2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[MichiganCardinal]

18 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I think the offensive like would be Decker/Mahagony/Ratledge/Fraizer/Sewell next year.

I'd be very surprised by this. I think all signs point to OL being priority #1 this offseason. I don't think it's guaranteed that either of Mahagony or Frazier start in week one, let alone both. At minimum, if a free agent starter isn't brought in I expect a high draft pick would be, to compete and perhaps displace one of them.

For instance, if Mauigoa slips, or Lomu is the pick, I expect they could start either of them at guard in 2026 and move them to tackle after Decker retires (maybe flipping Sewell to LT as well). I'm not convinced moving Ratledge to center and starting a 5th round sophomore is that much better than what they did last year. On paper it might even be worse.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

35 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I'd be very surprised by this. I think all signs point to OL being priority #1 this offseason. I don't think it's guaranteed that either of Mahagony or Frazier start in week one, let alone both. At minimum, if a free agent starter isn't brought in I expect a high draft pick would be, to compete and perhaps displace one of them.

For instance, if Mauigoa slips, or Lomu is the pick, I expect they could start either of them at guard in 2026 and move them to tackle after Decker retires (maybe flipping Sewell to LT as well). I'm not convinced moving Ratledge to center and starting a 5th round sophomore is that much better than what they did last year. On paper it might even be worse.

I'm just going off what Birkett quoted from an NFL agent, who seems to think the Lions won't be as active and looking inwards. Now that agent's word isn't gospel by any means and Holmes has of course shown a willingness to sign starters and make upgrades via free agency.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

45 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

The cap space should be used to re-sign their own guys vs spending on 30+ year olds. 

There are free agents under 30 believe it or not. And I'd rather go into next season with a proven center and keeping Ratledge at guard.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Among the many things that Brad Holmes has proven to us, it's that he's going to take the guy he and Dan believe is the best player available who fits all the criteria they are looking for. Last year, drafting Williams, is the closest they've come for drafting for need. Even then, when there were more talented players on the surface possibly available, they went with Williams. That same philosophy will apply to this year's draft too. I'd like it to be an offensive lineman in the first round, preferably a tackle. But even if a tackle falls to them, it's no guarantee they're going there just because we as fans see that as a need. They have to view him as the BPA on their board, a culture fit, etc. 

[Jason_R]

I believe they will sign a center and draft a tackle who will compete next season with Mahogany at the guard spot. Ratledge will hold down the other guard spot for ten years. 

[buddha]

1 hour ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I'd be very surprised by this. I think all signs point to OL being priority #1 this offseason. I don't think it's guaranteed that either of Mahagony or Frazier start in week one, let alone both. At minimum, if a free agent starter isn't brought in I expect a high draft pick would be, to compete and perhaps displace one of them.

For instance, if Mauigoa slips, or Lomu is the pick, I expect they could start either of them at guard in 2026 and move them to tackle after Decker retires (maybe flipping Sewell to LT as well). I'm not convinced moving Ratledge to center and starting a 5th round sophomore is that much better than what they did last year. On paper it might even be worse.

if that's their offensive line next year, the lions are in a world of hurt.  

due to injury (branch/kirby/laporta), age decline (decker/glasgow), off field issues (arnold), and poor draft decisions (rakestraw/manu/vaki), the lions are a bit behind the 8 ball.  they are now an expensive team (due to all the great drafting holmes did in his first two years) and need cheap talent to fill in the holes.

injuries and arnold's uncertainty are killing them by turning what was a strength (secondary) into an immediate need.  the oline aging everyone saw coming.  manu was supposed to help with that but he's been a miss so far.  he has this season to figure it out.  if they take a swing tackle early, he's a cut candidate.

[RatkoVarda]

3 hours ago, buddha said:

if they take a swing tackle early, he's a cut candidate.

he's a cut candidate. period.

[Longgone]

7 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I can't find the exact post on Twitter and quote from Dave Birkett, but this is something I heard Valenti and Rico talking about yesterday on The Ticket. Detroit Free Press beat writer Dave Birkett reported that at least one agent who spoke with the Lions believes a position switch could be coming. As Birkett wrote: “One (agent) who spoke with the team believes they will move Tate Ratledge to center and open competition at the guard spots.”

Were this to be true from Birkett and the agent, it signals to me that they are staying in house with their offensive line and not making any major moves via free agency or trade to bring in a starter. So to me, reading this (if true), I think the offensive like would be Decker/Mahagony/Ratledge/Fraizer/Sewell next year. Then, they would fill in backup spots with Awosika, Manu, Scruggs, and maybe a draft pick. But any hopes of making a big splash at Center or anywhere along the line don't seem likely, were this quote to be accurate.

Prior to this quote coming to light, I have suspected they will be quite in free agency, adding smaller pieces and backups. I think we might get a starter at Safety given the injuries they have. We might also get a rotational starting DE/Edge and a RB who can split some of the load with Gibbs. But I've never anticipated a big move coming in or dropping big bucks for a starter like Linderbaum or Crosby or Hendrickson. I suspect what cap space they do clear up will be used to resign their own guys like Branch, Campbell, Gibbs, and LaPorta.

I believe what they were saying was the option of moving Ratledge to center opens up the opportunity to sign a guard if that is an easier position to fill, not necessarily that they were staying in house.

Edited 6 hours ago by Longgone

[MichiganCardinal]

Something I thought of today regarding free agency. In a world where Ragnow never retired, he would be entering the 2026 season at age 30 in the final year of his contract. He would be up for an extension this offseason.

In that scenario, assuming he didn't majorly fall off a cliff in performance, I don't think anyone would bat an eye at a market setting three-year / $63MM deal, right in the ballpark of what Linderbaum is probably asking. Am I crazy?

I'm not a "the cap is fake" guy. And I don't think the Lions are best served getting into a bidding war for Linderbaum if a team wants to throw $25MM+ APY at him. But with two rookie-contract guards and a LT likely retiring after this season, I also think the Lions do have some money to work with (after restructuring Goff), if they want to be players for Linderbaum or trade for Crosby.