The Detroit Lions Podcast

Receivers Slide, Tackles Rise Three weeks out from the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast unloaded bold calls that reshuffle needs and tiers across the NFL. The headline is blunt. No wide receivers will be selected in the top 10. Arnold Tate profiles as a strong number two, but without J Jr. speed or Amon-Ra Saint Brown’s middle-field wins. Jordan Tyson’s talent pops, but a crucial workout and injuries cloud his range. The trench market takes the lift. Hatten Proctor is pegged for the top 10 and could be the first or second offensive tackle taken. He is a specimen with workable tape. If he is gone early, the Detroit Lions avoid that decision at 17. At the top, the show framed Ryan Mendoza to the Raiders as the early chalk, then flipped with a bolder claim: Las Vegas will not take Ford Mendoza after signing Kirk Cousins today. Quarterback Chess at 32 The quarterback twist comes at the back of round one, but in the 2026 draft. The call: Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson goes 32 overall. Not to Seattle. That slot gets traded. The logic is twofold. A team jumps to 32 to lock the fifth-year option and to shut down overnight bidding from clubs holding picks 33 and 34. Simpson needs work and starts, but the projection has the NFL making the move and Simpson becoming the second quarterback off that board. Safety Run Shapes Lions at 17 The secondary drives the night between 10 and 20. Three safeties go in that window: Caleb Downs from Ohio State, Dylan Spielman from Oregon by way of Purdue, and Emmanuel McNeill Warren from Toledo. Consensus boards slot McNeill Warren around 26, but the tape and the body in person say upside. Vikings chatter points hard to Spielman at 18, echoing past Minnesota tells. If Caleb Downs is on the board at 17 and the Detroit Lions pass, the fallback must be special. One First-Round Fall Utah offensive tackle Campbell Holmes is forecast outside round one. It is a contrarian call, and it lands with weight in a class where tackles crowd the top half. If Holmes slips, the board compresses for teams chasing linemen in the 20s. That could push another safety or corner toward 17 and test the Detroit Lions’ resolve if the run hits earlier than expected. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #nowidereceiversintop10 #arnoldtate #jordantysonworkout #hattenproctortop10 #offensivetackleboard #tysimpsonat32 #fifth-yearoption #safetyrun10-20 #calebdowns #dylanspielman #emmanuelmcneillwarren #vikingspick18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle Tops Detroit’s To-Do List Draft month opened with a narrow focus. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on offensive tackle as the biggest hole on a strong roster. Jeff Risdon and Chris agreed the priority is clear. Detroit would love more bendy edge Rodgers, but history says that is not a typical target. The path to improvement runs through the offensive line. Manu Freeling at No. 2: Movement and Power Chris has Manu Freeling as the number two overall player on his board. The traits drive the grade. Rare size to NFL caliber power. Nimble in space. Explosive off the ball. On screens and climbs to the second level, the movement pops. He does not wander and miss second-level targets. The issues are not physical. They are reps and time. Jeff summed it up. What is wrong is inexperience, not ability. In a class light on blue chip talent, Freeling’s package at left tackle stands out. That blend at a premium spot anchors the ranking. Hatten Proctor’s Profile and the 17 Question Chris stacked Hatten Proctor eighth overall. The sell is simple. He is a very large man around 350 pounds with supreme length. He is ready from a strength perspective. The anchor holds. He generates torque in the run game. He will not match Freeling or Maui Noah in speed to the second level, but his movement at that size is impressive. He is only 20 years old. The upside window is wide. Rushers need time to run the arc around him because the frame is so big. Three and a half seconds can pass before contact lands on the quarterback. That matters. Jeff asked if Proctor will last to 17. The answer may come fast on draft night. The panel agreed the range is tight for a tackle with that profile. Inside the Draft Gradebook Tool Chris also previewed his Draft Gradebook project. It is an archive of over 1,500 independent scouting reports from the 2021 class through 2026. It features an AI search and archetype searches. Type in “bendy edge Rodgers” and pull every match. He has around 170 prospects logged for 2026 and aims for about 250 by draft time. A free preview is live this week. Draft day mode adds best available, a draft tracker, biggest deals, and team hubs so fans can follow every pick in one place. For Detroit Lions fans, that means clearer context when the board starts moving at offensive tackle. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #monroefreeling #kadynproctor #scoutingreports #blakemiller #lionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ragnow Bonus Dispute Hits the Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions asked Frank Ragnow to repay part of his signing bonus after he stopped playing last season. He is no longer with the team. He tried to return around Thanksgiving but was not physically able to do it. The amount sought is not public. The move ignited a firestorm around the NFL and inside the fan base. The team’s position is clear. A contract was signed. The terms were not fulfilled. The franchise believes in setting precedent. The Lions have followed this policy before, including with Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders. Deterrence is part of the logic. If a player leaves early, the team can ask for money back. That is the business case the Detroit Lions are leaning on. Optics, Player Reactions, and Free Agency Fallout The optics are ugly. Even if the policy stands, it looks petty and cheap to many. That perception matters. Players see it. Agents see it. In a tight market, one bad vibe can send a free agent to another city. Alex Anzalone bristled at it. Quandre Diggs spoke up too. Diggs has always said he loved Detroit. His tenure ended when Matt Patricia shipped him out, and he flourished after. He called this move a bad look. That sentiment travels around the NFL, and it sticks. The Detroit Lions do not want to be viewed as doing their own guys dirty. The calculation is cold. Save some money now and risk losing goodwill later. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it squarely: perception could be the difference when a prominent free agent chooses between Detroit and Team X. Leverage, Policy, and What Players Can Do TJ Lang cut to the core. If you want to protect your money, make the team release you. You lose leverage when you retire. That is the hard line of NFL contracts. Once you retire, the club can pursue bonus payback under its policy. If the team releases you, it cannot. Rod Wood made it known the Lions are seeking repayment. Dave Burkett reported it. The policy predates this regime. It ties back to the same stance used with Sanders and Johnson. The Lions see consistency. Many see a needless wound. Frank Ragnow’s situation is complicated. He gave what he could. He tried to come back at Thanksgiving. He could not. Now the team wants money back, and the blowback is real. The Detroit Lions want to enforce standards. The rest of the NFL is judging the standard they chose. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #frankragnow #signingbonusrepayment #chuckclark #dametriouscrownover #nflfreeagencyperception #lionsfanreaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Campbell’s stance on Sewell and the line Dan Campbell used the NFL owners meetings in Arizona to make one thing clear. He is open, even preferential, to moving Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. That headline changes how the Detroit Lions approach the spring. Sewell will excel wherever he lines up. There are zero worries about his performance. The context matters. The Lions might have a new left guard this year. They do have a new center in Bates Mays. That is a lot of change in the middle of an elite unit. Continuity counts. Fewer moving pieces usually help. Campbell’s view suggests the staff is comfortable reshaping the front to fit the bigger plan. Right tackle reality and draft ripple Brad Holmes, in last week’s sit-down, essentially anointed Larry Borom as the starting right tackle without using the exact phrase. As of today, it is hard to see anyone else opening Week 1 on the right side. His contract is for one year, so the long term is still open. But the near term points to Borom. That alters draft calculus. Detroit does not have to take a tackle at 17. They can wait. The second round now looks more viable for a tackle. Trading around to target a value pocket makes sense. It also cools interest in left-tackle-only prospects. Caleb Holmes fits that bucket. Caleb Lomu was an early favorite there if 17 had been earmarked for offense. With Sewell at left tackle and Borom on the right, profiles shift. Blake Miller, a natural right tackle who looks ready to start, fits the current board better, whether at 17 or later. Edge talk at 17 and board shaping Holmes also discussed the edge group, with DJ Oneum in the mix. That points the first-round lens back to defense. The instincts about Kendrick Small at 17 feel firmer after this week. If it is not Falk, there is still a clean case for TJ Parker. Akeem Mesa remains in the conversation. The picture is not final, but the tiers are clearer. Yesterday’s mock draft on the Detroit Lions Podcast explored trade paths and explained the logic through each move. Today’s update tightens that logic. Sewell to left tackle. Borom trending at right tackle. A deeper tackle board available after the first round. Edge rising at 17. That is how the Lions can attack April. It is a plan that fits Campbell’s comments and the current roster structure. Short term clarity. Long term flexibility. The kind of balance good teams use to stay good. