Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 3-14-23

Articles:

Glenn: New CBs coach Dre Bly can really show how a corner operates:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/glenn-new-cbs-coach-dre-bly-can-really-show-how-a-corner-operates

Buggs on re-signing with Lions: 'We are going to build something great here':  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/buggs-on-re-signing-with-lions-we-are-going-to-build-something-great-here

Alex Anzalone cashes in with 3-year, $18.75 million contract with Lions:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/alex-anzalone-cashes-in-with-3-year-1875-million-contract-with-lions.html

Report: Lions add starting cornerback Cam Sutton on 3-year, $33 million deal:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/report-lions-add-starting-cornerback-cam-sutton-on-3-year-33-million-deal.html

Detroit Lions tender TE Brock Wright, 4 other exclusive-rights free agents:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/detroit-lions-tender-te-brock-wright-4-other-exclusive-rights-free-agents.html

Detroit Lions re-sign reserve running back Craig Reynolds ahead of free agency:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/detroit-lions-re-sign-reserve-running-back-ahead-of-free-agency.html

Isaiah Buggs spurns free agency to re-sign with Lions: ‘Always wanted to be back’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/lions-reportedly-re-signing-isaiah-buggs-to-2-year-deal-worth-up-to-6-million.html

Free agency primer: Detroit Lions want to stick to blueprint that got them here:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/free-agency-primer-detroit-lions-want-to-stick-to-blueprint-that-got-them-here.html


Lions free agency preview: Alex Anzalone’s career year creates intrigue at linebacker:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/03/lions-free-agency-preview-alex-anzalones-career-year-creates-intrigue-at-linebacker.html



Detroit Lions Free Agency Plans: Jalen Ramsey and Daron Payne are off the market:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/13/detroit-lions-free-agency-plans-jalen-ramsey-daron-payne-are-off-the-market/

Tracy Walker posts an impressive video of his recovery from Achilles surgery:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/12/tracy-walker-posts-an-impressive-video-of-his-recovery-from-achilles-surgery/

One potential free agent for every position on the Lions defense:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/one-potential-free-agent-for-every-position-on-the-lions-defense/

Brad Holmes Wins Again: Twitter Reacts to Lions Adding Sutton:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/twitter-reacts-lions-adding-cameron-sutton


3 Nickel Cornerbacks Lions Could Target in Free Agency:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/nickel-cornerbacks-lions-could-target-sutton

Jerry Jacobs: Lions Have 'Hella Room' for Darius Slay:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jerry-jacobs-recruits-darius-slay

5 Qs with Steelers depot: Cameron Sutton ‘fits perfectly’ in Dan Campbell’s culture:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/3/13/23638197/nfl-free-agency-detroit-lions-cornerback-cam-sutton-perfect-fit-steelers-depot-free-agency





2023 NFL Draft: Ranking teams holding a top-10 pick by who's set up best for future success, with Eagles No. 1 (5. Detroit Lions:  Similar to Seattle, Detroit is faced with a decision to add a rookie quarterback or stick with the incumbent; Jared Goff in this case. The Lions have added wide receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown in back-to-back drafts but also parted with tight end T.J. Hockenson. The offensive line is among the best in the NFC when healthy.  A handful of defensive rookies were given ample playing time in 2022 -- safety Kerby Joseph, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Paschal -- and that should benefit the team long-term. They could still sprinkle in upgrades at positions like cornerback, defensive tackle and edge rusher, but that team played hard for head coach Dan Campbell. Have they reached their ceiling with Goff or will last year's momentum carry forward?  Detroit has roughly $21.4 million in salary cap space. The Lions also have two first-round picks by way of the Matthew Stafford trade. Quarterback or otherwise, they should be able to add a blue-chip talent at No. 6 overall. General manager Brad Holmes also has pick No. 18 overall and an additional second-round pick from Minnesota at his disposal.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-ranking-teams-holding-a-top-10-pick-by-whos-set-up-best-for-future-success-with-eagles-no-1/

Grades:

Grading Lions' Signing of CB Cam Sutton:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grading-lions-signing-cam-sutton

