The Detroit Lions offseason is getting underway and we’re getting close to the acquisition phase of this whole thing with every passing day. The big question here is what positions do the Lions absolutely need to fill this offseason and where should they fill each one of them? The draft or free agency? That’s what I’m going to attempt to answer today.
I have six positions that the Lions need to fill in the coming months and here’s the places I think they’ll have the best chance at filling them.
Edge Rusher
The Lions struggled to get to the quarterback for much of the year. They got really good at it towards the end of the season, but a lot of sacks and pressures came for schematic type moves that involved safeties and linebackers as opposed to an edge rusher just putting on pressure. The Lions need a guy that they can pair with Aidan Hutchinson and so they can start getting home on the quarterback.
Where should they get it? The price of being good is that you have lower draft picks and you miss out on the premiere guys in the draft. It’s for that reason that the Lions must attack this spot in free agency. There’s going to be some good pass rushing guys that will be there. This doesn’t meant the Lions can’t find solid depth in the draft. They just won’t have a shot at the top guys in the draft unless they trade up.
Interior defensive line
Alim McNeil was phenomenal when healthy in 2023. The spot next to him was a revolving door though. The Lions moved guys in and out all year long until they found something they liked in Tyson Alualu in the final five games of the year. Alualu could be back in 2024, but he’s 36 years old. The Lions need a solid guy in the middle that can grow with McNeil.
Where should they get it? This is where the Lions can find a guy in the draft. There should be plenty of young options there that could come in and start right away in the early rounds of the draft and the Lions should have shot at them. Having new defensive line coach Terrell Williams on staff can really help the Lions coach up their guys there.
Cornerback
Perhaps the biggest need for the Lions this offseason. They got beat a lot by receivers in 2023 and it allowed opposing teams to put up points on this defense. They don’t just need one guy in my opinion, they need to rebuild the cornerback room almost from the ground up. Cameron Sutton should be the only guy left.
Where should they get it? The Lions don’t have to stick to either or in this situation. They should be looking to acquire corners in both free agency and the draft. Like I said, from the ground up. This should be the position the Lions come away from the offseason with the most new pieces at.
Guard
At this point we don’t really know how badly the Lions need to fill this position. It’s really all going to come down to what happens with Jonah Jackson and if the Lions bring him back in free agency. If they do, they’ll probably just roll with the depth they do have. If they don’t they’ll have to look for a guy that can start right away.
Where should they get it? It has to be the draft. There are going to be guards available in free agency, but they’re a little harder to attain because more often than not, they go back to the team they were just on and they’re expensive. Plus there’s a lot of guys that are long in the tooth this year. The drafts has multiple guards that can come in and be starters this year and they’ll all be in the Lions pick range.
Wide Receiver
This is not at the top of the Lions needs, but they do need a big bodied outside receiver that can make big catches and high point the ball in the end zone. They just don’t have that right now and they’re one away from being the most dangerous offense in the league.
Where should they get it? This is another place where the Lions could work in the draft or free agency. There’s options in both. They’re just likely to spend more if they do it in free agency. But if it’s worth it, they should do it.
Tight End
The Lions already have an All-Pro tight end in Sam LaPorta, but I think it would be worth their while to find a running mate for him. The Lions could use a guy that’s a little more reliable than the guys they have right now.
Where should they get it? The draft would be a good place to find one. There’s not a big standout tight end this year, so a guy on day three could be real help for Lions.