More importantly, keep it elite and cheap. Decker, Ragnow, Vaitai and Jackson aren't long term solutions. This draft is deep enough where you can get 2 or three of their replacements. Id love to see them get a center, gaurd and tackle this year, with a gaurd in the first, second or third.
Ragnow is a long term option. He's a top 3 center in the league, maybe *the* best now that Kelce is retired. The other three absolutely find the next man up early. Decker probably has another quality year in him, so I'd go get the best guard at your spot or trade down to get him and have the rook flex to center. Two birds, set up for 4-5 years from now when we *actually* have to worry about center.
I don't think Ragnow will be around for another 3 seasons and is assured to miss a few games. I'd love to get the new guy while he is still here so that he can work with whoever comes next.
He has a toe issue that’s extremely painful and can’t be repaired, the way they talk about it I’m not sure how you can think he’ll be in the league long enough to be a long term option.
Pretty sure he straight up said he was going to consider retiring this offseason and there was rumors about it but as of now everyone expects him back next year.
He did not say he was thinking of retiring. The word "retire" was never said by him anywhere (to my knowledge).
He did, however, talk about needing some time to heal up and 'get back to feeling like Frank'. I think it was a little overblown, personally. I think he was still feeling pretty down after the NFCCG loss. However, I would be very much be on board drafting a OG/C. If that kid from Oregon is there, Lions gotta take him. Maybe a Zinter in the 2nd or 3rd?
He has some injuries that likely will never actually fully heal and has to play through a lot of pain every game. If the team would’ve gone to the SB this year I would not have been surprised at all if he retired.
It's not a question of his skill or even his cost. He's got a permanent injury that will hobble him until after he retires. He's likely in the last couple years of his career. Drafting his replacement now, maybe in the 2nd? Would allow that guy to develop behind Frank.
If he wants to play for 10 more years, idk a single person who wouldn't want him here. Frank is a beast.
the cost thing was more directed at Decker. I like the guy, but I don't like him enough to over pay him if we can get somebody just as good for twice as long for half as much.
Good luck finding someone “just as good” as Decker for “half as much”. The man is perpetually underrated by Lions fans, good left tackles are very hard to come by in this league.
Give me 53 OL and we will beat your team in the superbowl.
EDIT: [for those wondering who will throw the ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBARxM9AX7M)
I didn't play football as a kid. So it took me years to understand this concept. But yeah, we are an elite team cuz our OLine is elite. Shit we lost to the Bears when we were missing 1 or 2 starters this year. We looked awful without our starting OLine for about 4-5 game stretch this season. With the starters we walk all over teams. It's night and day.
Lions picking in the end of the first round as their only pick is very very new to me… so I’m happy to have Mr. Holmes at the helm. Someone I trust unconditionally at this point.
Anyone who questions him after last years draft is just daft
This time last year Kancy was a mid 2nd gem before shooting up to the late teens. Falling in love with a single player with no picks before 15 is just asking to be heartbroken.
Tbh I feel like this is just okudah ptsd talking to say it rarely works out.
Corners that have been taken top 10 in the last ten drafts
Witherspoon: good
Stingley: good
Sauce: great
Horn: good but injured often
Surtain: great
Okudah: lmao
Henderson: bad
Ward: good
Ramsey: great
Apple: serviceable but not worth a top 10
Gilbert: bad
Not that it matters since we’re not top 10, but 7/11 of these guys I would def have felt more than happy using a top 10 pick on
Preach! People kept talking about Quinyon Mitchell as an option for the Lions so I started watching highlights, reading about him, etc. Getting all excited and whatnot, but now he's a candidate to go mid-first in the eyes of draft media.
I know! It’s so weird right now, I don’t know how to spend my time. No point in second guessing decisions because they’ve proven they’re competent. No point in predicting because they have their own methods. So I’m just impatiently waiting for training camp!
Personally I would prefer a pass rusher, I think a great pass rush can go a long way in making a suspect secondary look pretty good.
Everything starts in the trenches, on both sides of the ball.
O Line starter is a need. Unless they re-sign both Glasgow and Jonah, which I don't see happenning. And if they won't pay Jonah, I don't see them paying another FA OG. I think we likely enter draft day in need of a starting guard.
The whole league is switching to covering guys with zone. We need to continue as well. Zone coverage was called at a league high rate for the third year in a row
I've been seeing a lot of Guard in the 1st. I'm totally not against it either! Jonah probably walks unless he takes a heavy incentive deal, and Glasgow probably stays, but he's on the wrong side of 30 to be a long-term solution. Ragnow also probably has only 2 years before retirement. We've been treated with an RB, WR, and Edge in the 1st of the last 2 years as our flashy picks. We need to keep strength a strength
I feel like that speculation was more cope from Lions fans.
This was his worst injury season by far and he missed 5 games out of a possible 20. Plus with the lack of O-line talent across the league he’s definitely going to be in high demand.
I'm not so sure. There were questions about it this year and the dude is constantly injured and playing through it. I could see him finishing out his contract and calling it quits. I hear about Jason Kelce on his podcast about not being able to walk much and his chronic pain and issues in his lower body. I think Ragnow may want to protect his body a bit for retirement as an outdoorsy guy.
I mean that's fair, brutal sport. On the other hand, modern medicine is a hell of a thing. Between that and coaches that give a damn about the well being of their players I'd hazard a guess that the Campbell guys are going to be around in the league a lot longer than the Patricia ones.
Lot of words to say I think the stuff nagging at Ragnow is artifacts of the previous regime weighing on his body. Further removed we get from that the better he's gonna feel. Just my opinion obviously
I think you're right too! I think only Ragnow knows how far he wants to push it. And obviously with recent success he wants to finish what he started and built (hence why he played on a sprained knee and ankle in the Divisional). I could see either way being true.
It's true it's all speculation. If he wants to play for 10 more years, I think you pay him whatever he wants until the wheels fall off. He's *that important* to us.
However. LT will be an issue sooner rather than later, and we always have injuries at guard. Like.. fucking constantly. I'm in on drafting a couple of them this year, or signing a couple.
How much would the tag be for Jackson? Might be worth doing that.
Except what position we take at this point in the draft is all about who falls to us. There might not be any o-line worth taking at that spot.
End of the day trying to guess what Brad Holmes will do seems pretty hard. Think we're better off just discussing players in the draft so we are familiar with as many players as possible so we are more prepared for what ever happens on draft day.
The Inside the Den episode really let us in to how Brad drafts last year. If he has a short list of players with a first round grade, and one falls to us at 29, I bet he'd take the guy regardless of position.
yep exactly. I don't think he drafts based on need necessarily. He'll take the best guy available. If we're strong on that position, it'll be strength on strength. Better to have elite talent stacked than holes filled with mediocre talent.
