2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Jason_R]

50 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

I say keep Monty, and sign a center. Keep Ratledge at right guard. And yes. Decker looks finished. Even if he says he's healthy, the Lions need an upgrade. We really can't afford to keep getting Goff hit so often. I really have a lot of trust in Brad on acquiring the players MCDC needs.

Yes. It is worth noticing that, as badly as the OL played last year, Jared Goff put up the second best passer rating of his ten-year NFL career. This was behind only his 15-2 campaign the previous season. QBR tells a slightly different story, as he put up his fifth best campaign last season on that metric and finished # 20 in the NFL. Still, last season Goff’s passer rating was behind only Drake Maye (#2 in MVP voting) and Matthew Stafford (NFL MVP). 

I think QBR is a more meaningful stat, but acknowledging that the Lions had one of the worst-performing offensive lines in the league last year, I think Jared Goff deserves a tip of the cap for elevating his game and the team in spite of that. 

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, Jason_R said:

Yes. It is worth noticing that, as badly as the OL played last year, Jared Goff put up the second best passer rating of his ten-year NFL career. This was behind only his 15-2 campaign the previous season. QBR tells a slightly different story, as he put up his fifth best campaign last season on that metric and finished # 20 in the NFL. Still, last season Goff’s passer rating was behind only Drake Maye (#2 in MVP voting) and Matthew Stafford (NFL MVP). 

I think QBR is a more meaningful stat, but acknowledging that the Lions had one of the worst-performing offensive lines in the league last year, I think Jared Goff deserves a tip of the cap for elevating his game and the team in spite of that. 

Agreed. And Goff's numbers were even more remarkable considering how he isn't very mobile. But he was sacked pretty often. The Lions were still a top scoring team and, IMO, our defense was our main problem. And with Branch injured, and Kirby with his chronic knee problem, our strength at safety is now actually a weakness. There's only so many rookies a team with the Lions aspirations can fit in.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

39 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Agreed. And Goff's numbers were even more remarkable considering how he isn't very mobile. But he was sacked pretty often. The Lions were still a top scoring team and, IMO, our defense was our main problem. And with Branch injured, and Kirby with his chronic knee problem, our strength at safety is now actually a weakness. There's only so many rookies a team with the Lions aspirations can fit in.

There were still 3-5 games last year that were losses you could blame on the offense. In particular on the offensive line and/or play calling. The opener against Green Bay, Kansas City, Philly, the Steelers, and final Vikings game were all ones where this offensive line hurt us. Get better offensive line play and win just one of those games and we're in the playoffs. I think there are upgrades needed on our defense. Lord knows I've spent a countless amount of time begging for a pass rusher opposite Aiden, as a lot of fans have. But I think there more pressing need right now is the offensive line. It was the identity of this team for 3 years and they need to get back to dominating the line of scrimmage, running it down team's throats to wear them out, and controlling the clock. I'm spending my free agent dollars on the offensive line before I do anything defensive. Though I still agree there are some moves to be made on defense.

[MichiganCardinal]

29 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

There were still 3-5 games last year that were losses you could blame on the offense. In particular on the offensive line and/or play calling. The opener against Green Bay, Kansas City, Philly, the Steelers, and final Vikings game were all ones where this offensive line hurt us. Get better offensive line play and win just one of those games and we're in the playoffs. I think there are upgrades needed on our defense. Lord knows I've spent a countless amount of time begging for a pass rusher opposite Aiden, as a lot of fans have. But I think there more pressing need right now is the offensive line. It was the identity of this team for 3 years and they need to get back to dominating the line of scrimmage, running it down team's throats to wear them out, and controlling the clock. I'm spending my free agent dollars on the offensive line before I do anything defensive. Though I still agree there are some moves to be made on defense.

I agree with this. I’m hoping Graham Glasgow’s key card for building access was disabled at halftime of the Bears game.

The sunny side up is that the line will get better by default with the return of a healthy LaPorta and Brock Wright. The one-two punch of losing those two decimated an already fragile offensive line. Of the five games you mentioned, there was no excuse (offense or defense) for Green Bay. But both KC and Philly have one of the best defensive lines in the league (or at least did when they faced us in the case of KC). Most offensive lines composed of the ghost of Glasgow’s past and effectively two rookies would struggle with that.

