2025 Lions offseason

[Jimbo]

This is probably a little premature but figured, since its a bye week its a good week to discuss.

The Lions are in a good a situation but are going to have some tough decisions.  I actually don't think the run in the playoffs make much of a difference what we do next year.  One good thing about the injuries is they have still been a top team in the NFL and will get these players back next year.  So I am hoping we can keep most of our current roster and add a few free agents for depth.  They are actually in a good spot next year.  2026 and beyond will be a lot more difficult because the contracts will really start adding up and your going to have to make a lot more difficult decisions.  This years draft will definitely be used for depth and filling in holes in future years. 

The Lions are projected to have $51.25 in CAP space per USA today.  This could go up or down depending on the CAP.  Most of this will be used to keep our current team intact. 

2021 drafted players to make decisions on

Iffy: Injuries are a concern.  Hoping to keep him.  Possibly with a short term contract.  He might want to test the market.

Barnes: He played great in last years playoffs and early this year.  This year was disappointing to see him get hurt so early.  Hoping they can keep him but like Iffy, he might want to see what his options are.

Levi: He had a great game against Minn.  Another one with injury concerns.  Would be nice to keep him on a short contract but will have to see what the options are.

2022 drafted players to make decisions on

Hutch: Probably agrees to a new contract.  There is the concern about his leg although the fact that there wasn't any ligament damage, I feel like this is safe.  At least take on the 5th year and then negotiate throughout the season.

Jamo:  This is going to be the hardest decision in the off season because of the suspensions.  I think you try to work something out with exceptions.  Could take on 5th year.  Playoffs will be huge for him. Holmes might already know what he plans on doing.  Possibility of a trade although his talent is there and him and St. Brown are almost a perfect combination.  You could solidify your top two receivers for a while.  Jamo could want a shorter contract or to play out next year thinking he'll be a top 10 receiver. 

Paschal: Injuries are a concern.  He did a good job this year filling in after all the injuries to our DL.  Could let him play out and worry about it next year or sign him to an extension.

Joseph: Definitely extend him to a top safety contract, might happen during the year if they can't figure it out early.

Malcolm:  Feel bad for him because he was really filling in for Alex and Barnes.  Think this is one of those guys that everyone likes and he could stay on the team because of that.

Lions Free agents

Davis: It seems like they will let him leave.  Was a great addition although I don't think the team will want to give him a long contract which could affect signing our 2023 draft class.  If he was willing to take a short high end contract, they might be able to work something out. 

Cominsky:  No idea what they will do with him.  Could end up bring him back or lose him to free agency.  Chance of him playing in the playoffs and if he could be a factor, it could help him stay with us or free agency.

Davenport: Most likely gone

Zeitler:  Hope they can bring him back on a short term deal.

Patrick: Hope they can bring him back on a short term deal.

There are a bunch of guys like Muhammad, Reynolds,....etc that will be back next year or they find other players (in the draft or FA) to fill their depth spots.

Free Agents

I don't think they are going to make a splash because that would make it difficult to keep the 2023 draft players.  I think they are going to look for some veterans that want to play on a winning team and for Campbell.  They could also find some players that had bad years or were injured on short term deals thinking they are on a good team and could get a bigger contract the following year.  We are mostly going to be looking for depth.

Draft

Mostly depth guys that will be used to replace guys we could lose down the road or are retiring.  I don't think Holmes will reach but I see this as a draft they start to look at the OL.  First and second round pick will be best player available.  They are in that rare situation where they don't really have any holes.

 

 

[Motown Bombers]

An underrated need is going to be DT. McNeil is going to miss most of the season. They'll need some stopgap solution. I know Calais Campbell is approaching 40, but he's still productive and could be that stopgap. 

Za'Darius Smith is under contract for next year. No need to bring back Davenport. Pass rusher would be a good position to target in the draft since you have Smith for next year. 

Zeitler may just retire especially if the Lions wins the Super Bowl. Mahogany would be the likely replacement. This is a position they can save a little cap space. 

Barnes, Melifonwu and Ownzurike I would bring back on short contracts. If Hutchinson's leg is healed, he'll probably get his big extension. Might as well get it done now. Beat Parsons signing his. Williams I would pick up the 5th year and kick extension talks to next year. Joseph will likely get extended. I would like to see Davis extended but we're getting a lot of mouths to feed since Gibbs, Campbell, Laporta, and Branch will be coming up for extensions. 