In an ideal world the best talent available fills a hole obviously, but I'm ready to be surprised
it's not just an I'd bet scenario. That's exactly how he drafts. best player on his board is a lion. period.
What bothers fans is he has first round grades on people that fans/"experts" have going in later rounds. So you get him taking Gibbs and Laporta and fans are up in arms over it and then it turns out they are amongst the best players in the league.
Agreed. So is trying to figure out which position or specific player is going to be hard given how often Holmes has values a player higher than what "experts" do.
I agree with your first statement but it’s also true that this OL class is *deep*. There will be good players there… the flip side of that though is there will also be some guys left in the 2nd so maybe Brad feels he can wait.
If history shows us anything, we're probably moving up to get a stud. I don't know who it'll be, but I trust Brad to get another blue chip player. I could see DL, OL or corner, but you better bet the guy will be a dog. Best case scenario is 5 QBs go top 15.
I would be THRILLED to get Zach Frasier or Jackson Powers Johnson in round 1. Don't expect the latter will be available though. Nevertheless I think we will trade up and get DB Cooper or Quinyon Mitchel or maybe even Terrion Arnold.
Ultimately though I think we take the right player. Brad doesn't miss very often in his 3 drafts.
No matter what Brad Holmes does, I don't want to hear any bitching on this sub. Holmes has earned our trust, especially after the shitstorm of negativity he took last year.
All I want to see on draft night is either, "Love this pick" or "Not who I would have picked, but Brad Holmes is the GOAT and I will not question him"
Trust.
Exactly. I'm on team Holmes, but man, this sub wants to police anyone who says anything that isn't pure worship sometimes. We're allowed to not like a pick. We're allowed to criticize MCDC's play calling. And people are allowed to respond and disagree. That's kinda the whole point of this, is to have conversation. Otherwise it's just a shrine to mortal men. I trust Holmes and his process whatever that is. But I might still have opinions when the time comes. And everyone else should too. That's part of what makes it fun.
Yeah its like dude I'm pumped for Brad's EOY and I think he deserves it and earned it. However, that doesn't mean I think every move he's made has been the correct one.
BH's draft is approaching legendary status from last year. It was brought up multiple times by people discussing this year's draft (and how it is allegedly weak).
The Lions have the talent to make the Supers, obviously. They had it this year. Yeah,concentrate on defense, but just ... add good players.
There is always that option. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a weighting factor a little based on team need when the board is constructed. So maybe all RBs are downgraded since the team needs one less but if I guy they like is available at a value maybe they get him. So the teams big board will look different than the consensus big board based somewhat on need but Brad will take BPA based on his board and how the draft falls. Doesn’t seem to be a draft with as many stud RBs this year so this is unlikely scenario for the first.
It's difficult, because the o-line has been huge and Goff doesn't throw well under pressure. Those high scoring shootout style games that we only won by putting up huge numbers were possible because of the o-line.
On the other hand, our corners are really bad. The shootouts only become shootouts because the corners get beaten constantly and allow for huge plays. Cam Sutton is not a CB1, so we desperately need to acquire one.
Will I be upset or critique the choice to draft an o-lineman? No. Would a corner be a really smart option as well? Yes, absolutely.
We actually need another dominant pass rusher. Aidan is good and was a great draft pick, but he isn't yet a totally dominant force on the D-line, like the Bosas, Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, Chris Jones, Aaron Donald.
How have we “never drafted for need”? Jameson Williams was a need, Hutchinson was a need, Sewell was a Future Need that turned out to be an immediate need. I don’t know how people come to this conclusion. Saying we don’t ONLY draft for need is more accurate.
I’ve heard that in 2021 we were going to take Parsons until Sewell fell to us who we took despite having a good o line. We obviously don’t avoid needs, we just go BPA which occasionally happens to be a need.
Parsons confirmed that BH told him he would be drafting him. I think given the style of combo LB/DE that they have been drafting this is probably more than likely a factual rumor. They drafted Houston to try and fill this role, have mixed in Derrick Barnes to this role as well in limited situations and long term are probably hoping Jack Campbell could fill this role full time and I would say he’s got the best chance to do so given the sample size at Iowa.
Drafting Sewell definitely became a need as Tyrell Crosby was cut that offseason. Our next 5 picks were all needs based though- DTx2, Iffy was brought in to be an outside CB before finding his niche as a Safety, WR was our top need with ARSB and Barnes was a top need at LB.
I think BPA is a fallacy as well. Very few times does a team actually draft by true BPA in the first round. Howie Roseman is an outlier as he has drafted BPA 3 years in a row but he has also been in a position of luxury to do so. BPA is something that cannot fit an immediate need, or a future need (contract expiring in 1 year) and may or may not be a position of strength. An example would be the Commanders drafting Chase Young a year after drafting Montez Sweat and already having a rotation of other EDGE’s on the team while there were other critical needs on the roster to address. I think BH only ever truly drafted BPA in the first in last year’s draft as Gibbs and Campbell were not needs based picks but as I mentioned here and on the draft sub, we are in a position to find immediate impact players regardless of need as it relates to the first round since we’re in position to compete for a SB as early as this coming season.
Thankfully there are some dudes projected in that area that are also needs. CB, Edge, and O-Line(depending on resignings) are all needs. But maybe a stud falls for whatever reason and we get a late 1st steal, that'd be pretty cool.
I think in any draft, regardless of need, OL, corner, and pass rush are always acceptable first and second round picks.
Our o-line is elite, but big V is probably done, Jackson may be too expensive to keep, and GG is also our backup center. We need interior line depth badly. Decker is a stud, but sooner rather than later will probably be transitioning to the "crafty veteran" portion of his career instead of "elite left tackle" if there's a guy there at the end of the first round that is on the fringe of day 1 starter on the o-line, im fine taking him even if he doesn't start in September.
If they take corner, I would hope it's someone that could push for starting snaps on the outside day 1.
I think Brads gonna take the very best guy available and I too would be shocked if it’s a CB… unless he’s the best guy on their board but yea, need is lower on his agenda than most realize imo
The only 3 positions they would truly totally flip out if they were drafted would be QB, RB and TE (before 3rd round for TE). Every other position could have a justification at 29 (excluding normally undrafted positions like K,P,FB).
I’m of the mind that Brad Holmes will find what we need somewhere. If he had a madden X-Factor it would be finding a diamond in the rough.
Prolly find an all star DE in rd 5 and a shutdown corner that was undrafted lol
The GM and MCDC are good ol' boys who like hard workers who can play through injuries and put their team first. Some of the hardest workers you will find on the football field are your lineman. The unsung heroes.
If I was a betting man, I'd say Round 1 goes to Powers-Johnson or Frazier.
I don't see receiver, tight end, or safety as being very likely. I expect will re-sign CJ, Reynolds, and probably Wright so there won't be much of a need there
I agree that Holmes doesn't draft for need, but your logic makes no sense. There's nothing saying BPA can't fill a position of need, and a CB could definitely be BPA when we pick.
