Articles:
Ragnow 'feeling confident' heading into third NFL season: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/ragnow-feeling-confident-heading-into-third-nfl-season
Lions CB Oruwariye ready to blossom in Year 2: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/20/amani-oruwariye-detroit-lions-starting-cornerbacks/5621331002/
Lions vigilant as COVID positives fall in NFL: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/20/detroit-lions-nfl-covid-list-testing/3402443001/
Jack Fox, Arryn Siposs put best foot forward in bid for Lions' punting job: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/20/jack-fox-arryn-siposs-put-best-foot-forward-bid-detroit-lions-punting-job/3401178001/
Amani Oruwariye Makes Case to Be Starter Over Jeff Okudah: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/amani-oruwariye-makes-case-to-be-starter
Quintez Cephus impressing with Lions: https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/Article/Quintez-Cephus-Detroit-Lions-Wide-Receiver-Impressing-in-Camp-Wisconsin-Badgers-NFL-Football-150493172/
What all 32 NFL teams need from their quarterbacks in 2020 (DETROIT LIONS: THE MVP-CALIBER MATTHEW STAFFORD WE SAW PRIOR TO INJURY LAST YEAR - Stafford was having a career year in 2019 before suffering a season-ending injury midseason. Through Weeks 1-9, Stafford produced an 82.6 PFF grade, which stands as the best of his career and ranked eighth in the NFL at the time. A big reason why he was in the MVP conversation before his injury is because he was finally given the green light to air it out and push the ball deep. Stafford's average depth of target jumped over 4 yards from 2018 to 2019 (11.4) and was 2.5 yards more than any other single season of his career. That aggressive playstyle clearly paid off for Detroit's offense, leading to 25 big-time throws from Stafford through Week 9, which placed him among the league leaders at the time (in second, behind Russell Wilson). Detroit's offense is high-risk, high-reward, but it will lead Stafford to success in 2020 assuming no injuries get in the way.): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-what-all-32-nfl-teams-need-from-their-quarterbacks-in-2020
Ranking Top 10 CPOY candidates (4. Matthew Stafford, Lions (Odds to win CPOY: +1000): Matthew Stafford is being slept on heading into 2020. Prior to going down with a season-ending back injury last year, the Lions quarterback was playing himself into MVP conversations. In eight games played, he averaged 312.4 passing yards per game (second-best in the NFL), 8.6 yards per attempt (second-best in the NFL), and his 106.0 passer rating that was just outside the top-five in the league. Stafford was also ranked fourth in DVOA, according to Football Outsider, only behind Drew Brees, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes. Now that he's healthy, he has to chance to pick up right where he left off. Stafford has a nice collection of talent around him at the skill positions, starting with receivers Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. Detroit also drafted running back D'Andre Swift to strengthen its ground game. If 2019 first-round pick T.J. Hockenson can take a jump in his second season, it's enough weapons for Stafford to put up numbers. Factoring in at +1000 is also tremendous value here.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-2020-odds-ben-roethlisberger-cam-newton-ranked-inside-top-10-of-comeback-player-of-the-year-candidates/
Ranking potential worst to first teams (2. Detroit Lions (2019 record: 3-12-1, Odds to win NFC North: +850): For the first eight weeks of the 2019 season, the Lions looked like a potential dark horse team to make the playoffs, but then Matthew Stafford got hurt and the wheels fell off the wagon. Before Stafford's injury, he was playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Not only was he averaging 312.4 passing yards per game, but he had a 106.0 QB rating and a 19-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio, and he did all that even though he was still learning the system of Lions first-year offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. If Stafford can stay healthy, the Lions should be able to compete for the division title in a wide open NFC North. Fun fact: The Lions only have one worst-to-first turnaround in franchise history, and fans in Detroit might actually remember when it happened. After finishing in last place in 1992, the Lions won the NFC Central with a 10-6 record in 1993, which is notable, because that also happens to be the last time Detroit won a division title.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-the-nfl-teams-most-likely-to-go-from-worst-to-first-during-the-2020-season/
Best/worst-case projections for notable offensive NFL rookies (D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions (Drafted: Round 2, No. 35 overall, out of Georgia.): Best-case scenario: Swift becomes an Alvin Kamara-like weapon in the Detroit offense. He immediately beats out Kerryon Johnson for the RB1 job and they finally have a big-time back to complement Matthew Stafford. Worst-case scenario: No lead back emerges and it's more of a true timeshare between Swift and Johnson. And if Stafford can't stay healthy, the offense will head south, as we witnessed last season. Projected stats: 1,050 rushing yards, 7 rushing TDs; 35 catches, 2 receiving TDs.): https://www.nfl.com/news/best-worst-case-projections-for-notable-offensive-nfl-rookies
NFL backup quarterback rankings: Where do rookies slot in? (14. Chase Daniels: Now seven years removed from his career-defining Making the Leap piece, Daniel is still waiting to break out. He's made over $37 million in career earnings for five starts, which has to be one of the best ratios of cash-to-playing time in NFL history.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-backup-quarterback-rankings-where-do-rookies-slot-in
2020 NFL Preview: One breakout player for each NFC team this season (Detroit Lions: CB Jeff Okudah: Strangely, there aren’t a lot of breakout candidates for the Lions. Most of the players who are going to play significant roles are either established veterans or don’t have a great upside. Picking Okudah, the third selection in this year’s draft, seems too easy, but he can be a star right away. He is as clean of a cornerback prospect as we’ve seen in years, and should be an impact player right away.): https://sports.yahoo.com/2020-nfl-preview-one-breakout-player-for-each-nfc-team-this-season-130030359.html
Training Camp:
Training camp observations roundup: 4 biggest takeaways from Thursday: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/8/20/21377971/detroit-lions-day-3-training-camp-observations-roundup-4-biggest-takeaways
Sports Illustrated
Detroit Lions Training Camp: Matthew Stafford Dominates: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/matthew-stafford-dominates-training-camp-practice
2021 NFL Draft:
PFF Critical Factors: The most important numbers for the 2021 NFL Draft class: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-critical-factors-most-important-numbers-for-2021-nfl-draft-class
2021 NFL Draft: Preseason safety rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2021-nfl-draft-preseason-position-rankings
NFL draft: OT Rashawn Slater's performance vs. Chase Young shows first-round potential: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-ot-rashawn-slaters-performance-vs-chase-young-shows-firstround-potential-191407718.html
Pat Freiermuth could mount Hockenson-like rise in NFL Draft: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/pat-freiermuth-could-mount-hockenson-rise-nfl-draft/
Is NDSU’s Trey Lance an exception to the rule?: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ndsus-trey-lance-an-exception-to-the-rule/
Teams Don't See Purdy as a First-Rounder Yet: https://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Teams-Don't-See-Purdy-as-a-First-Rounder-Yet
Video:
Okwara on learning from veterans: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/okwara-on-learning-from-veterans
Oruwariye on his development between year 1 and year 2: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/oruwariye-on-his-development-between-year-1-and-year-2
Ragnow on the offensive line aiming to play as one: https://www.detroitlions.com/video/ragnow-on-the-offensive-line-aiming-to-play-as-one
'GMFB': NFC North players with the biggest burdens in '20 (Stafford is picked as one of the players.): https://www.nfl.com/videos/gmfb-nfc-north-players-with-the-biggest-burdens-in-20
'GMFB': Defensive rookies we're most excited to see in 2020 (Okudah is one of the defensive rookies picked): https://www.nfl.com/videos/gmfb-defensive-rookies-we-re-most-excited-to-see-in-20
