2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Mr.TaterSalad]

13 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

There’s got to be some give and take though. If your situational pass rusher is never on the field, because you’re never in a 3rd and long, because the opponent can just run to the OT opposite Hutch and gain four yards every play, your situational pass rusher does you no good.

I wouldn’t discount the possibility that Hassanein is the situational pass rusher either. He had a stretch of nine straight games with a sack at Boise State. If he’s James Houston with an ounce of run defense ability, that’s a good player to have.

But Muhammad was on the field. He had 11 sacks, 26 pressures, and 457 snaps. So he did them a decent amount of good last year and had availability in numerous situations. I'm going to die on this hill, but given the production and injury history, I would have paid Muhammad. This guy seems more like a Josh Paschal replacement than a Muhammad replacement. 

[1984Echoes]

20 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

... If he’s James Houston with an ounce of run defense ability, that’s a good player to have.

And a far superior option to Muhammed.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

19 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

There’s got to be some give and take though. If your situational pass rusher is never on the field, because you’re never in a 3rd and long, because the opponent can just run to the OT opposite Hutch and gain four yards every play, your situational pass rusher does you no good.

I wouldn’t discount the possibility that Hassanein is the situational pass rusher either. He had a stretch of nine straight games with a sack at Boise State. If he’s James Houston with an ounce of run defense ability, that’s a good player to have.

I'm not wanting to rely on a guy why was an injured rookie and didn't play a single snap last season.  But let's suppose Hassanein is the situational pass rusher and isn't as strong against the run. What's to believe they would keep him beyond this year? If he can't play against the run, be a 3 down guy, or slide along the line, why wouldn't they just get rid of him like every other situational pass rusher they've had?

[buddha]

2 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I'm not wanting to rely on a guy why was an injured rookie and didn't play a single snap last season.  But let's suppose Hassanein is the situational pass rusher and isn't as strong against the run. What's to believe they would keep him beyond this year? If he can't play against the run, be a 3 down guy, or slide along the line, why wouldn't they just get rid of him like every other situational pass rusher they've had?

an undersized late round project pick who played zero snaps as a rookie?

color me unimpressed if the lions go into the season with that as their starting defensive end.  or their backup.

the lions are a super bowl contender.  be serious and go get a proven nfl player.  clowney, epenessa, and jordan are still out there.  

be a gm, brad holmes.  not the most clever guy in the room.

[1984Echoes]

15 minutes ago, buddha said:

the lions defense wasnt great last year even when it was healthy, which wasnt very often.

i'm just curious as to why you think a free agent scrap heap bargain basement guy with track record of being injured that was passed over by most other clubs will somehow be a great signing for us.

You're really trying to sell Wonnum as a scrap heap player. A bargain basement player only...

Why is that?

Why are you trashing this guy so badly?

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 minute ago, buddha said:

an undersized late round project pick who played zero snaps as a rookie?

color me unimpressed if the lions go into the season with that as their starting defensive end.  or their backup.

the lions are a super bowl contender.  be serious and go get a proven nfl player.  clowney, epenessa, and jordan are still out there.  

be a gm, brad holmes.  not the most clever guy in the room.

Muhammad could have beg their guy if the didn't want to pay a Cam Jordan or Nick Bosav type player. For $12 million they could have brought back Muhammad and signed DJ Wonnum. They'd have their 3 down guy and a pass rusher opposite Aiden for obvious passing situations. Maybe the thought $12 million for DE was too rich for the DE position. 

If the one Wonnum and the unproven Hassanein are their answers at DE, I'm with you. I will be unimpressed and won't feel they're meeting the moment of where they are at. 

[buddha]

5 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

You're really trying to sell Wonnum as a scrap heap player. A bargain basement player only...

Why is that?

Why are you trashing this guy so badly?

you like him because the lions signed him.  no other reason.

he's "fine."  he moves no needles.  he's a body in the locker room who could be fine next to hutch.  that's it.

it's a fine depth signing.  its no reason to get excited.