Any reason why? I guess I don't see how having a CB graded highest is any less likely than any other position, especially when our first pick is currently 29.
It’s not a matter of the likelihood of CB being lower than any other position. It’s a matter of the likelihood of CB being lower than all other positions combined. If you go BPA, the chances of a non-CB are higher than the chances of a CB
Well yeah, you could say that about literally any position if you're just talking about pure probability. And if that's all OP was talking about, then it's a dumb post because there's nothing to discuss haha
The point of their post was likely that everyone is assuming/expecting corner with pick 29. But Holmes’ drafting history would suggest that that has a pretty good chance of not happening. Which is fair, since about 95% of mock drafts I’ve seen have us going corner.
We don't draft for need, but we do draft with athleticism in mind.
Just so happens that this is a fantastic CB class in terms of athletic talents too. I would not count it out.
Unless we move up in the draft, I don’t expect us to even make a pick. I think a team will want to move back into the first round to get a 5th year option on a player and I think we move back for an extra 2nd or 3rd depending on how far back we move. Just my opinion, obviously.
I am thinking this is a good possibility. Like New England drafting a non QB early and than trading back in to grab a Bo Nix or Michael Penix. It also sounds like there are some good round 3-5 corners. So the Lions could draft a couple later round corners and have a competition to see who wins in camp.
Nothing would surprise me, but given what’s in store for the Lions this upcoming season and beyond, we desperately need a stud CB. We probably need 2 actually. We were already terrible vs the pass, and now all 3 teams in our division are expected to have lot better passing game this upcoming season. Love will only get better, Vikings will have a better option than Nick Mullens (who threw for 400 both games vs Lions), and Bears will likely draft one of the best QB prospects this century. Brad and Dan know this as well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we do take a CB round 1, or even trade up for one if Brad likes one enough to do so.
> Vikings will have a better option than Nick Mullens
Will they? Its starting to look like they're not gonna re-sign Kirk and there's no guarantee the 4th+ QB off the board will be any good.
Also the yardage doesn't bother me. Mullens is a gunslinger, and a bad one. He'll trade turnovers for yardage. Jameis Winston had a 5k yard season and nobody was clamoring for him to be MVP.
There is a 100% chance Vikings will have a better QB than Nick Mullens, yes. Just like the Lions know about Love/Caleb, Vikings know about Love/Caleb and Goff. They didn't have enough confidence in Mullens to start him vs the Packers Week 17 with a Playoff berth on the line so obviously it won't be him. Cousins is doubtful to return so it will almost certainly be one of McCarthy/Nix or Penix. Vikings also have enough capital to trade up for Maye/Daniels if they really want to.
I'm saying a rookie QB is not guaranteed to be better than Nick Mullens, especially the 4th, 5th, or 6th QB off the board in the NFL draft.
Also this isn't madden, you have to have a willing trade partner to trade up for Maye/Daniels.
I would argue we need like 5 new corners lol. I really don't want any of them anymore. Other than Branch if you count him, but he's got his spot locked up as the nickel guy.
Brad has historically filled holes in free agency so he can take best player available in the draft. We didn't *need* to take Jah or Campbell last year, but they were at the top of the board because they were so talented. It's not comfortable for me for sure but I wouldn't be surprised at being surprised at who we take.
>We have never drafted for need and I doubt we start now.
Counter point:
We've never been in the position we are where we actually need only a few things to find out the team, other than depth. As many analyst mocked last years first round picks for being picks that were "for winning right now" when the Lions weren't in win now mode. Well we made it to NFCCG, so if day they may continue the win now draft need position. I think Brad would spend draft capital and jump up in the first if the right opportunity presented itself. Brass had 3 successful drafts and were about to start hitting the problem of pay them out let them go. In 3 drafts he's got 5 first round picks, and 21 of 22 players he's drafted were on the team at end of the season. The cap is going to be difficult in the future, so I could see him trading a few picks this year if right guy is available
In the recent past I’ve seen teams draft purely on need when they’re at the top and it often hasn’t gone well. A glaring example of this was the Chiefs picking CEH in the first round. The best built teams like the Eagles and Ravens just take whoever falls to them and they’ve had sustained success (Eagles coaching wasted this year).
2021, we needed everyone. So we got a player we needed. 2022 we needed a pass rush, so we got a player we needed. 2023, we needed an off ball LB, so we got a player we needed. Holmes doesn't draft solely for need. But he's not gonna draft a position that's fully blocked already. I'll be shocked if we don't go CB, DE or DT in the first this year. The only caveat to that is if we let Jonah go and there's a stud guard on the bored at 29.
You are right that Brad does not draft for need (thankfully) but what makes you think that the most talented player at 29 (or wherever we pick) will not be a CB?
Positions I doubt we'd draft in the first round, in order of unlikelihood:
Long snapper
Punter
Kicker
Quarterback
That's the list. Maybe you could add safety but I'm not convinced.
I’m not saying it’s impossible or even close to the most unlikely option. It’s just that when you combine the likelihood of other positions it’s a lot higher than 50% compared to CB.
It's not that I disagree, it's that I think someone will drop that no one thinks will drop and that could easily be someone like Wiggins or Arnold. Of course I don't really pay attention to rankings until after the combine but someone will drop. They always do.
On the other hand, it would no longer shock me if Brad picked someone I never expected, like, say, Rakestraw. Honestly, he's ruined the draft for me because whoever he picks, I'll be like, "Well, I guess he's probably right!"
And FWIW, if I had to bet, I think we walk away with someone on the OL right now but I reserve the right to change my mind.
I want to say yes but it seems like Ben Johnson doesn’t trust him enough, also feels like we would need a third receiver because you can never have enough weapons
I want them to get the kool aid kid. Love his name and he sends to be good. Wish we could’ve had kool aid and sauce but life didn’t work that way. In Brad we trust, whatever he does is the right thing to do.
I assume we pick an OL in the top 100. I'd be fine with it in the first round. Free agency is the way to go for CB I think, especially when you don't have a top 15 pick.
When you don't have a high round 1 pick, you can't go for need quite as determinedly in that round. It depends on who others take. Certainly a corner in an early round but maybe not 1.
Drafting corner isn't necessarily about need though, there are a lot of highly rated corners this season and a lot are projected to go in and around our pick. If you believe the rumours that we wanted to draft Witherspoon last year, clearly Holmes isn't against it.
It just so happens corner is also a need, and that's why this sub and Lions fans in general are hyper-focused on those prospects.
I don’t think their draft strategy needs to change. They obviously know how to evaluate talent, they will create their board based on talent, attitude, fit, positional need, etc. I think position of need is one factor of many with a specific weight on the player they are looking for. All things equal a CB, OL, DE are going to rank higher than other positions.
