Monday, May 8, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 5-9-23

Articles:

Lions prepared to start season with veteran receiver group:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-prepared-to-start-season-with-veteran-receiver-group



Should Lions Pull Off Summer Blockbuster Trade for Quinnen Williams?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/should-lions-pull-off-quinnen-williams-trade

How Serious a Threat Are Vikings to Lions?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/can-lions-overcome-vikings

Lions Schedule Rumor: Chiefs Requested Bears Game Not Occur Overseas:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-schedule-rumor-chiefs-game-could-be-overseas

Chris Simms: Hendon Hooker Has 'More Talent' than Jared Goff:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/chris-simms-hooker-has-more-talent-than-goff




Most improved secondaries following free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft (DETROIT LIONS - Free agency additions:  CB Emmanuel Moseley, CB Cameron Sutton, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.  Draft pick:  S Brian Branch.  Arguably no team has done a better job of bolstering its secondary this offseason than the Lions.  Admittedly, it was not hard to strengthen the unit considering that the Lions defense had a 48.8 overall PFF coverage grade in 2022, which was the lowest in the NFL. Safety Tracy Walker was the highest-graded defensive back on the Lions despite only playing in their first three games. Furthermore, no Detroit cornerback earned a 65.0-plus PFF grade in 2022. The Lions front office was aggressive in free agency to fix that unit, signing cornerbacks Moseley and Sutton, who have both earned 65.0-plus PFF grades higher in three of their last four seasons and should represent an instant improvement for the Lions secondary. In addition, Detroit also added versatile safety Gardner-Johnson in free agency and drafted Branch in the second round. While it might take some time for the new pieces to gel, there is a chance this unit can actually go from a weakness to a strength for the Lions in just one offseason.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-secondaries-following-free-agency-and-the-2023-nfl-draft

2023 NFL Draft: Ten rookies in the best situations to succeed in Year 1 and beyond (7.  Hendon Hooker:  Hooker is essentially afforded a redshirt year in Detroit. He gets time to fully recover from the knee injury, time to learn the offense -- and time to learn from a similar player in starter Jared Goff -- before potentially taking the reins down the road. Once Hooker's back to full health, I see a dual-threat quarterback who possesses the intangibles and football IQ to thrive at the next level.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-ten-rookies-in-the-best-situations-to-succeed-in-year-1-and-beyon

2023 NFL Draft class rankings: Eagles, Texans, Colts, Seahawks top the board with grades in the 'A' range (9
Detroit Lions - Grade: B.  There is a fair and reasonable argument to be had about positional value in the draft. Detroit's approach appeared to fly in the face of modern convention, with the Lions taking a 199-pound running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and an off-ball linebacker who I thought would be a mid second-rounder (Jack Campbell) in the draft's first 18 selections. They sought out players who fit them as opposed to being beholden to a league-value board. Whatever your philosophy is on this, it's hard to argue Detroit wasn't better by the end of Round 1. Gibbs could be a superior playmaker to D'Andre Swift (who was traded to Philadelphia on Day 3 of the draft), impacting the game as a runner, receiver and returner. The Lions know they'll need his juice with Jameson Williams suspended for the first six games of next season. Campbell figures to start alongside Alex Anzalone, despite Malcolm Rodriguez showing promise as a rookie. The 6-foot-5, 249-pound 'backer tested quite well at the NFL Scouting Combine and has the ability to defend the run and pass (particularly as a zone dropper). The next two picks, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, could also start or contribute heavily in Year 1. LaPorta, who has a spirited play style, gives the Lions the quality receiving option at tight end they've lacked since trading T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota. The smart, versatile Branch could wear a lot of hats in the secondary, freeing up Detroit to move C.J. Gardner-Johnson all over the field. The Lions were always a team Hendon Hooker made sense for, and Round 2 would have been a reasonable time to pull the trigger, so getting him a round later to groom behind Jared Goff was a smart play. Hooker has some challenges to overcome to become a starter, but the tools are all there. The Lions' final three picks felt like traits-based reaches at need positions. Brodric Martin wasn't my favorite defensive tackle, but he moves pretty well for his mass and can stop the run. Colby Sorsdal might just have the length to be groomed as a swing tackle. Despite being a 46-game starter at William & Mary, though, he has only played the right side. Antoine Green has decent length and vertical speed, but looks more like a practice-squad candidate to start.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-class-rankings-eagles-texans-colts-seahawks-top-the-board-with-gr

Ranking NFL's top 10 instant-impact 2023 draft classes (5. Detroit Lions
Impactful rookies: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch, WR Antoine Green.  The Lions went nutty in the 2023 draft. This article isn't to expound on the timing of the Gibbs pick and how it relates to the team-building process. It's solely to evaluate his impact. And it should be very large this season. Campbell was born to wear the dot in the middle of a modern-day NFL defense, and LaPorta and Branch are such nuanced players at their respective positions. LaPorta could be in line for plenty of targets too.   Green can be the D.J. Chark type outside-only, back-shoulder depth option to Marvin Jones in the Lions offense. He's deceptively good after the catch as well.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-top-10-most-impactful-2023-nfl-draft-classes-for-the-upcoming-season-colts-rookies-ready-to-rock/

Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Player in 2023? Ranking the Top 10 Contracts (5. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions | $30.975 million.  The Lions had the opportunity to select Jared Goff’s successor in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Goff might stick around for a few more years after Detroit waited until Round 3 to take Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in early May that the club has had “internal dialogue” about extending Goff, who is currently signed through 2024.  Detroit only absorbed Goff’s base salaries and roster bonuses when they acquired from him the Rams in 2021, but they immediately converted $20 million of his 2021 salary into a singing bonus and prorated it over the life of the contract. As such, his cap charge was around $31 million in 2022 and will remain there through 2023 and 2024, barring a new deal or further restructures.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/highest-paid-nfl-players/

NFL Draft 2023: Best Scheme Fits Flying Under The Radar (IDL Brodric Martin (Lions):  A big man that plays with nasty intentions, he’ll clog up gaps in the run and provide a push in the passing game—he has gone extremely underrated throughout the process. I love the fit of Martin’s game inside Dan Campbell’s group.):  https://thedraftnetwork.com/nfl-draft-2023-best-scheme-fits/

2024 NFL Draft:

2024 NFL Draft: Previewing the top 10 draft-eligible running backs in college football:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-previewing-the-top-10-draft-eligible-running-backs-in-college-football
Posted by LionsFan at 2:29 PM

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