Should the Lions go all-in on the 2024 season?

[froot loops]

They are playing SAM, not edge. Hutchinson is a whole different position. The problem with Hutchinson is they really don't have a backup because he played most of the snaps. Last year Romeo was his backup and they didn't replace him. Right now the only guy they have who has some similar traits is Nowaske and he basically took Hutch's snaps after the injury. Basically whenever they talk pass rushers, you are talking three positions. The SAM which was Barnes, what they called the closed defensive end which is the 5 technique (Paschal/Levi) and the 7(or 9) which is Hutch.

[El Axe]

A fan commented in the Campbell press conference. Wonder if Holmes could convince Aaron Donald to play a half-season.

[Lionsfan123]

Raiders aren’t trading Crosby and even if he was available I don’t think the Lions would make such a move.

I’m one of the few that would like to see the Lions make a move but I highly doubt they will and if they do get someone it’s probably going to be someone off the streets or some old washed up veteran given to how frugal the organization can be.

Brad and Dan seemed determined to ride the ship and if they do get someone like I said it has to be the right fit.

[Lionsfan123]

They are playing SAM, not edge. Hutchinson is a whole different position. The problem with Hutchinson is they really don't have a backup because he played most of the snaps. Last year Romeo was his backup and they didn't replace him. Right now the only guy they have who has some similar traits is Nowaske and he basically took Hutch's snaps after the injury. Basically whenever they talk pass rushers, you are talking three positions. The SAM which was Barnes, what they called the closed defensive end which is the 5 technique (Paschal/Levi) and the 7(or 9) which is Hutch.

They don’t have much at this point to even replace Hutch unless they make some moves but whoever they do decide to get won’t replace the void Hutch had. Not even close. I’m pretty much given up on this defense to be able to do much but we’re see how it looks this Sunday, but I’m not expecting anything too great. A lot of guys go have to step up.

[Niffla]

I trust whatever Brad wants to do. He has been brilliant since the day he got here.

If he feels like it's time to go "all-in," then I'm here for it. If he feels like it's more prudent to not mortgage the future -- then I'm gonna trust him on that.

[chemiclord]

A fan commented in the Campbell press conference. Wonder if Holmes could convince Aaron Donald to play a half-season.

While that wouldn't happen for a bevy of reasons, the biggest one is that I sincerely doubt the Rams would let Donald out of his contract if he un-retired.

[froot loops]

They don’t have much at this point to even replace Hutch unless they make some moves but whoever they do decide to get won’t replace the void Hutch had. Not even close. I’m pretty much given up on this defense to be able to do much but we’re see how it looks this Sunday, but I’m not expecting anything too great. A lot of guys go have to step up.

The defense isn't all Hutchinson, it will have to be different with his loss. Teams still will not be able to run the ball and the secondary is a lot better. They will probably blitz more.

[Iron Lion]

If the Raiders/Browns do unload Maxx/Myles, they will easily find a better trade partner than the Lions. A team whose coach and/or GM is on the hot seat and is therefore willing to mortgage the future (because otherwise there's no future anyway). Brad and MCDC obviously have no end in sight, there is no reason to panic. Brad drafts remarkably well, so giving up picks is more costly to us than it is to another team.

Brad will probably try to spend no more than the typical 3rd rounder, which may have to be bumped up to a 2nd rounder because the other team will protest that our pick will be late, and Brad will probably be swayed to go "all in" by parting with a 2nd.

I think the real issue here is that we were planning on using this extra cap space next year to re-sign Hutch. Cold-blooded as it sounds, we may have to wait on that and just pick up his 5th year option instead so we can be sure he's still got it before emptying the vault.

Lastly, and this may be a bit premature, but I envision this regime getting two Super Bowl wins. Don't know why, but I feel like that's the number. Losing Hutch drops our chances this year but I still think we're more likely to at least get there than any other NFC team.

[DanO]

"I think the real issue here is that we were planning on using this extra cap space next year to re-sign Hutch. Cold-blooded as it sounds, we may have to wait on that and just pick up his 5th year option instead so we can be sure he's still got it before emptying the vault."
------------------------------I think Hutch will want to prove to himself and the Lions he is as good as ever before he signs to make sure he can live up to and deserves such a contract.

[Mainevent]

You can never be absolutely certain with such severe injuries, but this sounds about as good a case as you can get with this type of thing. While the recovery road could be long, JJ Watt had a similarly devastating lower leg break and came back the following year with 16 sacks. As long as there are no complications or setbacks, he should be good to go next year.

[CGVT]

You can never be absolutely certain with such severe injuries, but this sounds about as good a case as you can get with this type of thing. While the recovery road could be long, JJ Watt had a similarly devastating lower leg break and came back the following year with 16 sacks. As long as there are no complications or setbacks, he should be good to go next year.

Yep. The dream of him coming back for the Superbowl (if the Lions get there) is just that, a dream.

I know that they have the best medical and rehab people and technology in the world, but the muscle atrophy in that leg will be severe. I think it is going to take a long rehab to get up to speed.

Hopefully he'll be back to form next season.

[chemiclord]

The relatively good news is that it's not the sort of injury that necessarily causes long-term damage. For example, someone who completely tears their ACL.. that tendon never fully recovers to what it was before. It can heal to the point that a player can return to a good enough form and still play at a high level, but it is never "100%" ever again. As long as there was no collateral damage, a broken leg not only can fully recover... if it works out right, can heal back stronger than it was before. There are in fact some surgical procedures that will intentionally break bones specifically for that purpose.

So yeah, ideally, Hutchinson will be legitimately perfectly fine when he returns, at least physically. Still a bunch of hurdles to clear, and a lot can still go wrong, but there's no reason not to be hopeful right now.

[froot loops]

If the Raiders traded Crosby, the Lions would gladly give up a 1st round pick at the very least. The dude is in his prime and under contract for two more seasons. They would probably rework the deal to give them more flexibility because his base salary is 23 and 19 million for the next two seasons. But it sounds like he wants to stay a Raider.

Last year Holmes didn't want to give up a 1st to get Sweat or a 3rd to get Chase Young, but Crosby is probably thought of in higher terms.

[Mainevent]

Like I said when people were throwing out Surtain last year, any conversation about a deal for Crosby starts with 2 1st round picks. He’s a superstar in his prime on a relatively cost controlled deal for the next 2 years.

If it’s not two firsts then it’s a 1st and multiple second day picks - these guys do not come cheap.

[foxhopper]

Can JJ Watt still play a dozen snaps a game or is he still under contract?