With the 29th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Lions select....

[whatever_gong82]

Interesting paywall article from yesterday's News.

Lions' challenge of finding instant impact in 2024 Draft is what GM Holmes likes to see


Justin Rogers
The Detroit News



Orlando, Fla. — The lifeblood of the Detroit Lions' successful, three-year rebuild has unquestionably been the NFL draft.

In 2021, rookie general manager Brad Holmes kick-started the franchise's turnaround with the selections of offensive tackle Penei Sewell, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. That season, no team got more snaps out of their first-year players than Detroit.



Holmes followed that up with more instant impact in 2022. That year's crop of draft picks combined to start 52 games, led by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, safety Kerby Joseph and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.

And even with the roster looking more complete than the previous two seasons heading into the 2023 Draft, Holmes still managed to find massive contributions from the likes of running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, defensive back Brian Branch and linebacker Jack Campbell. Three of those four made the PFWA All-Rookie teams, and Branch was largely an omission because the roster didn't include a nickel cornerback spot.



Still, if you thought it might be difficult for Holmes to find that type of impact from his rookie class last year, imagine the challenge in 2024. Not only are the Lions selecting much later in the first and second rounds of the event — those picks are currently scheduled for No. 29 and No. 61, respectively — where can we reasonably say a rookie is going to start, or even see meaningful snaps early in the season, without an unexpected injury ahead of them on the depth chart?

For Holmes, who remains committed to building and sustaining success through the draft, this is actually supposed to be how it looks.

"I think that's where you want to be at, honestly," Holmes said during a Tuesday media session with local reporters at the league meetings.



Holmes compared Detroit's upcoming draft to his time in Los Angeles, although it's a little bit different, since the Rams haven't retained their first-round pick in the event since taking quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 overall in 2016. That means the selections the team has made, often starting in the second round, weren't being asked to play significant snaps immediately.

Holmes specifically referenced the addition of offensive tackle Joesph Notebloom in the 2018 Draft. The Rams already had starters in place at tackle, with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein, so Notebloom was able to develop at a deliberate pace, playing just 78 offensive snaps as a reserve in his first season.



There was something similar with Detroit's third-round choice in 2023, with defensive tackle Brodric Martin. Despite being available all season, he only saw action in three games.

That said, even if roster holes are less apparent heading into this draft, Holmes was quick to remind how quickly those perceptions can change. For example, Branch wasn't expected to be a starter to open last season, but he forced his way into the Week 1 slot-corner job with his practice performance. The Lions won't hesitate to do something similar if a 2024 draft pick proves to be the best option at his position through the offseason program.



"You don't know how that rookie is gonna really develop," Holmes said. "We try to do the best we can. I feel very confident in our process in forecasting that stuff, but, end of the day, man, it's just hard to bank on that stuff."

Outside of an injury, the most likely spots a rookie could push for early playing time would appear to be wide receiver, cornerback, edge rusher and kicker.



At receiver, the team wasn't able to retain Josh Reynolds in free agency. He played more than 800 offensive snaps last season, and while Jameson Williams, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kalif Raymond will be the early contenders to backfill that lost playing time, a rookie, especially an early-round choice, could alter those plans.

At cornerback, the Lions have the makings of a quality camp battle brewing between Amik Robertson and Emmanuel Moseley, who both have starting experience that will be difficult to overlook. The same thing can be said at defensive end opposite Hutchinson, where a rookie would have to outperform free-agent addition and former first-round pick Marcus Davenport, as well as returning options such as John Cominksy, Josh Paschal and James Houston.



jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Paywall article from yesterday's Detroit News.

Going up? A complete guide to potential draft-day trade partners for Lions


Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News



Everybody loves a good trade back.

And if that’s what Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes decides to do with the 29th pick at next month’s NFL Draft, you probably won’t hear a ton of rational complaints from the fanbase. It’s typically good business.

But the reality about picking late in the first round is that it inspires far more dreams of trading up. Draft picks are like money — no matter what you have, you always envy the people just ahead of you.



Holmes has dipped his toes into both waters during the first round of his first three drafts. He traded the No. 6 pick (offensive tackle Paris Johnson) to Arizona for Nos. 12 (running back Jahmyr Gibbs), 34 (tight end Sam LaPorta) and 168, the last of which was eventually traded. The year prior, he traded up 20 spots with the Minnesota Vikings for wide receiver Jameson Williams.

We know Holmes will not be drafting for need, but we do suspect — based on past references to character and such — that the Lions are more strict about who they deem draftable players, making it all the more unsurprising when Holmes goes up and gets his guy.

Jahmyr Gibbs running vs 49ers in NFC Champ. Game.jpg

In trades involving first-round pick swaps over the last three years, the average movement has been 6.1 spots, so naturally, teams picking in the twenties are going to have a better case than ones picking in the teens. But looking at a a combination of factors — including a team's recent draft-day trade activity, roster construction, urgency to win and current distance from the 29th pick — we explored the situations of teams picking 10-28 in the hopes of finding potential trade-up partners for the Lions.


10. New York Jets

The Jets haven't traded back since Holmes became an NFL GM, and as one of the few non-QB-needy teams in this range, they stand to benefit from being surrounded by desperation. The Jets certainly could trade back, but given their desire to quickly make the most of Aaron Rodgers' presence, going all the way back to 29 seems like a no-win situation for New York.


11. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are poised to trade up for a QB, but under other circumstances, they’d absolutely be a potential trade target. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been very active with draft-day trades, particularly with Holmes.


12. Denver Broncos

George Paton hasn't had a first-round pick in either of his last two drafts, so he hasn't had much opportunity to trade them for future picks. Like many teams in this range, the Broncos would benefit from getting a top quarterback prospect in the door, but unlike the Vikings, they probably don't have the firepower to do it. Plus, the Vikings have a good roster, while the Broncos (who also have no second-round pick) need help everywhere. It'd require some heavy lifting for the Lions to get to 12, but it's easy to see how that could be worth Denver's time.


13. Las Vegas Raiders

New Raiders GM Tom Telesco made not one draft-day move over the last three years during his tenure as Chargers GM. It's hard to imagine he goes from that to moving down 16 spots with his first pick at his new job, but hey, stranger things have happened.


14. New Orleans Saints

Organizational familiarity between the Lions and Saints has played out more in the free-agent market than via trade. Is this the year we see some synergy between the two? Unlikely. The Saints have little historical precedent of trading back in the first round and seem destined to make the short-term play until the sun explodes.


15. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have not been wont to move back from their position on Day 1 in recent years, and as a team on the rise with a QB in place, they'll be able to sit back, watch the fireworks ahead of them, and likely find great value at the midway point of the round. We don't suspect the Colts will be motivated to move back, let alone all the way back to 29.


16. Seattle Seahawks

After narrowly missing what would have been consecutive playoff appearances — and with a new, defensive-minded head coach in place — the Seahawks find themselves in a similar position to Indy (ready to steal a good defensive player in the mid-teens). GM John Schneider hasn’t been active in the first round in recent years, so it's hard to label them a "clear" trade target.


17. Jacksonville Jaguars

In what was supposed to be a Super Bowl-contending season, the Jaguars blew it and missed the playoffs. They traded back in the twenties — twice — in 2023 but one has to wonder if they have the luxury of getting cute by trying to move down 12 spots. Or, maybe they’ll just keep doin' their Jacksonville thing. They're probably worth a call.


18. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals haven’t been first-round movers since taking Joe Burrow first overall in 2020. While their season sank with Burrow’s health, it has afforded them a pretty valuable pick. What makes them different from the teams picking slightly ahead of them is that they have a legit excuse for missing the playoffs, so they might be more likely to jump on good value if it's there. Putting aside the complexities of nearing an extension with Amon-Ra St. Brown, the situation with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins could present a different kind of draft-day trade scenario in which the Lions give up pick No. 29 for a player they already know is good. For recent precedent, wide receiver A.J. Brown was traded from the Titans to the Eagles for a first- and third-pick in 2022.