With Pittsburgh and Minnesota though (and I would add the Rams game too even though they had some offensive success in the first half and probably should have won) we had effectively no tight end position. It’s hard to run the offense we are designed to run without a single NFL caliber tight end. It’s even harder without a tight end and with an interior composed of what it was.

[buddha]

On 2/9/2026 at 7:35 PM, lordstanley said:

Strong words from the family about CTE and how in their view “the NFL was ultimately the cause of his untimely demise”. Yes, I’m not a fan of sourcing TMZ but it posted the statement unlike some other outlets  

 

when i worked at barnes and noble in rochester, tracy scroggins came in one day.  he was a massive person.

he asked for romance novels.

[buddha]

On 2/9/2026 at 7:35 PM, lordstanley said:

Strong words from the family about CTE and how in their view “the NFL was ultimately the cause of his untimely demise”. Yes, I’m not a fan of sourcing TMZ but it posted the statement unlike some other outlets  

 

They want to get paid.

[buddha]

On 2/10/2026 at 1:27 PM, RedRamage said:

Yeah, that's of course the big question... I mean good on the NFL for having new procedures/policies to try to address this. I've heard at least some talk that this doesn't do squat to help, usually without any real evidence. But that makes me wonder/panic a bit whether the NFL knows that this doesn't really do anything and they're just doing it more for show than to really help the players.

Just to be abundantly clear: I have ZERO evidence of this being the case... just idle thoughts and random speculation. The NFL certainly seems to be caring much more about concussions and potential brain injuries and seems to be taking steps to try to improve player safety (concussion protocol, tackling changes, helmet options), so that's a good thing. 

The nfl will give lip service to a lot of things.  in the end, they care about money.  if player safety were really their goal, they wouldnt be asking for an 18th game.

i dont blame the owners, its a sport played for money and a multi-billion dollar business.  at the end of the day, its a violent game and if they limit the violence too much, people will stop watching.  not many people are watching a flag football game between the lions and jets.

the industry has a lot of questions about "cte" and whether it is actually anything special or just run of the mill brain damage.  also, players in the past certainly have arguments against the nfl for such injuries, but now?  you know the risks.  you can go to another profession of you dont want to play the game.

[buddha]

i watched an insurance industry presentation on brain injuries probably 8 years ago.  they brought up cte, but more in the context of how the nfl and the movie on cte had entered the public realm, and now minor concussions with no long term effects were still being regarded by juries as multi-million dollar claims.  after all, they saw this movie and now they know all about brain injuries...

anyway, at the time it was thought of as "you have a series of concussions over time and it could lead to brain damage.  or not.  plenty of nfl players are just fine.  some arent."

but we have to price the risk (we used to insure riddell and the ncaa...we used to make a lot less money...) , and now the public has made any kind of concussion quite expensive.  ergo why it costs so much to insure your little league baseball team, or pop warner football team, or kids' hockey team.

or your car, but that's another story and i'll get off my soapbox now.

[Motown Bombers]

Looking at the Dolphins roster, our friend Melifonwu is a free agent. He played more games than both Joseph and Branch. Would be good depth and is familiar with the system. 

[MichiganCardinal]

25 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Looking at the Dolphins roster, our friend Melifonwu is a free agent. He played more games than both Joseph and Branch. Would be good depth and is familiar with the system. 

I’d support this. Both as a depth piece and a trustworthy starter. They’ll need one more starter than normal with Branch out for at lease the start of the season.

[1984Echoes]

5 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

Looking at the Dolphins roster, our friend Melifonwu is a free agent. He played more games than both Joseph and Branch. Would be good depth and is familiar with the system. 

Yes.

Definitely on board.

[1984Echoes]

7 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

Looking at the Dolphins roster, our friend Melifonwu is a free agent. He played more games than both Joseph and Branch. Would be good depth and is familiar with the system. 

PS: I think someone else should also be high on the consideration list:
 

A'Shawn Robinson. 

 

Add Melifonwu, Robinson, and I still want Kwity Paye and Devin Bush...

And I think we are back on top as a defense in 2026. 

I won't care who and when is added in the draft...

We may need just a bit more secondary help than that... But I would be wildly pleased snagging those 4 players.

