The Detroit Lions are looking at an incredible new regime this year. Head coach Dan Campbell is leading the charge in the front office. He’s a guy of passion and energy and it’s reflected throughout his organization thus far. Campbell and company started off with a bang in the NFL Draft as they secured one of the best draft classes in the league. Still, Lions fans have a lot of questions surrounding their team. Let’s dive into some of these.
Can the Lions Contend Next Year?
False. Let’s get this one out of the way first. The Lions are not really in a state to contend for the playoffs in 2021. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With the great draft they had, things are looking really good for the future. As for this season, they don’t have enough talent around the board to get into the playoff hunt. Their wide receiver core is really bad and their offense under Jared Goff could be very stagnant. Again, the roster isn’t good enough now but it will be in the future.
Do the Lions Have a Good Offensive Line?
True. A few years ago, this was one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Now, they are at least top five in the league. Campbell has really started off right. The first player he selected in the draft was stud offensive tackle Penei Sewell. This line now consists of Sewell, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Jonah Jackson, and some competition for the fifth spot. Really three out of these five guys can be great, those being Decker Sewell and Ragnow. In fact, Ragnow just got an extension to become the highest-paid center at 24 years old. The rest of the line is solid but not the best. Because of the two smaller weaknesses, this is not a top-three line but certainly is a top five. Building the trenches is essential for a rebuild and the Lions are doing just that.
Should Detroit Have Taken a Quarterback in the Draft?
False. Taking a quarterback seemed to be a popular opinion among fans in April. However, it wouldn’t have been the best move. Goff is on the books for about 50 million dollars over the next two seasons. While this is split between the Lions and Rams, there’s still a big cap hit on the Lions. Because of this, and his poor play, no one is even going to think about trading for him. With quarterbacks coming at a premium through the draft these days, the Lions can wait to get their guy in either 2022 or 2023. For now, the team should look to add pieces around Goff for the next couple of seasons.
Have the Lions Finally Found Their Stud Running Back?
True. D’Andre Swift is the guy in this backfield now. The release of Kerryon Johnson really cemented Swift’s role with this team but it’s been known for a while now. Swift has some serious potential to be a star for Detroit. Obviously, we’ve talked about the incredible line he gets to run behind and his overall skill set is just exciting. Finally, the Lions have got their guy after years of unsuccessful running back committees.
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