DETROIT – The Detroit Lions are coming off their best season in decades, and that makes it even more important for Brad Holmes to put together another strong offseason.
Since he took over as the Lions’ general manager three years ago, Holmes has methodically executed a plan that’s elevated the Lions from laughingstock to championship contender. Two seasons after finishing 3-13-1, they were one dropped fourth-down pass from a Super Bowl appearance.
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It won’t be easy to get back to that point, but Holmes said this week that 2023 was the starting point, not the peak. Let’s take a look at some of his top priorities for the offseason.
Extensions
Everybody’s eyes are on how the Lions handle Jared Goff, and it sure seems like a deal is going to get done eventually, but quarterback isn’t the only position the Lions need to lock up for the long haul.
Penei Sewell
Detroit is led by its offense, and the offense is carried by the line. Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker have already received second contracts, and now it’s Penei Sewell’s turn.
Sewell is one of the best tackles in the NFL, and he won’t turn 24 until the middle of next season. Unlike some of the other players along the Lions’ line, Sewell has been very reliable in terms of staying in the lineup, missing just one out of 54 career games (including playoffs).
Sewell has only allowed a handful of sacks in his three seasons, and he’s an athletic run blocker who can get to the second level and turn average gains into big plays. His versatility allows Ben Johnson to be aggressive and creative with the playbook.
If the Lions are going to enjoy an extended run, Sewell is one of the central pieces. They might as well lock him up now and avoid any drama.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
I know it’s not always worth dishing out big money to a wide receiver, but Amon-Ra St. Brown is the heart and soul of the offense. I don’t think Lions fans could bear to see him playing for another team.
The 24-year-old just put together a ridiculous statistical season, catching 119 passes for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. He added 22 catches for 274 yards and a score in the playoffs.
St. Brown is one of the most productive receivers in the league, and he also embodies the overall mentality of this team. Holmes should extend him this offseason instead of letting him play on an expiring deal.
Graham Glasgow
This is obviously lower on the priority list than Sewell or St. Brown, but I think the Lions would be wise to bring back Graham Glasgow for at least another season.
He’s a local guy who wants to be in Detroit, and locking down the right guard spot would allow the Lions to focus on greater needs.
Glasgow had a few less-than-great moments this season, but for the most part, he was solid after stepping in as the starter at right guard. Jonah Jackson is younger and better, but he’s also much more injury prone and going to be more expensive.
I don’t think the Lions want to go into the draft having to replace both of their starting guards. Out of the two, Glasgow might actually be the better value.
Free agents
Wide receiver
The Lions need a No. 2 wide receiver as a third option for Goff behind St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, as Josh Reynolds hits free agency.
Maybe it’s as simple as bringing Reynolds back on a short-term deal. I know fans have mixed (or not so mixed) feelings about Reynolds after his key drops in the 49ers game, but for the vast majority of the season, he was a reliable target for Goff.
If it’s not Reynolds, there are a few strong candidates available. The Lions aren’t going to break the bank for an aging Mike Evans, but a dream scenario would be to sign someone like Tee Higgins.
Higgins is 25 years old and 6-foot-4. He was a 1,000-yard receiver in back-to-back seasons before taking a step back in 2023, catching only 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Higgins is going to demand a nice contract this offseason, but the Lions have money to spend and not many needs. If they added Higgins to a unit that already has St. Brown, LaPorta, and two solid pass-catching running backs, the offense would look even more dangerous.
If Higgins is a bit out of the Lions’ desired price range, they might be able to target someone like Noah Brown. No matter who it is, they need a big-bodied receiver.
Cornerback
I don’t think the Lions are going to find a No. 1 cornerback in free agency. That will have to happen in the draft. But they can certainly add some depth.
To say Cam Sutton struggled in the second half of the season would be an understatement. But the problem isn’t really Sutton, it’s the Lions’ lack of depth at the position.
Sutton would be just fine as a No. 2 or No.3 cornerback next season. He should not be the primary defender on the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, and Puka Nacua.
Losing Emmanuel Moseley just a few plays into his return was a blow that the Lions’ secondary could never overcome. But if they bring in another cornerback of Sutton’s quality (or perhaps a bit better), that would go a long way toward solidifying the position ahead of the draft.
