2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[RatkoVarda]

Epenesa at $5M to Cleve. thought he was a better player than Wunnom.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

these signings are likely the best the lions can do while being good stewards of their salary cap.  

philosophically, SHOULD they be borrowing from the future to pay for a difference maker right now?  some would argue this is their window: goff is still good, amon-ra, sewell, gibbs are in their prime.  the lions should go for it right now.  as much as we like goff, he's not a transcendant qb who can lead a team to wins despite a weak supporting cast so strike now when you have great players.  you cant expect 3 more drafts like holmes' first 3, especially when picking much lower.  you have a great base, supplement it and win now.

This is the core argument I have been making for the past two years. We are in a position to push our chips in and win a Super Bowl now. I'd rather take a big swing now then try to be good for the next 7-10 years but never get to that elusive Super Bowl. It's why I and other fans harped to much on bringing in Trey Hendrickson or some kind of real, difference making player. Someone who can really set or change the tone of a game and make the unit they play on truly elite. That could be Hendrickson, Crosby, an elite offensive lineman. Were it an offensive lineman, they could help bring that unit back into being one of the elite lines in the league as it was when we were a dominate team for the past few years.

Even if we didn't get an elite, high dollar player like Hendrickson, the money was there to make a significant upgrade somewhere on this roster. Be it at offensive tackle with a Braden Smith, DE with a Cam Jordan, somewhere, with someone on a 2-3 year deal, making $10-$12-$15 million per year. With the restructure of Goff, the money was clearly there to do that. But Brad when and shopped the bargain DVD bin to round out this roster instead

I'm not saying we need to turn our cap situation into the New Orleans Saints or try to build an entire roster off of only marquee free agents like Jacksonville has tried to do. I'm also not saying to be the Cleveland Browns and swing a big trade that will bankrupt you for years to come. Being aggressive but reckless almost never works and gets you into cap trouble. But you can be aggressive, make a big move, but be smart financially about it and maintain some level of cap-flexibility.

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

these signings are likely the best the lions can do while being good stewards of their salary cap.  

philosophically, SHOULD they be borrowing from the future to pay for a difference maker right now?  some would argue this is their window: goff is still good, amon-ra, sewell, gibbs are in their prime.  the lions should go for it right now.  as much as we like goff, he's not a transcendant qb who can lead a team to wins despite a weak supporting cast so strike now when you have great players.  you cant expect 3 more drafts like holmes' first 3, especially when picking much lower.  you have a great base, supplement it and win now.

the lions dont seem to want to do that, which is ok.  its a different way to build a team and is more likely to build long term success, imo.  i dont think you win with a bunch of flashy free agent signings, even if one or two once in a while can make a big difference.  was linderbaum that player?  i doubt it.  hendricksen?  too old probably.  trade for crosby?  probably not worth it.

but these signings they are making are solid "guys."   they add depth to the core.  they dont move the needle.  maybe they get lucky and one goes on a huge run, but larry borom and dj wonnum are available for cheap for a reason.  to expect great things is to be unrealistic.  the great will come from their core if it is going to come.

and hopefully from this draft.

I think the Lions FO appreciates that if a team is “good” for long enough, they will eventually string together three straight wins in January, and hopefully one more in February.

Of course, the Bills fam would argue this is a fallacy. And the Chiefs fan would argue it’s better to be elite for long enough than good for long enough.

But if the choice is good for ten years or elite for two, I can understand the appeal of not wanting all of your eggs in two baskets, only to have it be derailed by a decimated defense and a fluke five turnover game.

[sagnam]

4 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Everyone pick your sides, is he the greatest addition of all time or completely useless. No in between, you all know the rules.

Raymond v2

[sagnam]

4 hours ago, buddha said:

raymond replacement.

Oops. Probably should have kept reading first.