The Lions’ 2022 season came to a close Sunday night with a victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in primetime.
At All Lions, it’s time now to turn our attention to the offseason.
Detroit general manager Brad Holmes will have plenty of interesting decisions to make, with his focus being on making the Lions a playoff team in 2023.
Here are the eight biggest storylines for Holmes & Co. entering the offseason.
Do Lions upgrade backup QB position?
There’s no doubt that Detroit could do better than Nate Sudfeld, a career backup who has just six games of playing experience.
Sudfeld, in fact, has yet to start an NFL game since being taken by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round of the 2016 draft.
While the above is certainly the case, it is also true that the Holmes-Dan Campbell regime has not placed a huge emphasis on having a quality backup for Jared Goff.
Remember, the organization went into the 2021 season with Tim Boyle and David Blough as its reserves under center.
This offseason, I think Holmes & Co. might buck its previous trend of not prioritizing a backup, and nab a quarterback in the upcoming draft.
If South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler declares for the 2023 draft, I think he’d be a nice target for the Lions on Day 3 (likely in the fourth round).
Rattler could sit a year behind Goff, and potentially be groomed to be Detroit’s long-term starter behind center.
If I’m Holmes, I’m going this route with the backup QB position for the 2023 campaign.
Does D’Andre Swift have future in Detroit?
When he plays, he’s pretty good. The problem is he doesn’t always play.
The third-year back accumulated a career-high 5.6 yards per rushing attempt during the 2022 campaign, but also missed three games and has yet to play in a full season’s worth of games.
He also has proven not to be the best with following blocks and hitting the holes created for him by Detroit’s offensive line.
Heading into the offseason, Swift has one year left on his rookie contract, and is set to earn a little over $2.7 million in salary and guaranteed bonuses in 2023.
It’s led to quite the conundrum for the Lions’ front office, regarding what to do with the 2020 second-round selection.
Holmes & Co. don’t necessarily have to do anything with Swift this offseason. Yet, they could still look to move on from the former Georgia back – specifically via trade – before they have to negotiate a new contract with him.
It should make for one of the most interesting decisions for Detroit’s front office to make this offseason.
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Will Ben Johnson return as Lions offensive coordinator?
If this were solely up to the Lions, there’s no doubt Johnson would be returning as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2023.
He’s established himself as one of the brightest young minds in the game today. And, therein lies the problem: His stock has risen so much in the last year that he’s now going to be considered for head coaching vacancies this upcoming offseason.
While he only possesses one full season of coordinator experience (and at any level), it still wouldn’t shock me if he lands a head coaching job for the 2023 season.
At this present juncture, I’ll give him an 80 percent chance of returning to his post with Detroit. And, if he does return, expect the Lions’ offense to remain a high-functioning unit next season.
Does Brad Holmes go with defensive-first approach with two 2023 first-round picks?
Based on the struggles of the defense in 2022, I believe that Holmes should.
The Lions have various voids to fill along the defensive side of the ball. Specifically, they should be looking to add impactful players along the interior of the defensive line, as well as at both linebacker and defensive back this offseason.
And, Holmes & Co. could very well address two of those needs through the team’s two first-round picks in the 2023 draft (No. 6 and No. 18 overall).
Georgia’s Kelee Ringo, South Carolina’s Cam Smith and Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. could be targets for Detroit at cornerback. Meanwhile, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee would be a nice addition for the Lions on the defensive line.
If I’m Holmes, I’m strongly considering adding defensive players with each of Detroit’s first-round selections.
Does Jameson Williams make second-year jump?
Williams didn’t have the luxury of having a full season of reps.
He spent the majority of his rookie campaign recovering from a torn ACL which he suffered in last year’s College Football Playoff national championship game.
Subsequently, the former Alabama wideout played in just six games, and never established a rapport with Detroit signal-caller Jared Goff.
Williams, in fact, recorded a catch in just one of those games, totaling one reception and a touchdown (on that catch) on the season.
Detroit fans are clamoring to see Williams more involved in year No. 2, and the 2022 No. 12 overall pick has no choice other than to increase his level of productivity in his sophomore campaign.
Does Jeff Okudah experiment come to end?
For as much as Okudah took a step forward in 2022, the former Ohio State defensive back still experienced his fair share of struggles.
The 2020 No. 3 overall pick had an up-and-down campaign. He went from locking down Vikings No. 1 wideout Justin Jefferson in Week 3 (the star receiver finished with just three receptions for 14 yards), to being benched in the second half against the Panthers in Week 16 due to an inability to stop the run and do anything of value.
Three years into his NFL career now, Okudah has still yet to develop into a shutdown corner, and is much more adept at stopping the run than at stopping the pass.
At this juncture, I don’t see the Buckeyes product developing into a high-level defensive back, and it’s one of the reasons why Holmes should make a concerted effort to upgrade the Lions’ defensive backs room this offseason.
What will Holmes & Co. do with linebacking unit?
Holmes could very well run it back with the trio of Malcolm Rodriguez, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes. Anzalone is an impending free agent, but is a Campbell favorite and will likely be brought back this offseason.
While each of the aforementioned linebackers does bring some value, none of them are high impact defenders that can anchor a defense and take the Lions’ defense to the next level.
It’s why if I were Holmes, I’d open up the checkbook this offseason and bring in one of the top free agents at the position. Specifically, I’d prioritize acquiring one of the following three guys: Baltimore’s Roquan Smith, Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David or Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds.
It’d cost a pretty penny to sign any one of those three linebackers, but in my opinion, it’d be more than worth the investment and hugely upgrade Detroit’s linebacking unit.
Do Lions find new No. 1 tight end?
After dealing starter T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, it wasn’t certain how much production the team would continue to get at the tight end position.
The Lions soon found out, however, that they had three other capable players at the position: Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell.
Wright and Zylstra each scored multiple touchdowns in the absence of Hockenson. Most notably, Wright was the recipient of Goff’s game-winning touchdown pass in Week 15 against the Jets.
As the season progressed, Goff found success spreading the ball around to each of the one-time reserve tight ends. Subsequently, going into the offseason, upgrading the position doesn’t look like a dire need for Detroit.
Instead, I could see Holmes & Co. deploying a tight end-by-committee approach entering training camp. And, I think there will be an emphasis on getting Mitchell, a member of the team’s 2022 rookie class, more involved in the passing game.
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