Monday, March 18, 2024

Running List of Lions Links for Monday 3-18-24

Articles:




Every NFL team's biggest move to start 2024 free agency (Detroit Lions: Trading for CB Carlton Davis - It's not technically a free agent move, but the Lions dealing for former Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis is the most impactful on Detroit's roster and draft outlook. Davis instantly becomes the Lions' top cover corner on the outside, which was the biggest need on defense heading into the offseason. He'll get a chance to play more man and press-man coverage in Detroit than he did in Tampa Bay, which suits the veteran's skills nicely. The cost to acquire Davis was a late third-round pick, and Detroit also picked up two sixth-round picks in return. -- Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-free-agency-2024-biggest-moves-kirk-cousins-christian-wilkins-justin-fields/

NFL Free Agency 2024: Texans Are Winners, Panthers Are Losers After Week 1 (Winners - Lions address defensive issues:  Speaking of new eras, the Detroit Lions are Super Bowl contenders and they’re acting like it.  The Lions haven’t gotten complacent after their run to the NFC title game, addressing holes on their defense. They didn’t get much return from last year’s notable signings of defensive backs Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who left to re-join the Philadelphia Eagles.  Sutton and Moseley, who re-signed on a one-year extension, will be competing for snaps with the arrival of Carlton Davis III, who was traded to Detroit by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions also added a versatile defensive back in Amik Robertson, a slot cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.  But the improvements weren’t just in the back end of the defense. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader and edge rusher Marcus Davenport joined a front featuring Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. With an improved defense, the Lions might have a strong case for having one of the best rosters in the NFL.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/03/18/2024-nfl-free-agency-winners-losers-texans-panthers

Grades:

2024 NFL free agency grades for all 16 NFC teams: Washington Commanders get an "A," bring in LB Bobby Wagner and RB Austin Ekeler (DETROIT LIONS - Detroit appears to have made its decision between two pending free agent guards, electing to retain the veteran Glasgow over the younger Jonah Jackson, though there is still time. Glasgow can play all three interior positions, and his return to Detroit in 2023 was a win for all parties.  Robertson is a scrappy cornerback who plays above his size and adds another piece to a Lions secondary that also struck a deal to acquire former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade. The interesting next step here will be whether Cam Sutton kicks inside to more of a nickel role or Detroit asks Robertson to do so after he seemed to hold up a bit better out wide with Las Vegas.  Davenport has all the talent in the world and can win with speed to power as an interior rusher and with torque off the edge. He reunites with a coaching staff he spent extensive time with in New Orleans. He barely stepped on the field in 2023, so this is a solid one-year flier. Teams will clearly keep giving that talent and upside a chance, and we can’t knock the idea, especially with a Lions team that needs more juice up front.  PFF FREE AGENCY GRADE: B+):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-nfl-free-agency-grades-for-all-16-nfc-teams

Free agency team-by-team grades: Steelers get an A (Detroit Lions: B+.  Key additions: CB Carlton Davis (acquired via trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DE Marcus Davenport, DT D.J. Reader.  Key re-signings: OL Graham Glasgow, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Emmanuel Moseley, K Michael Badgley.   Key departures: G Jonah Jackson, QB Teddy Bridgewater (retirement), C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Detroit Lions secondary took one step forward and one step back this offseason. They added a new top corner in Carlton Davis, whose 76.3 passer rating allowed as the primary defender in coverage in 2023 tied for 20th in the NFL among 39 players with at least 80 passes thrown their way. However, they lost safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson as he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday with a three-year contract worth up to $33 million. They needed to get Aidan Hutchinson a pass-rush running mate, and while D.J. Reader isn't that, he provides a veteran presence on the interior. Hutchinson racked up 11.5 sacks in the regular season, but the rest of Detroit's roster contributed 29.5 sacks for a team aggregate number of 41, tied for the ninth-fewest in the league. They struggled converting quarterback sack opportunities into sacks themselves: the Lions' 41.6% team quarterback pressure rate was the fourth-best in the entire NFL in the regular season, but their 6.5% team sack rate was the 11th-lowest in the league this past season. That's why taking a flier on 2018 first-round pick edge rusher Marcus Davenport makes sense. Keeping Glasgow, one of the best run-blocking guards in the league, was critical to the smashmouth style of football Dan Campbell likes to play.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-free-agency-team-by-team-grades-steelers-boldly-improving-roster-quiet-cowboys-need-improvement/

2024 NFL Draft:



Posted at 8:25AM


Articles:

New Lions CB Amik Robertson talks playing with swagger, creating turnovers & more:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/new-lions-cb-amik-robertson-talks-playing-with-swagger-creating-turnovers-more

Several Lions reap contract rewards on the 5th day of the league year:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/18/detroit-lions-contract-incentive-payouts-goff-decker-montgomery/



2024 Free agency gains and losses: Tracking WAR lost, gained by each NFL team:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-free-agency-gains-and-losses-tracking-war-lost-gained-by-each-nfl-team

2024 Draft:




Javon Solomon Draft Networking Interview: 'My Motor Never Stops Running':  https://thedraftnetwork.com/2024/03/18/javon-solomon-nfl-draft-interview

Posted at 4:32PM


Articles:

Lions replacing Jonah Jackson with Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/03/18/lions-replacing-jonah-jackson-with-pro-bowl-guard-kevin-zeitler/73023549007/

2024 Draft:



UCLA DE Laiatu Latu’s journey from medically retired to first-round prospect:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/ucla-de-laiatu-latus-journey-from-medically-retired-to-first-round-prospect

Notes from Georgia State Pro Day: 6 teams keeping tabs on OT Travis Glover:  https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-notes-georgia-state-pro-day-6-teams-keeping-tabs-ot-travis-glover

MJD ranks RB draft class, 1-29: Will Shipley at No. 2:  https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-ranking-rb-prospects-no-1-to-29

Video:


Posted at 7:50 AM
Posted by LionsFan at 8:25 AM

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