Done Deal: NFL Detroit Lions finally sign Bengals WR Tee Higgins for $81 Million’s… Read more…
The Detroit Lions’ 2023 season exceeded all expectations. The Lions made their first NFC Championship game since 1991, and were on track to make their first ever Super Bowl before their heartbreaking second half collapse against the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite their success, there were clear holes in the Lions’ roster, holes that GM Brad Holmes has been proactive in filling. The Lions struggled to find a consistent pass rusher to pair with their young star Aidan Hutchinson, and their secondary suffered from injuries and poor play.
They surrendered the sixth-most passing yards in the league last year. Detroit also lost a few starters on offense in free agency. Guard Jonah Jackson signed with the Rams and wide receiver Josh Reynolds joined the Broncos.
Holmes has had a successful free agency so far, headlined by the additions of defensive tackle D.J Reader, edge rusher Marcus Davenport, guard Kevin Zietler, and a trade for cornerback Carlton Davis III.
However, there are still weaknesses that need to be addressed. The Lions lack a true big-bodied X receiver to win contested catches. Their secondary still needs some help, especially after they had to release Cameron Sutton due to recent legal issues.
The Lions have plenty of capital with which to fix these issues. They have seven picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, and $21.6 million in cap space according to Spotrac, which could rise by another $10 million if Cameron Sutton is found to have violated the League’s code of conduct. There are a few trades the Lions could make that would instantly improve their roster ahead of the 2024 season.
The Lions already have a very strong roster, and are only a few pieces away from being Super Bowl contenders. They need another starting caliber cornerback and another wide reciever, both of which could be addressed in the trade market.
Despite already addressing the position this offseason, cornerback still remains a position of need for the Lions. They’ve released Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, and Kindle Vildor this offseason, three players who took a lot of snaps at CB last season.
Carlton Davis III and newly acquired Amik Robertson look set to start, but it would make sense to acquire another potential starter, especially considering key depth piece Emmanuel Moseley missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Jaycee Horn has been excellent whenever he plays. However, he has played in only 22 out of a possible 52 games. He has been consistently ranked as one of the top coverage cornerbacks in the NFL.
Whilst injuries may be a concern, if he can stay healthy, he’ll instantly elevate the Lions’ secondary, and they’ll have two reliably excellent starters between him and Davis III.