[RedRamage]

Iffy: I'd love to keep him if we can for cheap, but I'm not spending on him. We have Joseph and Branch as starters and a quality backup in Joseph. Low priority here.

Barnes: I'd making him a priority. I don't think we have as quality depth at LB and we certainly are lacking quality depth at pass rushing. Barnes is a necessity.

Levi: I'd probably try to keep him at a reasonable price. We need the depth, but I'm not paying him 2nd round money. Too many injuries, and not really star-level production when he's healthy. I want him, but only at a reasonable price.

Jamo: Pick up the 5th year, start working on a longer deal if he looks good starting in the 2025 season.

Pascal: Punt until next year. See if he can stay healthy, see if he can be productive when healthy.

Joseph: Pay him.

Rodrigo: Try to keep him on for the right price. Don't overspend, but we need the depth at LB and he decent when he's on the field.

Davis: Try to keep him for another 1 or 2 year deal.

Cominsky: Keep him if he's willing to sign for a reasonable amount. We need the depth. If Levi leaves this becomes a bit of a higher priority.

Davenport: See ya!

Zeitler: Give him a 2 year deal. We need stability while we work on future OL pieces.

Patrick: Try to keep him for a reasonable price.

FA: I agree that there will likely be no bit free agent signings. I don't think we have too many glaring holes that outside of perhaps DL. I think in most positions the price to upgrade won't be worth the level of upgrade we get. Obviously if a number of the guy in yellow or green don't re-sign, that will change the calculus here.

[RedRamage]

As for the draft... here's how Holmes will draft: BPA, BPA, BPA, BPA, BPA... and BPA. Oh, and BPA. He's shown repeatedly that he's going to target the best players (according to them) who is available almost regardless of positional need. Part of me would want to see them get some backup for positions like OL that are getting older and expensive, but this isn't how Holmes works.

He'll draft whomever he thinks will have the best chance of being a star player. If that means he don't end up with the depth we need or we don't have a starter ready to fill in for a retiring/leaving player, Holmes will fill that with a short term deal FA.

Look at what he's done in the past and how it's worked out:

2021: Drafted a DT in round 2, so we filled that need... why are we drafting ANOTHER DT in round 3? Do we really need Alim McNeill?

2022: St. Brown is a star in the making and we're desperate for secondary help. Why are we trading up for a WR named Jaymo or Jamo or whatever?

2023: We just signed Montgomery and you're drafting another RB? Who is this Gibbs anyway?
A linebacker?? Rodrigo's been a nice pickup... why do we need this guy?
Wait.. a Safety? Joseph was such a nice surprise from last year why are you getting another one?

[Jason_R]

I think the team loves Carlton Davis and he loves them back. He and a lot of other FA players will be aware of how much Detroit’s staff develops and plays to the strengths of the players. This will help Detroit keep or attract a few FAs who might have gotten similar or slightly better deals elsewhere. 

Davenport only got $3 million guaranteed. Nobody is going to plan for 17 games out of him but someone will sign him and it won’t be for a lot. 

With how Mahogany looked in his first game, Zeitler might be the odd-man out on the OL. 

[NYLion]

Hutch PROBABLY gets a new contract? He's getting extended long term the moment there's an opportunity to do so. He had a clean break, his long term prognosis isn't being effected at all by this injury. He'll get the big ticket contract and well deserved.

The immediate priorities are Davis, Zeitler, Barnes, Levi, Iffy and whether or not they want to extend Kerby because he's likely going to be the highest paid safety in the league and the question is do you want to pay two safties (when Branch is due) top of the market money? Tough decision. I think eventually, they're going to have to choose between Jamo or Kerby.

Out of the UFA's.... I gotta run so I'll finish this later

[KnoxP]

One thing I seem to notice at least once a game is a big play from Paschal. He's not an edge rusher so the moving him to cover for Hutch when the break occurred was 'meh. Not an all-pro, not McNeil, yet he does make plays.

[RatkoVarda]

the thing about Davis or Ownzurike and really anyone else, is that if Brad and Dan know you have "It" - what it takes to be a Detroit Lion - that is a huge bonus. Even if there was someone more talented than Davis, he may not have It.

