Welcome back, Detroit Lions. I trust everyone had a grand time last week in the Grand Canyon State during the NFL’s annual spring meeting in Phoenix.
Judging by the reaction of fans to all of the Lions’ personnel moves so far, I’m sure the NFL had no choice but to crown them 2023 NFL Offseason Free Agency Champions. It’s a prestigious award, I hear; it comes with a lifetime supply of Blockbuster gift cards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Boblo Island.
As coach Dan Campbell told reporters, “I think we are positioned much better to swing with the big boys this year.”
My question for Campbell would have been, “Why exactly?”
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Sure, the Lions filled holes with some solid players, like just about every team does during free agency. But where’s the difference-maker or the game-wrecker or the perennial Pro Bowler? Where’s the elite-of-the-elite addition? Where’s the guy who keeps opposing coordinators up at night?
The Lions didn’t one single top-of-the-market free agent player at his position. The highest-rated free agent the Lions signed, according to Pro Football Focus, was cornerback Cam Sutton, who checks in at No. 23 among the top free agents (and No. 28 among all corners, 25 spots behind Jalen Ramsey, who was on the move via trade from Los Angeles to Miami).
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good, prudent signing. Sutton, 28, is great in coverage, can play inside or outside and came at good price: three years for $33 million. But’s it’s not an amazing, earth-shattering signing.
The Lions’ other big free-agent contract — three years, $18 million — went to running back David Montgomery, who’s about an even swap for Jamaal Williams. They overpaid to keep linebacker Alex Anzalone on a three-year, $18.75 million deal. Losing receiver DJ Chark and signing Marvin Jones to replace him is a risky downgrade. And signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was the most noteworthy of many ho-hum, one-year deals. And because I’m such a nice guy, I won’t even mention new Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
So where did the Lions’ free agency class rank? No. 1? No. 1.5? OK, maybe No. 1.75? Brace yourselves. They checked in at No. 13 on PFF’s ranking.
Still, I don’t think the Lions did poorly in free agency. But they hardly hit the grand slam some fans seem think they did. The grand slam move? Easy. Send two first-round picks to the Baltimore Ravens for dual-threat, former MVP, 26-year-old quarterback Lamar Jackson.
All right. Not so easy. Because the Lions still have Jared Goff under contract for two seasons and it would be extremely hard to shop him around the league while also expecting him to be the team leader if things don’t work out. Keeping a potential trade of a starting quarterback quiet in the NFL is about as easy as keeping a secret on a kindergarten playground.
Of course, Goff is good enough to win with. He had a great season — 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions — on his way to making the Pro Bowl as an alternate. But Goff isn’t elite, and he scares exactly no one in the NFL, whereas Jackson haunts the dreams of defensive coordinators.
“Yeah, look, Lamar’s a heck of a talent,” Campbell told reporters last week while essentially shooting down any plans to acquire Jackson. “Trying to defend that guy has been something else. We played them two years ago but, man, we got a quarterback.”
I think what Campbell meant to say was: Man, we got a quarterback … under contract for two more years.
My read on the Lions’ plans is that Goff’s much-improved play lets them devote their resources to helping the team in more pressing areas, especially on defense.
But in almost every case, I believe when a team has the chance to acquire an elite quarterback in his prime, it should jump at the chance. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is a flight risk after this season, so the Lions shouldn’t draft a quarterback. But Jackson would fit any coordinator’s plans.
And if you’re sitting there making a grumpy face with your arms folded and dismissing the idea of trading for Jackson as poppycock because he’s a diva or he’s missed 10 games the past two years, tell me with a straight face how upset you would be if the Lions acquired Jackson tomorrow.
I’m not saying the Lions had to acquire Jackson. I’m only using him as the most extreme example of all the top-of-the-market free agents they passed on. General manager Brad Holmes has had two strong drafts, and he’s going to need another one if, indeed, the Lions are going to swing with the big boys.
But hey, if it doesn’t work out, there’s always that sweet trip to Boblo Island.
Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.