Written By: Jake Leicht
The Detroit Lions’ 2018 season was full of ups-and-downs under first year coach Matt Patricia. Offensively, the Lions took a step back, though they did add what looks to be their next franchise running back in Kerryon Johnson in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Matthew Stafford really struggled with his intermediate pass accuracy, and it did not help that the Lions traded Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles in the middle of the season. The offensive line held up pretty well given the fact that they dealt with injuries all season long. Defensively, the Lions were a train wreck. They were one of the league’s worst teams in terms of their pass defense. Detroit did not have anyone that got to the passer on a regular basis, and their secondary struggled given the fact that they were in coverage without a pass rush so often. The Lions have many holes on their roster. This will be one of their most important off-seasons in quite some time.
Available Salary Cap Space- $31.7 million
Free Agents
UFA
Ezekiel Ansah- Pass Rusher
Luke Willson- Tight End
LeGarrette Blount- Running Back
TJ Jones- Wide Receiver
Levine Toilolo- Tight End
Marcus Cooper- Cornerback
Matt Cassel- Quarterback
Don Muhlbach- Long Snapper
Zach Zenner- Running Back
Nick Bellore- Fullback
Ricky Jean Francois- Defensive Tackle
Kelvin Sheppard- Inside Linebacker
Deshawn Shead- Cornerback
Bruce Ellington- Wide Receiver
Eli Harold- Pass Rusher
Andrew Donnal- Offensive Guard
RFA
Jerome Cunningham- Tight End
Kerry Hyder- Defensive Tackle
Romeo Okwara- Defensive End
ERFA
Charles Washington- Cornerback
Potential Cap Casualties (Bold = Dead Money, Italics = Cap Gain)
T.J. Lang- Offensive Guard ($2.67 mill) ($8.84 mill)
Glover Quin- Free Safety ($1.67 mill) ($6.25 mill)
Nevin Lawson- Cornerback ($1.13 mill) ($4.12 mill)
Theo Riddick- Running Back ($962,500) ($3.41 mill)
Tavon Wilson- Strong Safety ($875,000) ($2.9 mill)
*All figures for cap purposes are taken as pre-June 1st, unless otherwise stated. All cap figures courtesy of Overthecap.com, unless otherwise stated*
Team Needs
5-7 Needs
Pass Rusher
Cornerback
Offensive Guard
Tight End
Wide Receiver
Free Safety
Draft pick Allotment
1st Round #8 (8)
2nd Round #11 (43)
3rd Round #25 (89)
4th Round #9 (105)
5th Round #8 (136)
6th Round #11 (171)
6th Round #32 (192)
7th Round #10 (202)
7th Round #20 (212)
*Compensatory Pick Projection courtesy of Nick Korte of Overthecap.com
Mock Offseason
Coaches Hired/Fired IF APPLICABLE
Players Re-signed
Bruce Ellington- Wide Receiver
Zach Zenner- Running Back
Nick Bellore- Fullback
Kelvin Sheppard- Inside Linebacker
Eli Harold- Edge Rusher
Cap Casualties
T.J. Lang- Offensive Guard ($2.67 mill) ($8.84 mill)
Glover Quin- Free Safety ($1.67 mill) ($6.25 mill)
Nevin Lawson- Cornerback ($1.13 mill) ($4.12 mill)
Theo Riddick- Running Back ($962,500) ($3.41 mill)
Tavon Wilson- Strong Safety ($875,000) ($2.9 mill)
Trade
Trade #1
Detroit Lions get: 2019 1st (6th overall), 4th, 5th round picks and a 2020 3rd round pick
New York Giants get: Matthew Stafford
Trade #2
Detroit Lions get: 2019 1st (15th overall), 2nd round pick and a 2020 5th round pick
Washington Redskins get: 2019 1st (6th overall)
Free Agent Targets
Trey Flowers- Edge Rusher (Patriots)
Even though I believe the Lions will look to draft an edge rusher early on in the 2019 NFL Draft, they actually have a need for two pass rushers. I am not sure that Trey Flowers will hit free agency, but if he does, he is an obvious fit in a huge position of need for Matt Patricia’s defense.
Tyrod Taylor- Quarterback (Browns)
In this blueprint, the Lions have traded Matthew Stafford. If this happens, they will need a temporary replacement. Tyrod Taylor would be a perfect fit for the Lions’ smash mouth, play-action offense.
Kwon Alexander- Linebacker (Buccaneers)
The Lions need help at nearly every defensive position. Adding a top talent a linebacker to man the middle of the field would be a huge get for the Lions. Alexander fits that mold.
Mock Draft
1st Round (Pick 8): Clelin Ferrell, Edge Rusher (Clemson)
1st Round (Pick 15): Byron Murphy, Cornerback (Washington)
2nd Round: Irv Smith, Tight End (Alabama)
2nd Round (from the Redskins): Taylor Rapp, Safety (Washington)
3rd Round: Michael Deiter, Guard (Wisconsin)
4th Round (from the Giants): Andy Isabella, Wide Receiver (UMass)
4th Round: Clayton Thorson, Quarterback (Northwestern)
5th Round (from the Giants): Cameron Smith, Linebacker (USC)
5th Round: Karan Higdon, Running Back (Michigan)
6th Round: Daylon Mack, Defensive Tackle (Texas A&M)
7th Round: Cole Tracy, Kicker (LSU)
Keep a lookout for more offseason blueprints as we get closer to the start of the new league year!