I think Davis, Zeitler, Levi, and Pascal all come back.

[Motown Bombers]

Paschal is still under contract for next year. Next year would be his last year. 

[Hongbit]

Ragnow is also pretty much season to season with his degenerative toe issue.   It wouldn’t be a shock to see him retire on top of they win it.    

[Motown Bombers]

I keep hearing this about Ragnow, but he's only missed three games the past three years and isn't even listed on the injury report. 

[MichiganCardinal]

8 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

Ragnow is also pretty much season to season with his degenerative toe issue.   It wouldn’t be a shock to see him retire on top of they win it.    

I might have believed that last year, but it's not a big concern of mine any more. I know that foot issue was significant last year, and there were talks that it was inoperable, but he's missed only one game this year, for the torn pec muscle. And he wanted to play in that game. I've heard nothing about his toe at all this year, so I think it's fair to assume that it's holding up fine.

No one would blame him if he retired. He loves the outdoors and seems to have a second career ready as an outdoorsman. He's got some hilarious videos on his YouTube channel of fishing with Jared Goff, and another one where he falls through the ice in this bougie backyard creek.

But I think he's just the ultimate competitor. I don't think retirement is something he's even considered. 

[Jimbo]

34 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

the thing about Davis or Ownzurike and really anyone else, is that if Brad and Dan know you have "It" - what it takes to be a Detroit Lion - that is a huge bonus. Even if there was someone more talented than Davis, he may not have It.

I think Davis, Zeitler, Levi, and Pascal all come back.

Signing Davis or any big free agents this summer could mean you have to let Laporta, Branch, or Campbell go the following year.  Now the CAP could change drastically or they could restructure contracts (or let someone else go) although when you sign someone else you are taking a chance not being able to keep someone.  Now If you ask me at this point right now I would say next year is probably the best year for us to be the best team possible  Its just that year that everything works out with the team.  So maybe you do sign Davis or other free agents and go all in.  I don't feel like Holmes is the go all in kind of GM and is looking more of a great team for a long time.  Not saying this year or 2-4 years from now they don't have a better shot at winning.  Just saying everything seems to come into place next year as far as our talent and contracts go with the CAP.  A lot can change in the NFL and that is why its important to win when you have a chance.  Good thing with this team is that they are still actually very young for a top team.

Edited January 8 by Jimbo

[MichiganCardinal]

I'm honestly less bummed than I was last year. With the injuries, and the fluky feel to just how poorly Goff performed, I don't know. Just a wicked bad beat for a really good football team.

Now that's not excusing the coaching staff. If Johnson and Glenn aren't back, this game is ultimately their legacy. Their offense coughed up five turnovers and their defense gave up 38 points (and realistically 41+) when it mattered most. That's at their feet. Ultimately, that's who they'll forever be, if they're gone.

They have no excuses not to be even better next season. While they won't go 17-0, that should be the expectation with the roster they'll have returning. You can't go 15-2, lose Tim Patrick, and go 10-7.

[Graterol]

Only major FAs are Levi, Zeitler, and Carlton Davis. After signing draft picks, they will at best be able to sign two of these, maybe only one. Zeitler on a one year $8-9 mil deal would be great, move Mahogany to other guard, and Glasgow is 6th OL (only save $2 mil by cutting him, so probably worth keep as backup, but he was bad this year). I think Levi is almost certainly gone (will get big deal) and Davis would be great but may be priced out.

Barnes, Davenport, Iffy, Patrick, Muhammad only back if on cheaper deals.

Biggest draft needs will be OT (for future), DE/DL, backup safety, WR. Really need to replenish depth and hit on draft this year.

Love Brad but he got cocky with some picks, trading lots of draft capital for Brodrick Martin, Manu, and Vaki, and it really impacted our depth this year. 

[MichiganCardinal]

I think Levi comes back on a one-year deal, maybe a quasi two-year with an out after one. Nobody in the league is going to give him serious money the way his first three seasons went. He needs to prove he can stay healthy. If they do, more power to him.

Not sure what they do with Zeitler. He’s probably got to decide if he wants to hang up the cleats first. I’d bring him back for another year, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to moving Glasgow back to the left side and having Mahagony start.

