Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Running List of Lions Links for Tuesday 3-12-24

Articles:

Chicago Bears planning domed stadium on Lake Michigan instead of move to suburbs:  https://www.mlive.com/sports/2024/03/chicago-bears-planning-domed-stadium-on-lake-michigan-instead-of-move-to-suburbs.html





What They're Saying: Lions Took Calculated Risks:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-took-calculated-risks-free-agency





2024 NFL Free Agency: 10 moves that make sense in the coming days (DI SHELDON RANKINS: DETROIT LIONS - Rankins plays with good leverage, engaging in blocks with a low center of gravity and often driving his blocker back several steps into the lap of the quarterback. He also has a suddenness to his game as a pass-rusher, quickly getting on the toes of opposing guards and deploying his inside spin move or flashing across the line on stunts. When blockers are able to latch onto him, he struggles to disengage, getting driven past the quarterback or limiting his ability to complete the play, but he continues driving his legs through contact nonetheless and doesn't stop until the whistle.  He fits what head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions value in a defensive lineman like a glove.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-nfl-free-agency-10-moves-that-make-sense-in-the-coming-days


The best players left in NFL free agency after Day 1:  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-free-agency-best-players-left/

How Brian Burns, Darnell Savage Impact 2024 NFL Draft Team Needs Following Day 1 of Legal Tampering Period (Detroit Lions - Detroit made a splash trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, grabbing CB Carlton Davis in the process. The Lions didn’t have to give up all that much for Davis, a former second-round pick, sending a pick swap in the later rounds and a third-rounder in exchange for Davis. Cornerback is still a need in Detroit, but it isn’t the top priority anymore.  Lions’ Needs Before Day 1: CB, EDGE, DT, OG, WR.  Lions’ Needs After Day 1: DT, CB, EDGE, OG, WR):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/day-1-legal-tampering-nfl-draft-team-needs-2024/

Grades:


Grading Lions Signing EDGE Marcus Davenport:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grading-lions-signing-marcus-davenport




Walter football NFL Trade Grades (Lions acquire CB Carlton Davis, 2024 6th-round pick, 2025 6th-round pick from Buccaneers for 2024 3rd-round pick - It wasn’t too long ago that the Lions had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They improved against the run substantially last year, but still struggled to stop the pass. They had to find some help in the secondary, so they’ve begun by trading for Carlton Davis.  Davis would have fetched more than a third-round pick and two sixth-round selections in the past, but he’s coming off a down year. However, Davis, who has been injury-prone, is still young enough (27) to rebound. If he can manage to stay healthy, he’ll be a nice addition for Detroit’s secondary. The risk, however, will prevent the Lions from earning a great grade.  As for the Buccaneers, they’re in a position where it would be in their best interest to dismantle the team and tank. They’re not doing that, but at least they’re picking up extra assets by trading an injury-prone player.  Grade for Lions – B.  Grade for Buccaneers – B+):  https://walterfootball.com/nfltrades.php

2024 NFL Draft:

Lions draft prospect of the day: Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/11/lions-draft-prospect-kitan-oladapo-scouting-report/


Marshawn Kneeland attracts a big crowd for Western Michigan's pro day:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2024/03/12/marshawn-kneeland-western-michigan-pro-day-workout-nfl-draft/

Players To Watch During Oregon Pro Day 2024: Can Bo Nix and Bucky Irving Raise Their Draft Stock?:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/oregon-pro-day-nfl-draft-2024/

Video:


Posted at 9:12 AM


Articles:



Dan Skipper is coming back for another year with the Lions:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/12/dan-skipper-lions-free-agent-re-sign-offensive-line/







Ja'Marr Chase called Lions' new corner Carlton Davis III best defensive back he's faced:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/jamarr-chase-had-high-praise-for-lions-cb-carlton-davis-iii

