Lions News

[El Axe]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/12/24/detroit-lions-nfl-playoffs-matthew-stafford-los-angeles-rams/72025255007/

Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Rams hold No. 6 seed with 2 weeks to play, while Detroit Lions are currently most likely to finish as No. 3 seed.

if we win out, we get the #2 seed.

If we lose out, we get the #3 seed

If we split the next two games, it gets really complicated. It might even come down to the #4 tiebreaker, strength of victory, whatever the heck that is.

edit: #1 seed is still possible, but honestly we need the 49ers to lose 2 of 3 and I'm just not anticipating that.

[dpatnod]

edit: #1 seed is still possible, but honestly we need the 49ers to lose 2 of 3 and I'm just not anticipating that.

I'll take it.

[whatever_gong82]

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/12/25/24014530/video-denver-broncos-honor-detroit-lions-with-dan-campbell-play-call

[whatever_gong82]

[whatever_gong82]

[El Axe]

I'll take it.

image.png

[whatever_gong82]

[mjsmithz]

But but positional value

[whatever_gong82]

[whatever_gong82]

How Lions GM Brad Holmes tore down, rebuilt a streak-snapping division winner in 3 years


Justin Rogers
The Detroit News



Allen Park — It's taken 30 years, countless players, 12 head coaches, six general managers and three owners for the Detroit Lions to once again win a division title. So, it's worth looking back at how the current GM, Brad Holmes, constructed the roster that has snapped the dreadful skid.

Holmes was hired following an exhaustive national search on Jan. 14, 2021. The announcement came 48 days after the team dismissed predecessor Bob Quinn and a little less than a week before the franchise named Dan Campbell its head coach. Holmes came from the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent the previous 18 seasons, including the final eight as the team's director of college scouting.

Brad Holmes 3rd season as Detroit Lions GM.jpg

Before making any meaningful roster-shaping decisions, Holmes' first moves were bolstering his front-office team. On Jan. 27, the Lions announced the hiring of Ray Agnew as assistant general manager and former GM John Dorsey as a senior personnel executive. Holmes' unquestionable expertise was the draft, while the additions of Agnew and Dorsey would be instrumental in rounding out the GM's knowledge and approach with pro personnel.

Days later, the first roster domino, and what will long remain the biggest, would fall.


Anticipated trade, unexpected return


Shortly after the Holmes hiring, longtime starting quarterback Matthew Stafford's request to be traded went public. After a dozen seasons leading the team, he didn't have the patience for another rebuild, and following bad breakups with franchise legends Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, the team acquiesced to Stafford's request.

Jared Goff at home vs Bears.jpg

Not surprisingly, there were a number of suitors, given the rarity of a QB with Stafford's pedigree hitting the block. The Lions ultimately accepted an offer from Holmes' former team, the Rams, in no small part because it was Stafford's preferred destination. But that didn't lessen the return, which included a pair of first-round draft picks, a third-round choice and Jared Goff, a former No. 1 pick who had two Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl appearance in his first five seasons.

And while there was an initial debate about Goff's long-term potential as Detroit's starter, few things kickstart a rebuild better than adding a number of high-level chips in the draft.


The great purge


A significant roster churn typically follows a change in leadership, and it was no different for Detroit. Prior to Holmes' first free-agency period, he went through a spring cleaning, releasing several veterans brought in by the previous regime.



That initial wave of cuts included linebacker Christian Jones, tight end Jesse James, cornerback Justin Coleman, offensive lineman Joe Dahl, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, cornerback Desmond Trufant and backup quarterback Chase Daniel. Additionally, the team restructured the contract of linebacker Jamie Collins.

Those moves clear cap space, but also add a lot of dead money. Basically, it creates the ability to add new scheme and culture fits, but limits your spending power to do so. Still, ripping the Band-Aid off is part of any rebuild.

Former Detroit Lion Michael Brockers.jpg

One of the pieces the Lions did add simultaneous to the purge was defensive tackle Michael Brockers. Admittedly long in the tooth, it cost Holmes next to nothing to acquire the former first-round pick from the Rams, and even if the production dropped off, which it did, he would help establish expectations and accountability for the influx of young talent that would be added to the mix in the coming months.