[Sports_Freak]

56 minutes ago, buddha said:

youre really overrating hutch and kelvin sheppard.

what about detroit's defensive scheme gives you sudden confidence that players will suddenly be great when they come here?  the defense was not very good last year.

And you want to draft an OL in the 1st round? Yes, our defense was the problem, our offense was the 5th best. They better take all defense in the first 4 rounds.

[Jason_R]

AQM's deal was $4 million base with $2 million in incentives ($500k for 40% of defensive snaps, $500k for 60% of defensive snaps, and $250k for 6, 8, 10, 12 sacks). I think AQM would make $5.25 million if he reproduces his numbers from last year. Will be interesting to see what Wonnum's base and incentives are.

The market is the market. Defensive ends are expensive on the market. Wonnum won't be a major factor but he will do his job when called on which is to set the edge.

They will pick a DE to go into the rotation as well.  

[KnoxP]

8 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

…This guy seems more like a Josh Paschal replacement than a Muhammad replacement. 

This is a good take!

[buddha]

9 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

And you want to draft an OL in the 1st round? Yes, our defense was the problem, our offense was the 5th best. They better take all defense in the first 4 rounds.

yeah, cause they desperately need an offensive tackle more than they need a defensive end.  there are plenty of de's still on the market.

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Sports_Freak]

36 minutes ago, buddha said:

yeah, cause they desperately need an offensive tackle more than they need a defensive end.  there are plenty of de's still on the market.

And safeties, cornerbacks and linebackers? Brad will find an injured OL on the cheap. We need help for our departed old defensive players.

[1984Echoes]

10 hours ago, buddha said:

you like him because the lions signed him.  no other reason...

Boy... you're just going to any lengths possible to **** all over me.

I gave multiple answers, all proclaiming him a rotational or depth DE. That I still want a better DE signing like Jordan, to be the starter and keep Wonnum where he belongs, as a depth DE. 

He's best at being an edge-setter, with some pass-rushing chops. Not a world-beater... just a good depth guy, where last year our depth was nil.

Hmmm, who does that remind me of? Oh yeah, Kwity Paye, who I was all over wanting to add him because he would be a good... wait for it: depth DE. But he signed for $48 mill.

Yeah, I'm excited for a depth DE (wherein last year we had virtually none) who reminds me a lot of Kwity Paye and costs $6 mill, not $48 mill.

So yeah, go ahead and keep ****ting all over my posts and keep telling yourself I like him because the Lions signed him and for no other reason.

That's a ****ty comment you made, BTW, in case I haven't mentioned that yet.

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, KnoxP said:

This is a good take!

He is MORE Kwity Paye and NOT Paschal.

IMO.

[RatkoVarda]

so is wave 2 of free agency over? are we allowed to now say Brad has only found one starter (C)?

i actually like most of the depth moves: Izien, McCreary, Wonnum, Borom, Pacheco should all be able to contribute

but still so many holes: OT, TE, DE, DT, LB, CB, S, and it would be nice to get a developmental RB, WR and QB

[1984Echoes]

13 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

And safeties, cornerbacks and linebackers? Brad will find an injured OL on the cheap. We need help for our departed old defensive players.

Don't we have 9 or 10 picks?

Isn't Holmes finding contributing players for the team in almost any round?

No... he can use a 1st rounder on LT.

And a 2nd rounder on a DE.

And two 4th rounders on a secondary guy (CB?) and a TE.

And two 5th rounders on a coverage LB'er and another secondary guy (Safety) for depth.

And two 6th rounders on a depth between-the-tackles short yardage RB and another secondary guy (Safety?) for depth, or maybe a pass-rush specialist...

And for his 7th rounder... well, how about Holmes uses that pick for whatever guy he feels best can help the Lions? Wouldn't that be novel?

Just my 2 cents...

