Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Lions Links for Wednesday 7-1-26

Articles:




5 Potential Landing Spots For Former Detroit Lions CB Terrion Arnold:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/potential-landing-spots-former-lions-cb-terrion-arnold

CBS Sports Lists Six Detroit Lions in 2026 Top 100 List:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/cbs-sports-lists-six-detroit-lions-2026-top-100-list

How Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes Can Learn From Trajan Langdon:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/how-detroit-lions-gm-brad-holmes-can-learn-from-trajan-langdon

David Montgomery: Leaving Detroit Lions Was 'Inevitable':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/david-montgomery-leaving-detroit-lions-was-inevitable

How Detroit Lions Depth Chart Changes Without Terrion Arnold:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/how-detroit-lions-depth-chart-changes-without-terrion-arnold






We asked NFC North beat writers to make the case for and against the Detroit Lions. Here’s what they said

The Lions could be more explosive under Drew Petzing than they were with Ben Johnson, and it would only require two changes:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/the-lions-could-be-more-explosive-under-drew-petzing-than-they-were-with-ben-johnson-and-it-would-only-require-two-changes/


Brad Holmes has reached a moment after Terrion Arnold, where doing nothing is no longer an option for the Detroit Lions:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/brad-holmes-has-reached-a-moment-after-terrion-arnold-where-doing-nothing-is-no-longer-an-option-for-the-detroit-lions/

10 predictions for 2026 NFL season: Division winners, trades (Sam LaPorta will get traded to the Panthers.  Every time I look at the Lions' roster and cap sheet, I come away thinking they should trade LaPorta.  The Lions have three big potential extensions coming down the mountain: Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and LaPorta. Those three, along with the already-extended Jack Campbell, are the team's first four picks of the 2023 draft class that jump-started this era of Lions football. All are deserving of big, fat deals.  But it's hard to carry that many market-setting second contracts and remain flexible for future free agent signings or trade acquisitions. Detroit already carries sizable second contracts at five of the highest-paid positions: QB (Jared Goff), WR (Amon-Ra St. Brown), edge rusher (Aidan Hutchinson) and OT (Penei Sewell). Kerby Joseph is the third-highest paid safety to boot!  Of course, the cap is ballooning at unprecedented rates. With aggressive backloading and early extensions, the Lions could fit all three of Gibbs, Branch and LaPorta on their books. Because they don't need to trade anyone, they can be picky in which deals they listen to for which players. Gibbs is practically untouchable and will likely be extended before either LaPorta or Branch. But both of the latter two should be acquirable.  Branch tore an Achilles late in the 2025 season and likely won't be ready for Week 1. It's hard to imagine any team sending a strong trade package for Branch until it sees him return to his previous form. Were the Lions to look at trade options for Branch this summer and fall, it would send up red flags to the acquiring team that his rehab might not be going well. He feels like a wait-and-see player.  That leaves us with LaPorta. His rookie season was eye-popping: 86 catches, 889 yards, 10 TDs. But as Jameson Williams has developed into Detroit's WR2, LaPorta has lost some volume. His 25% target per route as a rookie fell to 19.7% over the past two seasons, barely above Williams' 18.4%. However, Williams has LaPorta unsurprisingly beat in yards per target, yards per route and explosive receptions per target. A Williams target is simply more valuable than a LaPorta target.  LaPorta is still quite explosive for a tight end and a safety valve for Goff, who seemingly gets frustrated with Williams' erraticism at times. But when building a list of "who we want to get the ball to" in Detroit, LaPorta is a clear fourth behind St. Brown, Williams and Gibbs -- all of whom will be on big contracts once Gibbs signs an extension. Do the Lions want their fourth option to be making over $15 million per year? And especially when LaPorta isn't an impactful blocker, often hidden from that role by St. Brown and Isaac TeSlaa?  Logic takes me to a place where the Lions should listen to trade offers on LaPorta. But who would call? The Bengals want to use more multi-TE sets and are likely to move on from Mike Gesicki's contract in 2027 -- but do they have the cap room for LaPorta? The Dolphins have room for anyone and everyone on their reloading roster -- but do they want to be dealing picks?  I landed on the Panthers, who have a deep tight ends room but no difference-making pass catcher in the group. They could easily flip one of their young tight ends back to Detroit and carve out targets for LaPorta. Coach Dave Canales loves to get his tight ends YAC opportunities near the line of scrimmage, which fits LaPorta's style. And because the Panthers' starting receivers are big-bodied blockers (Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker), LaPorta can hide in the running game.  Again, the Lions don't have to move LaPorta. But if I were a rival GM, I'd be calling and making offers.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49218532/2026-nfl-season-predictions-division-winners-awards-playoffs-trades