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dancampbell #peneisewellatlefttackle #larryborom #bradholmes #nflownersmeetings #levionwuzurike #djwonnum #josiahtrotter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mock Draft 3.0 on the Detroit Lions Podcast put trades on the table. Jeff Risdon charted plausible moves and a first round that ends with Clemson edge TJ Parker in Detroit. The approach targeted value, added picks, and stayed aligned with how the Detroit Lions build their defense in the NFL. Trade Down with Houston Reshapes Round 1 At No. 17, a deal with the Houston Texans set the tone. Houston offered No. 28, No. 69, and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Detroit sent back No. 17, No. 157, and a 2027 seventh. The trade-value math favored Detroit. The aggressive team usually pays about a 10 percent tax to move up, and this one fit that pattern. Houston used the move to grab Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. Detroit slid to 28 and took TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson. The board cooperated. The drop secured extra capital without losing the preferred profile at edge defender. Why TJ Parker Fits Detroit's Front Parker matches what Detroit wants across from Hutchinson. He plays power to speed and can flip it to speed to power. He is a little smaller than the typical prototype, but his style answers that. He had a down year in 2025. Even so, last August and early September mock drafts often projected him as the first defensive player off the board. At the combine, he explained the dip with poise. He did not bury Clemson’s coaching. He handled it diplomatically. That maturity reads well in Allen Park. Value matters here. Risdon liked Parker at 17, but he liked him more at 28. He likes almost any player more at 28 than at 17. Landing the same target at a lower slot while pocketing No. 69 and a future asset checks boxes for roster building. How the Board and Process Shaped the Pick Reider Falk was gone at 21 to the Steelers. On the clock at 28, options included Vaki Reader, Max, and Blake Miller. Those names fit areas Detroit could weigh. This mock projects what the Lions would do, not a personal wish list. The "what I would do" edition comes closer to draft weekend. The process mattered. Player availability was cross-checked on multiple simulators without using their trade engines. The exercise aimed for plausible outcomes. Houston’s current needs made their jump for defensive line make sense. They have upgraded three starting offensive line spots and still need one more, but defensive line looms larger. Detroit capitalized on that urgency, then found a clean schematic fit in Parker at 28. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft3.0 #t.j.parker #clemsonfootball #blakemiller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decker’s endgame in Detroit: where the blame sits On today’s Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon drilled into the Taylor Decker situation and why it unraveled. After sleeping on it, he called a recently retired player he trusts. The player walked through how this works in the NFL. Agents handle the hard talks. Pay cuts. Buyouts. Even filing retirement paperwork. That is the standard flow. Decker didn’t follow that path. By his own account, he contacted the Lions himself. He spoke with Dan and tried to reach Brad while Brad was at the combine. The host’s takeaway was clear. Either Decker’s agent dropped the ball by not running point or Decker chose to supersede his agent. If the agent failed to warn him that staying on the same contract was unrealistic given his health, that is negligence. If Decker ignored that advice, that is on him. Could the Lions have called sooner? Probably. After Decker’s Instagram post hit minutes before Brad took the stage in Indianapolis, a same-day call would have helped. But Decker asked for his release. He wanted out. The Lions owe him nothing at that point. Based on how a subsequent interview was framed, a reunion does not sound imminent. The timeline around Indy The combine setting mattered. Decker’s post landed about twenty minutes before Brad’s media time in Indianapolis. That complicated immediate outreach. Communication should have been tighter early, but the core breakdown appears to be on the player-agent side. The version of Decker from last season did not match the money he expected this year. That reality hurts. It also explains why talks stalled and why responsibility shifts toward Decker and his representation. Roster notes: Tyler Conklin and the Dortch-for-Raymond swap A radio hit earlier in the week surfaced two notable items. First, the group walked through players the Detroit Lions have added, including Tyler Conklin. One guest who coached him at Central Michigan admitted he didn’t realize the signing had happened and was pleasantly surprised. Second, Greg Dortch came up as a near one-for-one replacement for Raymond. The host emphasized that Lions fans may not fully grasp how directly Dortch can mirror Raymond’s role. He did some quick, bare-bones research to compare them and saw the logic in the move. The fit looks clean for how Detroit structures its receiver usage. A Thanksgiving rule memory That