The Offseason Thread

[froot loops]

I think they are up to 73 players on the 90 man roster. When you account for draftees and UDFAs, there isn't much room left.

[froot loops]

Mike Payton seems to think Maddox might have been signed to replace Ifeautu Melonfonwu as a backup safety that can blitz from the slot if needed. That makes some sense

[Mainevent]

Lions top 30 visits reported so far. Last year 4 of their of their draft picks were guys brought in for a top 30 visit (Arnold, Rakestraw, Manu, Vaki)

• LB Chaz Chambliss (Georgia)
• DE Josaiah Stewart (Michigan)
• OL Grey Zabel (North Dakota)
• RB Lan Larison (UC-Davis)

Strewart was reported as a top 30 visit but that could also be a local visit.

[Mainevent]

Also the list of combine meetings as well:

Marshall EDGE Mike Green — Formal
Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton — Formal
Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer — Formal
Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart — Informal
LSU EDGE Sai'Vion Jones — Formal
Ole Miss OLB Chris Paul Jr. — Formal
Auburn EDGE Jalen McLeod — Formal
Minnesota LB Cody Lindenberg — Formal
Penn State LB Kobe King — Formal
Iowa LB Jay Higgins — Informal
Oklahoma State DE/LB Collin Oliver — Formal
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell — Formal
Notre Dame EDGE Howard Cross — Formal
Clemson LB Barrett Carter — Informal
Michigan DT Kenneth Grant — Formal
Virginia S Jonas Sanker — Formal
Texas S Andrew Mukuba — Formal
Nebraska TE Thomas Fidone — Formal
Georgia Tech TE Jackson Hawes — Formal
Alabama TE CJ Dippre — Formal
Alabama TE Robbie Ouzts — Formal
Kansas CB Cobee Bryant — Formal
South Carolina CB O'Donnell Fortune — Formal
Iowa State CB Darien Porter — Formal
Florida State CB Azareye'h Thomas — Formal
Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor — Formal
Illinois WR Pat Bryant — Formal
Memphis QB Seth Henigan — Informal
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe — Formal
Tennessee WR Bru McCoy — Formal
William & Mary OT Charles Grant — Formal
Louisville CB Quincy Riley — Formal
Arizona OT Jonah Savaiinaea — Formal
North Dakota State IOL Grey Zabel — Informal
Ohio State IOL Donovan Jackson — Formal
Kentucky OL Eli Cox — Formal

[El Axe]

Mike Payton seems to think Maddox might have been signed to replace Ifeautu Melonfonwu as a backup safety that can blitz from the slot if needed. That makes some sense

image.png

[Mainevent]

With a month left to the draft and because I'm bored on a Friday, thought I'd put together what my draft board would look like if i were the Lions right now (leaving out players that have no chance to be there later in RD1, like Abdul Carter). You can probably tell what I think are the main focus areas based on the concentration of these groups And I do this with the full knowledge that Brad Holmes' priorities could be a whole heck of a lot different.

Tier 1 Group: Shemar Stewart DE, Mykel Williams DE
IMO, these guys will both be gone well before the Lions pick, and there's a chance they don't last long enough for the Lions to trade up either. My guess is they both go top 15 at worst, but I've seen enough prognosticators with one or the other lasting to the back end of round 1. As big, long DEs they are perfect fits for the scheme the Lions run, with strong run defense and big upside as pass rushers opposite Hutch. To me, either are no-brainers.

Tier 2 Group: Tyler Booker OG , Grey Zabel OG, Donovan Jackson OG, Derrick Harmon DT, Kenneth Grant DT
This is the group I keep coming back to as the most likely pool if they pick at or around 28. Easy picks that fit an immediate and long term need, at least 2-3 of these guys could be on the board when the Lions pick. Of these Zabel intrigues me the most, immediate OG starter and possible Ragnow replacement in a couple of years. Also, all of the Lions DTs except McNeil are on 1-year deals, so a big, talented youngster would be good rotation player now and a starter next year.

Wild Cards: Mike Green DE, Donovan Ezeiruaku DE, Jihaad Campbell LB
On talent alone, these guys are worth a 1st rounder, but just a matter of fit. Green & Ezeiraku are the smaller DE/pass rushers. I don't know if that's a type the Lions will be interested in, may depend upon if Sheppard makes tweaks to the scheme. Both about 6'3", 250ish, around the same size as Muhammed. Campbell is just a stud and could be the Anzalone replacement in a year, but seems a stretch in round 1 with the other needs, but he's a big time talent.

There are several other DEs that I could see the Lions being interested that have draft ranges anywhere from early 2nd to late 3rd depending upon which board you look at. It's very possible that Holmes has one or two of those dudes a lot higher in his estimation and they get in this mix as well (Jackson? Umanmielen? Swinson?). But to me those are better targets to try to land on a trade back or even wait until pick 60.

Thoughts on other positions where there will be value at the end of round 1:
CB/S - Lions are pretty deep right now and have the top 4 pretty locked in (if healthy) CBs and 2 stud safeties, so seems like more of a later round option for either
OT - until I learn otherwise, I'll assume Manu is the developmental OT. IF he's not, then there will be a number of OT options that could also help out at OG.
WR - As much as I would love to put Jayden Higgins or Tre Harris in this offense, just don't see it in round 1
TE - I thought hard about what if Loveland is there, but I'd prefer to get a more traditional TE than a guy who's maybe a better LaPorta

[froot loops]

Now they probably have the bases covered for interior lineman if they don't get anything in the draft.

[maxw3ll]

Is yode worth it? Maybe he developed a bit

[froot loops]

He can start if Glasgow is hurt, you don't want him to go into the season as a starter but it's fine as a backup. The key part is have that hole filled so you aren't drafting for need. They are probably taking an interior lineman in the draft but they don't have to reach for one, that's the key.

[maxw3ll]

Wish they kept zeitler. Dont need to see running backward goff.

[Mainevent]

Hard to say for sure if he’s “worth it” without knowing contract details. But I imagine he got a vet minimum salary or in that range, and if that’s the case then absolutely. He’s been a solid fill in when called upon and he’ll have a number of other developmental types to battle with for a spot on the roster.

And if you are are curious about the minutiae of the cap, this is a interesting article on how the Lions are structuring some of these backup contracts to keep the cap hit is as low as possible due to a specific cap rule, and I’d guess they did the same with Yoda’s:

The Lions are able to keep Skipper’s cap number low due to the NFL’s Veteran Salary Benefit, which notes that if you sign a player to a minimum salary with at least $167,500 available in incentives (the Lions matched that number exactly), the salary of that deal will only hit the cap based on the minimum salary of a second-year player ($1.03 million).

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/3/27/24394817/what-new-contract-details-say-6-lions-free-agent-signings

[froot loops]

I'm guessing that is the same deal with Awosika

I'm sure everyone would have liked to keep Zeitler, they got great value from his contract but they have to deal with the salary cap and Zeitler's age is a concern. He did not play in the playoff game and his game time status by the end of the year was iffy.

They have extensions and a lot of decisions and restructures coming up, you have to watch the money put into the line.