2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[1984Echoes]

55 minutes ago, KL2 said:

Jesus way more than I thought. An older expensive running back. Good call 84

PS:

Brad Holmes =

Good at Football GM'ing...

[Mr.TaterSalad]

3 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

I beg to differ on that...

Extend Gibbs and Campbell ASAP.

Branch & LaPorta can be waited on due to their injuries...

And mid-season 2026... see what an extension looks like for those two.

IMO.

I don't see any reason to pay Gibbs this early. I want to churn and burn him. We need to get as much usage out of him as possible and then make the determination as to whether not he is worth giving a second contract too. He's obviously a very talented player and deserves a second contract given his production and talent-level today. But RBs also fall off quickly and we have no idea what Gibbs will look like in 3-4 years after all of this usage. I'm holding off on paying Gibbs for now.

[Motown Bombers]

Gibbs is barely 24. His best years are ahead of him. 

[1984Echoes]

A second contract right now absorbs his next year, 5th year, and Franchise tag...

And is probably cheaper.

It may increase some exposure/ risk...

But (a) I don't think by a significant amount, (b) a 3-4-5 year extension right now will be less costly than if: after he plays the next 3 years under 5th year and Franchise, and then is determined to warrant a 5-year contract ON TOP of that... (c) the cost today will be a LOT less than the cost in a year or two or three... IMO.

You're taking a big risk on churn and burn. He may beat both of those.

I think he is more valuable taking that risk, NOW, rather than hoping we can read correctly what he is worth in 3 years.

Just my 2 cents.

[1984Echoes]

1 minute ago, Motown Bombers said:

Gibbs is barely 24. His best years are ahead of him. 

THIS.

[Hongbit]

10 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I don't see any reason to pay Gibbs this early. I want to churn and burn him. We need to get as much usage out of him as possible and then make the determination as to whether not he is worth giving a second contract too. He's obviously a very talented player and deserves a second contract given his production and talent-level today. But RBs also fall off quickly and we have no idea what Gibbs will look like in 3-4 years after all of this usage. I'm holding off on paying Gibbs for now.

Gibbs is at worst the 3rd best back in the league and among the top 10 best offensive players in the league.   This is not a player that you let go in his prime.   Injury appears to be the only thing that will stop him from having at least 4 hugely productive years for the Lions.  You can’t plan for that to happen especially with a player that has been very healthy to this point of his career.  The sooner they sign him the cheaper it will be.   Do it now before it gets really, really expensive. 

 

[MichiganCardinal]

I agree with everyone that Gibbs is a true RB1, will be paid as much, and that we can expect him to be the three-down back this fall.

But I do wonder what they do behind him. I don’t think Vaki will be RB2. Probably a cheap free agent bruiser?

[1984Echoes]

1 minute ago, Hongbit said:

Gibbs is at worst the 3rd best back in the league and among the top 10 best offensive players in the league.   This is not a player that you let go in his prime.   Injury appears to be the only thing that will stop him from having at least 4 hugely productive years for the Lions.  You can’t plan for that to happen especially with a player that has been very healthy to this point of his career.  The sooner they sign him the cheaper it will be.   Do it now before it gets really, really expensive. 

And add one or two bruisers to the RB room, as similar to Monty as they can find...

Maybe with their new 4th round draft pick.

To take some of the load off of Gibbs.

That seems like a better recipe for success than "churn and burn" Gibbs.

[CMRivdogs]

What are the chances they pick up a back somewhere in this draft? 

[1984Echoes]

Just now, CMRivdogs said:

What are the chances they pick up a back somewhere in this draft? 

Very, very high...

[Sports_Freak]

Montgomery traded to Houston.

[Sports_Freak]

ESPN says the Lions got OL Juice Scruggs, a 4th and 7th round picks. A huge haul!!

[Sports_Freak]

Scruggs is a center. Do we draft a bruising RB to take Montgomery's place? This was a much bigger haul than I thought. Scruggs is a 3 year pro, 26 years old.

[Cruzer1]

Mike Washington Jr.

[Stanley70]

1 hour ago, 1984Echoes said:

Mahogany and Frazier are the starting Guards...

At this point.

I'm guessing they're going to push hard for Ratledge to make it at Center.

Scruggs and Awosika are backup C/IOL. They EASILY are keeping all 3 that you've listed.

IMO. 

I think they will add a FA to take over at C or guard. If they do not they are basically running the same line out as last year. That would leave those 3 fighting for one starting guard position, with the other 2 as backups. I guess i could see that, as long as they don't draft an IOL as well. 

 

[buddha]

wow.  i never thought they'd get anything for an aging monty.  great trade.

[Tenacious D]

Twitter being Twitter—half see this move as a positive given the reasons stated here.  The others think this is the worst move ever with the Lions not getting nearly enough in return.

[MichiganCardinal]

Montgomery’s goodbye on Instagram. Who’s cutting onions in here?

[Sports_Freak]

4 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Twitter being Twitter—half see this move as a positive given the reasons stated here.  The others think this is the worst move ever with the Lions not getting nearly enough in return.

TBH, I was only expecting a 5th round pick for him. This was a very good deal. And I feel good for Montgomery, he should always be a fan favorite. I can see people being upset, he was a real team player and a very important part of the team. But to think we didn’t get enough is silly, just people with an opinion who know nothing about football.

[lordstanley]

Busy Monday 

 

[Motown Bombers]

Looks like it creates close to $6 million in cap space.