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With dreams of the Super Bowl dashed and replaced with the lull of the offseason, the Detroit Lions enter a time of tough questions. Many things went right for the Lions this season, but many things went wrong as well.
The finale against the San Francisco 49ers encapsulated this roller coaster: a brilliant first half snuffed out by Detroit’s own follies.
This isn’t to say that the Lions had a bad season, for it was truly historic and worth celebrating. But as one NFL season is set aside, the next one captures our attention.
The Lions have a lot of questions that need to be addressed. These answers may come in a week, a month, or even a year, but they linger regardless. How will the Lions replace their departing coaches?
The Lions are at risk of losing a crucial leader this offseason. As of this writing, only two head coaching positions remain open—the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders—but both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn could still be hired away.
The Seahawks have an interview scheduled with Johnson, while the commanders are looking at both.
Johnson, a favorite to land a head coaching spot, has been instrumental in crafting one of the league’s deadliest offenses, featuring a renaissance from quarterback Jared Goff and phenomenal rookie seasons for Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. Glenn, meanwhile, has been an integral leader alongside Dan Campbell, and for all the flak his defense
has taken this season, he was dialing up timely blitzes and coverages that kept the Lions in games—there is only so much a play caller can do from the sideline. There are some in-house options to replace either coordinator, but nothing is set in stone, Kelvin Sheppard is a strong candidate to replace Glenn, as his linebacking group was a
strength for the Lions, and his personality is beloved by players and coaches. John Fox, a senior defensive assistant, has extensive experience as a coach in the NFL and could be an option as well. Outside the team, the Lions might even consider former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel if he is unable to land a head coaching gig and is willing to return to defensive coordinator duties. The offensive coordinator position also has some current coaches in the running.
The top candidates are likely assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. Engstrand, however, has garnered interest from the New England Patriots for their offensive coordinator position, while Randle El is interviewing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ opening. Offensive line coach Hank Fraley, meanwhile, is a strong candidate to join Johnson in Washington as offensive coordinator, per reports, if the hiring happens.
Not only are the Lions at risk of losing their top coordinators, but there is a strong possibility that their positional coaches get poached as well. The Lions are still Dan Campbell’s team, but losing so many lieutenants would hurt. Which players will receive contract extensions?
Entering the offseason, the Lions have some cap space to make some noise in free agency, but a sizeable chunk of that cash might end up in the pockets of players already under contract.
2021 draft class selections Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown are first-team All-Pros and will be earning a sizable paycheck sooner than later. The Lions would be wise to lock them up before free agency is on the table—given the start of their careers, the price tag will only increase over time.
The elephant in the room is Jared Goff. 2024 is the final year of his current deal, and given how integral his play was to this postseason run, there is no question that the Lions view him as their starter next season.
The problem arises with how to value him. Most of us can agree that he is not on the level of Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, but that the next tier of quarterback is very much up for debate. Reports and rumors are circling that Kirk Cousins, who turns 36 in August, is seeking a contract averaging between $40 and $50 million per season; whether or not he gets it remains to be seen.
What will Goff and the Lions view as a reasonable price tag? How much money are the Lions willing to spend on Goff when his offensive coordinator is likely to be hired elsewhere? Which free agents need to be brought back? There is no shortage of important names entering free agency for the Lions.
The offensive line faces a potential reshuffle with Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Matt Nelson, and Dan Skipper on expiring contracts. Josh Reynolds enters free agency following a disastrous NFC Championship game. Brad Holmes traded for Donovan Peoples-Jones in the last year of his rookie contract, and it remains unclear if he did enough in his short stint with the Lions to garner returning interest.
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