2025 Lions offseason

[Mr.TaterSalad]

6 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Lions have enough goal scorers, they don’t need a Shanahan. If anything they need a Chelios across from Lindstrom.

And Trey just happens to play defense and can stop balls from going into the end zone. Look, I know this isn't happening because it's just not the type of move Brad makes and he's not about to mortgage our financial future for it. But it's fun to dream about and discuss I think. Even if it is never happening.

[Motown Bombers]

The Eagles let Milton Williams and Josh Sweat walk. I'm also not aware of a $40 million per year pass rusher already on their roster. 

[gehringer_2]

On 5/24/2025 at 7:24 AM, Motor City Sonics said:

Remember the Red Wings.  

Got real good, got to the Finals, got swept

Then had the best record in NHL history,  lost in the WCF

And then it clicked the next year (after the March 26th incident)

 

I feel like the Lions are kind of on the same path.     I think they'll get to a Super Bowl.   Even if they have step back year this year, at some point in the next three years they will get there.     I feel like there's no way they can have that many injuries again.  

An NFL season is so much about the attrition. You start the season with a handful of teams with enough talent to win the SB (which the Lions were last season and will be this season) and whoever suffers the fewest critical injuries is the most likely winner.

Edited May 27 by gehringer_2

[Motown Bombers]

21 of the Eagles 22 starters started the Super Bowl. 

[RedRamage]

On 5/22/2025 at 7:43 AM, Motor City Sonics said:

Why are Lions fans so stressed out?    

This is a great team.    

 

I dunno if I'd say I'm stressed out, but my concern resolves around a new OC and DC. I think the team is fine, as long as injuries don't stack up like they did last year. I don't think anything and recover from that many major injuries on defense, so getting those players back will be like a massive upgrade to the defense as it stood at the end of last season. 

But we're about to find out how much of the Lions great offense was Ben Johnson and how much was Dan Campbell. Time will tell.

[Jason_R]

5 hours ago, RedRamage said:

I dunno if I'd say I'm stressed out, but my concern resolves around a new OC and DC. I think the team is fine, as long as injuries don't stack up like they did last year. I don't think anything and recover from that many major injuries on defense, so getting those players back will be like a massive upgrade to the defense as it stood at the end of last season. 

But we're about to find out how much of the Lions great offense was Ben Johnson and how much was Dan Campbell. Time will tell.

The defense will be better because they won't have an IR list full of enough guys to make up a starting lineup that would be a top-fifteen unit in the NFL.

My hunch is that the offense will be less explosive but will do more to protect Goff. In retrospect, Ben Johnson did some auditioning for a head coaching job when he should have been focused on game context. 

[RedRamage]

12 hours ago, Jason_R said:

The defense will be better because they won't have an IR list full of enough guys to make up a starting lineup that would be a top-fifteen unit in the NFL.

My hunch is that the offense will be less explosive but will do more to protect Goff. In retrospect, Ben Johnson did some auditioning for a head coaching job when he should have been focused on game context. 

Re: Defense: I agree that they should be better given healthier players, but there's also the potential drop off with a new DC so it might be a net zero change. Now I don't think there will be much of a drop off given that the new DC has been around the team, knows the players, and probably won't dramatically change the scheme. But there still will be differences so there is always a possibility of a negative effect due to the change.

Re: Offense: I'm concerned that there's a much bigger risk of a issues here as the new OC is coming from outside of the organization and there's at least some talk/rumors that he's not as run focused as we might like. We're still very talented offensively so I'm not expecting the team to fall off a cliff, but again... there will be differences even if Morton isn't as "run shy" as the scuttlebutt seems to think he might be.

Even if the "drop off" is only like 10% for both sides that still means a slight decrease in scoring and possibly a net zero improvement for the defense vs. end of last season. Combine that with a brutal schedule and that could be enough to see the Lions slip a bit and end up more in the 10-11 win area vs. 13-14 wins. Still a good season, but possibly not the best in the NFCNorth type of season... certainly not the best in the NFC.

[RandyMarsh]

Granted progression isn't guaranteed but it's hopeful and the fact is the Lions more than likely will get improvement from within due to having such a young team. 

People often forget just how many young players the Lions have and played last year. Damn near half their defense was from guys in their first or 2nd year, many of whom namely Arnold and Campbell looked to be playing better as the year went on so good chance they continue that next year. 

[Motown Bombers]

The defense was one of the top units in the NFL when it was healthy. 

[Jason_R]

13 hours ago, RedRamage said:

Re: Defense: I agree that they should be better given healthier players, but there's also the potential drop off with a new DC so it might be a net zero change. Now I don't think there will be much of a drop off given that the new DC has been around the team, knows the players, and probably won't dramatically change the scheme. But there still will be differences so there is always a possibility of a negative effect due to the change.

Re: Offense: I'm concerned that there's a much bigger risk of a issues here as the new OC is coming from outside of the organization and there's at least some talk/rumors that he's not as run focused as we might like. We're still very talented offensively so I'm not expecting the team to fall off a cliff, but again... there will be differences even if Morton isn't as "run shy" as the scuttlebutt seems to think he might be.

Even if the "drop off" is only like 10% for both sides that still means a slight decrease in scoring and possibly a net zero improvement for the defense vs. end of last season. Combine that with a brutal schedule and that could be enough to see the Lions slip a bit and end up more in the 10-11 win area vs. 13-14 wins. Still a good season, but possibly not the best in the NFCNorth type of season... certainly not the best in the NFC.

Morton was with Detroit in 2022. 

I have a hard time thinking that he would come back, or that Dan would let him back, if he didn’t expect to pound the hell out of the ball. 

[holygoat]

Ragnow to retire.

[holygoat]

 

[Hongbit]

Shocking but not really as it had been speculated for the last few offseasons.

Welcome to the NFL, Tate Ratledge.

[Motown Bombers]

How does this affect trading for Hendrickson? 

[holygoat]

This is massive. This is the sort of thing that could be the difference between a Super Bowl run and missing the playoffs all together.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Well fudge. Center is an incredibly important position that anchors the offensive line and is really the right hand person to any QB on the field. Maybe Glasgow can slot into Center and not miss much of a beat as he's played the position before. Otherwise we're going to be shopping the market in desperation for a Center.

[Tigeraholic1]

If Holmes did not know this was a huge possibility then shame on him.

[holygoat]

5 minutes ago, Tigeraholic1 said:

If Holmes did not know this was a huge possibility then shame on him.

I'm sure he knew.

[Motown Bombers]

 

[lordstanley]

Was it Decker or Ragnow in that short clip talking about one of them having basically a deformed toe now after years of abuse on the field?

[holygoat]

36 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

Was it Decker or Ragnow in that short clip talking about one of them having basically a deformed toe now after years of abuse on the field?

Ragnow.

[MichiganCardinal]

Not going to lie, kind of annoyed with Ragnow. Not for doing it, these guys go through hell and back. Can never blame a dude for stepping away.

But to do it in June? Come on man.

[GalagaGuy]

5 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Not going to lie, kind of annoyed with Ragnow. Not for doing it, these guys go through hell and back. Can never blame a dude for stepping away.

But to do it in June? Come on man.

You're assuming the team wasn't aware of things every step of the way.  Seems to me the reason for the late announcement is that he was making every effort to get healthy for the upcoming season and just couldn't. 

[holygoat]

For what it's worth, Ragnow's retirement frees up about $14M on this years cap and $16M on next years.

[holygoat]

Ragnow's statement: