DETROIT LIONS (5-11)
LAST SEASON: The long-suffering franchise started over, firing general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia with five games left in what ended up being its third straight season with double digits in losses. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, drafted by Detroit No. 1 overall in 2009, was traded shortly after the season to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. In a second trade with the Rams, the Lions acquired DT Michael Brockers for a 2023 seventh-round pick.
FREE AGENCY: Detroit signed RB Jamaal Williams, DE Charles Harris, LB Alex Anzalone, WRs WR Breshad Perriman, Kalif Raymond and Damion Ratley, DB Corn Elder, CB Quinton Dunbar, FS Dean Marlowe, QB Tim Boyle, K Randy Bullock. Re-signed DE Romeo Okwara, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LS Don Muhlbach. The Lions lost WRs Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Danny Amendola, PR Jamal Agnew, RB Adrian Peterson, LB Jarrad Davis, K Matt Prater, CBs Desmond Trufant, Justin Coleman and Darryl Roberts, LB Reggie Ragland, Gs Oday Aboushi and Joe Dahl, DE Everson Griffen, DBs Miles Killebrew and Duron Harmon, LB Christian Jones, TE Jesse James, QB Chase Daniel, DT Danny Shelton, TE Josh Hill.
THEY NEED: WR, DL, OL LB, DB.
THEY DON’T NEED: RB, C, TE.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater, Oregon OT Penei Sewell, Ohio State QB Justin Fields, Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II.
OUTLOOK: General manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have to find a dynamic player to help in the first round and many more picks after that to help turn around a team that lost 33 games the last three years. Detroit’s defense was one of the worst statistically in NFL history last season and desperately needs an influx of talent and depth at each position group. Goff has a relatively solid line, backfield and tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Lions have voids at receiver after losing Golladay, Jones, Amendola and Sanu.
