass Levi anytime soon. Holmes is like any other GM, his guys will get longer looks, so Levi is going to get every chance to stay in 24. besides, right now he is the 3rd best DT, at worst 4th if you think Paschal is a DT.

[MichiganCardinal]

Just now, RatkoVarda said:

no real reason to think that Martin will pass Levi anytime soon. Holmes is like any other GM, his guys will get longer looks, so Levi is going to get every chance to stay in 24. besides, right now he is the 3rd best DT, at worst 4th if you think Paschal is a DT.

At some point though you run into the problem of your guys pushing out your guys, and younger guys (like Martin) showing more long-term promise on a rookie deal than older guys who will need to be re-signed. I give Levi credit for his aggressive rehab, I can't imagine playing NFL football after a major back surgery like that. But he's not really been an NFL-caliber player in his three years now.

That said, he'll get his chance in camp again. They carried five interior defensive linemen (three or four active) on the 53-man for much of 2023. Alim, Benito, Buggs, Levi, and Martin. In 2024, we can remove Benito and Buggs, and add Reader. Tyson Alualu was a late addition when we released Buggs, but he'll be 37 by training camp, he's likely contemplating retirement.

Alim, Reader, and Martin are locks, as would be any 2024 draft pick in the 6th round or earlier. That likely leaves Levi with the opportunity to win a roster spot again.

[buddha]

1 hour ago, MichiganCardinal said:

At some point though you run into the problem of your guys pushing out your guys, and younger guys (like Martin) showing more long-term promise on a rookie deal than older guys who will need to be re-signed. I give Levi credit for his aggressive rehab, I can't imagine playing NFL football after a major back surgery like that. But he's not really been an NFL-caliber player in his three years now.

That said, he'll get his chance in camp again. They carried five interior defensive linemen (three or four active) on the 53-man for much of 2023. Alim, Benito, Buggs, Levi, and Martin. In 2024, we can remove Benito and Buggs, and add Reader. Tyson Alualu was a late addition when we released Buggs, but he'll be 37 by training camp, he's likely contemplating retirement.

Alim, Reader, and Martin are locks, as would be any 2024 draft pick in the 6th round or earlier. That likely leaves Levi with the opportunity to win a roster spot again.

dude, laiatu latu had spinal fusion surgery and youre all about drafting him.  😉

 

[MichiganCardinal]

23 minutes ago, buddha said:

dude, laiatu latu had spinal fusion surgery and youre all about drafting him.  😉

 

Because he had it and is actually good at getting to the quarterback!! 😆 

[NYLion]

10 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Figures that right as we finally get our heads out of our ass as a franchise that the rest of the division would too. The Bears should be pretty good next year. Packers too. I expect the Vikings to struggle a little with their rookie quarterback, but they should still hover around .500, there is talent on that roster.

It's going to be an extremely competitive division next year. No games are easy in the NFL, but it's nice when you can count on two games against a bottom feeder.

I like the competition. The division was a relative cakewalk last season so I knew that wouldn't last. The Lions are the top dog now and the team that's being hunted so it was always going to get tougher going forward, should make for some fun division games.

[Motown Bombers]

This is why I thought the Chargers job was overrated. Yeah you have Herbert, now you have no one around him. They lost their RB and top two receivers and still don't have a ton of cap space and having aging and injury prone players on defense. It's not going to get much better as Herbert's cap number doubles in 2025. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[RandyMarsh]

Im guessing Minny is trying to get more ammunition to move up for a qb. The Michigan fan in me hopes its not JJ cause Id hate to have to root against him which would be the case if he ends up a Viking.

[Motown Bombers]

When was the last time the Vikings went all in on a young QB? It seems like it's always retread veterans like Cousins and Favre or late 1st rounders like Bridgewater and Culpepper. 

[RandyMarsh]

9 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

When was the last time the Vikings went all in on a young QB? It seems like it's always retread veterans like Cousins and Favre or late 1st rounders like Bridgewater and Culpepper. 

Christian Ponder comes to mind,  I think he was a top 10 pick in 2011 or 12. Ended up being a complete bust of course. 

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

Christian Ponder comes to mind,  I think he was a top 10 pick in 2011 or 12. Ended up being a complete bust of course. 

I seem to recall they were panned for that move as it was believed they over drafted him. They seem to oscillate between veterans like Favre, Cunningham, and Cousins and late firsts or seconds like Tavaris Jackson, Bridgewater and Culpepper. I honestly thought they had one in Culpepper. I thought he and Moss were going to be a problem for a long time. 

[buddha]

if you have a qb and a good coach, you can turn things around pretry quickly in the nfl.  look at the texans.

i would have cut bosa if i were the chargers.  dude is getting old and is always hurt.  but they re-negotiated today.  

they should trade out of 5 and rob the vikings.  the chargers trading out of 5 so the vikings can draft mccarthy would be kind of ironic considering harbaugh is their coach.

Edited March 15, 2024 by buddha

[RandyMarsh]

Considering Harbaugh's love for JJ he's probably trying to talk the Chargers brass into drafting him and getting rid of Herbert.