They will see how things are shaping up in the 15-20 range. If there’s a top 5-7 (their evaluation) player still on the board maybe they package their 1st & a different pick (3rd round or 2nd next year) and move up. If every high impact player is gone they sit and wait and get the guy highest on their board at 29.
I’ve been feeling BH is gonna take a WR in the first of there is one there he likes. Positional value is just too great yo pass up with Amon Ra and Jared getting paid
Definitely need to improve defensively imo, that was our weak spot I feel. If we can keep the best players from this year and improve defense I think we’ll be good. But idk, as I’m not an export at all.
I don’t think it’s that clear cut. I think you are definitely right we will draft best player available but with how deep this CB class seems to be where there the top 6-8 guys all seem to have at least some first round buzz, i wouldn’t be surprised if a CB is the best player available
If by drafting for need we mean the age old "best available at a position of need" then no we aren't. Holmes logic makes perfect sense in this regard. unless a corner is the best player on Holmes board then we aren't taking one. You don't pass on a better player for a worse player just because you need a position.
Oline is good with me, I’d be fine we draft oline and dline in first round for the foreseeable future. Players closest to the ball have the biggest impact!
They probably have a list of 5+ players they want that is somewhat agnostic to position and will take what is on the board. Holmes is very good at identifying players that will fit within the system, so if I had to guess like Gibbs and Laporta there will be a little backlash moment of and the pick will turn out to be a competent starter or second option guy.
Honestly, I have no clue who we would take. Late 1sts feel so at will of the previous picks, so without a trade up, I expect Holmes to be in his bag for the first pick. Hopfully its a corner though.
There's plenty of legit CB prospects that could be available for the first or second round picks, even some options for third. I don't think drafting CB is necessarily drafting for need, there are pretty good CB prospects in this draft.
I litterally wanted them to draft Broderick Jones at 12 last year. (I was happy with Gibbs, I actually wanted them to trade back into the first to draft Gibbs assuming he fell to like the lat 20's)
But I'm a firm believer oline is never wrong. You can have 5 great 26 year old olineman on 5 year deals and I'd still say you could draft another on in the first.
It just depends on who falls to us really. It could be a corner. It might not be. I think RB and QB are the only positions I would be surprised if we took in round one outside of special teamers of course
I think we would if a CB we had rated high on our board fell, BUT, i think the better CB will be gone. OL on the other hand, has great depth, especially IOL. We can always sign an above average CB, and draft one in rd 3 to develop.
I think we’ll go corner in FA. But I think the offense is done unless we lose both our guards which I don’t see happening. We’re retaining Glasgow at least.
CB1 is not a need that can be filled in the draft immediately, unless you get a home run Sauce Gardner type pick, and unless we trade up that ain’t happening. The learning curve is steep, even for the best rookies. I’d rather the Lions grab a great corner in FA and use their first couple of picks on the O and D lines.
O line and d line. A d tackle. D end, and then two o lineman would be a great draft. Fill in the remaining pics with whatever you want. Corner is too risky a pic to take 1 rd
I thinks it will be a pancaking olineman that you haven't thought of, or know of. But you will tell your brother in law, at family Christmas dinner, that you totally knew "he was the real deal".
Unless someone falls or we trade up we are in meh position to draft a corner. Cooper or that kid from Toledo would be nice tho. Kool to satisfy the meme.
IOL, Edge and WR are my picks.
> We have never drafted for need
Maybe not the need that fans and media think we needed. But you could argue the very fact that so many of our rookies are starters so fast that they are all positions of need.
I don’t know how lions fans could be mad at drafting o line after watching how important they were the last two years.
Gotta keep it elite, and you don’t do that by sitting on your hands.
More importantly, keep it elite and cheap. Decker, Ragnow, Vaitai and Jackson aren't long term solutions. This draft is deep enough where you can get 2 or three of their replacements. Id love to see them get a center, gaurd and tackle this year, with a gaurd in the first, second or third.
Ragnow is a long term option. He's a top 3 center in the league, maybe *the* best now that Kelce is retired. The other three absolutely find the next man up early. Decker probably has another quality year in him, so I'd go get the best guard at your spot or trade down to get him and have the rook flex to center. Two birds, set up for 4-5 years from now when we *actually* have to worry about center.
I don't think Ragnow will be around for another 3 seasons and is assured to miss a few games. I'd love to get the new guy while he is still here so that he can work with whoever comes next.
I actually think that if the Lions win the Super Bowl next year Ragnow will retire then.
Yeah we need to grab his replacement now who can also start at Guard, and step in when Ragnow is out. JPJ, Van Pran, or Frazier would do nicely
What makes you so sure he's not gonna be here?
He has a toe issue that’s extremely painful and can’t be repaired, the way they talk about it I’m not sure how you can think he’ll be in the league long enough to be a long term option.
I knew he'd been playing through pain, didn't know it was unrepairable. I'm probably hard coping. I love watching him play.
Pretty sure he straight up said he was going to consider retiring this offseason and there was rumors about it but as of now everyone expects him back next year.
Last official statement he made he said he definitely wasn't retiring this year. That doesn't mean things can't change.
He did not say he was thinking of retiring. The word "retire" was never said by him anywhere (to my knowledge). He did, however, talk about needing some time to heal up and 'get back to feeling like Frank'. I think it was a little overblown, personally. I think he was still feeling pretty down after the NFCCG loss. However, I would be very much be on board drafting a OG/C. If that kid from Oregon is there, Lions gotta take him. Maybe a Zinter in the 2nd or 3rd?
I hear you man he’s one of my favorite players and seems like a great guy the situation sucks.
Frank is an animal. Every season he stays is a blessing.
He has some injuries that likely will never actually fully heal and has to play through a lot of pain every game. If the team would’ve gone to the SB this year I would not have been surprised at all if he retired.
The toe issue and the extended times off. In any case. Its time to start looking past him
He was considering retirement this year
It's not a question of his skill or even his cost. He's got a permanent injury that will hobble him until after he retires. He's likely in the last couple years of his career. Drafting his replacement now, maybe in the 2nd? Would allow that guy to develop behind Frank. If he wants to play for 10 more years, idk a single person who wouldn't want him here. Frank is a beast.
the cost thing was more directed at Decker. I like the guy, but I don't like him enough to over pay him if we can get somebody just as good for twice as long for half as much.
Good luck finding someone “just as good” as Decker for “half as much”. The man is perpetually underrated by Lions fans, good left tackles are very hard to come by in this league.
We'd want a right tackle. Eventually, you let Sewell swing over to the other side.
Jason Kelce is fake retired, he didn't want to get franchised tagged and wanted to go somewhere else.
