MichiganCardinal

With a quality offseason, I disagree. As crazy as that sounds to anyone from this area or has rooted for this team for an extended time, the stars are aligning for the Lions to be as good as they've been in at least 30 years. The Lions can be "sold" to any free agent out there, IMO and there is no team in the NFC that scares me.

I agree it's possible someone treats him like Christian Kirk was treated last year, in which case I expect him to walk. I disagree with the insinuation that the Lions are not a true contender.

I don't think the draft will probably actually go as perfectly as I mocked, but those aren't that far off. Spotrac has Williams at 2/8 and Chark at 3/28... Wagner isn't on there, but he's still getting paid from LA and he's going to be 33.

Don't wake me up

My Mock Draft 3.1 1. Carolina Panthers (Trade w/ CHI): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama 2. Houston Texans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida 3. Tennessee Titans (Trade w/ ARI): CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State 4. Indianapolis Colts: Peter Skoronski, OT/G, Northwestern 5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech 6. Detroit Lions (from LAR): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama 7. Las Vegas Raiders: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia 8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon 9. Chicago Bears (Trade w/ CAR): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson 10. Philadelphia Eagles: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State 11. Arizona Cardinals (Trade w/ TEN): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois 12. Houston Texans (from CLE): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 13. New York Jets: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State 14. New England Patriots: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama 15. Green Bay Packers: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama 16. Washington Commanders: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame 17. Pittsburgh Steelers: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida 18. Detroit Lions: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa 20. Seattle Seahawks: Tuli Tuipuloto, EDGE, USC 21. Los Angeles Chargers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt 22. Baltimore Ravens: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State 23. Minnesota Vikings: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky 24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Addison, WR, USC 25. New York Giants: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 26. Dallas Cowboys: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina 27. Buffalo Bills: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah 28. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama 29. New Orleans Saints (from DEN thru SF): Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame 30. Indianapolis Colts (Trade w/ PHI): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland Lions 2.18: Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M 2.26: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson 3.18: Cody Mauch, OG, North Dakota State 3.28 (Trade w/ BUF for D'Andre Swift): Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State 5.18: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton 6.5 (from DEN): Jake Moody, K, Michigan 6.18: Max Duggan, QB, TCU Relevant Free Agency: Jamel Dean, CB (3/$50MM, $25MM guaranteed); Bobby Wagner, LB (1/$9MM, fully guaranteed); Andy Dalton, QB (1/$3MM, fully guaranteed) Relevant Re-signings: DJ Chark (2/$20MM, $10MM guaranteed); Jamaal Williams (2/$7.5MM, $5MM guaranteed) Relevant Release: Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OG; Romeo Okwara, EDGE Restructure: Jared Goff, QB

That contract should bring a smile to Mr. Goff's face.

I think they restructured him earlier this year to facilitate his release. The $59MM is guaranteed, but it's spread out through a couple void years in 2025 and 2026 and a lot is put in signing bonuses and guarantees. I could be off by a bit, but I think that a post-6/1 release would result in like $11MM against the cap this year and $14MM next year and then just $4MM or less in 25 and 26.

I don't think I let Stroud pass me unless Anderson or Wilson are also still on the board. Not saying I move up for him, but he's the one QB that would make me say "he's still here??" if he fell. That said, I agree. The ideal situation for the Lions sees four QBs go in the top five.

Henry is the Hummer H1. Reinvented the position. Couldn't fit in parking spots. Makes heads turn when he runs down the field... But his owner showed him off too much... Now he's got 150,000 miles, there is some body damage, and they're looking to upgrade. I'm not going to give up assets for a used Hummer H1 in his contract season when I could get my own Hummer H4 off the lot in April. I tried. 😂