19. Los Angeles Rams

For the first time since selecting Jared Goff with the No. 1 selection in 2016, the Rams in 2024 have a first-round pick. Would they be willing to trade back? We don’t see why not. Holmes and Rams GM Les Snead haven’t done a whole lot of business since the blockbuster Goff-Matthew Stafford trade, but L.A. did engage in six draft-day trades last year and has more high-end capital than it has in a long time.

LA Rams GM Les Snead.jpg

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers made two bigger moves in the draft last year, moving up three spots in the middle of the first round for offensive line help and then moving back 13 spots on Day 2 in a trade with Carolina. It’s impossible to know where Holmes will eye a trade without knowing who he wants, but this feels like a comfortable distance to start projecting more trade scenarios. The Steelers’ needs closely align with Detroit’s, however, so it's possible a trade might not satisfy both teams.


21. Miami Dolphins

Dolphins GM Chris Grier was ultra-active in the 2021 draft, trading back (with the 49ers, who took quarterback Trey Lance) and then up in the top 10 (with the Eagles to take receiver Jaylen Waddle). All told, most of the teams picking in this range are going to be potential trade partners.


22. Philadelphia Eagles

No team in this range feels like a better potential trade partner than the Eagles and GM Howie Roseman. Roseman, a premier purveyor of the analytically savvy move, traded back twice in 2021, dealing his first-rounder for Brown in 2022 and traded one spot up for Jalen Carter in 2023. The Eagles' phone is always on.


23. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland through Houston)

If it’s true the Vikings are eyeing a quarterback, this pick is not currently available to the Lions. It could be for sale after the Vikings move it for a top-10 pick, though. If the Patriots, for example, were to get picks 11 and 23 for the third-overall pick, it’s fairly possible the upstart New England regime would be willing to move the second pick for more assets.


24. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys’ “all-in” offseason has begun with a whimper but they've got the chance to make up for it with a great draft, and there's no better way to make your fanbase feel better about your draft than selecting as many players as possible. Historically, the Cowboys haven't been super active in first-round trade backs but they did move from 10 to 12 in a trade with Philadelphia in 2021. They're a potential trade partner, but only because they're so close in the order.


25. Green Bay Packers

Five years ago, this probably would have been a clear no, but Detroit's trade-up with the Packers for Brian Branch last year — plus Holmes' activity with the Vikings — would seem to indicate that these teams won't let a little rivalry stop them from trying to get the most bang for their buck. However, the Packers haven't traded back in the first round since 2018, when New Orleans came up five spots for new Lions free-agent signing Marcus Davenport.

Brian Branch of Detroit Lions vs. Denver Broncos.jpg


26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In addition to being an obvious trade candidate because of their proximity to Detroit, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht actually traded six spots back from the 27th pick in a 2022 deal with Jacksonville.


27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston)

By the sixth pick last year, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort had already engaged in two major draft-day trades. Arizona also holds the No. 4 pick in this year's draft. That might not play into their decision to trade 27, but it could also make them more comfortable with turning current assets into future ones.


28. Buffalo Bills

The Bills haven't done a lot of moving back recently — they did make trades to move up two spots in consecutive first rounds over the last two years — but this is as simple of a trade as it gets. Given the Lions and Bills both have a need at receiver, though, perhaps Buffalo will be too afraid of their player getting taken to make a deal.


nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi

[whatever_gong82]

Paywall article via the Athletic yesterday.

Detroit Lions depth chart: Where the roster stands after the first wave of free agency

Goff_Sewell and the Detroit Lions.jpg

By Colton Pouncy
Mar 29, 2024



The initial wave of free agency is over, and the Detroit Lions’ 2024 roster is starting to come into focus.

It’s far from over, with draft picks to be made and players left to sign, but we have enough of an idea of the roster to put together a depth chart projection.

Let’s discuss.


Quarterback

Starter: Jared Goff

Key depth: Hendon Hooker, Nate Sudfeld

Over the last two seasons, Goff ranks second in passing yards (9,013), third in touchdown passes (59), sixth in passer rating (98.6) and sixth in EPA per dropback (0.13). He and the Lions will look to get an extension done in the near future, locking him in as QB1 for years to come. Behind him, the Lions invested in their QB room last offseason, drafting Hooker in the third round. If Goff were to go down for an extended period, you’d have to think they’d prepare Hooker to take over. Sudfeld re-signed with the team this week and likely fills the veteran support role, with the Lions losing Teddy Bridgewater and David Blough to retirement.


Running back

Starters: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs

Key depth: Craig Reynolds, Zonovan Knight, Jermar Jefferson.

No drama here. The Lions have arguably the league’s best running duo in Montgomery and Gibbs, which is why they’re listed as co-starters here. Both played at a Pro Bowl level last season and are expected to do so again. Gibbs, in particular, could be even better in his second season — a scary thought for the league. As for depth, Reynolds is back and Knight, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Carolina Panthers last season, should compete as well. Jefferson remains in the mix.


Wide receiver

Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Key depth: Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green

The Lions are likely to add to their WR room before it’s all said and done, following the loss of Josh Reynolds — who signed a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos. It’s a receiver-rich draft class, so that would be the avenue to watch. In the meantime, St. Brown returns to lead the group, coming off an All-Pro season. Williams is expected to take a step forward as WR2, and Dan Campbell spoke highly of him at the NFL combine last month. As for the third spot, it was a tough choice between Peoples-Jones and Raymond. We’ll give the early edge to Peoples-Jones, a receiver Holmes traded for at the deadline and re-signed this offseason. He has an 800-yard season under his belt in this league and fits the profile of an X receiver. That would allow Raymond to remain in his WR4 role. The Lions still have Green, a 2023 seventh-round pick, developing and waiting in the wings.


Tight end

Starter: Sam LaPorta

Key depth: Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra

The Lions traded T.J. Hockenson, one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, and then drafted an All-Pro replacement on a rookie deal in LaPorta. All he did was record 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in Year 1. LaPorta provides incredible value and is a core piece moving forward. It’ll be fascinating to see what he does for an encore. Elsewhere, the Lions will run it back with Wright and Mitchell, and get Zylstra back from a season-ending injury. Don’t sleep on Zylstra, who was a very good blocker in 2022 and hauled in four touchdowns.

Detroit Lions 2023 All-Pro TE Sam LaPorta.jpg


Offensive line

Starters (from left to right): Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell

Key depth: Kayode Awosika, Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal

The Lions return four of five starters from one of the better offensive lines in the league. They replaced their only loss — Jonah Jackson, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams on a three-year, $51 million deal — with a Pro Bowl guard in Zeitler. If you ask the Lions, they believe they’ve upgraded.



“Certainly, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a guy who has played as long as he has and been as consistent and as durable as he’s been,” Campbell said of Zeitler. “He’ll be, between Frank and Penei, he’ll be a steady force in there, a consistent force. … I feel like we have not stepped back as an O-line, we’ve probably taken a step forward. That’s exciting.”

The Lions could still use some high-end young depth here. Decker and Zeitler are free agents next season, and you always have to worry about injuries with Ragnow. Awosika and Sorsdal are the backup guards, with Skipper as the jumbo lineman. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lions draft a lineman early next month.


Edge

Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport

Key depth: Josh Paschal, James Houston, Mathieu Betts

Hutchinson took a major leap in 2023, totaling 11.5 sacks and 101 pressures, per PFF. The Lions lacked a consistent difference-maker next to him, though. When healthy and playing his best, Davenport can be one. But it’s been three years since his breakout 2021 campaign, as injuries have derailed his career. Before the owners’ meetings, there might’ve been more of a debate between Davenport and Paschal, but the Lions spoke about him like a player they expect to start. If the Lions can get him back on track, the $6.5 million they’re paying him will look like a steal.