Kicker
It’s long past time for the Lions to address the kicker situation. They can’t keep bouncing back and forth between the likes of Riley Patterson and Michael Badgley -- even with an aggressive coach like Dan Campbell.
There are a handful of reliable veteran kickers on the market, led by Ka’imi Fairbairn and Chase McLaughlin. They would be perfect additions.
Fairbairn has made 56 of 59 field goal attempts over the past two seasons, including 11-of-12 from 50+ yards. He’s also converted 54 of 55 extra points in that span.
McLaughlin has a reliable leg from 50+ yards, making 20 of 24 attempts from that range over the past three years. He made 29 of 31 field goal attempts for the Buccaneers this season.
The Lions could try to address the kicker issue during the draft, but I would prefer they sign a free agent for two reasons. One, rookie kickers are inherently volatile. They can be elite in college and struggle in the NFL. Two, Holmes can find great value in the later rounds of the draft, and I would rather he continue to add depth in the trenches than take a gamble on a kicker when there are perfectly viable veteran options.
Interior offensive lineman
I don’t know what the Lions plan to do with Jackson and Glasgow, but whether they sign both of them, neither, or one, they should try to find a Glasgow-esque free agent as an insurance policy.
Maybe the Lions think Kayode Awosika is the backup interior offensive lineman for next year, but if not, there’s a bit of a hole behind the starters, and the Lions know all-too-well that interior offensive line injuries are more a matter of “when” than “if.”
This would be a distant fourth priority behind the three free agent needs above, but the Lions could certainly afford to bring in another rotational guard.
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Draft
This is where Holmes really thrives, and whatever he does in the draft, Lions fans should trust him. But the plan for the early rounds this year seems pretty straightforward.
First round
Cornerback. Cornerback, cornerback, cornerback, cornerback, cornerback.
The Lions desperately need a No. 1 corner, and it’s not necessarily going to be easy to find one with the No. 29 overall pick.
Elite cornerbacks are a top priority for teams in the first round, and it’s incredibly difficult to find a true No. 1 after the first day. So I think this should be the top priority for Holmes on April 25.
Draft-day trades have been a staple of the Holmes era in Detroit, whether he’s trading up to get Jameson Williams and Brian Branch or moving back to accumulate picks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to maneuver his way up the board this year if there’s a cornerback he really likes.
Second round
It’s not quite as dire as the secondary, but the Lions also need some help on the defensive line. More specifically, they need a pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Hutchinson went from 9.5 sacks and three interceptions as a rookie to 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his second year. He added another trio of sacks in the playoffs and qualified for his first Pro Bowl.
And he’s doing all that with basically no help on the other side of the line.
James Houston came on late in 2022, but he was out with injury for all of 2023. The Lions really need another dynamic edge rusher.
Could this be enough of a priority to address in the first round? Yes -- especially if there’s a pass rusher available who Holmes likes much more than the available cornerbacks.
But it’s much easier to find a productive pass rusher beyond the first round than a lockdown cornerback. So waiting on the latter would be a major risk. The Lions could survive next season with what they’ve got on the line, but they absolutely cannot go into 2024 without another corner.
Third round
Four years ago, the Lions drafted Jackson with the No. 75 overall pick of the draft. It was arguably the only successful pick of Bob Quinn’s entire 2020 draft class (maybe D’Andre Swift counts?).
After he adds a cornerback and an edge rusher in the first two rounds, I think Holmes should make left guard a priority late on Day 2.
The offensive line has been the strength of the Lions for the past couple of seasons, and they need to invest in maintaining that strength. Decker, Sewell, and Ragnow will be back next season, but those guard positions need to be prioritized.
Some of the best interior offensive lineman in the draft will be selected in this second- to fourth-round range, and Lions fans should trust Holmes to find one.
Final thoughts
This offseason is a nice change for Lions fans. Usually, the list of needs is so long it feels daunting to try to address them all. But this time, there are just a few major holes they need to plug to try to put them over the hump.
Detroit is already good enough to compete for an NFC North title once again in 2024. That would be the case even without any moves beyond the draft.
But Holmes isn’t satisfied with an NFC Championship Game appearance. If he wants to compete with the likes of San Francisco, Green Bay, and Dallas again next season, he knows the improvements he needs to make.
The Lions have one of the best general managers in the sport, so it should be an exciting next few months.
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