Thursday, July 10, 2025

Lions Links for Thursday 7-10-25

Articles:

2025 training camp preview: Safety:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2025-detroit-lions-training-camp-preview-safety-joseph-branch-jackson

All-NFC North Team: Where Do Lions Linebackers Stack Up?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/all-nfc-north-team-where-lions-linebackers-stack-up


Training Camp Preview: Can Davenport Be Desired EDGE Solution?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/training-camp-preview-davenport-edge-solution

Analyst Questions Jameson Williams' Future With Detroit Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/analyst-questions-jameson-williams-future-detroit-lions

NFL World Believes Brian Branch Is Best Detroit Lions Safety:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/nfl-world-believes-brian-branch-best-detroit-lions-safety

Detroit Lions Found 'Shark Hunter' to Replace Frank Ragnow:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/detroit-lions-found-shark-hunter-to-replace-frank-ragnow

Lions' Key Offensive Weapons Participate in Offseason Workouts:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-key-offensive-weapons-offseason-workouts


All-NFC North Team: Lions Star DE Sweeps First-Place Voting:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/all-nfc-north-team-lions-star-de-sweeps-first-place-vote


Mailbag: Are the Detroit Lions ahead of NFL positional trends?:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/7/10/24465011/mailbag-detroit-lions-ahead-nfl-positional-trends


Ranking every player on the 2025 Lions roster: The Roster Bubble (60-51):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/7/10/24464983/ranking-2025-detroit-lions-roster-players-roster-bubble-60-51

We graded the offseason: Here's who crushed it and flubbed it, from the Rams (A) to the Saints (D) (Detroit Lions: B-.  Biggest move: Extending S Kerby Joseph.  Move I liked: Signing CB D.J. Reed.  Move I disliked: Reaching for DT Tyleik Williams and WR Isaac TeSlaa.  The Lions are dealing with the challenge of their previous success, which resulted in the departure of both of their coordinators for head coaching jobs. Did Dan Campbell hire well again when he made former Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton his offensive coordinator and promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator? Those answers could define Detroit's 2025 season.  Not too much is changing for Detroit player-wise. In free agency, the Lions lost cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Patriots and guard Kevin Zeitler to the Titans. But they replaced Davis with D.J. Reed -- an upgrade, and on a contract that's $2 million per year cheaper, too. Reed has been remarkably consistent, averaging 1.1 yards per coverage snap (average for an outside corner) in each of the past five seasons and was under 1.0 in three of them, per NFL Next Gen Stats.  Detroit's biggest expenditure came via an extension for Joseph that averages $21.25 million per year but included only $23.1 million fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.com. Joseph is coming off an incredible season in which he recorded a league-high nine interceptions and was named first-team All-Pro. However, when I asked for feedback from league sources for my 100-player MVP article, most believed box score numbers overstated his value. I do think this is an overly steep contract, even if the guarantees aren't bad.  My biggest qualm came during the draft. At least according to ESPN's Draft Day Predictor, the Lions reached in the first round when they selected Williams. They then traded up to make a severe reach in Round 3 for TeSlaa at pick 70. While we don't always know how the league perceives a player, the Lions have made a habit of this inefficient behavior. It has worked for thus far for this regime, but it's still bad process.  In smaller moves, Detroit brought back linebacker Derrick Barnes on a deal worth $8 million per year and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike on a one-year, $4 million contract.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45690070/nfl-offseason-grades-2025-free-agency-draft-trades-extensions-coaching-changes

Who are the NFL's best safeties? Execs, coaches and scouts help rank 2025's top 10 (2. Brian Branch, Detroit Lions - Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked.  Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention.  Branch entered the elite in 2024 with four interceptions and 16 pass deflections, the latter ranking tops among safeties. His 21.1% ball-hawking rate is second-best among safeties with 50 or more targets.  "I love Branch due to instincts and versatility," an AFC executive said. "He's been asked to do a lot in two years in Detroit and he's handled it all."  The second-round pick from 2023 played primarily nickel cornerback as a rookie, but the team moved him to safety the following season so he could stay on the field in their base defense. Due to injury, he ended up doing a bit of both positions this past season.  Multiple scouts say he's elite in passing concept recognition, which allows him to be around the ball despite lack of top-end speed.  "The one knock on him coming out [of Alabama] was coverage, but he proved all of that wrong," "He's been excellent. Very instinctive. He was good at nickel but has more range than that."  5. Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions - Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: unranked.  Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: N/A.  Last summer, the top 10 received a call from someone close to Joseph inquiring about why he did not receive a single vote in the 2024 safety pool. Twelve months later, he's a top-five safety and the highest-paid player at his position after signing a four-year, $86 million contract extension in April.  His ball production is what sets him apart. Opposing quarterbacks had a 29.2 passer rating when targeting Joseph, who led the NFL this past season with nine interceptions. His 36.4% ball-hawking rate led all safeties who were targeted more than 30 times.  As a rookie in 2022, Joseph was thrust into the starting lineup due to injury. Since then, he has broken up 31 passes and produced 17 interceptions, the most in the NFL during that span. "He has the stuff you can't teach as far as the chance-taking that helps create turnovers but doesn't hurt the framework of the defense," an NFC scout said. "He's good at taking calculated risks. You've got to give him credit. He's worked hard for his opportunity."  The scout noted that Joseph also played wide receiver in high school, which aids his instinctual play.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45530861/top-10-nfl-safeties-execs-scouts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings

2025 NFL season: One player to root for from each NFC team (Detroit Lions - Tate Ratledge:  Every rookie contributor makes me happy on some level. Who doesn't love to see a pairing between prospect and team pan out immediately? This could be more than just another feel-good story, though; the second-round pick is in position to play an extremely important role for a Super Bowl contender, easing the impact of Frank Ragnow's retirement, yet another curveball in an offseason that was already marked by changes at both coordinator spots. If he can secure the job as Ragnow's replacement at center, Ratledge could help keep one of the most imposing offensive juggernauts in the league rolling, smoothing over a major potential wrinkle for new play-caller John Morton.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-season-one-player-to-root-for-from-each-nfc-team



Biggest remaining need for every team in the NFC (Detroit Lions: Edge rusher - The interior offensive line has taken a hit this offseason having lost veterans Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow. The Lions did draft Georgia's Tate Ratledge in the second round. Their starting offensive guards right now are Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow. It would not be a surprise if they added more competition.  Edge rusher was also given a lot of thought. Detroit moved on from Za'Darius Smith after acquiring him midseason, and Aidan Hutchinson is returning from a serious knee injury. The other pass rushers on the roster are Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal. Davenport has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and Paschal has been more of a stable run defender than one capable of providing explosiveness off the edge while also dealing with his own injuries.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-remaining-need-for-every-nfc-team-secondary-help-for-packers-cowboys-protection-for-baker-mayfield/

Jared Goff gets emotional when sharing what trade to Detroit Lions meant to him:  https://www.thebiglead.com/jared-goff-emotional-sharing-trade-detroit-lions

Jared Goff Questions Rams’ Maturity, Hits Out At Franchise‘s ‘Betrayal’ In 2021 Trade To Lions:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/jared-goff-rams-lions-trade-betrayal/




Posted by LionsFan at 5:55 PM

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