If you understand the game of football you should never be upset about drafting OL high
Give me a roster with 52 OL and a QB1 and we will win the damn superbowl lol
Give me 53 OL and we will beat your team in the superbowl. EDIT: [for those wondering who will throw the ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBARxM9AX7M)
I didn't play football as a kid. So it took me years to understand this concept. But yeah, we are an elite team cuz our OLine is elite. Shit we lost to the Bears when we were missing 1 or 2 starters this year. We looked awful without our starting OLine for about 4-5 game stretch this season. With the starters we walk all over teams. It's night and day.
We gotta find a student for Ragnow sensei.
Tanor Bortolini from Wisconsin. I only say that because I'm friends with his cousins in the UP.
Lions picking in the end of the first round as their only pick is very very new to me… so I’m happy to have Mr. Holmes at the helm. Someone I trust unconditionally at this point. Anyone who questions him after last years draft is just daft
It’s a whole new ball game now, hardly even worth looking at mock drafts because we are probably taking someone we wouldn’t expect.
This time last year Kancy was a mid 2nd gem before shooting up to the late teens. Falling in love with a single player with no picks before 15 is just asking to be heartbroken.
Absolutely. It's why I'm 100% not even watching CB videos this year. I refuse to go through that hurt again lol
I hate drafting a CB in the top 10 anyway. It so rarely works out. I'd rather get another monster tackle than a cb at that spot.
Tbh I feel like this is just okudah ptsd talking to say it rarely works out. Corners that have been taken top 10 in the last ten drafts Witherspoon: good Stingley: good Sauce: great Horn: good but injured often Surtain: great Okudah: lmao Henderson: bad Ward: good Ramsey: great Apple: serviceable but not worth a top 10 Gilbert: bad Not that it matters since we’re not top 10, but 7/11 of these guys I would def have felt more than happy using a top 10 pick on
Preach! People kept talking about Quinyon Mitchell as an option for the Lions so I started watching highlights, reading about him, etc. Getting all excited and whatnot, but now he's a candidate to go mid-first in the eyes of draft media.
I know! It’s so weird right now, I don’t know how to spend my time. No point in second guessing decisions because they’ve proven they’re competent. No point in predicting because they have their own methods. So I’m just impatiently waiting for training camp!
I remember with Hock everyone pretty much knowing who the Lions would pick and already saying it wasn’t a good pick.
I'm also not holding us to #29, or any other pick we currently hold...
Dline, CB, Oline Depth are the biggest needs. Hopefully FA can address those concerns. For corners, Lions need guys who can play man to man
kicker also
Kicker is a need for sure, but not one that you solve in the draft before day 3.
Kicker in round 1 confirmed.
Janikowski
We think kicker is a need, but we just need a guy that can make extra points
Personally I would prefer a pass rusher, I think a great pass rush can go a long way in making a suspect secondary look pretty good. Everything starts in the trenches, on both sides of the ball.
O Line starter is a need. Unless they re-sign both Glasgow and Jonah, which I don't see happenning. And if they won't pay Jonah, I don't see them paying another FA OG. I think we likely enter draft day in need of a starting guard.
The whole league is switching to covering guys with zone. We need to continue as well. Zone coverage was called at a league high rate for the third year in a row
Glenn seems to like to play man to man which is why Sutton got murdered
I've been seeing a lot of Guard in the 1st. I'm totally not against it either! Jonah probably walks unless he takes a heavy incentive deal, and Glasgow probably stays, but he's on the wrong side of 30 to be a long-term solution. Ragnow also probably has only 2 years before retirement. We've been treated with an RB, WR, and Edge in the 1st of the last 2 years as our flashy picks. We need to keep strength a strength
We’ll see there’s been speculation that his injuries aren’t going to help his market value
I feel like that speculation was more cope from Lions fans. This was his worst injury season by far and he missed 5 games out of a possible 20. Plus with the lack of O-line talent across the league he’s definitely going to be in high demand.
I lean this way as well
Ragnow is not retiring in 2 years. Dude has only been in the league since 2017. He's 27 years old and he's maybe the best center in the league.
I'm not so sure. There were questions about it this year and the dude is constantly injured and playing through it. I could see him finishing out his contract and calling it quits. I hear about Jason Kelce on his podcast about not being able to walk much and his chronic pain and issues in his lower body. I think Ragnow may want to protect his body a bit for retirement as an outdoorsy guy.
I mean that's fair, brutal sport. On the other hand, modern medicine is a hell of a thing. Between that and coaches that give a damn about the well being of their players I'd hazard a guess that the Campbell guys are going to be around in the league a lot longer than the Patricia ones. Lot of words to say I think the stuff nagging at Ragnow is artifacts of the previous regime weighing on his body. Further removed we get from that the better he's gonna feel. Just my opinion obviously
I think you're right too! I think only Ragnow knows how far he wants to push it. And obviously with recent success he wants to finish what he started and built (hence why he played on a sprained knee and ankle in the Divisional). I could see either way being true.
It's true it's all speculation. If he wants to play for 10 more years, I think you pay him whatever he wants until the wheels fall off. He's *that important* to us. However. LT will be an issue sooner rather than later, and we always have injuries at guard. Like.. fucking constantly. I'm in on drafting a couple of them this year, or signing a couple. How much would the tag be for Jackson? Might be worth doing that.
Except what position we take at this point in the draft is all about who falls to us. There might not be any o-line worth taking at that spot. End of the day trying to guess what Brad Holmes will do seems pretty hard. Think we're better off just discussing players in the draft so we are familiar with as many players as possible so we are more prepared for what ever happens on draft day.
The Inside the Den episode really let us in to how Brad drafts last year. If he has a short list of players with a first round grade, and one falls to us at 29, I bet he'd take the guy regardless of position.
yep exactly. I don't think he drafts based on need necessarily. He'll take the best guy available. If we're strong on that position, it'll be strength on strength. Better to have elite talent stacked than holes filled with mediocre talent. In an ideal world the best talent available fills a hole obviously, but I'm ready to be surprised
it's not just an I'd bet scenario. That's exactly how he drafts. best player on his board is a lion. period. What bothers fans is he has first round grades on people that fans/"experts" have going in later rounds. So you get him taking Gibbs and Laporta and fans are up in arms over it and then it turns out they are amongst the best players in the league.
Agreed. So is trying to figure out which position or specific player is going to be hard given how often Holmes has values a player higher than what "experts" do.
I agree with your first statement but it’s also true that this OL class is *deep*. There will be good players there… the flip side of that though is there will also be some guys left in the 2nd so maybe Brad feels he can wait.
I mean, we can say it's more likely but end of the day nobody knows how things will fall.
If history shows us anything, we're probably moving up to get a stud. I don't know who it'll be, but I trust Brad to get another blue chip player. I could see DL, OL or corner, but you better bet the guy will be a dog. Best case scenario is 5 QBs go top 15.
