Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Lions Links for Tuesday 5-6-25

Articles:

Lions will cross-train Ratledge, Frazier to maximize versatility:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-will-cross-train-ratledge-frazier-to-maximize-versatility



Notes: Former Lions WR Celebrates Two Years of Sobriety:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/notes-former-lion-celebrates-two-years-sobriety



Pros and Cons of Lions Signing DE DeMarcus Walker:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/pros-cons-lions-signing-de-demarcus-walker-2025

Detroit Pistons Shunned Just Like Detroit Lions for Season Awards:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/detroit-pistons-shunned-just-like-detroit-lions-season-awards




2 Georgia writers share insights on Lions ‘gritty’ guard Tate Ratledge:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/5/6/24422101/2-georgia-writers-share-insights-on-lions-gritty-guard-tate-ratledge

Highest-graded player at every position from the 2021 NFL Draft (DI: Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions (80.7) - McNeill is the third Lion to feature on this list, and his presence serves as a reminder of how the team's 2021 draft class has helped transform the franchise. Detroit is built to win in the trenches, and McNeill has been a force at defensive tackle, earning an 80.7 PFF overall grade in his first four seasons in the NFL.m McNeill missed the final three games of the 2024 regular season and the postseason after suffering a torn ACL, but he notched a career-high 45 quarterback pressures — the second most on the team.  T: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions (91.7) - Sewell was the highest-drafted tackle in a class that featured Rashawn Slater, Christian Darrisaw and Spencer Brown. Sewell's career 91.7 PFF overall grade is the highest among tackles in the class, but it’s also third among all tackles in the past four years, behind only Trent Williams and Jordan Mailata.  Over the past two seasons, Sewell has deservedly garnered back-to-back first-team All-Pro selections. His presence along the Lions’ offensive line has helped turn the unit into a collective force multiplier, and he’s not even 25 years old yet.  WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (92.3) - The 2021 NFL Draft will go down as an all-timer for producing wide receiver talent. Five receivers, including Ja'Marr Chase, Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Nico Collins, have all earned career PFF overall grades above 85.0, and all four will routinely be named in the cluster of top receivers in the NFL. But Amon-Ra St. Brown owns the highest PFF overall grade of all receivers drafted in 2021 (92.3).  St. Brown has caught 430 passes for 4,851 yards and 33 touchdowns in 66 career games for the Lions, and he has been an ever-present weapon on one of the best offenses in the NFL. He is a safety blanket in the slot for Jared Goff, dropping just 13 passes in four seasons, and only Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson have more first-down receptions than St. Brown since 2021. Despite being a fourth-round pick, St. Brown has earned his place as one of the best receivers in the league.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-highest-graded-players-2021-nfl-draft

Which 10 NFL teams have the best Super Bowl odds for the 2025 season? (5. Detroit Lions: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total).  The Lions won a franchise-best 15 games, scored an NFL-high 33.2 points per game, had seven players earn Pro Bowl honors and went 6-0 in divisional play last season. It marked their second consecutive NFC North division title, though the Lions were then eliminated at home in the divisional round. In the draft, Detroit primarily beefed up in the trenches, taking Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at pick No. 28 and Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge at pick No. 57. The Lions also signed cornerback D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million deal.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/which-10-nfl-teams-have-best-super-bowl-odds-2025-season

One reason for optimism for each NFL team (Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson's return:  One of the key storylines for the Lions entering 2025 will be how they deal with the blow of losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs this offseason. While that'll certainly be an adjustment, Detroit still has one of the most talented rosters in the entire NFL and was the No. 1 seed a season ago. They did that without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, whose season was cut short due to a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6. Before going down, Hutchinson had piled up 7.5 sacks through five games. If he returns to form and remains that type of impact player off the edge, the Lions will continue to push for a Super Bowl berth.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/one-reason-for-optimism-for-all-32-teams-after-the-2025-nfl-draft-free-agency/

2025 NFL season: Patriots' Drake Maye among second-year breakout candidates (Terrion Arnold Detroit Lions:  Arnold posted 10 passes defensed in 2024 but committed 10 penalties, too. He has to clean that up, first and foremost, but Arnold has an opportunity to thrive across from free-agent signing D.J. Reed -- much like Sauce Gardner for the Jets -- and develop into a true No. 1 corner. The Lions have beefed up their defensive front this offseason, re-signing key components like Marcus Davenport and adding DT Tyleik Williams in the draft, which will only benefit Arnold and the secondary.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-season-patriots-drake-maye-among-second-year-breakout-candidates

Best NFL team fits for notable remaining free agents: J.K. Dobbins to Bears? Justin Simmons to Eagles? (Za'Darius Smith Detroit Lions:  Detroit traded for Smith last season after a broken leg ended the season of star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Now the Lions can bring Smith back to Detroit to help create the pressure this team has sorely needed. The upside on Smith is that he played solidly last season in an emergency role. He generated 40 pressures in his nine games with the Lions and his pass rush win rate of 21.5 percent was third on the team (after Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, who also was lost to an injury), per Pro Football Focus. Davenport is returning to Detroit on a one-year deal, but there’s nothing that says Smith can’t do the same thing. In fact, the Lions reportedly haven’t completely dismissed that idea. This is a team that saw its Super Bowl dreams crushed by injuries last season. Even though Smith is on the wrong side of 30 (he’s 32), adding more depth on the edge wouldn’t be a bad thing.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/best-nfl-team-fits-for-notable-remaining-free-agents-j-k-dobbins-to-bears-justin-simmons-to-eagles

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Posted by LionsFan at 7:57 PM

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