radio spot also detoured into a 2012 Thanksgiving memory. Former NFL kicker Shane Graham recalled being on the Texans side of the infamous Jim Schwartz rule moment, when a challenge on an unchallengeable play drew a penalty. He also noted he kicked a field goal in that game. The story framed how thin game margins can be, and why process matters, whether on challenges or contract talks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #taylordecker #agentnegotiations #paycuttalk #buyoutdiscussion #retirementpaperwork #bradatthecombine #danconversation #instagrampostinindianapolis #releaserequest #communicationtimeline #shanegraham #texansthanksgiving2012 #jimschwartzrule #tylerconklinsigning #gregdortchforraymond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 606: Taking Stock of a Thin Secondary The Detroit Lions sit a month from the draft with a fresh headache. Episode 606 of the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroes in on cornerback Terrion Arnold’s name surfacing around an incident. He has not been charged by prosecutors. His name appears in text messages tied to people he knows. The team is quiet while facts get sorted. The NFL does not need a conviction to act. That is the real risk. The conversation stays on the field. The Lions are already stretched in the secondary with Branch and Joseph out. One more hit would strain a room that carried them late last season. The NFL can move quickly. The timing may not help Detroit. Arnold’s Cloud and the NFL Risk The situation is murky. The discussion made clear there is no direct allegation of Arnold participating in the acts. He is mentioned in messages. That alone can trigger league interest. Protecting the shield matters in the NFL. The league acts on its own standard. It does not need investigations to finish. It does not need a courtroom to set discipline. If a four to six game suspension landed in 2026, the Lions would feel it immediately. Cornerback depth would thin to the bone. Safety help would already be compromised. That is how a headline becomes a roster problem. It also becomes a draft problem. If a Suspension Hits, the Draft Board Shifts The panel walked through the calculus. Detroit is a month out from the draft. If the league decides after April, the board they build today could get flipped in June. That uncertainty forces contingency plans. Cornerback jumps higher. Safety help stays in play. The room cannot afford a slow start in September if games are missed. The Lions have lived the bad timing before. A player kept a decision under wraps until after the draft. The team expected a different outcome based on internal talks. That left the front office exposed. The same trap exists here. Will Detroit know Arnold’s fate before they are on the clock? No one can say. Timing Questions That Keep Detroit on Edge This is a roster management problem framed by the league’s timeline. The best outcome is clarity before the draft. The most likely outcome is limbo. Detroit must act like the suspension could happen and build a board that survives it. That means early cornerback consideration. It means secondary depth as a priority, not a luxury. Nothing in the discussion convicted Arnold. It did spotlight risk. The NFL moves on its own calendar. The Lions must be ready if that calendar collides with theirs. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #terrionarnold #branchandjoseph #secondarydepth #cornerbackneed #fourtosixgamesuspension #protectingtheshield #draftcalculus #textmessages #prosecutorsdecision #secondarycrisis #monthoutfromthedraft #2026season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Week Recon and a New Name Up Front The Detroit Lions Podcast checks in from Pittsburgh, where the NFL Draft setup is coming together four weeks out. The walk-through comes with roster news that hits the trenches. Detroit added guard Ben Barch to an already crowded interior offensive line. He is a big body with real NFL snaps. He also carries real medical flags. Barch climbed from a D-III program to Jacksonville and showed promise after a strong Senior Bowl in 2020. A dislocated knee derailed that progress. That is a bone issue, not a tendon tear. He later landed with the San Francisco 49ers and opened last season tracking as their starting left guard. An ankle injury in Week 2 sent him to injured reserve. He lost the job to Spencer Buford. The tape before the injuries said NFL starter. The health record says proceed with care. Sorting the Interior: Starters, Jobs, and Budget Reality The Lions have numbers on the interior now. That affects draft plans and daily reps. Tate Rallidge is set to start at right guard. Cade Mays is set to start at center. He is the only free agent on a deal longer than one year, and that signals trust. Left guard is open. Christian Mahogany is in that mix. So is Barch. Josse Scruggs joins the competition after arriving in the David Montgomery trade. Mills Frasier is another name to watch. There are four players fighting for two game-day jobs behind the starters: the backup center Colon and the swing guard role. May the best man win. Cap