Part 3
7) Small improvements on offense are needed but there is no need for any sort of overhaul. Just some work around the edges. Zeitler was very good but he’s turning 35 next year and Christian Mahogany showed in two games to be a future gem (and he didn’t have a training camp due to mono). Mahogany earned a starting spot in 2025, especially with how cheap his contract is. If you don’t make a massive trade, getting an OG could be an option in the 2nd/3rd round. Maybe you bring Zeitler back for one more year. Glasgow is a really nice extra OL and I’d keep him with a reworked contract. But Graham really lacked in pass protection later in the year and it was a weakness. At WR, I’m fine bringing Patrick back even if I would like a little more from that spot. I wouldn’t bring in Kupp unless it’s cheap (no trade, maybe like $5M, one year deal) and stay away from any guys who would bring in a bigger contract. Jameson should take another step up and we know Amon-Ra/LaPorta are great. I’d rather allocate my offensive resources to the OL and keep that unit elite.
8) The Lions have a lot of guys hitting the market but only one guy I would highly prioritize bringing back. I would bring Carlton Davis back in 2025. He was really good and was playing like an All-Pro at the end of the season. He’s had durability concerns but the reason he went on IR was friendly fire that broke his jaw on a hit under his helmet. That was a freak injury that isn’t reflective of him. I like Amik and he was admirable on the outside but him in the slot makes the team better. Terrion was fine but he wasn’t so good to trust him to be the #1 CB moving forward. Davis won’t cost a huge amount and he’s only 28. Levi played really well in 2024 considering what he had been and if he’s a $3-4M player next year I’d bring him back. Anything past $10M guaranteed and I’m out. I’d see if Melifonwu would be interested in a one year prove it deal, especially if CD walks and you can offer Ifi the slot position. Tim Patrick for $3-5M would be perfectly fine as well. If you want to bring Derrick Barnes back I’d get it but believe he will cost too much. But I would work on a new deal for Davis and go from there.
9) This would be my draft needs in order (not knowing what FA will bring): I’d focus first on the EDGE position. Even if the Lions go get a true difference maker (let’s say they give up a 2nd and 3rd for Hendrickson) I would still go get another EDGE guy in the 1st. You won’t get a true star at #28 in year one but having somebody with explosiveness they can plug in on 3rd down would be something they didn’t have last year. If I don’t make a trade and have my picks, then I would look at somebody on the OL in the second round. This is a really good OL class and they could find a cheap starter on Day 2. Then I would look at adding a S or LB in round 3, just to add some cheap depth. After that I’m thinking BPA and positions not mattering as much for Day 3.
10) Right now I have four Lions that need to take their game to another level going into 2025. I thought Jameson took a major leap forward as a more qualified #2 receiver. His hands and route running were much better than from 2023. However, he has to be better at tracking and fighting on balls. He made large strides but that next step will help the offense. Brodric Martin was taken in the 3rd round after Holmes gave up assets to get him. The probability he becomes anything after such a lackluster 2 years is low but Brad is so good at this I want to believe there is something there. I don’t need Martin to be a game wrecker, just a second string DT that can fill in and give you 15-20 playable snaps. Jack Campbell played like a Pro Bowler in 2024 and was really good. He needs to become better in pass coverage and up his game to All-Pro status. After seeing him in 2024 I think he has another level in his game I previously did not believe he had. Terrion Arnold was not a disaster as a 1st round CB, which is 75% of the battle of a high pick CB. He still has his confidence and he showed a lot of positive signs even with the major struggles. I don’t think he’s going to a #1 guy but a high level, tier below Pro Bowl level #2 CB would be a major help for Detroit in 2025.
11) Jared Goff has been excellent and a top 8 QB the last three years. He was excellent in the 2023 playoffs and I will not back down from him deserving MVP votes after his 2024 season. I think some of the narrative on him was unfair after the playoff game where his defense did him zero favors. Yes, he can’t get the ball knocked out of his hand and the pick 6 was bad. He’s not going to be as good as the core 4 in the AFC. But he has to be better at protecting the football. I wouldn’t call what happened in the Divisional Round a meltdown but there has to be a more careful approach in playoff games. I still believe he can lead Detroit to a Super Bowl victory, especially when we saw Hurts being the signal caller for the Eagles. He will have a lot of doubters with Ben Johnson taking the Bears job and usually that is when Jared thrives. While my concerns about Morton as the OC are real, I am far from being in panic mode because I believe Jared can thrive in any system he’s given (you know, as long as it’s not read option based). They still have elite skill positions, a threatening OL and Goff can still be the driving force of this offense.
12) The Lions had their best season in the Super Bowl era with a 15 win season and the first #1 seed in team history. That’s something to be proud of when you consider how bleak it was in January 2021, despite the disaster ending to the 2024 season. After Alim and CD went down, the probability this team could win the Super Bowl drastically went down. It was going to be a near impossible task to win the whole thing without your best DE, best DT and two best CB’s. The core foundation in the front office and head coach is still in place and that’s the most important thing. Yes, Ben Johnson was a valuable commodity and he was great, but Dan is the culture setter and leader in that locker room. Brad Holmes is an excellent talent evaluator and knows exactly what buttons to push. I’m not concerned long term about the franchise as long as Brad Holmes is in charge. If Morton is a disaster, you can make a change midseason or at the end of the year. Or Dan can take over and then regroup after 2025. The window is still open to me even as the team gets more expensive. The NFL cap continues and will continue to increase. Brad Holmes and Mike Disner know how to manipulate the payroll to keep the team well stocked even with some tough decisions coming up. The NFC North is going to be a bloodbath again in 2025 but this Lions franchise is not some upcoming starter company. They’re a real threat in the NFL. The next step is to get some hardware to back it up. I have a feeling that 2025 could be another major pivot point for the Detroit Lions.
Bears HC
