Thursday, November 3, 2022

Morning Lions Links for Thursday 11-3-22

Articles:



Week 9 opponent: What the Packers are saying:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/week-9-opponent-what-the-packers-are-saying-rodgers-campbell-lafleur

Lions’ Jason Cabinda eager to help short-yardage run game, void at tight end:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/11/lions-jason-cabinda-eager-to-help-short-yardage-run-game-void-at-tight-end.html


Detroit Lions RB D’Andre Swift, OL Penei Sewell not spotted at practice:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/11/detroit-lions-rb-dandre-swift-ol-penei-sewell-not-spotted-at-practice.html

Lions expect 3 defenders back at practice, open FB Jason Cabinda’s 21-day window:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/11/lions-expect-3-defenders-back-at-practice-open-fb-jason-cabindas-21-day-window.html



The Next Gen Stats for the Lions pass defense vs. Miami are scary bad:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/02/lions-pass-defense-vs-dolphins-tua-next-gen-stats-week-8/


Lions hold tryouts for two players, sign S Brady Breeze to the practice squad:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/01/lions-sign-brady-breeze-practice-squad-tryout-rico-gafford-troy-pride/

'More Food on the Table' For Lions After T.J. Hockenson Trade:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbell-reacts-to-hockenson-trade

T.J. Hockenson says he ‘kinda knew’ the Detroit Lions were trading him:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/11/2/23437464/tj-hockenson-says-knew-detroit-lions-trade-minnesota-vikings

Hockenson 'excited to be a part of a program we can do something with':  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/t-j-hockenson-energized-by-trade-from-lions-to-vikings


NFL Rumor Roundup: Sources react to Chase Claypool, T.J. Hockenson and more trade deadline deals (This trade was labeled as one of the biggest surprises of the trade deadline by multiple sources for a few reasons.  1.  Hockenson is a very good player.  2.  The Lions were willing to trade him within the division.  One NFC scout believed the trade was somewhat reactionary and that the Vikings likely wouldn’t have pulled it off if not for Irv Smith Jr.’s recent high ankle sprain, which reportedly will sideline him for 8-to-10 weeks.  That’s likely true, but the Vikings went above and beyond to not only acquire a short-term replacement but a long-term solution who adds more high-end talent to their offense.  Hockenson hasn’t quite lived up to his hype since being selected eighth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft but ranks 12th among tight ends with a 74.0 overall PFF grade since 2020 and eighth with a 79.0 receiving grade. He replaces Smith, who has a 65.9 overall grade and 69.2 receiving grade in that same span of time, in the short- and likely long-term.  Hockenson is signed through the 2023 season on his fifth-year option. The Vikings would be smart to hammer out an extension with Hockenson since tight end contracts are among the best values in the NFL. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller is the highest-paid tight end in the NFL with a deal worth $17 million per year. The 20th-highest-paid wide receiver makes more than that per season. Only the NFL’s highest-paid running back, fullback, center, kicker, punter and long snapper make less per year than Waller.  As for the Lions, their willingness to trade away Hockenson is not a great sign for their short-term future.  “Dan Campbell stands up there every week and says, ‘We're close,’ but this tells you that they realize internally that they are further away from contending,” an AFC pro scout said. “He's a good young player. If they don't view a 25-year-old as part of their core of talent for the future, then yeah, their timeline has been pushed back.”  Other teams who traded away talented players at the deadline were at least able to recoup the same round pick they were drafted in. The Lions did not acquire the equivalent of the eighth overall pick for a player who still had a year-and-a-half left on his deal. Hockenson was selected by the Lions’ previous regime, so that’s not exactly Campbell and Brad Holmes’ problem. But he was having success in an at-times high-powered offense in Detroit.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-rumor-roundup-sources-react-chase-claypool-tj-hockenson-trade-deadline-deals

Grading every NFL trade deadline move: Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins, Chase Claypool to the Bears and more (DETROIT LIONS TE T.J. HOCKENSON, 2023 FOURTH, CONDITIONAL 2024 FOURTH-ROUND PICK → MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOR 2023 SECOND, 2024 THIRD-ROUND PICK - Lions: Average.  The Minnesota Vikings — albeit under a different regime — traded a fourth-round pick before the 2021 season for tight end Chris Herndon, who went on to record a whopping four receptions the entire season and is not currently on an NFL roster halfway through the 2022 campaign. What does this have to do with this trade? Effectively nothing, but it does illustrate a really strong price on a position that has little top-end talent league-wide.   Has Hockenson lived up to his top-10 pick billing? Arguably no, though Detroit exercised his $9.392 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2023 this offseason, so they clearly saw a future with him in it at some point. Now, they get out from that obligation and avoid extending Hockenson on what could be one of the top deals in a tight end position market that has been capped since the San Francisco 49ers‘ George Kittle signed a deal for $15 million per year in 2020.  Getting a second- and third-round pick is definitely solid, but sending two picks along with Hockenson makes the return less exciting.   Vikings: Good.  Since 2020, Hockenson’s 79.0 receiving grade ranks ninth among tight ends, his 23 missed tackles forced ranks sixth and his 63.6% contested catch rate ranks fourth. He ranks top 10 in almost every receiving metric over the span, and while there is certainly an argument that tight end talent is still so scarce in the NFL that it's less impressive to rank in the top 10, that also acknowledges the reality that tight end talent is still so scarce in the NFL. Hockenson is just 25 years old and is now on a team with six wins for the first time in his NFL career, with head coach Kevin O’Connell perhaps able to utilize his skill set better as he continues to grow.  This is perhaps a team also taking advantage of a cheap position market compared to other positions in the NFL as opposed to feeling as though they’ll “win” on a deal relative to the tight end market. While the latter is what really matters, the tight end market is so cheap at this point that a team can get a young, clear-cut top-10 tight end for the same price as the 25th-highest-paid wide receiver.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-grading-every-trade-deadline-move-bradley-chubb-miami-dolphins-chase-claypool-bears-2022

