We can assume the lions will suck again next year and will have tons of draft capital. Pick the best player available every pick this year and then get a QB next year.

They played like a .500 team the back half of the season and probably have 3 top 34 picks incoming. It would be naive to think that there won't be at least some regressions in certain areas, but overall the team that played the last 7 games wasn't the same team that **** the bed for the first 10. Hard to put on O/U on wins next year until we see the draft, but I think it's in the 5.5 to 6.5 range, and probably has an even higher ceiling if they keep progressing.

I guess my point is that next year they could be drafting outside of the top 10, and this year is unique in that there's a lot of QB's with late first round/2nd round grades and they will likely have picks 29ish and 34. Sure they can maybe trade up next year if they don't tank, and maybe these QBs all suck and aren't worth the 29th or 34th picks, I don't know. But holding out for a top tier prospect next year that you could still miss on when an OKish prospect might fall to you this year could be a big gamble.

2, 29 and one of our 1sts next year for Watson? Can the Texans get better from someone else? (This random article from a site I've never heard from says it looks more like 3 1sts + 2-3 2nd/3rd rounders is the asking price - maybe too steep for a team with a bunch of upgrades necessary on the defense?)

Would Watson come here (he has a no-trade clause) - our history would obviously say lolno, but has the positive buzz around Campbell and the improved culture enough to make him say yes?

Assuming you have to pour 100% of remaining resources into defense for the next 2 years, where does a Lions offense with Watson, our o-line, swift, hock and st brown rank? Top half? Top 10? Top 6?

Is Watson too much of a dirtbag to support anyway? (I don't know anything about his accusations/case other than it exists and he didn't play this year because of it, so it probably isn't "nothing".)

LOL no. You cant build for long-term 'culture' then add a sexual predator year 2. Highly doubt Sheila would sign off on the move even if Holmes & Campbell wanted to do it.

I would draft defense, defense, defense. If one of the top WR or a QB that piques their interest drops to the late first then maybe adjust on the fly.

jfc this poor fanbase

you guys had a 3-13-1 season and worried that some of that good play was unsustainable and will regress to the mean

Why would any team, even the Lions, pay that kind of price for Watson? He’s damaged goods. Should be on the clearance rack, not up front with the expensive stuff.

Watson is a top 10, maybe top 5 QB when he plays, so that's the type of player you shell out capital for and/or open the pocketbooks. But we all know his current situation is not great. I imagine Goodell had a huge sigh of relief not having to suspend him since he's basically in a standoff with the Texans. But I agree, you don't shell out draft capital for a guy who may end up in jail or suspended right afterwards. Especially since his alleged behaviors could make him a locker room liability as well.

If for some reason he does end up free and clear of any potential troubles, then there probably is a bidding war for his services, and I suppose the Lions could at least submit theirs. That assumes he still wants out of Houston. Although if I had to bet at this point, I'd guess his NFL career is over.

Like I said.

****in Bengals man. Get the first pick, gets injured in year 1, nex year, Superbowl. That happens here, we get a decade of mediocrity, no playoff wins, and a full rebuild.

To be fair Stafford did not play particularly well yesterday (I'll say he played like I think he is, a good QB but a tier below the top 4-5 in the game). He threw a late pass that is an INT 99/100 times in that would give SF significant equity at the end there. Instead the safety drops it and he marches them down for a FG instead of a TD, and his defense comes in and bails them out to ice it. They are SB favorites because their pass rush is strong and the Bengals O-Line is terrible, and we saw how that played out in last years SB.

C'mon Koss - where is your position by position breakdown of the current 2022 Lions roster + proposed draft solutions AND your FA targets? For an added bonus show us the cuts you would make too.

Stafford is who we thought he is

Joe Flacco esque that is good enough to win a SB but not elite

He tried damn hard to lose that game but shannahan is such a pussy. Just keep punting dude

It's OK Hip, we know you are bitter, most people from Michigan are. It's time to let it go and come to terms with the fact you may be watching Stafford hoist the Lombardi in 2 weeks.

It's OK to grieve, just don't let the hate consume you. Let's focus on who we may be drafting at pick 32 instead

lol I'll start with the bonus. Cut Trey Flowers. Otherwise I actually like a lot of this roster. OLB/Edge is a weird position for them right now. I'd like to see Charles Harris come back, but they are sort of in that window where the average player is OK but no one really stands out and made plays other than him. Even Romeo Okwara when healthy was slightly above average. Julian Okwara and Austin Bryant have their moments, but nothing too special. Assuming they get one of the top 2 in the draft, they could potentially move on from one of these guys.