space matters here. Detroit has room, but not enough to burn minimum deals on sign-and-cut churn. Adding Barch only works if he pushes the room. If he is healthy, he has shown he can. Awosika Moves On; Mahogany’s Challenge Coyote Awosika signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after four years in Detroit. He was a dependable reserve and even started in a big spot in San Francisco. He topped out as a primary backup. A fresh look makes sense for both sides. The staff wants upside in those depth chairs. Scruggs may be the best pure talent of the challengers because he can also play center. That flexibility is gold on game days. Mahogany controls his own case at left guard. He was very good early last year. In the opening loss to Green Bay, he was arguably Detroit’s best lineman. Later, lateral resets in pass protection failed him. Clean that up, and he can lock the job. If not, Barch and Scruggs will press him every rep. Prospect Debates Will Rage, and That’s Fine The show also nods to recent prospect debates. Disagreement is part of the process. Watch the film. Make the case. NFL teams see players differently too. Detroit’s interior battle will showcase that truth all summer. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #benbarch #leftguardbattle #christianmahogany #jossescruggs #taterallidge #cademays #backupcentercolon #swingguardrole #capspace #coyoteawosika Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes' one-year plan and a fresh O-line move Weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with roster building. The focus landed squarely on Brad Holmes and a revealing sit-down he did on The Lions Collective. The headline takeaway according to the hosts: the Lions leaned into affordable one-year deals in free agency. That approach manages short-term cash while keeping a ready-made contender intact. Holmes also said they are not done in free agency. That point felt validated when an offensive line signing hit the wire the next morning. The move fit the broader plan the hosts heard throughout the interview. Improve the interior, especially center. Maintain flexibility so the team can sign cornerstone pieces like Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta when their time comes. The conversation acknowledged the scrutiny on the general manager. Pressure follows a roster built to chase a title. One-year deals invite debate, but they also buy options. That was the tone: a disciplined, cap-savvy march rather than a splashy sprint. Draft board lean: defensive end vs. tackle The hosts circled back to the NFL Draft. They see the Detroit Lions sitting at 17 and 50 with a likely path toggling between defensive end and offensive tackle. Vice versa works too. Nothing from the Holmes interview screamed a locked-in direction. Still, clues surfaced. The discussion touched on a run-stout edge already added to the room in Wanam. He profiles as a strong run defender who can give some pass rush. If you are looking for tea leaves, that kind of player type points to a complementary long-term piece at defensive end. Keldrick Falk came up as the sort who mirrors that run-first style in a bigger, younger package. The door remains open to tackle at 17 or 50 depending on how the board falls. Reading between the lines on roles and re-signings Holmes did not offer many specifics, but the messaging lined up with existing expectations. The free agency function was to stabilize center, fortify the offensive line, and protect the ability to keep the core together. That means future deals for Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta stay front of mind. Player evaluation questions remain. Kirby Joseph drew different reads from the room, and the interview did not change those priors. That felt like the theme: confirmation rather than revelation. The calendar matters now. A mock draft is on deck next week. The show expects to go live for the draft on Thursday. The last pieces are moving into place. The plan feels steady, not splashy. For the Detroit Lions, that might be the point. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmesinterview #nflfreeagency #one-yeardeals #offensivelinesigning #improveatcenter #defensiveendtarget #offensivetackletarget #pick17 #pick50 #kirbyjoseph #wanamrundefense #keldrickfalk #gibbscampbellbranchlaporta #thelionscollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Easterling joined the Detroit Lions Podcast to sort the NFL draft through a Detroit lens. He stressed needs, fit, and reality. The thread was constant. Fortify the offensive line. Add an edge who punishes single blocks. Be ready when the board throws a curve. Edge Help to Unlock Hutch The edge spot opposite Hutch drove the talk. Offenses slide help to Hutch. They chip him. They send protection his way. That leaves one-on-ones on the other side. Detroit needs a player who cashes those chances every series. The goal is simple. Force a choice. Either Hutch gets more true one-on-ones, or the other edge wins fast and often. That is how this front takes the next step. Rebuilding the Left Side of the Line The offensive line