Thursday, July 16, 2026

Lions Links for Thursday 7-16-26

Articles:


3 Reasons Why Detroit Lions Super Bowl Window is Still Open:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/reasons-why-detroit-lions-super-bowl-window-still-open-2026

Former Lions DL Retires After 9-Year Career:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/former-lions-dl-retires-9-year-career

4 Lions Who Are Set to be First Time Pro Bowl Selections in 2026:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/4-lions-set-to-be-first-time-pro-bowl-selections-2026

Pros and Cons of Detroit Lions Signing S Taylor Rapp:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/pros-cons-detroit-lions-signing-taylor-rapp











ESPN, NFL execs, coaches, scouts, and AtoZ Sports Detroit just proved without a doubt that the Lions’ window is not anywhere near closed:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/espn-nfl-execs-coaches-scouts-atoz-sports-detroit-just-proved-without-a-doubt-that-the-lions-window-is-not-anywhere-near-closed/

Barnwell's NFL trade value guide: The 155 players worth at least one first-round draft pick (Detroit Lions - Two first-round picks and more: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, OT Penei Sewell. The cornerstones of Detroit's rebuild along the line of scrimmage, Hutchinson and Sewell have been elite players roughly since they've entered the NFL. They're both on significant deals, but they're also in the prime of their respective careers. Sewell is moving from right tackle to left tackle, but given that he was a high-end left tackle prospect out of Oregon and has filled in on the left side in the past, I don't have many concerns about his game translating over to the blind side.  One first-round pick and more: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. I've written elsewhere in this article about how running backs don't typically land first-round picks via trade, but Gibbs is one of the few exceptions given his age, skill set and contract situation. Even if an acquiring team was going to give Gibbs a record-setting deal, he would still be looking at a contract roughly in line with what Jakobi Meyers earns on his deal with the Jags.  One first-round pick: QB Jared Goff, OT Blake Miller, LB Jack Campbell. Another member of that 2023 draft class with Gibbs, Campbell has rounded into form as one of the league's better all-around off-ball linebackers and earned a new contract this offseason. Roquan Smith was dealt for a second-round pick, which might suggest that it's really difficult for off-ball linebackers to land a first via trade, but Smith was also about to hit free agency. Campbell having years of team control to come might make him slightly more valuable.  Missing out: S Brian Branch, TE Sam LaPorta, WR Jameson Williams, DT Tyleik Williams. Branch, LaPorta, Kerby Joseph and Terrion Arnold were all on or near the first-round side of things a year ago, but the first three had their 2025 season marred by injuries, and Arnold was cut after he was arrested on felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. Alim McNeill also had a quiet season after returning from an ACL injury, which makes his case difficult given a salary north of $24 million per season.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49354774/2026-nfl-trade-tiers-players-worth-first-round-picks-all-32-teams-contract-value

NFL execs, coaches and scouts help rank the top 10 safeties: How the best back-end defenders stack up (4. Brian Branch, Detroit Lions - Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked.  Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 2.  A torn Achilles cost Branch five games in 2025. That played a role in his two-spot slide in the rankings. But Branch was plenty productive while he played, posting a 1.9% pass breakup percentage, which ranked third among safeties. He played snaps in the slot but mostly at safety, and he added 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits. He was one of two defensive backs with at least five passes defended, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.  "Versatility, toughness, smarts -- he's a complete player," an NFL passing game coordinator said. "He's a baller when healthy. He's got elite instincts."  Added an NFL personnel evaluator: "He can play forward or backward at a high level. Not many can." Branch has not experienced any setback in his injury recovery, but the Lions will be conservative with his timeline to return, putting his Week 1 status in question.9. Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions - Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked.  Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 5.  It's hard to knock Joseph's impact when healthy. The production on a per-game basis is impressive. He has 20 interceptions and 35 pass deflections in 52 career games. In 2025, he defended four of the eight targets in his area, qualifying for a 50.0% ball hawk rate, tops among safeties (NFL Next Gen Stats).  "He finds the ball," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "It's hard to find guys with post range like him who can play over the top."  Over the past two seasons, the Lions had a defensive EPA of plus-28 when Joseph was the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's the highest in the NFL. His availability is an issue that affected his standing in the top 10, though. Joseph missed 11 games last season with a knee injury.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49307927/ranking-nfl-top-10-safeties-2026-execs-coaches-scouts

