Writer: Gage O'Leary
Twitter: @Gage_Sports_54
Lions look to take the North in 2023:
On paper, the 2022 Detroit Lions did look like a team that could potentially make the playoffs. They had a great foundation offensively with a top 5 offensive line, a great running back room, a stacked WR room, and Quarterback who has made it to the Super bowl before. The big question mark and concern was without a doubt the Lions' defense. The defense proved that we were right to have those concerns.
Through the first four weeks of the NFL season, the Detroit Lions had the top-ranked offense in the league. Meanwhile, the defense ranked worst in the league. Detroit was 1-3 during the span of having the best offense in the NFL. Detroit lost to the Seattle Seahawks 48-45 in that span as well, that game ultimately cost Detroit a playoff berth at the end of the year. It's not often that you score 45 points and lose the game. The defense was undoubtedly the cause of the horrific start to the season as Detroit went 1-6 in their first seven games. Fortunately, the Lions' offense broke out of a slump that they developed in the past couple of weeks at that point, and the defense finally turned the corner. With that, the Lions were able to win 8 of their last 10 games, going on an 8-2 run and missing out on the playoffs because of a Week 18 Seattle win against the Rams. Detroit took a major step and their defense started to step up. We have good pieces at defense with Aidan Hutchinson, the Pepsi rookie of the year, James Houston who was arguably the best pass rusher in the draft class and undoubtedly the steal of the draft, Malcolm Rodriguez another late-round steal, Kerby Joseph who was an amazing 4th-round pick by GM Brad Holmes, Joshua Pascal who looked good when he recovered from injuries. Plus guys who've been around at least a couple of seasons like Jeff Okudah, Jerry Jacobs, Alim McNeil, Derrick Barnes, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Levi Onwuzerike. There's potential there with what we have now but we need upgrades badly defensively to not just win the NFC North but to make a deep run into the postseason. Linebacker is a spot I think we'll need to work on in free agency. A veteran is needed at that spot currently Alex Anzalone, who we've had the past two seasons, is a free agent. There is an obvious void in that position but the question is... how will Brad Holmes choose to fill it? If he goes the direction of the draft it looks like we'd end up with a 2nd round talent, we'd maybe even draft one later than that. There doesn't seem to be a linebacker worth taking at 6 or 18, so, free agency or trade in my opinion is the way to go. A player has come available as of yesterday according to Adam Schefter of ESPN that I think the Lions should pursue.
Leonard Floyd to the Motor City?
Several good linebackers are available right now that Lions fans are interested in. The big name on the market is one of Floyd's teammates last season, Bobby Wagner. Although it'd probably be a good fit, I don't see this move happening. Wagner is 32, which is younger than I thought he was but still, we don't know how many years he has left in the tank. I believe he'll perform at a high-level this upcoming season but I'm not sure what his career looks like after this season. There are a couple more good free agents out there like Tremaine Edmunds, Lavonte David, and David Long. In my opinion, though, the perfect fit is without a doubt Rams LB Leonard Floyd. He's exactly what we need right now. In the last three seasons, Floyd has had at least nine sacks which is pretty good for the position he plays. Detroit needs to get pressure on the QB. Before James Houston made his NFL debut the Lions couldn't get any pressure on the opposing team's QB. With Leonard Floyd being able to get pressure, makes him a good fit already, but he also fits the need of a veteran, experienced player at the position. Floyd is 30 years of age and continues to play at a high level. He'll turn 31 just before the start of the 2023 season. Floyd has played seven seasons in the NFL and isn't a stranger to the NFC North. He was drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears where he spent his first four seasons. As a rookie, Floyd had 7 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He had 18.5 sacks in his time with Chicago, had three fumble recoveries, and an interception. He's been a better player in three seasons with the Rams than he was with the Bears. His season high in sacks with Chicago was 7, he's surpassed that total three seasons in a row. In LA, Floyd has had at least nine sacks in each season he's played. In 2020 Floyd set a career-high with 10.5 sacks. In 2021 Floyd recorded 9.5 sacks. Last season Floyd recorded 9 sacks for the Rams. In that time in LA Floyd had forced two fumbles, recovered 4, and had an interception. Perhaps another reason Leonard Floyd would be a great fit in Detroit is the fact that Brad Holmes has a great relationship with the Rams. This in my opinion increases the chances of the Lions landing Floyd. In the early stages of Brad Holmes career as a GM, he made three trades with the Rams. Everyone knows that Holmes traded Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff, 2 first-round picks, and a 3rd round pick that was used to draft Alim McNeil. With the first-round pick that we received from the Rams in 2022, we drafted Jameson Williams in a trade-up. If you didn't know about that deal by now then you have been living under a rock. The second deal that Holmes made with LA was sending a seventh-round pick to the Rams for DL Michael Brockers. That trade didn't really benefit either team. The third deal that Holmes made with LA during his first draft with the Lions. I can't exactly remember the exact details of the trade but I do remember it only involved draft picks and they were late draft picks I do believe. Detroit can land Leonard Floyd in two ways. One way to do it would be trading for Floyd. The Rams one way or another are going to let go of him. They first wanna see if they can find a team that'll make a deal for him. If they don't however they will release him. Holmes can either get on the phone with the Rams and make a deal. Or he can wait and hope he gets released and sign him that way. Either way, I'd consider the Lions a frontrunner to land the 30-year-old linebacker. He's a huge need, a great fit, and a great player. I'm really hoping that the Lions can land him.
Thank you for reading, Go Lions!
Comments