sits at the top of the needs list. The right side looks set with Ratledge and Sewell. Everything to the left is uncertain. Age, attrition, and injuries have piled up. Easterling’s recent mock locked in a left tackle at 17 and a guard at 50. That is a double dip in the trenches. The idea is to remove doubt. Secure the blind side. Add power and reliability inside. Keep the pocket clean and the run game on schedule. Pick 17 vs. Pick 50: Board and Value The edge class is deep. That gives Detroit real options at 50. Passing on an edge at 17 to secure a tackle could make sense. Taking a guard at 50 aligns with depth and value. But nothing is linear on draft weekend. Sometimes the best player on the board forces a change. If a talent is too good to pass, you take him. Need and value can meet. They also collide. Detroit must be ready for both outcomes. How Fit Shapes the Lions’ Draft This process is about more than a depth chart. It is scheme, body types, history, and past misses. That is why outside voices check with team-aware eyes before finalizing mocks. For Detroit, that means knowing what works for this staff and this room. It means understanding why certain prototypes have hit or failed. It also means keeping contingency plans. A single injury in the secondary can flip priorities. The same is true for the interior of the defensive front. The takeaway is clear. Build the line. Add an edge who wins. Stay agile when the board moves. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #offensiveline #aidanhutchinson #2026nfldraft #caleblomu #blakemiller #keldricfaulk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mapping the Perfect Pair at 17 and 50 Jeff Risdon and Russell Brown dialed in on the Detroit Lions draft plan at pick 17 and pick 50. The premise felt simple. If the Lions take an offensive tackle at 17, then edge likely waits until 50. Flip it, and the tackle comes later. The conversation asked which bucket looks stronger at each slot. The hosts noted how the NFL rumor cycle muddies late information. Combine mock drafts have been more accurate than the final rush. They plan to lean on what they heard in Indy and on the pro day circuit. The goal is clarity, not noise, for the Detroit Lions at two pivotal picks. Tackles at 17: Board Reality and Dream Combo They walked through names they expect off the board by 17. Branch Mowenow, Allen Barnes, and David Bailey came up as likely gone. Monroe Freeling probably gone too. Brown called Freeling the dream at 17. Pair that with Malachi Lawrence at 50 and it is a quick-strike haul. Realistic options at 17 look different. Spencer Fano should be there. Caleb Blomu should be there. Blake Miller should be there. Colon Proctor might be there, a true 50-50. Neither host sounded high on Proctor. They also kicked around I Niese and Heinecker as names the Lions could consider at tackle. Brown leaned toward Blomu. He sees a ready-made left tackle who can play right away. A player who fits early, then grows. That matters if edge depth at 50 looks acceptable. Edge at 50 vs Tackle at 50: The Tradeoff This Detroit Lions Podcast framed the decision like a seesaw. Do you prefer the edge rushers available at 50 over the tackles at 50? If yes, take the tackle at 17. If no, grab the edge at 17 and wait on the line. The calculus turns on how the board falls in real time. Malachi Lawrence at 50 headlined the edge wishlist if the dream scenario hits. Beyond that, the hosts kept the focus tight on structure. They want value aligned to slot. Trust the combine reads. Cross-check with pro day notes. Avoid chasing late buzz. Where Risdon and Brown Land Today Freeling at 17 and Lawrence at 50 is the clean finish. If Freeling is gone, Blomu became the practical pivot for Brown. Miller and Fano stand as viable options if the room agrees on fit. Proctor is a maybe. I Niese and Heinecker stay in the mix. The Lions must win both pockets of the board. That is the perfect pair game. Two picks. One plan. The NFL clock is ticking, and Detroit holds leverage at 17 and 50 if they trust their stack. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #pick50 #offensivetackle #defensiveend #monroefreeling #malachilawrence #spencerfano #calebblomu #blakemiller #colonproctor #combinemockdrafts #prodaycircuit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A record morning in the NFL wide receiver market Jackson Smith Njigba just reset the board. Seattle handed the receiver a four-year, $168.6 million extension with more than $120 million guaranteed and an average of $42.15 million per year. That is the new top of the market. The Detroit Lions feel that ripple right away. Amon Ra Saint Brown signed a four-year deal worth about $120 million with $77 million guaranteed less than two years ago. That contract now sits ninth among receivers. Timing rules this league. The salary cap climbs. Revenues climb. Prices follow. The Detroit Lions Podcast drilled into what this means in Detroit. The front office has made a habit of striking pre-market extensions with core players. That approach has saved money as the market spikes. It does not hit every