For what it's worth, the removal of players with ties to the former coaching staff continued for several months beyond this first, largest wave. Running back Kerryon Johnson got the boot in May, followed by Jahlani Tavai in August. Collins was axed a few months later, a couple of games into the regular season, and Da'Shawn Hand and Trey Flowers were left go within the next year. All tallied, those cuts plus the Stafford trade resulted in more than $50 million in dead money against Detroit's cap.


Slow-playing free agency


As noted, Holmes' spending power was hampered in his first couple of seasons as part of an effort to reset Detroit's books. That meant modest acquisitions in his first two seasons, with a larger focus on extending a handful of players who fit the shifting cultural vision.

Among the players Holmes inherited and extended during his three-year tenure are center Frank Ragnow, defensive end Romeo Okwara, safety Tracy Walker, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (who subsequently left and came back) and punter Jack Fox. That's been a bag of mixed results, but injuries have played a major role in those results, with Ragnow's chronic toe injury costing him significant time and both Okwara and Walker suffering torn ACLs.



When it came to new additions, Holmes was highly conservative to start. In that first offseason, the focus was almost exclusively on bargain-bin signings, many with either injury concerns or a history of underachieving. And all of them received one-year, prove-it contracts, except running back Jamaal Williams, who netted a two-year pact.

The pattern was similar the second year, with signings like DJ Chark and DeShon Elliott. The talent level was admittedly a little higher than the previous offseason, but it was mostly more one-year deals for guys with durability issues.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone of the Detroit Lions.jpg

But within that pool of signings, the Lions did uncover some longer-term pieces. Linebacker Alex Anzalone and wide receiver Kalif Raymond were two of Holmes' biggest hits, becoming key cogs in the rebuild, each earning two additional extensions.

And the free-agency approach evolved last offseason, as the Lions rounded the corner into playoff contention. That, paired with increased cap flexibility, allowed the team to make more splash additions, in cornerback Cam Sutton and running back David Montgomery, while plugging additional roster holes with higher-profile players on short-term deals, such as safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.


Waiver-wire gems


There are many avenues to building a roster, and Holmes has found a few key contributors off the waiver wire. During his first season, the GM was able to snag a familiar face in wide receiver Josh Reynolds, after he was let go by the Tennessee Titans midseason.

A former fourth-round pick for the Rams during Holmes' run as director of college scouting, Reynolds was instrumental in getting Goff on track during the second half of his first season with Detroit. Now in his third year with the Lions, Reynolds has provided more than 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns of production.


Former LA Ram now Detroit Lion Josh Reynolds.jpg


Holmes also landed a pair of defensive linemen, John Cominsky and Benito Jones, via waivers. They had logged nearly 1,000 defensive snaps this season coming into Sunday's game with Minnesota, each playing an integral role in the transformation of Detroit's run defense from middling into one of the league's best.


Parting ways, part II


It's unlikely another trade will match or exceed the magnitude of the Stafford/Goff swap, but Holmes has continued to show a willingness to move premium pieces he doesn't see as long-term fits. There has been no better example than shipping tight end T.J. Hockenson within the division for additional draft equity.



That move has worked out well for both sides. Hockenson has developed into one of the league's most productive pass-catchers at his position, but he also commanded a market-resetting contract extension, which the Lions clearly didn't want to pay. And, as we now know, they found a cheaper replacement with similar production in this year's draft, but more on that in a minute.

Beyond Hockenson, the Lions also shipped out cornerback Jeff Okudah and running back D'Andre Swift last offseason, but for more paltry returns. Still, Holmes managed to get something for a pair of players he no longer viewed as pieces of Detroit's puzzle.


Building a foundation

The bread-and-butter of Detroit's transformation under Holmes has happened through the draft, which as noted, was the GM's area of expertise leading to his hire.



Of his 23 draft selections in the past three years, all are still part of the team, whether on the active roster, injured reserve or the practice squad. But it's the big hits the GM has had that have helped accelerate his vision for what this team could become.