If I were the GM right now I can say that I would be spending a whole shitload of scouting resources on QB's. It's not that often that the top QBs in a draft class have a chance to fall to the 2nd round, and you also have the capital to move up if you want. I'm just not buying the Jared Goff mid-season resurgence. He's been an NFL QB for 6 years. He is who he is, he's not going to have a Drew Brees like career saving turnaround. Yes in the right system he can have flashes of success. But we also so how much better Matthew Stafford was in his spot. I'd really want to know if any of these QBs project as better than Goff, and if so, I'd jump on it. I would likely shy away from any trades this year, although a trade back could be wild. But any trade ups this year I think are pretty high risk.

Costs too much, does too little. Not even sure there is another side to that argument.

Yep that was an easy one. He's gone.

Day 1 of free agency and I like it. Holmes definitely seems to prefer shorter term contracts. DJ Chark on a 1 year 10 million deal could be a nice bargain. At his peak he's a pro-bowler, and 10M is good value. The only problem is it's a one year prove it deal so if he overperforms to it they will have to shell out to keep him.

Charles Harris played himself into a 2 year 14 million dollar deal. I like it. Not huge, and not committed long term.

Tracy Walker gets 3 years 25 million. This feels like maybe a slight overpay but I can't complain too much. He's been a capable starter but definitely not playing at a top tier level.

I doubt we will see any splash signings, this team just isn't in a position to do it. Get some good role players on contracts that wont hamper the team long term while continuing to build, then if it all comes together they can make a splash in the coming years to complete the puzzle.

Next up draft. Odds are now on Jags to take Hutchinson #1. I have no idea what happens next. Thibodeaux's stock is falling due to some perceived attitude issues or something. No idea if that's a real thing or not. Kyle Hamilton is showing up on a lot of mock drafts and I don't love it. Yeah he was freakishly productive at Notre Dame but this is the NFL. His combine measurements were in the box but not knock your socks off elite. I would be worried about an Okudah situation where he's got the right blend of skills and athleticism to dominate college but will struggle in the NFL. But if it's a crap year to pick at 2 and he's as good as it gets then whatever. I want a pass rusher but if there isn't one, then just get a good player please.

when you guys witness the jags offseason is it joy knowing you're not making those errors or pain knowing what that fanbase is going to go through?

At least the Jags has a slight chance of maybe paying off if Lawrence has a bounce back season. And he's young enough that if it doesn't they can rebound from whatever salary cap hell they are getting themselves into while he's still in his prime.

Usually the only other teams offseason I have time to gawk at is the Packers. This might finally be the end. Rodgers is 38, and while still playing at a high level, time does appear to be catching up to him. Two offseasons in a row now he's come with his high school girl drama bullshit and now they've dumped so much money into him that it doesn't look like they will be able to bring back Davante Adams and will be facing a hilarious dead cap situation in 2 to 3 years. Although that team has some Jason Voorhees **** going on where every time you think they are dead they just keep coming at you.

3 years from now who knows what the cap will be.

The cap has a general upwards trend (except for the COVID season) but it's somewhat predictable. Even if it's pushing $250 million in a few years, it's hard to imagine the Packers not taking a $50 mil dead cap hit at the end of Rodgers contract, and that will likely be a hard reset point for them. It's what the Lions did last year. Just shed all old contracts even though the dead cap was massive, take your medicine now, and get a fresh start the following season.

I get it. It's hard to land a QB as good as Rodgers. They might still have a window where they can win with him if things fall their way. They obviously think they Love is a bust. Davante Adams is now officially gone, so that's a setback for sure. If the Rodgers decline starts next year, this team could be bad.

As for more Lions FA moves, the biggest head scratcher seems to be them resigning both Tim Boyle and David Blough. They're cheap deals for backups, but Boyle's appears to be fully guaranteed. Blough's details aren't released, so maybe he's still cuttable. You would think they would at the very least bring in a project QB.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin is gone. I was hoping they could get him back for the right price as he's a good special teamer and backup LB, but not a huge loss.

Anybody on board with drafting Ojabo? Obviously 2022 would be an IR year but if he can come back strong it would be like having a 2nd first round pick next year. Sure it carries risk but also much upside.

Does fall to the 2nd round? 3rd round?

Kinda worked out for the Bills when they drafted an injured Willis McGahee and he went on to rush 1128-13 after rehabbing his first year.

Nah. We could have had deshaun Watson. Who cares about anything beyond that?

Fortunately for you sarcasm is like a second language in Michigan

I'm not opposed to taking Ojabo. He'll probably be there at 32/34 but maybe not at 66. I do worry a little bit about a guy who gets injured in a non-contact drill. But given the potential upside I'd go for it, but maybe not with one of our top 3 picks.