2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Shinzaki]

Sign AJ Epenesa...perfect compliment to Hutch.

[Jason_R]

Yes, as awful as they were last year offensively, they were fifth in both YPG and PPG. With a new OC and a plug-and-play OT from the draft, it is not unreasonable to expect they will be a top five offense next year. 

Also, Brad has ten draft picks. One will be used for an OT, and he will probably package some to move up, but it is likely that he can pick up two or three players who can make immediate contributions to the defense as well as a few depth players.  

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Dan Gilmore, I'm not sure what you are confused about with my post. I am assuming it is the DT/DJ Reader/snap count and the need for another starting DT take. If it is not, I apologize.

I looked at snap counts for some of the top defensive tackles in the league in 2026. For example Dexter Lawrence had 754 snaps, Jalen Carter had 639 snaps, Jeffery Simmons had 764 snaps, Quinnen Williams had 640 snaps, Leonard Williams had 812 snaps, Vitea Vea had 763 snaps. DJ Reader had 583 snaps last year in 17 games started. So Reader started games even when both McNeill and Williams were healthy at the same time. Alim McNeill had 524 snaps in 10 games started last year and 782 snaps the last time he played a full season. Tyleik Williams had 446 snaps in 10 games started last year. With Reader out of the lineup, and no other starting DT on the roster, someone has to cover those snaps.

Since it was told to me that Reader isn't a starter and McNeill and Williams are the starters, are we to infer that each of those guys will be getting an additional 583 snaps give or take, bringing their totals to near a 1,000 snaps? Not even the top DT's in the league approach a 1,000 snaps in a season. Are those snaps going to be split up among an additional 2-3 players? If so, who?

It was inferred that we don't need another starting DT to replace Reader. Judging by his snap counts and time spent on the field, I'd say we do need another starting DT. Do we bring Reader back? Do we elevate his replacement in one of Mekhi Wingo (whose played 13 games in 2 seasons with 235 total snaps and can't stay healthy) or starting Levi (who can't stay healthy either)? Do we sign a free agent or draft someone? So who is replacing Reader's time on the field and starting in his place? I would argue we need to either sign a free agent or draft someone in the first 3 rounds to replace Reader. I think it is not earth shattering, but still significant that Reader is gone and someone has to carry that load.

Edited 8 hours ago by Mr.TaterSalad

[Longgone]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Dan Gilmore, I'm not sure what you are confused about with my post. I am assuming it is the DT/DJ Reader/snap count and the need for another starting DT take. If it is not, I apologize.

I looked at snap counts for some of the top defensive tackles in the league in 2026. For example Dexter Lawrence had 754 snaps, Jalen Carter had 639 snaps, Jeffery Simmons had 764 snaps, Quinnen Williams had 640 snaps, Leonard Williams had 812 snaps, Vitea Vea had 763 snaps. DJ Reader had 583 snaps last year in 17 games started. So Reader started games even when both McNeill and Williams were healthy at the same time. Alim McNeill had 524 snaps in 10 games started last year and 782 snaps the last time he played a full season. Tyleik Williams had 446 snaps in 10 games started last year. With Reader out of the lineup, and no other starting DT on the roster, someone has to cover those snaps.

Since it was told to me that Reader isn't a starter and McNeill and Williams are the starters, are we to infer that each of those guys will be getting an additional 583 snaps give or take, bringing their totals to near a 1,000 snaps? Not even the top DT's in the league approach a 1,000 snaps in a season. Are those snaps going to be split up among an additional 2-3 players? If so, who?

It was inferred that we don't need another starting DT to replace Reader. Judging by his snap counts and time spent on the field, I'd say we do need another starting DT. Do we bring Reader back? Do we elevate his replacement in one of Mekhi Wingo (whose played 13 games in 2 seasons with 235 total snaps and can't stay healthy) or starting Levi (who can't stay healthy either)? Do we sign a free agent or draft someone? So who is replacing Reader's time on the field and starting in his place? I would argue we need to either sign a free agent or draft someone in the first 3 rounds to replace Reader. I think it is not earth shattering, but still significant that Reader is gone and someone has to carry that load.

We do need another dt, and he needs to be a brutish block eater like Reader.

[lordstanley]

One way to avoid having an abundance of injuries to key players on defense is to not sign many key players on defense. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

47 minutes ago, Longgone said:

We do need another dt, and he needs to be a brutish block eater like Reader.

Agreed. We need multiple starters across this defense. I'm all for letting Brad Cook, but the cooking hasn't been that good the last few offseasons.

[Motown Bombers]

I’m old enough to remember when he was the shiny object the Lions had to have. 

 

[Longgone]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Agreed. We need multiple starters across this defense. I'm all for letting Brad Cook, but the cooking hasn't been that good the last few offseasons.

Last year wasn't so bad, Reed much better before he got hurt, Lopez, Ya-Sin, Maddox, Allen, Stewart all pretty solid, got some immediate help and at least 3 solid starters out of the draft, not all bad for tight budget and drafting late.

[1984Echoes]

5 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

I’m old enough to remember when he was the shiny object the Lions had to have. 

 

 

I'd still be interested in him on a vet min...

Pending physical/ medicals...

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by 1984Echoes

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

 

I'd still be interested in him on a vet min...

Pending physical/ medicals...