NFL Winners and Losers: The 'all-in' Cowboys surprisingly quiet to start free agency (LOSERS - Minnesota Vikings: At some point the Vikings had to move on from Kirk Cousins. Giving Cousins another $180 million deal, which he got from the Atlanta Falcons, probably wasn't going to change the team's Super Bowl trajectory. There's also a lot of risk involved with Cousins, who is about to turn 36 and coming off an Achilles injury, which wasn't mentioned often Monday. We saw what the Vikings' ceiling was with Cousins, and it was time for something else.  But that something else isn't ideal.  The Vikings lost the game of quarterback musical chairs. They settled on Sam Darnold for $10 million over one year, which won't get anyone excited. The draft is coming too, but Minnesota has the 11th pick and could be looking at the fifth-best quarterback in the class at that spot. It could work out but there's no guarantee.  The NFC North is going to be very good this season. The Detroit Lions made smart moves to acquire defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerback Carlton Davis. The Packers agreed to deals with running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. The Bears retained cornerback Jaylon Johnson and agreed to a deal with running back D'Andre Swift. And the Vikings are going to be entering an uncomfortable transition season.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-news-winners-and-losers-the-all-in-cowboys-surprisingly-quiet-to-start-free-agency-141748407.html

Grades:

PFF 2024 NFL Free Agency Live Grades: Signings, trades and latest transactions (CB AMIK ROBERTSON SIGNS WITH DETROIT LIONS - 2023 PFF Grade: 63.4 (65th/127). 2023 PFF WAR: 0.17 (71st).  Fit/need grade: A-.  Value grade: A-.  Contract: Two years, $9.25 million deal ($4.625 million per year).  PFF projected contract: Two years, $9 million ($4.5 million per year), $5 million total guaranteed.  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.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-nfl-free-agency-live-deal-grades-analysis-signings-trades-tracker

SI 2024 NFL Free Agency Tracker: Grading Every Major Move (CB Amik Robertson agrees to sign with the Lions - Detroit desperately needs help in the secondary. Enter Amik Robertson.  The Lions agreed in principle to a two-year deal worth up to $10.75 million with Robertson, who spent the first four years of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders.  Robertson, 25, became a full-time starter over the past two seasons, notching four interceptions with two forced fumbles. In Detroit, he’ll push for playing time in a secondary loaded with question marks and free agents, including C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jerry Jacobs.  Grade: B-):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/03/10/2024-nfl-free-agency-tracker-grading-every-major-signing-move

CBS Free agency team-by-team grades (Detroit Lions: B+.  Key additions: CB Carlton Davis (acquired via trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DE Marcus Davenport.  Key re-signings: OL Graham Glasgow, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Emmanuel Moseley, K Michael Badgley.  Key departures: G Jonah Jackson.  The Detroit Lions are successfully building off of their NFC Championship game appearance by reinforcing their secondary with 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. The draft compensation surrendered for him is fair considering he is a rental with one-year left on his current contract.  The Lions needed to get Aidan Hutchinson some pass-rush help. He 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. Retaining Glasgow was huge. PFF credited him with a 77.2 offensive grade, tied for the sixth-highest among offensive guards who played at least 200 snaps in 2023. He was a bulldozer in the run game as his 87.0 run-blocking grade ranked as the fifth-best among guards with at least 200 snaps played this past season. OverTheCap.com currently projects them to have $31.7 million in cap room remaining. The Lions could still have more moves up their sleeve.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-free-agency-team-by-team-grades-falcons-packers-eagles-earn-top-marks-cowboys-confuse/

2024 Draft:

Eric Edholm's top 100 prospects 1.0: Ranking the best players in the 2024 NFL Draft class:  https://www.nfl.com/news/eric-edholm-s-top-100-prospects-1-0-ranking-the-best-players-in-the-2024-nfl-draft-class

NFL Pro Day notes from Western Michigan & South Carolina: Latest on Spencer Rattler and edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland:  https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-nfl-pro-day-notes-western-michigan-south-carolina-latest-spencer-rattler-edge-rusher-marshawn-kneeland

Video: 


Posted at 7:52 PM
Posted by LionsFan at 9:12 AM

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