2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Motown Bombers]

1 minute ago, Stanley70 said:

The cap situation also highlights why it is important to draft depth. They do not have any young talent ready to step in at S, WLB, Edge, TE, C or LT. Trading all of the thirds and fourth round picks are coming back to bite them this year.

They got two young safeties, young TE, and a young edge. They also have Frazier, Ratledge, and Mahagony for interior depth. 

[Stanley70]

 They do not have depth, practicaly anywhere. 

[Jason_R]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

So the Vikings are $40 million over the cap and they don’t have someone like Goff they can restructure. They also don’t have a lot of draft picks. Everyone may be available from Darrisaw to Jefferson to Greenard. 

Also available: their GM. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[MichiganCardinal]

5 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

He just updated his original story too. The same provision applies to Josh Paschal.

[1984Echoes]

So Levi and Pascal's contracts "tolled" over to 2026 due to season-long injury list...

Cool !!!

Instant depth.

[Stanley70]

That is good news.

[RedRamage]

19 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

So Levi and Pascal's contracts "tolled" over to 2026 due to season-long injury list...

Cool !!!

Instant depth.

Toll is actually the right word here. I figured it was a typo at first but when reading the story 'toll' is used multiple times and even when quoting the NFL rule book, so I looked it up. Tolling, as a legal principle, basically refers to pausing normal rules regarding time limits.

https://thelawdictionary.org/article/legal-definition-of-tolling-agreement/

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Is it good news that Levi and Paschal are automatically back? In theory, yes, I think it is good to have these two guys back as depth pieces. However, they've both had very Marcus Davenport-esque careers. Both showing little ability to stay healthy at times, especially Levi. Paschal has missed 29 games in 4 seasons and Levi has missed 39 games in 5 seasons. If they're just taking up roster spots and cap space if they return and can't stay healthy, I don't know that it's really that productive for the team when capital could be spent elsewhere on guys who can actually see the field.

[RedRamage]

37 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Is it good news that Levi and Paschal are automatically back? In theory, yes, I think it is good to have these two guys back as depth pieces. However, they've both had very Marcus Davenport-esque careers. Both showing little ability to stay healthy at times, especially Levi. Paschal has missed 29 games in 4 seasons and Levi has missed 39 games in 5 seasons. If they're just taking up roster spots and cap space if they return and can't stay healthy, I don't know that it's really that productive for the team when capital could be spent elsewhere on guys who can actually see the field.

I kinda had the same thought... I suppose it depends on how the front office handles this. If the FO is thinking: "Well, we'd got these two guys, so we're set... no need to look at FA for that area." Then it's potentially a problem.

But if it's more of: "We're gonna upgrade here, but we're keep these guys are depth or worst-case senario if we can't get the FA we want." In that case I'm not as concerned.

[1984Echoes]

3 hours ago, RedRamage said:

... But if it's more of: "We're gonna upgrade here, but ... these guys are depth or worst-case scenario if we can't get the FA we want." In that case I'm not as concerned.

This.

[MichiganCardinal]

 

Glazer says that Crosby is done in Vegas, but that he expects the trade would fetch more than Micah Parsons (two 1sts and a starter).

First, I don't think Glazer is correct in his assessment. Parsons was 25 and a trade and sign, where you were drafting a deal after you traded for him. Crosby is going to be 29, coming off some injuries and regression, and due $35MM next year (before any restructuring occurs).

I'd love to have him here and I guarantee he'd love to be here (lest we forget Crosby Field is sitting in Ypsi). But I doubt Holmes could be in on a price tag north of what Parsons got.

Playing pretend, I would do a 2026 and 2027 1st plus some day three picks. I'd like Vegas to take on some of his 2026 cap hit as well. If I had to throw in a player, I might consider Branch (if we can't afford both him and Crosby) or Montgomery.

You put yourself in a precarious position at that point if Decker retires, but I think he and Hutch would have at least two phenomenal years together. More than two 1sts and a player though gets harder to swallow.

[MichiganCardinal]

For the purposes of manifesting (and because I am nothing if not modest in my being right one time), I did correctly predict the Lions-Rams trade terms like the day before it happened.

So sample size of one, I’m on fire.

[1984Echoes]

I would rather just sign Kwity Paye.