Just my 2 cents...

 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:14 AM by 1984Echoes

[1984Echoes]

We could draft a 5th and 6th round project safety and CB for example. That would work.

A project DE in the 2nd (Zion Young or LT Overton or Dani Dennis-Sutton?) or 4th (Patrick Payton?)

O-Line in the 1st...

[MichiganCardinal]

 

Unverified reports are that a member of Arnold's security team and Arnold's cousin were both arrested for luring three men into an apartment and holding them at gunpoint while beating them senseless, in an attempt to recover $100k, guns, a cell phone, and high-end bags that belonged to TA.

[Jason_R]

I can’t even get my cousin to send birthday presents to my kids. 

[Motown Bombers]

Cam Sutton working as Arnold’s security detail now. 

[RedRamage]

1 hour ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Unverified reports are that a member of Arnold's security team and Arnold's cousin were both arrested for luring three men into an apartment and holding them at gunpoint while beating them senseless, in an attempt to recover $100k, guns, a cell phone, and high-end bags that belonged to TA.

An update on the linked story:

UPDATE 11:58 a.m. ET: Fox 13 has added an editor’s note to its story. “A representative for Terrion Arnold responded and clarified that Hudson is not a security guard for Arnold, and that Williams is not Arnold’s cousin,” the note explains.

[MichiganCardinal]

28 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

An update on the linked story:

UPDATE 11:58 a.m. ET: Fox 13 has added an editor’s note to its story. “A representative for Terrion Arnold responded and clarified that Hudson is not a security guard for Arnold, and that Williams is not Arnold’s cousin,” the note explains.

Sooo..... what's the connection?! How'd this even get tied to TA? There was a reason I put "unverified," I'm glad I did.

[sagnam]

2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

 

Unverified reports are that a member of Arnold's security team and Arnold's cousin were both arrested for luring three men into an apartment and holding them at gunpoint while beating them senseless, in an attempt to recover $100k, guns, a cell phone, and high-end bags that belonged to TA.

Two men with possible ties to Mike Florio face armed robbery, kidnapping charges

[RedRamage]

4 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Sooo..... what's the connection?! How'd this even get tied to TA? There was a reason I put "unverified," I'm glad I did.

As far as I can tell the house that the items were allegedly stolen from was rented by TA. The detective in the case also made the claims about the two men being TA's security guy and cousin.

And of course we're just going on what everyone is saying right now. The Detective says they are these people, TA's person is saying they aren't. I'd guess that TA wouldn't say the "cousin" isn't a cousin if he is because that would be a pretty easy thing to prove one way or the other, but maybe he's like a 3rd or 4th cousin or something? Like I'd never say that someone I'm that distantly related to is "my cousin" but some might?

The security guy might be something as simple as: "He was, but isn't anymore." Or it might be that the security guy claimed to be employed by TA to the detective, so the detective was just related what he heard??

[RedRamage]

3 minutes ago, sagnam said:

Two men with possible ties to Mike Florio face armed robbery, kidnapping charges

That's not totally fair. Florio was reporting on a story by a Tampa Bay news station which was reporting what the detective in the case said about the men. Neither the local station nor Florio made up the possible connections. Both also have updated their stories with the statement by TA.

You could argue maybe they should have checked with TA first, but in today "Gotta be first!" news cycle that wouldn't be the go to move, and Florio at least said it was "possible ties." The local news station said TA was "linked to two suspects."

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Motown Bombers]

Is this a position for Spielman? Do you promote Holmes? Disner?

Edited 12 hours ago by Motown Bombers

[MichiganCardinal]

Of the front office personnel, this is least consequential for the football side of things. His main responsibilities are communication with the NFL (particularly around international games and when the officials screw us over) and business-related matters (i.e., securing the NFL Draft here, sponsorships, stadium related matters, long-term vision, etc.).

Spielman might make sense, I don't know what he does right now. Disner might make sense. Allison Maki is their long-time CFO, she might make sense. Or they may go external and find a lawyer or businessman who is close to the family, similar to how Wood was hired in the first place.

[Motown Bombers]

Disner has been getting GM looks for other teams. You promote him to president and it helps you keep him. My guess is it will be someone we haven’t heard of.