“I think a lot of it is, who is this guy opposite of Hutch that can really crush the pocket and close it down?” Campbell said when discussing Davenport. “Whether he makes it or sends it to Hutch was really a lot of what this is. We really felt like we’ve got a complement to Hutch, we’ve got a complement to Mac (Alim McNeill), and these guys collectively are going to make each other better.”


In addition to Davenport, the Lions have Paschal as an edge-setting defensive end who can kick inside to tackle, a pass-rush specialist in Houston (Holmes made sure to remind local media that he’s still a player they’re excited about) and Betts, the reigning CFL defensive player of the year. We’ll see if they add to the position in the draft.


Defensive tackle

Starters: Alim McNeill, D.J. Reader

Key depth: John Cominsky, Levi Onwuzurike, Brodric Martin

This offseason, the Lions added Reader — a veteran nose tackle with a high motor who can defend the run, eat space and even provide some pass-rush juice when healthy. He’s coming off a torn quad, but Reader is confident he’ll be ready to go by the season opener. He should pair nicely with McNeill, one of the better young defensive tackles in the game, and can also mentor Martin, Detroit’s developmental 2023 third-round nose tackle. Cominsky could’ve been listed as an edge or defensive tackle, but he played more snaps in the interior last year, so we’ll slide him in here. Onwuzurike is still looking to put it all together given his second-round pedigree. This year is essentially Year 3 for him. That’s when Holmes said you can properly evaluate a prospect, so we’ll see if new defensive line coach Terrell Williams can get the most out of him.


Linebacker

Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell or Derrick Barnes

Key depth: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez

Have to think the Lions like their linebacker room at the moment. Anzalone is coming off a career season. Barnes emerged as a starter last season. Campbell played significant snaps as a rookie and the Lions remain high on his upside and talent. Reeves-Maybin returns as a special teams ace and strong reserve linebacker, while Rodriguez has plenty of starting experience and could step in if needed. The Lions lost Anthony Pittman, but this position is still relatively healthy, all things considered.

Carlton Davis III now with the Detroit Lions.jpg

Cornerbacks

Starters: Carlton Davis III, Amik Robertson, Brian Branch

Key depth: Emmanuel Moseley, Khalil Dorsey, Steven Gilmore

Talk about an overhaul. Jerry Jacobs, Kindle Vildor and Cam Sutton — who has a warrant for his arrest in Florida and was released by the Lions last week — are no longer on the roster. That opens up starting gigs at both corner spots. The early favorites are Davis, whom the Lions traded a third-round pick for this month, and Robertson, who signed a two-year deal with the team in free agency. At the owners’ meetings, Campbell and Holmes told stories of how they didn’t expect to land both Davis and Robertson — a sign that both are viewed as starting-caliber options. When they were acquired, it became clear that the Lions were eager to play a brand of football they haven’t been capable of playing over the years: man-heavy.


“There comes a time when you want to pressure and you want to play man-to-man and know that you can do it,” Campbell said. “A lot of times, you would love to be able to say, ‘You know what, we’re going to play man this series,’ or ‘We’re going to play man this opening drive’ and feel confident about being able to do it. … Being able to play man is no different than being able to run the football or stop the run. It’s kind of one of our core values to be a good team. You want to be able to play man when called upon.”

In addition to Davis and Robertson, the Lions also re-signed Moseley to a one-year deal. Branch slots in as the starting nickel corner.


Safeties

Starters: Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu

Key depth: Branch, Brandon Joseph

With C.J. Gardner-Johnson off to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Lions releasing Tracy Walker, the safety position will look different in 2024. Kerby Joseph is back as a starter, and Melifonwu is expected to enter the lineup as a full-time starter for the first time in his career. They complement each other’s games well, though there are questions about depth.


Coming out of Alabama, Branch was pegged as a nickel who can play safety. But the Lions didn’t love the idea of overloading Branch with safety responsibilities last year, which is why they ultimately focused on letting him do his thing at nickel. We’ll see if that continues, but Campbell did express optimism that Branch could grow into that spot if necessary. Regardless, the Lions have their eye on safety.