Penei Sewell of the Lions is voted as the top tackle in the NFL by an AP panel (Penei Sewell has long been known as perhaps the top run-blocking tackle in the NFL. Once his work in pass protection took a step up, he moved himself into a different category.  The improvement in pass protection by Sewell last season, when he was named an All-Pro for the third straight season, helped him earn the honors as the top tackle in the NFL by The Associated Press.  A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at tackle, basing selections on current status entering the 2026 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.  Sewell got three first-place votes and won the voting with 55 points. Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs got three first-place votes and finished second with 44 points. Denver’s Garett Bolles got the other two first-place votes and came in third with 28 points. San Francisco’s Trent Williams was fourth and Philadelphia’s Jordan Mailata was fifth.  Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson, Washington’s Laremy Tunsil, the Chargers’ Rashawn Slater, the Giants’ Andrew Thomas and Chicago’s Darnell Wright also received votes.  1. Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions:  Sewell allowed pressure on just 3.3% of pass plays last season, according to Pro FootballFocus, to rank second among right tackles and fifth among all tackles. He was also the game’s top run blocker at tackle as a key part of the running game for the Lions. Sewell’s strong overall play helped him win the award as the top protector in the league last season from PFF.  After spending most of his first five seasons playing on the right side, Sewell will return to his college spot at left tackle this season as Detroit wants him protecting Jared Goff’s blindside.):  https://apnews.com/article/nfl-top-players-tackles-79ab574f3df879305b1e9bbf7a51eaf9

Ranking the 10 Best NFL Tight Ends for 2026: Travis Kelce Squeezes In Ahead of Potential Retirement Tour (5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions - 2025 stats: 40 receptions, 489 yards, three touchdowns.  Injuries limited LaPorta to just nine games last season, but he’s been one of the league’s premier tight ends since his rookie season in 2023. He had 17 touchdown receptions in his first two seasons, which was tied with Mark Andrews for the most in the NFL during those two years. Before his season-ending injury, LaPorta had an impressive catch percentage of 81.63%, catching 40 of 49 targets from quarterback Jared Goff. Among tight ends with 40 receptions last year, only George Kittle had a better catch rate (82.61%). Even with so many mouths to feed on the Lions’ offense, LaPorta has continued to be a key player for the team. He was pacing for a career-high 923.1 yards last year, and in just nine games had racked up 274 yards after catch, which ranked 15th at the position despite missing nearly half the season. – K.R.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/10-best-nfl-tight-ends-2026-travis-kelce-trey-mcbride

Ranking the quarterbacks in the NFC North division (1. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions:  There are several reasons why Jared Goff is No. 1 on our list. First of all, he is the only QB on this list who has taken his team to the NFC Championship Game, and he runs one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. Goff threw for over 4500 yards and 34 touchdowns last year, and if it wasn't for Matthew Stafford, Goff may have been the league's MVP. Goff right now is at the top of his game, and to be honest, he should be considered a top 10 quarterback.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/touchdown/2026/07/16/ranking-the-quarterbacks-in-the-nfc-north/90944638007/

Which NFL division is at the top of the league entering 2026? (2. NFC North:  This might be the most well-rounded division in the league, but they don't feel as top-heavy as the NFC West. Whether there are any true Super Bowl contenders remains to be seen, but the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings are capable of making the postseason and making a little run.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/touchdown/2026/07/16/which-nfl-division-is-at-the-top-of-the-league-entering-2026/90947689007/

DraftKings ranks all 8 NFL Divisions from most to least competitive (1. NFC North (Bears, Packers, Lions, Vikings)):  https://www.thebiglead.com/draftkings-ranks-all-8-nfl-divisions-from-most-to-least-competitive/

What the NFL’s opening play from scrimmage reveals about offensive philosophy:  https://www.pff.com/news/what-the-nfls-opening-play-from-scrimmage-reveals-about-offensive-philosophy

Video:

11-year NFL veteran, three-time Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner shares thoughts on ESPN's Top 10 Safeties | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/11-year-nfl-veteran-three-time-pro-bowl-safety-donte-whitner-shares-thoughts-on-espn-s-top-10-safeties-gmfb




Posted by LionsFan at 7:05 PM

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