[Stanley70]

Good article on POD discussing the Lions interior o-line options. The thing that stood out most is how bad they were in pass pro, all of them. Ratledge is a keeper but Mahogony may not be. I could see them adding multiple options at those positons, 1 in the draft and 1 in free agency.

 

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-analysis/156802/detroit-lions-first-biggest-offseason-decision-center#comments.

Edited yesterday at 04:41 PM by Stanley70

[MichiganCardinal]

Mike Payton made the case for trading for either Kayvon Thibodeaux or Alex Highsmith. Both guys with lower cap hits than Crosby with more team control.

I like Thibodeaux a lot and thought he might be the pick if the Lions screwed up and didn't take Hutch in 2022. He fits the Lions mold as one of the top run defenders in the league, and has shown an ability to get after the QB in past years, though his sack numbers have gone from 11.5 in 2023 to only 2.5 last year.

Payton argued it would take a 2nd round pick. That feels pricy for a team with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, who obviously can't pay Thibodeaux. Of course, not having a 2026 3rd makes it harder.

[RedRamage]

13 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

For the purposes of manifesting (and because I am nothing if not modest in my being right one time), I did correctly predict the Lions-Rams trade terms like the day before it happened.

So sample size of one, I’m on fire.

I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings then. Or I supposed it might break like right before midnight today.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Mike Payton made the case for trading for either Kayvon Thibodeaux or Alex Highsmith. Both guys with lower cap hits than Crosby with more team control.

I like Thibodeaux a lot and thought he might be the pick if the Lions screwed up and didn't take Hutch in 2022. He fits the Lions mold as one of the top run defenders in the league, and has shown an ability to get after the QB in past years, though his sack numbers have gone from 11.5 in 2023 to only 2.5 last year.

Payton argued it would take a 2nd round pick. That feels pricy for a team with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, who obviously can't pay Thibodeaux. Of course, not having a 2026 3rd makes it harder.

Wasn't the knock on Kayvon Thibodeaux that he doesn't live, eat, sleep, and breath football? I thought attitude wise, he was not a fit for the Lions.

[Motown Bombers]

I’m kind of liking the idea of signing Paye and drafting a pass rusher. 

[Shinzaki]

Gotta get Decker sorted out prior top the draft

[Jason_R]

17 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

Gotta get Decker sorted out prior top the draft

God bless him but he’s going to need a medical miracle to avoid getting cut. I think they have to draft someone to replace him and use the cost savings to sign a center. 

[sagnam]

5 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Mike Payton made the case for trading for either Kayvon Thibodeaux or Alex Highsmith. Both guys with lower cap hits than Crosby with more team control.

I like Thibodeaux a lot and thought he might be the pick if the Lions screwed up and didn't take Hutch in 2022. He fits the Lions mold as one of the top run defenders in the league, and has shown an ability to get after the QB in past years, though his sack numbers have gone from 11.5 in 2023 to only 2.5 last year.

Payton argued it would take a 2nd round pick. That feels pricy for a team with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, who obviously can't pay Thibodeaux. Of course, not having a 2026 3rd makes it harder.

I could behind that trade. No thanks on Crosby.

[MichiganCardinal]

53 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

God bless him but he’s going to need a medical miracle to avoid getting cut. I think they have to draft someone to replace him and use the cost savings to sign a center. 

I don't think Decker is at any risk of being cut if he doesn't retire. He wasn't his old self, but he wasn't nearly as terrible as Glasgow, who is good as gone.

If you believe in PFF, Deck finished 41/89 across all tackles, 45/89 in pass blocking and 57/89 in run blocking while playing hurt all year. So pretty average. For context, Glasgow was 33/40 for centers, 26/40 in pass block, and 36/40 in run block.

[MichiganCardinal]

3 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Wasn't the knock on Kayvon Thibodeaux that he doesn't live, eat, sleep, and breath football? I thought attitude wise, he was not a fit for the Lions.

There were late process rumors to that effect, but as I looked back at them I also found a healthy dose of skepticism that those rumors were legit (as opposed to fodder put out by teams picking 8-12 in the hopes that it would lead to him dropping).

The one seemingly legit rumor was that he discussed his "brand" five times in a combine interview with one team, that put them off. I don't really know what that means. All players have a brand. Surely by now his play can speak for itself.