I don’t think we can afford CDIII. He will get a big deal. I think the plan was to have Rakestraw as CB2, but we haven’t seen enough of him to know if he’s ready.

I don’t need to see Davenport or Moseley back. There comes a time when injury prone turns into undependable, and they’ve both entered that category.

55 minutes ago, Graterol said:

Love Brad but he got cocky with some picks, trading lots of draft capital for Brodrick Martin, Manu, and Vaki, and it really impacted our depth this year. 

As far as this goes, I’m not there yet, really on any of the three, but especially not Vaki or Manu. I’m close on Martin, but Levi showed that a big step forward can happen in year four. Manu could still turn into Decker’s replacement and Vaki into Montgomery’s. Way too early on them.

The cheap shot on Goff yesterday did reveal that there is an utter lack of trust or confidence in Hooker. They literally took a high school coach off the street and said “you are higher on the depth chart than the dude we drafted in the 3rd round who’s been with us for two years now.”

Edited Sunday at 07:51 PM by MichiganCardinal

[Mr.TaterSalad]

What hurts the most for me right now is that this season, for all the excitement it brought, ended up being a complete failure. In my mind there is no spin or justifying this season as a whole. It was a season that had Super Bowl expectations attached and we failed to even get back to where we were last season. We regressed in fact and did so against a rookie QB with inferior talent on his roster. 

[Hongbit]

Brad should really think about looking into the online fanbase for both coordinators.   Many are more knowledgeable than either of the losers we had this year.  

No doubt this same team is undefeated and looking for win 19 on Sunday had we had someone from Twitter calling plays.  

[Motown Bombers]

I personally wouldn't have called the plays that require Goff to throw an interception. 

[Motown Bombers]

As you can see, the Vikings have a lot of free agents. There could be a lot of turnover.

 

[Hongbit]

6 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

I personally wouldn't have called the plays that require Goff to throw an interception. 

Exactly.  Ben has gotten way too cocky.  All the hype has definitely gone to his head.  

[gehringer_2]

44 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

Brad should really think about looking into the online fanbase for both coordinators.   Many are more knowledgeable than either of the losers we had this year.   

 

8 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

I personally wouldn't have called the plays that require Goff to throw an interception. 

You guys need to get your resumes into Ron Wood ASAP

🏈🏈🏈

🤣

[Hongbit]

Just now, gehringer_2 said:

 

You guys need to get your resumes into Ron Wood ASAP

🏈🏈🏈

🤣

I’ve got to get my Twitter posts and follows up.    

[Nate7474]

My List for the offseason-

1) Get our Coordinators figured out quickly as I think we lose both them- I think a promotion from within for OC (Tanner Engstrand) makes a lot of sense.  I'd like to see us go outside the house for a DC and I'm thinking someone who comes from a staff or a past coordinator with success on containing mobile QBs. 

2) Long term extension for Hutchinson and Joseph and pick up 5th year option on Williams.

3) Franchise Tag Davis- I think the long term plan is for one of Arnold and Rakestraw to take over that number 1 CB and possible 2 but we didn't see that yet. However we have cap space this year but then need to get cheaper in future years so Davis for one year even on an overpay should not hurt us long term.

4) Try and Resign- Zietler (I think he returns for a similar deal if he doesn't retire). Barnes, Onwuzurike, Patrick and Melifonwu (this quartet are very good depth players who can start and because of that we may get price out). Other depth pieces as well can and should be brought back.

5) Free Agency- Pass rush- I like Mack as a potential one year fit here but there are other options. Interior DL- We are going to missing McNeil for a good portion of the season so I would like to see us go after a 1 or 2 year DT to fill that need. Fill in other depth pieces for players missed out on resigning.

We are in really good shape and should mainly focus on keeping team intact and maintain good cap situation for future extensions.  Build future replacement starters through the draft.

6) Draft- Target DL help early, specifically pass rushing from outside or interior as we need both. Focus on OL depth pieces to eventually replace aging or less effective vets.  Maybe try and grab a high upside WR that falls in the later rounds. You always need to add secondary and Linebacker pieces in my opinion as they serve as good special teams players as well.

 

These are my early thoughts anyway.  What are yours?

[Motown Bombers]

If the Lions go outside the organization for a defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen makes too much sense. Good defensive coordinator with strong ties to Campbell, who runs a similar system to what Glenn runs.