Which NFL players should improve in 2026? Kyler Murray, Ricky Pearsall among potential risers (Tate Ratledge Detroit Lions RG:  2025 was a difficult year for Detroit, a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and ultimately learned just how important a quality offensive line is to a contending formula. Lost in those trials and the Lions' disappointing finish was the steady improvement of Ratledge, a second-round pick who was thrown into a rebuilt interior trio and playing alongside a teammate, Graham Glasgow, who wasn’t a full-time center for most of his career and was adjusting back to the position. Like many rookies, Ratledge found his time in the crucible to be challenging, to say the least, but he didn’t let the adversity consume him. By the end of the season, he was playing his best football, setting up for a strong 2026. Now teamed with free-agent center Cade Mays, Ratledge is walking into a better situation in Year 2. It won’t attract headlines, but if Detroit’s offense improves, you’ll know Ratledge is playing a key part in the unit's growth.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/which-nfl-players-should-improve-in-2026-kyler-murray-ricky-pearsall-among-potential-risers

NFL dynamic duo WR rankings: Cowboys' Lamb-Pickens tandem among elite (4. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams:  St. Brown is arguably the best in the NFL at playing from the slot. Since he entered the league, he has 52 more receptions (293) when lined up inside than the next-closest player, with the second-most yards (3,046) and second-most touchdowns (23). He also finished second (65), third (658) and first (8) in each of those categories in 2025. He's plenty good working on the perimeter as well, but the reason this duo works so well together is because of the way ARSB dominates the slot, and Williams stretches the field both vertically and horizontally from the outside. Williams got off to a slow start to his career thanks to an injury and then a gambling suspension, but he's become one of the best big-play threats in the NFL over his last two years, averaging in excess of 17 yards per catch in each season and totaling more than 1,000 yards each time despite combining for only 193 targets in those two seasons.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2026-nfl-wr-dynamic-duo-rankings-cowboys-bengals/

Lions Forced Into The Free Agent Cornerback Market After Releasing Terrion Arnold:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-forced-cornerback-free-agent-market-after-releasing-terrion-arnold

Ranking the NFL’s Five Best Wide Receiver Duos for 2026 (4. Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams:  For a bit, it seemed the Lions weren’t going to get the dynamic receiving duo they aspired to have when they traded up to select Williams with the No. 12 pick in the 2022 draft. Williams played only six games in his rookie season due to injury and was given a four-game suspension to start his second season for violating the league’s gambling policy. But the off-the-field noise hasn’t been as loud for Williams the past two seasons, and he has developed into a dangerous downfield threat for Jared Goff after back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. St. Brown had the opposite trajectory, quickly making an impact on the field as a 2021 fourth-round pick and becoming one of the more consistent wide receivers in the league, recording at least 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons (beginning in his second season). He’s a well-rounded wideout who’s an asset in the running game as a blocker, but his best trait might be his ability to get open in a hurry on critical downs. Detroit has a near-perfect receiving pairing with Williams’s elite speed and St. Brown’s versatility.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-nfl-best-wide-receiver-duos-2026

Way-Too-Early Re-Ranking of the Top 50 Players in the 2026 NFL Draft (9. Detroit Lions: Keith Abney, CB (Round 5, No. 157):  Getting sleeper cornerback Keith Abney II in the fifth round is going to be even bigger for the Detroit Lions following the troubling Terrion Arnold allegations. There are updated depth charts that have placed Abney as a starter. The former Arizona State defender is severely undersized at 5-9, but was feisty enough to thrive at boundary cornerback in college. His mentality and overall approach matches what Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes look for in culture fits.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/late-round-expert/re-ranking-the-10-best-sleeper-picks-from-the-2026-nfl-draft

Way-Too-Early Re-Ranking of the Top 50 Players in the 2026 NFL Draft (15. Blake Miller, OT, Detroit Lions:  Blake Miller was another easy pre-draft evaluation after making 54 career starts at Clemson. The Detroit Lions badly needed an offensive tackle after agreeing to part ways with Taylor Decker. With Penei Sewell making the switch to left tackle, Miller will be plug-and-play on the right side. Scouts had an elite grade on his character, and he's a perfect culture fit for Dan Campbell and the Lions.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/news/way-too-early-re-ranking-of-the-top-50-players-in-the-2026-nfl-draft

NFL Insider Warns Terrion Arnold About Lions’ Ruthless Habit That Could Cost Him $7.5M:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-warns-insider-terrion-arnold-lions/

Video:

NFL Top 100: Lions LB Jack Campbell comes in at No. 88:   https://www.detroitlions.com/video/nfl-top-100-lions-lb-jack-campbell-comes-in-at-no-88
Posted by LionsFan at 7:11 PM

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