I'm not a big movies guy but I went on a bit of a stretch last week when I had the week off. Cocaine Bear: I don't watch news much at all, and I don't have cable, so I actually hadn't even heard of it until I decided on a whim to go to the theater and picked it out. Going in based off of the title, I expected it to be hot trash. Based on that expectation, I was pleasantly surprised. It was uniquely funny and the plot worked (for me), without taking its asinine premise too far over the top. 7/10. Close: Independent French film, with English subtitles. More up my alley for films I typically like and it did not disappoint. Without spoiling it, the filmmakers made a bold choice that pulled it away from more stereotypical coming-of-age films, and I think it paid off more often than not. My only critique is with the ending and specifics would spoil. 8.5/10. A Knock at the Cabin: Saw this with my girlfriend. Her choice. Did not like it. I don't like very many (possibly any) scary movies that rely on jump scares, because I can usually predict them coming and I don't get the cheap thrill out of it. It gets some points for being a novel plot, but it was just very meh for me. 4/10. Oscar Winning Shorts: Saw these with my friends. Overall I really liked it, and I loved the concept of watching five short films instead of one long film. ADHD approved! LOL. Some were better than others, but there was a reason they all won Oscars. 8/10.

I will admit that the first thing I hate about Carr is his face. Very punchable.

Methinks they will regret this move. I don't think Carr is a good quarterback. Never have.

In fairness, I believe Kamara fell inexplicably in 2017. He was projected as a late 1st or early 2nd, similar to Gibbs right now. As buddha said, we have differences of opinion about Swift's durability. I think the fact that Jamaal Williams was able to break the franchise record for TDs in a season as RB2 speaks more to Swift's absence than it does Williams' presence (though Jamaal being the goalline back. I tend to agree about not re-signing workhorse running backs, but I think the way to do it is to draft your RB1 pretty high every 3-5 years or so. Maybe not always 1st round, but high enough that you're getting a playmaker like Kamara, CMC, Barkley, or DHen. Then when their rookie contract is up, let someone else pay them. Even if we put Swift in that group, the time to replace him probably is now, before his 4th season, with five picks in the first 85, and when Swift might still have some marginal trade value (3rd or 4th round pick maybe?). I wouldn't be thrilled with taking him at 6, but I would understand it if both Wilson and Anderson are off the board and trading down is not an option. There's not a lot of tremendous value elsewhere, and if he's the #1 guy on your big board, I get it... I am warming to Jahmyr Gibbs, and would probably be okay with a strategy of sitting at 18 and taking Bijan if he's there, Gibbs if he's not... I don't see that kind of difference maker in Charbonnet, McIntosh, Achane, et al.

The thing about Bijan Robinson is that he's more than your typical back. He sounds like an Alvin Kamara (in his prime... without the assaults...), that can run through between the tackles on first down and gain seven yards, and then motion to the slot and run a fly route for 40 yards on 2nd down. He's both the best runner and receiver in the draft. If there were clear better options, or if we only had the one first round pick, I think I would stay away too. But sometimes the "luxury" pick is what can put you over the top.

I don't think Bijan makes it to the Lions at 18, but I wouldn't put it past Holmes to move up and get him if he slides within striking range.

I definitely wouldn't rule out the Saints taking him at #29. Wouldn't be an ideal landing spot for Hooker, but the Saints really need a QB and probably don't have the resources to move up far enough for one of the top four.

Personally, I'm just sad that we have to wait another year to ask ourselves whether 8" is a normal hand size.

For context, the Eagles this time last year had the 6th best odds.

I hope all four QBs tempt teams enough to go in the top five, and that the lone remaining team takes Tyree Wilson or Jalen Carter. The "other teams being stupid" strategy has worked for us in back-to-back seasons, why not make it three in a row?

He's 40 now, so he would be a band aid until we can find a long-term solution. Not opposed though if someone reaches for Moody.

Has to be crossed off the NFC North boards immediately. A yearly trip to Wisconsin? I'm also disappointed this never came out while he was at Kentucky. The College Game Day signs would have been next level. (also I question the veracity of this report if it wasn't already clear)

Nothing says franchise QB like mayonnaise in the coffee and lactose intolerance discrimination. Happy Combine!

FWIW, my known favorite draft guru Charlie Campbell published this on Jalen Carter yesterday. Halfway through is a tidbit from an unnamed source that I bolded, that you have to think could be a Lions scout or personnel. Could be wrong, it's ambiguous enough.

Does this mean he's got that DOG? As a wise man once told me, "it's all DOG around this mug"

It depends on whether his performance in 22-23 was the result of the thumb and rib injuries or whether he's lost 'it'. He wasn't good for most of the season. New York doesn't need good though they just need competent, so if their defense could replicate its efforts from last season with Rodgers, he'd probably replicate what Favre did in New York and win a few games but not be good enough for any sort of deep run.