Nate7474

I know, I know big shocker. I was absolutely floored when I found that out. With that said I absolutely believe they will draft a OT in one of the first 2 rounds. Other positions I could see in the 1st are LB, DE and believe it or not TE if they love the guy from Oregon and Laporta has long term concerns. The new OC loves TE options and well we have one as a headcoach.

Every year people argue over do we draft for a need or for talent and the simple answer is both. The organization always says that x player was the top rated player and although that could be true it probably isn’t. The truth is the organization identifies a few different positions that they could get better or cheaper at that they are willing to take in each area of the draft. They rank all of those players where they feel they will go and then choose accordingly. if they are losing options they like in the board that’s when trade up happens to secure one. When the board is full of options or even none they like that when you see trade downs.

There’s some good part time aging backs who might be interested in splitting carries to chase a ring. Someone like Aaron Jones for example. Also RB can be filled relatively easily in the middle to later rounds in the draft.

Id love to kick the tires on Tariq Woolen. Fits our brand of defense and may be looking for a one year prove it deal to try and get a big deal.

Don’t disagree with any of these needs but the players leaving aren’t world beaters. These can be replaced by average free agents and upgraded in the draft. They were getting older and starting to be expensive for the production they were putting up. They haven’t let anyone leave yet that I wouldn’t have done myself so far. With our cap situation we weren’t going to be big day 1 Free agency players where the contracts come out high. Yet we got better at center and depth piece at Tackle who could start for good deals. I think starting today deals will start to comeback to earth a little bit and we can shore up some of these position without jeopardizing our ability to sign our premier players who are in their primes.

I think there’s by my count 7 tackles that are 1st rd/early second round talents. You have Sewell who could play either side although there may be a desire to keep him where he is. As much as I have liked Decker he is done with the best you are going to get is an average tackle with injury issues. I think Holmes is looking for a fringe starter but mostly swing tackle to be the vet and then draft a rookie in the first 2 rounds. Best man wins the job with the other one pushing all year.

If there is one additional area I wish we would've upgraded it is our left handed relievers.

To be fair I don't think I have ever seen a smaller zone then he and Madden have had to throw to so far.

I just read that and was definitional wrong. I figured you couldn't trade a pick before it technically was awarded to you thinking they would be awarded one at a time for 2 years not both together. Should still get a nice pick Comp pick yet for last seasons Free agents.

Aren’t we going to pickup an extra comp pick in the 3rd round for Glenn and a possible 4th round for Davis leaving? If so, there is going to be a lot of ammo to move around in the middle of the draft.

I agree with you and I think the Lions do too. Laporta and Branch are ones that can go both ways to me on if we let them go/trade or resign them.

I think they will try to avoid it using it for Gibbs but will if they have to. Campbell is the one they absolutely can’t use it for as LBs get lumped in with defensive lineman. RB=14.2Mil and LB=26.9mil for this year.

I think they will still go out and try and find a vet starter at C or OG and use Rathledge at whatever spot they don’t sign. This is a good pickup to backup across the interior as our cheaper Glasgow replacement. We started with 9/10 Olineman last year so using that I see. OT- Sewell, Decker, Manu, Draft pick and Swing TE OG/OC- Rathledge, Mahogany, Frazier, Scruggs and a free agent vet.

I agree that he will be a riser. I also agree on Faulk being a target as he is exactly what they have said what they want in a DE. Big body who sets the edge and stops the run game first.

He’s been one of my favorite players to take in the mock draft simulators when available. I think he will be great at the next level.

To me when it comes down to compensation there needs to be a balance to get a deal for baseball next year. There is going to need to be some sort of cap situation. The way i see forward is for the non stars their salaries need to be higher and grow faster per year and reach Free Agency sooner. For the stars the salaries need to not be able to balloon up and take up a 3rd of the the budget by themselves. Right now there’s a large gap of potential salary range and it needs to be pushed together more.

It’s not about Skubal. It’s about every other pitcher after him entering arbitration. If players are going to be that expensive it essentially means small market teams have to try and sign and buy out years earlier or trade them sooner.

I think it moves either Melton or Anderson to the bullpen. There are always injuries or chances for starts. We thought we were in a great spot at the start of last year and still ran out of starting pitching.

I think the fan base and frankly the organization for some reason aren’t really behind Mize. I chalk it up to being a 1st pick and underperforming expectations as well as injuries. Tork I think gets under appreciated as well for that same 1st pick reason. Me personally I think Mize is a good 2/3 type pitcher who a good team should win the majority of his starts he just isn’t going to dominate another team very often.

Criticizing is fine and I think for this year there is a couple valid things that I would. 1) Counting on Glasgow and rookies on the line 2) Relying on Davenport to be healthy and productive 3) This may be just my opinion but I didn’t like the RB usage this year. Monty didn’t get used well and Gibbs got overused. 4) Overaggressive approach offensively the second half of the year. Gimmick plays when not needed and 4th down calls 5) Defense being stubbornly stuck to high usage of man to man even when injuries caught up. Things that I don’t think are fair criticism is for injuries and not trading for players. I am of the opinion that you basically never trade middle of the season on the NFL unless you need only 1 player. That was not the Lions this year.

Here's my problems with Defensive Pass Interference and other penalties that go back to my coaching days. 1) The defense as every right to the ball as an offensive player yet rarely is it called that way. Yet we celebrate when a WR turns into a defensive player to break up an interception 2) Offensive players should not be rewarded for a bad pass or bad route. If the defensive player gets hit by the under thrown ball and made contact with the WR beforehand because it was under thrown/they overran it then to bad you lost position for that ball. Looking back for the ball should have no impact on if it is defensive pass interference or not. 3) Get rid of the no contact after 5 yards rule if you aren't going to call it both ways. Offensive players have to much leeway to make contact when the defense can't 4) Stop with all the automatic first down calls if its not a personal foul. Why is every penalty against a wide receiver a first down. If you insist on doing that then the offense should have equivalent penalties on their side. Example: OPI= loss of down and yardage like intentional grounding.

Players would never agree to a salary cap/bigger soft cap penalties without a floor. I would assume that years under control would also have to be negotiated for players to get to free agency faster. Likely larger rosters to allow for more players to make the majors and get into the union faster. IMO this is going to be a nasty fight and I wouldn't be surprised if we lost an entire season.

Nice thing for the Lions is they are probably the best of those open spots. Best mix of established weapons with little to no drama and a stable coaching situation. Should have their pick of the litter which is a nice change.

Right!!!!??? I could go get fired and collect a buyout.

Highest pitcher arb ever was Price at 19.75. I don’t think the a tigers are wrong here. It’ll get worked out.