Could Lions pull off a major move on Draft night?
The Detroit Lions, under the general managership of Brad Holmes, will start the Draft with a selection outside of the top-10 for the first time.
Holmes has made moves in the first round and ended up with impact players in the last two rounds. He moved up from No. 32 overall in the 2022 season to select Jameson Williams, then at No. 12, he selected Jahmyr Gibbs, moving out of the top-10 to gain cash.
Given that the Lions will select towards the end of the first round, Holmes may have another chance to act on opening night in the 2024 Draft.
The fact that the Draft will be held in the Lions’ stadium adds to the mystery and may make for an exciting moment if Holmes decides to make a trade in order to advance.
The third-year general manager of the Lions’ intentions will rely on how he feels about the board. Regardless of positional need, he has demonstrated a willingness to advance to sign players at the top of his rankings.
The inside offensive line positions and cornerback are two areas where the Lions are generally in need of improvement. The cornerback class is expected to have some of its best prospects selected early, but the Lions may choose to hold off on signing a top prospect.
Consequently, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Holmes advance to get a player in that spot. The tandem of Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama, Cooper DeJean from Iowa, and Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo are among the top prospects at the position.
When it comes to players of all positions, Holmes can make these moves, that much is evident. It is therefore beneficial to monitor elite players in skill positions other than quarterback and running back.
Moving up will be tough for the Lions because they don’t have as much Draft capital as they did in previous years. Nonetheless, Holmes is a bold general manager who isn’t hesitant to give something up in order to get a player he wants.
The largest threat to NFC North is who?
Being the defending NFC North winners in 2024 will put the Lions in a strange place. Consequently, their opponents will have to regroup in an attempt to topple Campbell’s squad.
There are components in each of the Lions’ division competitors that will enable them to contend for the division title in 2024. The defense of Minnesota was among the best in the league, Chicago has a wealth of draft capital, and Green Bay has an abundance of young talent at its skill spots.
The Packers will be the Lions’ biggest threat going forward. In his debut season as a starter, Jordan Love looked like one of the best rookie quarterbacks in the league, and before the 49ers lost in the end, they had the 49ers in the Divisional Round tight.
Many gifted playmakers can be found in Love, such as wideouts Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed. By the end of the season, Aaron Jones was also performing at a high level.
Green Bay matched Detroit’s roughness in their Thanksgiving matchup, but the Lions and Packers split their regular season meetings.
The quarterback position in Minnesota still needs work, and Chicago will once again be a young squad. While there are four teams in the division that have the potential to contend for the postseason, Green Bay is now the Lions’ greatest rival.
Will Donovan Peoples-Jones or Josh Reynolds be re-signed by the Lions?
The Lions must make two difficult choices at wide receiver as they attempt to advance. Reynolds and Peoples-Jones will both be available as free agents.
As a secondary receiving option in 2023, Reynolds contributed significantly to the Lions’ offense, accumulating 608 receiving yards and five touchdowns throughout the regular season. He showed excellent chemistry with Jared Goff, with whom he had played together with the Rams, and the two have a close bond.
But with Jameson Williams emerging as a star at the conclusion of the season, his price tag might be too much for the Lions to afford this offseason.
Peoples-Jones, who was acquired at the trade deadline, did not play a significant role in the offense. In the regular season, he only had five catches on a small number of snaps.
The front office will need to handle the contract concerns at the position because Amon-Ra St. Brown is due for an extension. Being a top wide receiver, St. Brown will fetch a high fee.
Peoples-Jones offers upside potential, while Reynolds offers a more consistent presence. Both have their advantages. Reynolds, though, might have the advantage in this situation because of his versatility in Detroit’s offensive scheme.