[Motown Bombers]

Hole at TE? I mean they have one of the top TEs plus multiple backups. How many TEs do you want? They have two starting DTs. McCreary is the starting nickel. He graded out better than Robertson. Arnold and Reed are your starters. Rock is your depth at both CB and Safety along with Izien. People need to relax. 

[Motown Bombers]

7 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

Don't we have 9 or 10 picks?

Isn't Holmes finding contributing players for the team in almost any round?

No... he can use a 1st rounder on LT.

And a 2nd rounder on a DE.

And two 4th rounders on a secondary guy (CB?) and a TE.

And two 5th rounders on a coverage LB'er and another secondary guy (Safety) for depth.

And two 6th rounders on a depth between-the-tackles short yardage RB and another secondary guy (Safety?) for depth, or maybe a pass-rush specialist...

And for his 7th rounder... well, how about Holmes uses that pick for whatever guy he feels best can help the Lions? Wouldn't that be novel?

Just my 2 cents...

I also think guys like Decker and Jordan sign after the draft, not necessarily with the Lions, but that’s when those type of veterans sign. 

[1984Echoes]

5 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

so is wave 2 of free agency over? are we ...

No, there are still guys out there right now, who could fill some of the holes you've mentioned.

I don't know if there is an "official" end to the 2nd wave of free agency...

Or just, as long as there are guys out there before the draft, the door should "figuratively" remain "open".

Personally, I'm less focused on where we are, right now, then where we end up, just before training camp. Or at least a month or so after the draft when all the new wave (3rd wave?) of veteran releases have signed with teams... Or Detroit/ Holmes says "we're done, for now...".

I mean, there are usually quite a few veteran trades during the draft for a pick that can end up helping a team. There are all the guys that are out there right now. There are all the vets that get released within two weeks after the draft as teams strip themselves (cap-wise) down a bit. "3rd wave of free agency."

And there's the draft itself.

As far as I can tell... Holmes is being very careful with cap money. He's not going after any big-ticket guys... but, at least it looks like to me... that he's picking up all sorts of capable guys (not world-beaters or flashy toys) at budget/ affordable prices.

So I would just keep letting him do his job and I think there is no way to properly assess his off-season performance until we get far enough after this year's draft, and close enough to training camp to see where all the chairs have stopped moving.

I also feel like he's picking up better depth guys...

And as for the remaining holes on the team, well...

We'll see.

[1984Echoes]

7 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Hole at TE? I mean they have ...

I wouldn't call it a hole as Ratko has...

But I am all for adding depth/ competition here just like any other position...

So I think Holmes will target at least 1 TE in the draft.

There's always the practice squad for guys who just miss but the team wants to develop as a future contributor to the team... A lot of our later draft picks this year (the ones that Holmes actually uses on a player...) I think are going to end up on a practice squad. Ours, or someone else's...

[RatkoVarda]

41 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Hole at TE? I mean they have one of the top TEs plus multiple backups. How many TEs do you want? They have two starting DTs. McCreary is the starting nickel. He graded out better than Robertson. Arnold and Reed are your starters. Rock is your depth at both CB and Safety along with Izien. People need to relax. 

i want 3.

you are not finding a bigger LaPorta fan than me, but the guy had a broken back, a season ending injury. let's not pretend he is coming back "110%" until we have some proof. the rest of the unit is blah at best (and with a long injury history).

[Motown Bombers]

They have three, Laporta, Wright and Conklin. 

[Stanley70]

 

Wonnum reminds me of when the Tigers acquire an injury prone SP that is coming off a year where he had a 4.65 ERA. But had a 3.25 ERA three years earlier. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

7 minutes ago, Stanley70 said:

Wonnum reminds me of when the Tigers acquire an injury prone SP that is coming off a year where he had a 4.65 ERA. But had a 3.25 ERA three years earlier. 

Those are Brad's type of players because they offer both financial value towards the cap and the ability that they COULD return to form one day.