Touchdown wire (Lions to give DB Cameron Sutton a three-year, $30 million deal. Grade: A+.  In the 2022 season, per Pro Football Focus, the Detroit Lions’ cornerbacks allowed 16 touchdowns, and had just three interceptions. You don’t need to be a football savant to know that that is a Big Problem for a team that wants to contend at any level of football. It’s why most mock drafts are sending various cornerbacks to Detroit with the sixth overall pick as a default strategy, and it’s why the Lions have agreed to give former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Cameron Sutton a three-year, $30 million contract with $22.5 million guaranteed.  It’s a great deal to acquire a guy who was equally adept outside and in the slot last season. Overall in his 2022 season, Sutton allowed 36 catches on 71 targets for 411 yards, 132 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, three interceptions, eight pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 69.6, which was fifth-best in the NFL among cornerbacks playing at least 50% of their teams’ defensive snaps.  Sutton can go up against the NFL’s best receivers and come out on top. I’m not quite sure why he didn’t have a more robust market, but kudos to the Lions for leaping all over this one.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-free-agency-grades/

Walter football Grade for Sutton (Lions sign CB Cameron Sutton (3 years, $33 million): A Grade.  The Lions had a putrid defense in the first half of the 2022 season, but that changed as the year progressed. The team was much better on that side of the ball to close out the season, yet it still needed a big upgrade at cornerback. The Lions obtained that by signing Cameron Sutton.  Sutton is a great signing for Detroit at a reasonable price. He's coming off a fantastic season despite not having T.J. Watt aiding him for half the year. He'll fill a big need as a big upgrade for one of the best teams in the NFC.):  https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

Sporting News (Lions sign Steelers CB Cameron Sutton for 3 years, $33 million.  Grade: A.  The Lions wanted to secure a solid No. 2 experienced corner opposite Jeffrey Okudah and Sutton can help stabilize outside coverage in Aaron Glenn's scheme.): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-free-agency-2023-grades-signings-trades/gitl0nssgkoamxk2h2rbadzv

PFF Grades (CB CAMERON SUTTON PLANS TO SIGN DEAL WITH DETROIT LIONS (Fit/need grade: A-.  Value grade: B.  Contract: Three years, $33 million, $21.5 million total guaranteed.  PFF projected contract: Three years, $25.5 million, $15.5 million total guaranteed.  Sutton quietly continued to excel in a Pittsburgh coverage unit that was otherwise very exploitable, even though 2022 was just his second season as a full-time starter on the outside. Sutton earned a 71.0 coverage grade, and he allowed just 411 receiving yards, the ninth-best mark among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps on the season.  The Lions needed to find an outside cornerback in free agency this offseason, and Sutton provides exactly that. Pittsburgh played man coverage at about the same rate as Detroit did in 2022, and so the schematic fit makes sense for both sides.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2023-nfl-free-agency-grades-signings-trades-cuts

CBS Free Agency Grades (Lions address secondary with Sutton - Detroit had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, so diving into free agency to help fix that was an expected outcome. Their first move in trying to bolster that group was signing former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton to a three-year, $33 million deal that includes $22.5 million fully guaranteed. Sutton is coming off the best season of his career in 2022 where he totaled 15 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also held opposing quarterbacks to a 65.3 passer rating, which was a dramatic improvement from the 104.9 passer rating he surrendered in 2021. If the Lions are getting the 2022 player, he should be a big help to their secondary.  Grade: B-):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-grades-raiders-earn-b-for-jimmy-garoppolo-addition-49ers-load-up-with-javon-hargrave/

Walter football Grade for Anzalone (Lions re-sign LB Alex Anzalone (3 years, $18.75 million): B+ Grade.  Detroit had one of the worst linebacking corps in the NFL last year, but Alex Anzalone was not the reason for that. He was the one steady presence at the position, so losing him would have been devastating. The Lions did well to retain Anzalone on a contract that is fair for both him and the team.):  https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

2023 NFL Draft:


Biggest movers at the top of the PFF draft board after the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-risers-big-board-nfl-combine

2023 NFL Draft: Quarterback prospect superlatives:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-quarterback-prospect-superlatives



Video:

Posted by LionsFan at 6:30 AM

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