Looking toward next season, these five current Detroit Lions players will not be back in 2023.
The Detroit Lions already have as many wins this season as they had all of the 2021 season. So it’s safe to assume 2022 will be a solid step of progress in Dan Campell’s second season, and curb most of the talk about his job security.
But with the idea of 2022 being a sign of progress will come the idea of who is or isn’t part of the Lions future in 2023 and/or beyond. Some have seemed clear, like quarterback Jared Goff and defensive tackle Michael Brockers. Others have trended the way of being gone next season, and still others may be going the other way toward establishing a future in Detroit.
The Lions may again have a very young roster in 2023, with veterans currently on the team gone and possibly replaced by draft picks.
The way things are going, and perhaps at a point of no return for some no matter what happens over the rest of the season, here are five Detroit Lions players who will not be back in 2023.
5 Detroit Lions players who will not be back in 2023
5. QB Jared Goff
Starting with the low-hanging fruit. Some may say Goff’s future in Detroit beyond this season is still unclear, and perhaps dependent on how intent the Lions are to draft a quarterback next April. While drafting a quarterback is definitely a significant move, it can be done independent of a decision to keep Goff.
A $10 million dead money hit isn’t to be discounted, but the Lions can clear $20.65 million in cap space by parting with Goff in 2023. That money can be used to sign someone as a bridge/placeholder for a rookie, and they’d be a far cheaper one than Goff will be.
Goff is the kind of quarterback who keeps a team in proverbial purgatory–expensive and mediocre. The Lions don’t have to keep him around next year, and he can then start what will be a journeyman remainder of his career.