Thursday, March 16, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Thursday 3-16-23

Articles:

O'HARA: With deal in place, Anzalone can turn his attention to 2023 season:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-with-deal-in-place-anzalone-can-turn-his-attention-to-2023-season

Lions’ Alex Anzalone savors multi-year pact, turns attention to playoff drought:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/lions-alex-anzalone-savors-multi-year-pact-turns-attention-to-playoff-drought.html

John Cominsky signs big Lions deal: ‘Focus and hustle can change your life forever’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/john-cominsky-signs-big-lions-deal-focus-and-hustle-can-change-your-life-forever.html

Charles Harris, a potential cap casualty, reworks contract to stay in Detroit:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/charles-harris-a-potential-cap-casualty-reworks-contract-to-stay-in-detroit.html






Tracking the Lions early moves in free agency and how they've impacted NFL draft plans:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/15/lions-free-agency-tracker-roster-impact-on-detroit-draft-needs/


What Aaron Rodgers' Announcement Means for Detroit Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/what-aaron-rodgers-announcement-means-for-lions

Dan Campbell's Text Message Solidified John Cominsky's Return:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbells-text-message-aided-free-agent

Dan Campbell: Lions 'Dormant Volcano' Waiting to Erupt:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbell-says-lions-dormant-volcano

What New RB David Montgomery Brings to Detroit Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/what-david-montgomery-brings-to-lions





Kerryon Johnson says playing for Matt Patricia cost him 'two knees and a neck':  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/kerryon-johnson-matt-patricia-cost-me-two-knees-and-a-neck

4 moves we loved from Day 2 of NFL free agency, from Raiders' Jimmy G plan to another smart Lions signing (The Lions sign CB Emmanuel Moseley to a one year, $6 million con): tract - Another day, another inexpensive, high-reward cornerback signing for the Lions.  Detroit’s run at Pittsburgh starter Cameron Sutton as an undervalued product earned Dan Campbell’s team a spot in the winners’ column Monday. Double-dipping for Moseley makes things even sweeter.  Like Sutton, Moseley is a smaller corner capable of playing in the slot or outside. That creates value in the upcoming draft if Campbell likes a bigger corner with the sixth overall pick and provides a contingency plan for Jeff Okudah’s inconsistent play. The former third overall pick trended toward his potential through much of 2022, then faded badly toward the end of the year to, once again, leave questions about his future.  At his best, Moseley is effective in coverage and does his best work near the sideline. Split wide in 2021 and 2022 he allowed only 5.8 yards per target and didn’t give up a single touchdown en route to a 66.0 passer rating in coverage — fourth best among all cornerbacks who faced at least 80 targets in that span behind Sauce Gardner, Jaire Alexander and Tre’Davious White. He came into the league as a plus-plus athlete and, after a rough start, has shown off those chops at the next level.The problem is, he only played 16 games the last two years and had his 2022 campaign cut short by a torn ACL. He’s expected to return to full strength before training camp, but even at 100 percent flaws persist in his tackling.  This led him to a one-year prove-it deal with a needy Detroit team. He’s thoroughly capable of out-playing that contract.  The Lions finished 2022 at 9-8 despite a secondary whose 7.9 adjusted net yards per attempt allowed through the air was the worst mark in the league (7.9 any/a was, for reference, was roughly what Patrick Mahomes averaged last fall). Detroit had several holes to fill in its defensive backfield and limited salary cap space with which to do so. Hiring Moseley and Sutton at a combined $17 million for 2023 provides two starting caliber talents at 7.6 percent of this season’s $224.8 million spending limit. They both work well on the outside and both have experience on the inside if needed.  That leaves Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn flexibility in their secondary and in the way they approach their future. The Lions’ investments aren’t blue chip portfolios, but they’re capable of big payoffs. That’s the exact risk this team needs to make in this stage of its development.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-free-agency-best-signings-day-2-jakobi-meyers-darren-waller

Grades:

Grading Lions' Signing of RB David Montgomery:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grading-lions-signing-david-montgomery


Walter football (Lions sign RB David Montgomery (3 years, $18 million): MILLEN Grade.  I'm a big fan of the Lions' 2023 outlook, and I've enjoyed their offseason thus far. I graded their cornerback signings very favorably. Unfortunately, I'm going to change my tune here because I hate this signing.  David Montgomery sucks. The Bears even knew it because they began giving carries to Khalil Herbert over Montgomery last year until Herbert got hurt. Montgomery is just like a million other running backs on the market, so there was no reason to pay him more than the minimum. An $18 million contract is insane for Montgomery.):  https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

2023 NFL free agency team-by-team grades: Eagles, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bears, 49ers among early winners (Detroit Lions: B.  Key additions: CB Cameron Sutton (Steelers). Key re-signings: RB Craig Reynolds, DL Isaiah Buggs, LB Alex Anzalone. The Lions haven't made any gigantic moves, but they kept key cogs to the culture Dan Campbell is building in running back Craig Reynolds (terms undisclosed), defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (two years, worth up to $6 millions), and linebacker Alex Anzalone (three years, $18.8 million). They also addressed a key area of need in their secondary by snagging 28-year-old cornerback Cameron Sutton from the Pittsburgh Steelers for three years, $33 million. That total value dollar amount is equivalent to the rookie contract of their former third overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, cornerback Jeff Okudah, a nice value for a player with Sutton's recent production. He only allowed a 46.8% completion percentage when targeted in 2022, the third-lowest in the NFL among players who were targeted 70 or more times. The only players with lower completion percentages were the Eagles' Second-Team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry (43.5%) and the New York Jets 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner (44.2%). Nice work by general manager Brad Holmes who can make some real noise in the 2023 NFL Draft with multiple first round picks.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-team-by-team-grades-eagles-seahawks-dolphins-bears-49ers-among-early-winners/

2023 NFL Draft:


Pro Day News and Rumors: Adetomiwa Adebawore, Cam Smith, and Bryan Bresee Impress Teams:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/pro-day-news-and-rumors-adetomiwa-adebawore-cam-smith-bryan-bresee-impress-teams/

Georgia's Nolan Smith ready to earn his place and more in the NFL:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-georgia-nolan-smith-ready-to-earn-his-place-nfl

2023 NFL Draft: Wide receiver prospect superlatives:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-wide-receiver-prospect-superlatives-nfl-2023




NFL Draft Sleeper: Idaho LB Fa'Avae Fa'Avae is reincarnation of former NFL veteran Rontez Miles:  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-sleeper-idaho-lb-faavae-faavae-is-reincarnation-of-former-nfl-veteran-rontez-miles

Mike Morris NFL Draft 2023 Prospect Interview:  https://thedraftnetwork.com/mike-morris-nfl-draft-2023-interview/

Is Jalen Carter’s Draft Stock Falling Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft?:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/is-jalen-carters-draft-stock-falling-ahead-of-the-2023-nfl-draft/


Georgia DT Jalen Carter comes in heavy, doing position drills only at pro day:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2023/03/15/2023-nfl-draft-georgia-pro-day-jalen-carter/

Adetomiwa Adebawore continues his outstanding offseason at Northwestern's pro day:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2023/03/15/adetomiwa-adebawore-northwestern-2023-nfl-draft-profile-pro-day-results/


Video:


Posted by LionsFan at 3:41 AM

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