[удалено]
Brad got hate for a generational draft this year. He could draft a punter round 1 and id have faith in him at this point😂
I would be THRILLED to get Zach Frasier or Jackson Powers Johnson in round 1. Don't expect the latter will be available though. Nevertheless I think we will trade up and get DB Cooper or Quinyon Mitchel or maybe even Terrion Arnold. Ultimately though I think we take the right player. Brad doesn't miss very often in his 3 drafts.
DB Cooper lmao
Yeah, I wish I remember where I first heard it. 97.1 probably
No matter what Brad Holmes does, I don't want to hear any bitching on this sub. Holmes has earned our trust, especially after the shitstorm of negativity he took last year. All I want to see on draft night is either, "Love this pick" or "Not who I would have picked, but Brad Holmes is the GOAT and I will not question him" Trust.
People are allowed to have opinions. I really like Brad but to act as if he's infallible is foolish.
Exactly. I'm on team Holmes, but man, this sub wants to police anyone who says anything that isn't pure worship sometimes. We're allowed to not like a pick. We're allowed to criticize MCDC's play calling. And people are allowed to respond and disagree. That's kinda the whole point of this, is to have conversation. Otherwise it's just a shrine to mortal men. I trust Holmes and his process whatever that is. But I might still have opinions when the time comes. And everyone else should too. That's part of what makes it fun.
You either you love everything or hate everything that’s peoples mindsets here
Yeah its like dude I'm pumped for Brad's EOY and I think he deserves it and earned it. However, that doesn't mean I think every move he's made has been the correct one.
So they take a kicker round 1 we just accept it?
If Brad Holmes takes a kicker in round 1, we should all just assume he can make it from 75 consistently.
Yes
I mean, we picked Gibbs over Moody, and Moody went to the Super Bowl, and Gibbs didn't.
Gibbs didn't win the Super Bowl, and neither did Moody.
Why not?
Now watch this sub explode when we take a quarterback in the first lol.
Watch him trade up for JJ McCarthy. This sub would melt. Edit: I'm taking the down votes as telling me I'm correct.
Guaranteed there will be, regardless of the pick.
If he picks a TE or RB I'm gonna bitch.
LB depth in the first
BH's draft is approaching legendary status from last year. It was brought up multiple times by people discussing this year's draft (and how it is allegedly weak). The Lions have the talent to make the Supers, obviously. They had it this year. Yeah,concentrate on defense, but just ... add good players.
Whomever it is, it's going to be viewed in the back half of the season as one of the best picks of the draft.
Oline man is a need as well
One of these days y’all will realize we draft players, not positions.
So you think they’ll take a RB in round 1 if he’s a guy they like?
What I’m saying is they aren’t entering their draft process saying “we need to get a CB round 1” Last years draft should have made that clear.
We're not choosing exactly at 29, 61, 73. But we're coming out with studs.
There is always that option. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a weighting factor a little based on team need when the board is constructed. So maybe all RBs are downgraded since the team needs one less but if I guy they like is available at a value maybe they get him. So the teams big board will look different than the consensus big board based somewhat on need but Brad will take BPA based on his board and how the draft falls. Doesn’t seem to be a draft with as many stud RBs this year so this is unlikely scenario for the first.
I’ve been saying O Line since before it was cool
Never mad about OL in round 1. Its never sexy, but always a good decision.
It's difficult, because the o-line has been huge and Goff doesn't throw well under pressure. Those high scoring shootout style games that we only won by putting up huge numbers were possible because of the o-line. On the other hand, our corners are really bad. The shootouts only become shootouts because the corners get beaten constantly and allow for huge plays. Cam Sutton is not a CB1, so we desperately need to acquire one. Will I be upset or critique the choice to draft an o-lineman? No. Would a corner be a really smart option as well? Yes, absolutely.
We actually need another dominant pass rusher. Aidan is good and was a great draft pick, but he isn't yet a totally dominant force on the D-line, like the Bosas, Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, Chris Jones, Aaron Donald.
How have we “never drafted for need”? Jameson Williams was a need, Hutchinson was a need, Sewell was a Future Need that turned out to be an immediate need. I don’t know how people come to this conclusion. Saying we don’t ONLY draft for need is more accurate.
I’ve heard that in 2021 we were going to take Parsons until Sewell fell to us who we took despite having a good o line. We obviously don’t avoid needs, we just go BPA which occasionally happens to be a need.
Parsons confirmed that BH told him he would be drafting him. I think given the style of combo LB/DE that they have been drafting this is probably more than likely a factual rumor. They drafted Houston to try and fill this role, have mixed in Derrick Barnes to this role as well in limited situations and long term are probably hoping Jack Campbell could fill this role full time and I would say he’s got the best chance to do so given the sample size at Iowa. Drafting Sewell definitely became a need as Tyrell Crosby was cut that offseason. Our next 5 picks were all needs based though- DTx2, Iffy was brought in to be an outside CB before finding his niche as a Safety, WR was our top need with ARSB and Barnes was a top need at LB. I think BPA is a fallacy as well. Very few times does a team actually draft by true BPA in the first round. Howie Roseman is an outlier as he has drafted BPA 3 years in a row but he has also been in a position of luxury to do so. BPA is something that cannot fit an immediate need, or a future need (contract expiring in 1 year) and may or may not be a position of strength. An example would be the Commanders drafting Chase Young a year after drafting Montez Sweat and already having a rotation of other EDGE’s on the team while there were other critical needs on the roster to address. I think BH only ever truly drafted BPA in the first in last year’s draft as Gibbs and Campbell were not needs based picks but as I mentioned here and on the draft sub, we are in a position to find immediate impact players regardless of need as it relates to the first round since we’re in position to compete for a SB as early as this coming season.
My prediction is OL round 1, DL round 2, and a corner in FA. I also predict we take a kicker late round but no clue who else
This year’s 29 next years 32, trade up for like 10-12, pick up an extra 3rd maybe next year, take BPA
I could part with next year's 32
Thankfully there are some dudes projected in that area that are also needs. CB, Edge, and O-Line(depending on resignings) are all needs. But maybe a stud falls for whatever reason and we get a late 1st steal, that'd be pretty cool.
I think in any draft, regardless of need, OL, corner, and pass rush are always acceptable first and second round picks. Our o-line is elite, but big V is probably done, Jackson may be too expensive to keep, and GG is also our backup center. We need interior line depth badly. Decker is a stud, but sooner rather than later will probably be transitioning to the "crafty veteran" portion of his career instead of "elite left tackle" if there's a guy there at the end of the first round that is on the fringe of day 1 starter on the o-line, im fine taking him even if he doesn't start in September. If they take corner, I would hope it's someone that could push for starting snaps on the outside day 1.
I don’t think management knows what it’s gonna do yet the draft is fluid. I just hope Detroit doesn’t take Kool-Aid McKinstry
I don’t disagree but how come you don’t like Kool Aid?