 

 

 

Yeah I would take a flyer on him. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

57 minutes ago, Longgone said:

Last year wasn't so bad, Reed much better before he got hurt, Lopez, Ya-Sin, Maddox, Allen, Stewart all pretty solid, got some immediate help and at least 3 solid starters out of the draft, not all bad for tight budget and drafting late.

DJ Reed was mediocre to slightly above average. He had a PFF grade (if you subscribe to their line of thinking and evaluating players) of 65.2 which was 45 out of all 114 starting CBs. He was a downgrade from Carlton Davis as well. Maddox is a free agent and not on this roster either and Lopez is gone now too. I guess the hope is Brad can find more of these types of value guys. But why not just pay guys like Lopez and Muhhamad and not let them walk? It's not like their contracts are breaking the bank out there.

[Motown Bombers]

And you guys were worried. 

 

[Sports_Freak]

22 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

DJ Reed was mediocre to slightly above average. He had a PFF grade (if you subscribe to their line of thinking and evaluating players) of 65.2 which was 45 out of all 114 starting CBs. He was a downgrade from Carlton Davis as well. Maddox is a free agent and not on this roster either and Lopez is gone now too. I guess the hope is Brad can find more of these types of value guys. But why not just pay guys like Lopez and Muhhamad and not let them walk? It's not like their contracts are breaking the bank out there.

Because our defense was bad and cost us games. You want to bring back a bad defense? Muhammad may have had a nice number of sacks but was way too inconsistent. We need upgrades, not the same old same old.

[Dan Gilmore]

7 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

That's still a lot of snaps for two big, 300lb interior Dlineman to take. Someone, somewhere, is going to need to be in the field taking snaps that Anzalone had, whether it's at LB, an extra DB on the field or they run heavy up front or on the edge. We also don't know what, if anything, comes of Terrion Arnold and the legal situation. He could be clean and innocent and nothing comes of it or he could be the next Cam Sutton and off the team. We all obviously hope it's the latter, not the former. 

Read your last sentence again. Yeah, I knew what you meant, but wading through your gloom and doom left me snarky.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

3 minutes ago, Dan Gilmore said:

Read your last sentence again. Yeah, I knew what you meant, but wading through your gloom and doom left me snarky.

I see it now haha. I should have said former and not latter with regards to Arnold being like Cam Sutton. We certainly don't want a Cam Sutton repeat here.

[lordstanley]

48 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

And you guys were worried. 

 

Since when do the Lions need a goalie. 
 

[NYLion]

You would think that Holmes sees all the holes on the roster and doesn't think that the draft can fix even most of them. I didn't expect any big splashes but at least some guys that can plug in as a starter or at least a high quality backup.

We're talking about a downgrade at RB, no starting tackle opposite of Sewell, no edge rushers to speak of, thinned out depth in the interior of the defensive line, lost quality depth at linebacker, less depth at CB and one healthy safety currently in Izien. They improved at center but downgraded in a lot of other areas. We'll see what happens the rest of free agency and at the draft but this is the worst roster the Lions have had in quite some time. The core guys are mostly still here but the depth has been decimated.

Edited 1 hour ago by NYLion

[NYLion]

18 hours ago, Hongbit said:

Brad did an amazing job building this franchise into a yearly contender.  It’s incredible where they are now from when he started.   But if I’m being honest, he’s kind of sucked since they lost to SF in the NFC title game.   He hasn’t really cooked **** since then.

Have to say that I agree. Two questionable drafts in a row although early to give a final judgment, no FA acquisitions of note and what looks like it could be a dud in Reed, no trades of note outside of Carlton Davis who they let go to sign what looks to be a worse player in Reed. 

I will say in his defense that the catastrophic amount of injuries and Ragnow's retirement late in the offseason kind of started this spiral downwards which was out of his control but he hasn't done a great job of plugging the holes partly due to poor draft decisions with the trade ups for project players.

Edited 1 hour ago by NYLion

[Longgone]

47 minutes ago, NYLion said:

Have to say that I agree. Two questionable drafts in a row although early to give a final judgment, no FA acquisitions of note and what looks like it could be a dud in Reed, no trades of note outside of Carlton Davis who they let go to sign what looks to be a worse player in Reed. 

I will say in his defense that the catastrophic amount of injuries and Ragnow's retirement late in the offseason kind of started this spiral downwards which was out of his control but he hasn't done a great job of plugging the holes partly due to poor draft decisions with the trade ups for project players.

How do you call the last draft questionable?

[Motown Bombers]

The way people talk, you would think they were 3-14. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[number20]

I liked Amik, but McCreary is an improvement

[NYLion]

30 minutes ago, Longgone said:

How do you call the last draft questionable?

Too early to tell obviously and Ratledge was a nice pick but they only have one surefire starter from that draft and ideally you want 2-3 starters. Tyliek was more of a rotational guy which is fine for a 1st season so we'll see on him, they traded an extra 3rd rounder for a #3 WR who I like but for a team that was going to lose guys due to cap restraints wasting an extra 3rd on a luxury pick looks like a mistake IMO. The rest of the guys are projects which is fine for lower round guys, Frazier could turn out to be something.

There's some guys with upside there, I'm a big Teslaa fan, but the returns are modest thus far one season in which is all we can really judge now. Time will tell...

[Motown Bombers]

lol most teams don’t get 2-3 starters from a draft even when they have multiple 1st rounders. 

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

And you guys were worried. 

 

A good backup for LaPorta and may get some play for the Lions with Petzing.

Hoping for 2023-24 production reprisal...