“We’re still going to look for safety help,” Campbell said. “That’s not over, either. We know we need some.”


Specialists

Starters: Michael Badgley (kicker), Jack Fox (punter), Scott Daly (long snapper)

The Lions, for now, are running it back with Badgley. We’ll see if they make a trade for a kicker or add another before or after training camp, but for now, Badgley is their guy. Fox returns as the team’s starting punter, and Daly, whose season ended early with a knee injury, was brought back this offseason.


Returners

Starters: Raymond (punt), Khalil Dorsey

Key depth: Craig Reynolds, Peoples-Jones, Maurice Alexander

The NFL’s approved change to kickoffs already has Campbell and Lions’ special teams coordinator Dave Fipp scheming up ways to gain an edge. And while Raymond is a former All-Pro punt returner, the Lions have had a rotating cast of kick returners. Reynolds and Dorsey have handled opportunities in the past. But given the format, it’s possible teams opt for an explosive, short-area option who can make guys miss. Williams could ultimately prove to be too valuable to risk as a returner, but one option worth considering: Maurice Alexander.

Seems like he wants the opportunity.

(Top photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)


Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

[jaadam4]

I like Maurice Alexander’s response there and I agree with him.

That was a good write up by The Athletic

[jaadam4]

With our pick being so late in the draft it’s anybodies guess as to who will fall that far. If a DE or CB drops they’ll prob be the pick but if not I keep coming back to Keon Coleman.

A big bodied WR for Goff and Ben Johnson to work with. I’d make that pick all day long

[jaadam4]

I’d also like us to draft another RB or TE in the mid rounds.

[Mainevent]

Yeah, Coleman is a guy I have a bit of a football man crush on - such a beast and the type of guy I want to see them add to the WR room.

[jaadam4]

Yeah, Coleman is a guy I have a bit of a football man crush on - such a beast and the type of guy I want to see them add to the WR room.

His 40 time wasn’t great and I didn’t like him picking MSU knowing all the while he wasn’t going to stay there but he’s big he moves really fluid. He could step into our offense and be awesome

[froot loops]

I would approve of Coleman but I'm not sure they want the big body wide receiver as much as the fans and mock drafters do. I think McConkey is at least as likely to be drafted than Coleman.

[froot loops]

I think if the Mel Tucker era didn't turn into such a shitshow, Coleman would have stayed.

[BJK]

I’m a fan of Xavier Legette. I think he’s a guy that we’ll start hearing more about as the media catches up on what teams are thinking. Big (6’1” and 221 lbs), physical, fast (4.39 forty at the Combine), explosive (40” vertical, 10’6” broad). Known as a hard worker, hands catcher, willing blocker, and has returned kicks. Has some of the same questions that dogged DK Metcalf coming out of Ole Miss (“Is he more of a ‘straight line’ guy?”), but we’ve see how that’s turned out.

This is actually a pretty deep WR draft class.

[jaadam4]

I think if the Mel Tucker era didn't turn into such a shitshow, Coleman would have stayed.

Maybe but he made it sound like he was going to end up at FSU and it was always his plan

Either way, I’d draft him

[Mainevent]

I would approve of Coleman but I'm not sure they want the big body wide receiver as much as the fans and mock drafters do. I think McConkey is at least as likely to be drafted than Coleman.

I think they want a bigger WR, but it may not mean going all the way up to Coleman’s level and I certainly don’t think theyll take a guy just for his size. They’ve been linked to Legette a bit, and I think guys like Ja’lyn Polk or similar would be an option in the 2nd. They’ve lost length and their only guy that is a 50/50 ball winner type.

[Mainevent]

Wasn’t part of the reason Coleman went to State because they were letting him play both football and basketball?

[froot loops]

Coleman transferred on the last day you could after spring ball. I think the rationale he advanced on transferring was hindsight nonsense. I mean he showed up at the MSU senior night a couple weeks ago and he said it was home. The more likely scenario is he went through spring ball and it looked like Tucker was checked out and he got a big NIL offer. It's notable that he didn't do much more at FSU.