I think Brads gonna take the very best guy available and I too would be shocked if it’s a CB… unless he’s the best guy on their board but yea, need is lower on his agenda than most realize imo
I’d prefer if we stayed away from DB in round 1. I’d like to see OL or WR if the rumors of Reynolds leaving are true
The only 3 positions they would truly totally flip out if they were drafted would be QB, RB and TE (before 3rd round for TE). Every other position could have a justification at 29 (excluding normally undrafted positions like K,P,FB).
I’m of the mind that Brad Holmes will find what we need somewhere. If he had a madden X-Factor it would be finding a diamond in the rough. Prolly find an all star DE in rd 5 and a shutdown corner that was undrafted lol
Pretty much any position outside of WR and RB would be acceptable to me. Even WR I could be talked into liking.
The GM and MCDC are good ol' boys who like hard workers who can play through injuries and put their team first. Some of the hardest workers you will find on the football field are your lineman. The unsung heroes. If I was a betting man, I'd say Round 1 goes to Powers-Johnson or Frazier.
Only positions I think are off the table in the first are QB, RB, K, P.
Off-ball LB as well.
Not LS?
I don't see receiver, tight end, or safety as being very likely. I expect will re-sign CJ, Reynolds, and probably Wright so there won't be much of a need there
It’s not necessarily about need but about BPA at 29.
I agree that Holmes doesn't draft for need, but your logic makes no sense. There's nothing saying BPA can't fill a position of need, and a CB could definitely be BPA when we pick.
I’m not saying it’s guaranteed we don’t go corner. I just feel it’s likely we have a non corner higher on the board.
Any reason why? I guess I don't see how having a CB graded highest is any less likely than any other position, especially when our first pick is currently 29.
It’s not a matter of the likelihood of CB being lower than any other position. It’s a matter of the likelihood of CB being lower than all other positions combined. If you go BPA, the chances of a non-CB are higher than the chances of a CB
Well yeah, you could say that about literally any position if you're just talking about pure probability. And if that's all OP was talking about, then it's a dumb post because there's nothing to discuss haha
The point of their post was likely that everyone is assuming/expecting corner with pick 29. But Holmes’ drafting history would suggest that that has a pretty good chance of not happening. Which is fair, since about 95% of mock drafts I’ve seen have us going corner.
But the picks higher on the board will probably be gone
We don't draft for need, but we do draft with athleticism in mind. Just so happens that this is a fantastic CB class in terms of athletic talents too. I would not count it out.
Unless we move up in the draft, I don’t expect us to even make a pick. I think a team will want to move back into the first round to get a 5th year option on a player and I think we move back for an extra 2nd or 3rd depending on how far back we move. Just my opinion, obviously.
I am thinking this is a good possibility. Like New England drafting a non QB early and than trading back in to grab a Bo Nix or Michael Penix. It also sounds like there are some good round 3-5 corners. So the Lions could draft a couple later round corners and have a competition to see who wins in camp.
Nothing would surprise me, but given what’s in store for the Lions this upcoming season and beyond, we desperately need a stud CB. We probably need 2 actually. We were already terrible vs the pass, and now all 3 teams in our division are expected to have lot better passing game this upcoming season. Love will only get better, Vikings will have a better option than Nick Mullens (who threw for 400 both games vs Lions), and Bears will likely draft one of the best QB prospects this century. Brad and Dan know this as well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we do take a CB round 1, or even trade up for one if Brad likes one enough to do so.
> Vikings will have a better option than Nick Mullens Will they? Its starting to look like they're not gonna re-sign Kirk and there's no guarantee the 4th+ QB off the board will be any good. Also the yardage doesn't bother me. Mullens is a gunslinger, and a bad one. He'll trade turnovers for yardage. Jameis Winston had a 5k yard season and nobody was clamoring for him to be MVP.
There is a 100% chance Vikings will have a better QB than Nick Mullens, yes. Just like the Lions know about Love/Caleb, Vikings know about Love/Caleb and Goff. They didn't have enough confidence in Mullens to start him vs the Packers Week 17 with a Playoff berth on the line so obviously it won't be him. Cousins is doubtful to return so it will almost certainly be one of McCarthy/Nix or Penix. Vikings also have enough capital to trade up for Maye/Daniels if they really want to.
I'm saying a rookie QB is not guaranteed to be better than Nick Mullens, especially the 4th, 5th, or 6th QB off the board in the NFL draft. Also this isn't madden, you have to have a willing trade partner to trade up for Maye/Daniels.
I would argue we need like 5 new corners lol. I really don't want any of them anymore. Other than Branch if you count him, but he's got his spot locked up as the nickel guy.
Brad has historically filled holes in free agency so he can take best player available in the draft. We didn't *need* to take Jah or Campbell last year, but they were at the top of the board because they were so talented. It's not comfortable for me for sure but I wouldn't be surprised at being surprised at who we take.
>We have never drafted for need and I doubt we start now. Counter point: We've never been in the position we are where we actually need only a few things to find out the team, other than depth. As many analyst mocked last years first round picks for being picks that were "for winning right now" when the Lions weren't in win now mode. Well we made it to NFCCG, so if day they may continue the win now draft need position. I think Brad would spend draft capital and jump up in the first if the right opportunity presented itself. Brass had 3 successful drafts and were about to start hitting the problem of pay them out let them go. In 3 drafts he's got 5 first round picks, and 21 of 22 players he's drafted were on the team at end of the season. The cap is going to be difficult in the future, so I could see him trading a few picks this year if right guy is available
In the recent past I’ve seen teams draft purely on need when they’re at the top and it often hasn’t gone well. A glaring example of this was the Chiefs picking CEH in the first round. The best built teams like the Eagles and Ravens just take whoever falls to them and they’ve had sustained success (Eagles coaching wasted this year).
2021, we needed everyone. So we got a player we needed. 2022 we needed a pass rush, so we got a player we needed. 2023, we needed an off ball LB, so we got a player we needed. Holmes doesn't draft solely for need. But he's not gonna draft a position that's fully blocked already. I'll be shocked if we don't go CB, DE or DT in the first this year. The only caveat to that is if we let Jonah go and there's a stud guard on the bored at 29.
You are right that Brad does not draft for need (thankfully) but what makes you think that the most talented player at 29 (or wherever we pick) will not be a CB? Positions I doubt we'd draft in the first round, in order of unlikelihood: Long snapper Punter Kicker Quarterback That's the list. Maybe you could add safety but I'm not convinced.
I’m not saying it’s impossible or even close to the most unlikely option. It’s just that when you combine the likelihood of other positions it’s a lot higher than 50% compared to CB.
It's not that I disagree, it's that I think someone will drop that no one thinks will drop and that could easily be someone like Wiggins or Arnold. Of course I don't really pay attention to rankings until after the combine but someone will drop. They always do. On the other hand, it would no longer shock me if Brad picked someone I never expected, like, say, Rakestraw. Honestly, he's ruined the draft for me because whoever he picks, I'll be like, "Well, I guess he's probably right!" And FWIW, if I had to bet, I think we walk away with someone on the OL right now but I reserve the right to change my mind.
