Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions took a significant step forward this season with Dan Campbell leading the way. However, it’s fair to suspect some turnover in the Motor City this offseason.
The Lions were one Baker Mayfield throw away from making the postseason. That’s one way to look at things. The other is to examine the positives — this is a team which went 8-2 down the stretch, finishing the year with a winning record after a 1-6 start. They also possess two first-round draft picks, including one in the top-10, thanks to the Los Angeles Rams dating back to the Matthew Stafford trade.
Detroit has plenty of room to improve, but also some building blocks already in place. There will be change in the offseason, and Lions fans hope most of that is for the better.
In Brad Holmes Detroit must trust.
Lions rumors: There’s only so much room in the backfield
Detroit has an excellent running back corps led by Jamaal Williams and D’Andrew Swift. The Lions should prioritize Williams this offseason, and they likely will. Williams made it known on national TV Sunday night that the Lions aren’t a team to be messed with. Suddenly, he became every Detroit football fan’s favorite player.
Letting Williams walk, when he’s expected to be relatively affordable this offseason despite a record-breaking touchdown campaign, would be unwise for Holmes.
The far more likely option is that Justin Jackson, who contributed as a third-down back behind both Williams and Swift, heads elsewhere for more playing time. In the Lions backfield, he’d be a lost cause. Detroit can replace Jackson via the NFL Draft or free agency quite easily.