2022 NFL trade deadline: Who are the biggest winners and losers? (Winners - 4. T.J. Hockenson: This talented tight end started the day on a one-win Detroit Lions team that was mired in last place in the NFC North. He ended it by joining the first-place Minnesota Vikings, a team that has lost just once this season. The Vikings don't feed the ball to their tight ends constantly but it's not hard to see Hockenson thriving with his new squad. He's effective as both a blocker and receiver and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020. He's also now playing in an offense with dynamic weapons like wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook. The Vikings sought Hockenson after losing tight end Irv Smith Jr. to a high ankle sprain injury. Hockenson should end up being an upgrade as a result.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2022-nfl-trade-deadline-who-are-the-biggest-winners-and-losers

QB Power Rankings: Geno Smith enters top five (26. Jared Goff: Goff racked up numbers out of the gate while playing catch-up for the Lions, and he threatened to return to form against the Dolphins in Week 8. Without T.J. Hockenson now, he's bound for another step back on a team that should be eyeing any QB help it can get in 2023.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2022-nfl-qb-power-rankings-week-9-seahawks-geno-smith-bengals-joe-burrow-round-out-top-five/

Winners and losers at the 2022 NFL trade deadline (Loser: The Detroit Lions - You’d think that as a former tight end, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell would understand the value of a true game-changer at the position. Alas. If Campbell does understand such things, the Ford family probably had to lock the exuberant coach in a box when Detroit traded T.J. Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 second-round pick, and a 2024 third-round pick.  Yes, you can say that Hockenson, who the Lions selected eighth overall in the 2019 draft, was coming up on a big playday. But it could also be said that even in Detroit’s regressive Jared Goff-led offense, Hockenson has earned it. Now, and for very little in return, the Lions have one more thing to worry about when rebuilding, as they are always seeming to do.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-trade-deadline-winners-losers-chase-claypool-bradley-chubb/

NFL trade deadline winners, losers: Bills, Packers miss out on upgrades (Losers - Jared Goff: The Lions already owned multiple first-round picks in 2023 and may now have all the ammunition they need to replace their current quarterback with the one they truly covet for the long term.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2022/11/01/nfl-trade-deadline-dolphins-bradley-chub-bills-packers-losers/8238906001/

NFL OL Rankings Week 9: Why Don’t NFL Teams Trade For OL at the Deadline? (OL Rankings: Tier 2 - Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-ol-rankings-week-9-2022/

Grades:

CBS NFL midterm grades: Eagles, Bills ace test (Detroit Lions (Record: 1-6, Grade: F):  The Lions were supposed to be better than this. Detroit's defense is beyond abysmal, raking 32nd in points and yards allowed per game -- not allowing fewer than 330 yards and 24 points in any game this year. The unit has given up the most rushing touchdowns and the most points per possession, while ranking toward the bottom in many significant defensive categories.   The offense has made significant strides from 2021, scoring 27-plus points in four games this year. The unit is still inconsistent from week to week and the future at quarterback is murky. Dan Campbell isn't the greatest of game day coaches, either.   Detroit sold off T.J. Hockenson to a division rival, losing a significant strength of that roster. The Lions have a lot of work to do, even though they are competitive.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/overall-grades-for-each-nfl-team-at-midway-point-eagles-bills-ace-midterm-packers-get-embarrassing-mark/

2023 NFL Draft:

Florida State's Jared Verse on track to go from FCS standout to future NFL draft darling:  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-florida-state-jared-verse-fcs-standout-future-nfl-draft-darling

Top 10 Running Backs in the 2023 NFL Draft Include Bijan Robinson and Blake Corum:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-top-10-running-backs/

Top 10 WRs in the 2023 NFL Draft: Jalin Hyatt, Rome Odunze Ascending as Underclassmen:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-top-10-wide-receivers/

Video:





Lions Trade T.J. Hockenson To The Minnesota Vikings | Instant Reaction:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/videos?videoId=6314749800112

The Valenti Show - If you're team Holmes, it's time to find a new staff:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/videos

Jared Goff: "We've Been Saying We're Close For A While And It Means Nothing.":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/videos?videoId=6314748753112
Posted by LionsFan at 3:51 AM

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