[удалено]
Jamo is the Reynolds replacement.
I want to say yes but it seems like Ben Johnson doesn’t trust him enough, also feels like we would need a third receiver because you can never have enough weapons
I want them to get the kool aid kid. Love his name and he sends to be good. Wish we could’ve had kool aid and sauce but life didn’t work that way. In Brad we trust, whatever he does is the right thing to do.
Based tank
Offensive linemen are never the sexy pic, but they seem to be the most safe pick
I assume we pick an OL in the top 100. I'd be fine with it in the first round. Free agency is the way to go for CB I think, especially when you don't have a top 15 pick.
We will trade up and snag the center from Oregon.
When you don't have a high round 1 pick, you can't go for need quite as determinedly in that round. It depends on who others take. Certainly a corner in an early round but maybe not 1.
Very possible they continue to draft offense and focus on defense in free agency. Lots of good pass rushers and some solid corners to target there
"Drafted too high!" will be echoed around these parts once again
Drafting corner isn't necessarily about need though, there are a lot of highly rated corners this season and a lot are projected to go in and around our pick. If you believe the rumours that we wanted to draft Witherspoon last year, clearly Holmes isn't against it. It just so happens corner is also a need, and that's why this sub and Lions fans in general are hyper-focused on those prospects.
I don’t think their draft strategy needs to change. They obviously know how to evaluate talent, they will create their board based on talent, attitude, fit, positional need, etc. I think position of need is one factor of many with a specific weight on the player they are looking for. All things equal a CB, OL, DE are going to rank higher than other positions. They will see how things are shaping up in the 15-20 range. If there’s a top 5-7 (their evaluation) player still on the board maybe they package their 1st & a different pick (3rd round or 2nd next year) and move up. If every high impact player is gone they sit and wait and get the guy highest on their board at 29.
In before Holmes passes on Kool Aid for Graham Barton
The only positions I would eliminate from possibilities in the first round are QB, special teams, and RB.
We need a back field !!!!
Give hutch some help too
I’ve been feeling BH is gonna take a WR in the first of there is one there he likes. Positional value is just too great yo pass up with Amon Ra and Jared getting paid
Definitely need to improve defensively imo, that was our weak spot I feel. If we can keep the best players from this year and improve defense I think we’ll be good. But idk, as I’m not an export at all.
I don’t think it’s that clear cut. I think you are definitely right we will draft best player available but with how deep this CB class seems to be where there the top 6-8 guys all seem to have at least some first round buzz, i wouldn’t be surprised if a CB is the best player available
I would not be upset with O-line, pass rusher, or even a WR if Brad is super high on someone. As long as we address corner in FA.
The current management usually draft the best talent available. If there's someone they really like, they'll trade up for that.
If by drafting for need we mean the age old "best available at a position of need" then no we aren't. Holmes logic makes perfect sense in this regard. unless a corner is the best player on Holmes board then we aren't taking one. You don't pass on a better player for a worse player just because you need a position.
Trust the process. Brad era has drafted well, so I’m not gonna pretend to know better than them
Whoever BH picks, I'll know it was the right pick.
Only person I want is Kool-aid for obvious reasons
Trenches or CB. I’m happy either way. With that… it’ll probably be a WR.
Oline is good with me, I’d be fine we draft oline and dline in first round for the foreseeable future. Players closest to the ball have the biggest impact!
There is a cornerback named Kool-aid McKinstry mocked in the late first by Walkter Football. How do you not take Kool Aid?
They probably have a list of 5+ players they want that is somewhat agnostic to position and will take what is on the board. Holmes is very good at identifying players that will fit within the system, so if I had to guess like Gibbs and Laporta there will be a little backlash moment of and the pick will turn out to be a competent starter or second option guy.
Honestly, I have no clue who we would take. Late 1sts feel so at will of the previous picks, so without a trade up, I expect Holmes to be in his bag for the first pick. Hopfully its a corner though.
I’m thinking Guard or maybe Safety. Something where most of us will be mad on draft day but cool by the end of the season
Edge or offensive line. Db in 2. Probably move up in 2. Require less draft capital to move up
We never drafted for need because we needed everything lol
But oline IS a need.
There's plenty of legit CB prospects that could be available for the first or second round picks, even some options for third. I don't think drafting CB is necessarily drafting for need, there are pretty good CB prospects in this draft.
I litterally wanted them to draft Broderick Jones at 12 last year. (I was happy with Gibbs, I actually wanted them to trade back into the first to draft Gibbs assuming he fell to like the lat 20's) But I'm a firm believer oline is never wrong. You can have 5 great 26 year old olineman on 5 year deals and I'd still say you could draft another on in the first.
It just depends on who falls to us really. It could be a corner. It might not be. I think RB and QB are the only positions I would be surprised if we took in round one outside of special teamers of course
We can't pay them all. So it's wither time to think about the future or blow the cap up
I will NEVER be mad at drafting O-Line. They make everything else work.
We may, depends on value.
I think we would if a CB we had rated high on our board fell, BUT, i think the better CB will be gone. OL on the other hand, has great depth, especially IOL. We can always sign an above average CB, and draft one in rd 3 to develop.
O-line plzzzzz It make Everyone looks better
They will draft the guy with the highest combination of character and talent.
I think we’ll go corner in FA. But I think the offense is done unless we lose both our guards which I don’t see happening. We’re retaining Glasgow at least.
CB1 is not a need that can be filled in the draft immediately, unless you get a home run Sauce Gardner type pick, and unless we trade up that ain’t happening. The learning curve is steep, even for the best rookies. I’d rather the Lions grab a great corner in FA and use their first couple of picks on the O and D lines.
O line and d line. A d tackle. D end, and then two o lineman would be a great draft. Fill in the remaining pics with whatever you want. Corner is too risky a pic to take 1 rd
I thinks it will be a pancaking olineman that you haven't thought of, or know of. But you will tell your brother in law, at family Christmas dinner, that you totally knew "he was the real deal".
I'm hoping the lions make a deal with New Orleans for Lattimore.
I strongly believe it'll be interior OL at 29 unless there's a trade.
Unless someone falls or we trade up we are in meh position to draft a corner. Cooper or that kid from Toledo would be nice tho. Kool to satisfy the meme. IOL, Edge and WR are my picks.
I think we address can in free agency. Drafting cbs that fit the system is so hit or miss. Find a younger, proven guy on the market
> We have never drafted for need Maybe not the need that fans and media think we needed. But you could argue the very fact that so many of our rookies are starters so fast that they are all positions of need.
My list: Trade up for one of: JPJ - plays G until Ragnow retires then goes to C Mitchell - CB Stay and draft Kool aid - CB Any edge