That started in 2021, with the selections of offensive tackle Penei Sewell in the first round, Alim McNeill in the third and the theft of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth. Sewell and St. Brown, in particular, are the standard-bearers for Detroit's culture overall, with grit and effort matching their elite talent. Both earned their first Pro Bowl selection after just two seasons.

Penei Sewell selected in 1st round of 2021 NFL Draft.jpg

In his second draft, Holmes made the no-brainer decision to select hometown icon Aidan Hutchinson, who has quickly become the keystone of the team's defense. There isn't a second, clear, Pro Bowl-caliber talent from that class, but safety Kerby Joseph, wide receiver Jameson Williams and defensive end James Houston have flashed big-play potential, with Malcolm Rodriguez and Josh Paschal offering steady contributions.



This most recent class has arguably been Holmes' best work. He stockpiled talent at undervalued positions and has been rewarded with immediate impact from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, defensive back Brian Branch and linebacker Jack Campbell. And he was able to pick up all four in the first two rounds by putting the final piece from the Stafford trade, the Rams' 2023 first-round pick, to work as a trade chip.

In total, Holmes has drafted 10 players who are currently starting and a group that has combined to start 278 games heading into Sunday's game against Minnesota.


How they got here


▶ Quarterbacks: Jared Goff (trade, '21), Teddy Bridgewater (free agency, '23), Hendon Hooker (drafted, '23)

▶ Running backs: David Montgomery (free agency, '23), Jahmyr Gibbs (draft, '23), Craig Reynolds (free agency, '21)

▶ Wide receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown (draft, '21), Josh Reynolds (waivers, '21), Jameson Williams (draft, '22), Kalif Raymond (free agency, '21), Donovan Peoples-Jones (trade, '23), Antoine Green (draft, '23)

▶ Tight ends: Sam LaPorta (draft, '23), Brock Wright (UDFA, '21), James Mitchell (draft, '22)

▶ Offensive line: Taylor Decker* (draft, '16), Jonah Jackson* (draft, '20), Frank Ragnow* (draft, '18), Graham Glasgow (free agency, '23), Penei Sewell (draft, '21), Colby Sorsdal (draft, '23), Kayode Awosika (poached, Philadelphia, '22), Dan Skipper (free agency, '23),

▶ Defensive line: Aidan Hutchinson (draft, '22), Josh Paschal (draft, '22), John Cominsky (waivers, '22), Romeo Okwara* (waivers, '18), Julian Okwara* (draft, '20), Charles Harris (free agency, '21), Alim McNeill (draft, '23), Benito Jones (waivers, '22), Isaiah Buggs (free agency, '22), Levi Onwuzurike (draft, '21), Brodric Martin (draft, '23)

▶ Linebackers: Alex Anzalone (free agency, '21), Jack Campbell (draft, '23), Derrick Barnes (draft, '21), Malcolm Rodriguez (draft, '22), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (free agency, '23), Anthony Pittman* (UDFA, '19), Trevor Nowaske (UDFA, '23)

▶ Cornerbacks: Cam Sutton (free agency, '23), Jerry Jacobs (UDFA, '21), Brian Branch (draft, '23), Khalil Dorsey (free agency, '22), Kindle Vildor (free agency, '23), Steven Gilmore (UDFA, '23), Will Harris* (draft, '19)

▶ Safeties: Kerby Joseph (draft, '22), Ifeatu Melifonwu (draft, '21), Tracy Walker* (draft, '18),

▶ Specialists: Jack Fox* (free agency, '19), Jake McQuaide (free agency, '23)* denotes acquisition predates arrival of general manager Brad Holmes



jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/12/25/detroit-lions-division-win-nfc-north/71958594007/

[CGVT]

This was a veritable who's who of who gives a shit. Ha!

That initial wave of cuts included linebacker Christian Jones, tight end Jesse James, cornerback Justin Coleman, offensive lineman Joe Dahl, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, cornerback Desmond Trufant and backup quarterback Chase Daniel. Additionally, the team restructured the contract of linebacker Jamie Collins.

[-Deborah-]

Right?!

[Tom]

And the first step, if I’m not mistaken was bringing Spielman in to help identify what was needed to change the culture.