As crazy as this sounds, despite finishing with a worse record than 2020 last season, it was actually their best season in a while. Though the team is in a rebuilding phase, the Lions have hope again.
Beating the Packers in the season finale was a positive way to end the season. Though they lost the chance to get the first overall pick in the Draft, seemingly missing out on Aidan Hutchinson, the Jaguars chose Travon Walker, leading to Hutchinson getting drafted by his hometown team.
The Lions aren't a team with luck on their side—they have just one playoff win since 1957 and have not won a division title since 1993, when it was the NFC Central. They were also known for pushing Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson to early retirement.
But things could possibly change. Brad Holmes made bold moves this offseason, such as signing Charles Harris, who led the team in sacks last season, to a two-year extension, and addressing a need at wide receiver with the addition of DJ Chark, adding size and speed to the core. His one year "prove-it" deal after an injury-plagued 2021 is low-risk, high-reward.
The players rally around Dan Campbell and his leadership, bouncing back from an 0-10-1 start to finish the season winning three of their last six, starting with a walk-off win over the Vikings for their first win in 364 days.
There's still a long way to go. Jared Goff isn't a franchise quarterback and is 3-17-1 with a 33 total QBR with head coaches not named Sean McVay, and the Lions have not found his replacement. However, Campbell has praised Goff for being more comfortable running the offense, and new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been working with him to be in sync with the Lions' system. Them not drafting a QB shows they are confident in him.
The defense also needs work, particularly at inside linebacker and cornerback. Most importantly, Jeff Okudah has a lot to prove. It's nothing to do with his production, but rather his injury problems. He has played just 10 games since being drafted 3rd overall in 2020. He is coming off an Achilles injury, and has had to overcome both the physical and mental aspects of recover. Him living up to expectations is yet to be seen.
At least there are positives, like the O-line. The skill position group is intriguing, especially if Jameson Williams is healed from a torn ACL in the National Championship Game, and TJ Hockenson stays healthy.
All eyes are on Amon-Ra St. Brown for a breakout season. He had 51 catches for 560 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Lions' final six games of last season. He is a huge part of the passing game, and the Lions know what he can do.
Brad Holmes' offseason plan was clear: One-year contracts for overlooked players that can help the team in any way possible, including Chark, DeShon Elliott, Mike Hughes, and a familiar face in Jarrad Davis. If they don't work out, they're all on one-year deals so they won't have to deal with future cap hits.
The Lions were 2-5-1 last season in games decided by seven points or less, and 1-4-1 in games decided by three points or less. It can show that they had bad luck their way and they're not far from a breakout. They can take some of the momentum from late last season into this season, so the possibility of winning seven or eight games is not out of the question.
Draft Picks
Round | Pick | Position | Player | College |
1 | 2 | DE | Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan |
1 | 12 | WR | Jameson Williams | Alabama |
2 | 46 | DE | Josh Paschal | Kentucky |
3 | 97 | FS | Kerby Joseph | Illinois |
5 | 177 | TE | James Mitchell | Virginia Tech |
6 | 188 | LB | Malcolm Rodriguez | Oklahoma State |
6 | 217 | LB | James Houston IV | Jackson State |
7 | 237 | CB | Chase Lucas | Arizona State |
Key Losses
DE Trey Flowers: Released
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin: Signed with Texans
DT Nick Williams: Released
S Dean Marlowe: Signed with Falcons
WR KhaDarel Hodge: Signed with Falcons
OT Tyrell Crosby: Unsigned free agent
Key Additions & Extensions
WR DJ Chark Jr.: 1-year deal, $10 million
DE Charles Harris: 2-year extension, $13 million
FS Tracy Walker III: 3-year extension, $25 million
WR Josh Reynolds: 2-year extension, $12 million
WR Kalif Raymond: 2-year extension, $9.5 million
LB Alex Anzalone: 1-year extension
S DeShon Elliott: 1-year deal
CB Mike Hughes: 1-year deal, $3.5 million
LB Jarrad Davis: 1-year deal
C Evan Brown: 1-year extension
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton: 1-year extension
Biggest Questions
How good will the new-look offense be?
Will Jameson Williams be ready for the start of the season?
How good will the rookie class be?
Can the pass rush carry the defense?
Does Jeff Okudah look ready to start the season?
Schedule
Week 1: Sunday, 9/11, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 2: Sunday, 9/18, vs. Washington Commanders, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 3: Sunday, 9/25, at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 4: Sunday, 10/2, vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 5: Sunday, 10/9, at New England Patriots, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 6: BYE WEEK
Week 7: Sunday, 10/23, at Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 8: Sunday, 10/30, vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 9: Sunday, 11/6, vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 10: Sunday, 11/13, at Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 11: Sunday, 11/20, at New York Giants, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 12: Thursday, 11/24, vs. Buffalo Bills, 12:30 PM on CBS
Week 13: Sunday, 12/4, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 14: Sunday, 12/11, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 15: Sunday, 12/18, at New York Jets, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 16: Saturday, 12/24, at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 17: Sunday, 1/1, vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 18: 1/7 or 1/8, at Green Bay Packers, Time and network TBD
Projected Starters
1 RB 3 WR 1 TE Offense
Position | # | Player |
QB | 16 | Jared Goff |
RB | 32 | D'Andre Swift |
WR | 14 | Amon-Ra St. Brown |
WR | 4 | DJ Chark Jr. |
WR | 9 | Jameson Williams |
TE | 88 | TJ Hockenson |
LT | 68 | Taylor Decker |
LG | 73 | Jonah Jackson |
C | 77 | Frank Ragnow |
RG | 72 | Halapoulivaati Vaitai |
RT | 58 | Penei Sewell |
Nickel Defense
Position | # | Player |
DE | 97 | Aidan Hutchinson |
DT | 90 | Michael Brockers |
DT | 54 | Alim McNeill |
DE | 95 | Romeo Okwara |
LB | 34 | Alex Anzalone |
LB | 55 | Derrick Barnes |
CB | 24 | Amani Oruwariye |
NB | 25 | Will Harris |
SS | 5 | DeShon Elliott |
FS | 21 | Tracy Walker III |
CB | 1 | Jeff Okudah |
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