time. Injuries complicate situations for players like Decker and Kirby Joseph. Still, the strategy pays off more often than not. Jameson Williams looks friendlier on the books now than it did at signing. The receiver market ran under value for years. Calvin Johnson’s mega deal once overshot by a wide margin and then held the crown for a long time. Today the market has finally caught up. Sign early or pay more later. That was the theme. If you wait, the next contract at the same position sets a taller bar. That is why the Lions should move quickly on Jahmyr Gibbs. Get him done before Robinson signs and nudges the number higher. The first player to ink usually lands for a touch less. The second player copies it and adds a small bump. Wait too long and you also invite drama. Questions about value. Questions about commitment. That is noise the Lions do not need. The broader NFL lesson is simple. The cap is not going down. Neither are elite position prices. Detroit has benefited by acting before the spike. Keep doing it with the right players, at the right time. The episode also mapped out safeties across every round of the upcoming NFL draft. Safety is on the radar for the Detroit Lions at multiple points. Not a lock in the first round, but firmly in play if the board cooperates. Caleb Downs is the dream scenario at 17. If he somehow reaches that slot, he is the best player available case. The expectation, though, is that he will be gone well before the Lions are on the clock. Another first-round safety option discussed earlier makes sense too. If it is not round one, Detroit can find value later. The class offers answers on day two and day three. The board will decide, but the need and the plan are clear. Why timing matters for Detroit’s core. Safety talk at pick 17 and beyond https://youtu.be/aoa8PpetwKg #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jacksonsmithandjigba #four-year #$168.6millionextension #morethan$120millionguaranteed #averageof$42.15millionperyear #topofthemarket #amonrasaintbrown #premarketextensions #kirbyjoseph #decker #jamesonwilliams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Case for a Detroit Do-Not-Draft List Jeff Risdon sets a different agenda on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Not the usual mock. Not a wish list. A do-not-draft list. The focus is fit, risk, and timing for the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft. He wants to plant flags now on prospects who match Detroit’s general profile yet still should be avoided at certain prices. His lens is simple. What have we learned from recent cycles about traits, health, and roster priorities. Where does a strong prospect still become a poor bet for Detroit’s current build. Drawing Lines From Past Drafts Risdon rewinds to the tight end class that produced LaPorta. He recalls being on the field with Russell Brown and Chris at the Senior Bowl and watching Luke Musgrave struggle. Couldn’t beat a jam. Didn’t win contested balls. Red zone reps went nowhere. He was fine as a prospect. He just was not the right Lions pick. Detroit chose differently, and he was glad they did. Last spring brought another caution. Landon Jackson, the defensive end from Arkansas, looked the part but lacked twitch. The concern was real enough that he hoped Detroit would pass. Again, a solid player. Just not the best choice for what the Lions needed then. Why Jermott McCoy Gives Detroit Pause The headline name is cornerback Jermott McCoy from Tennessee. He sits at No. 20 on the Detroit Lions Podcast consensus big board that Chris updates daily. The tape from 2024 at Tennessee is outstanding. First round caliber traits show up. Speed. Instincts. Power. Route adjustment. That is not the problem. The issues are availability and experience. McCoy missed the 2025 season after a January 2025 injury. He was allegedly cleared but chose not to return. He did not work out at the combine because he still was not right. A pro day looms on March 31, but there is worry he might not go there either. He has 17 college starts across two programs. That combination of recent injury and limited mileage is a pass for Detroit at premium cost. Roster context matters. Detroit likely has its top five cornerbacks on the roster already. The room feels competitive and deep enough that a first round corner is not a need. If they add, it should be someone they trust to play right away without medical questions. Risdon admits he is more cautious on injuries than many. That tension sits against a front office that has embraced risk before. Wide Receiver Risk: Jordan Tyson Jordan Tyson from Arizona State is a different kind of red flag. On skill, he might be the best wide receiver in this class. The problem is a lengthy injury history and a style that refuses self-preservation. He is still not working out post-injury. Detroit is loaded at wide receiver. That likely keeps the position off the board until the middle of Day 3, if not later. Talent is real. The fit and timing are not. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #jermodmccoy #akheemmesidor #kylelouis #calebbanks #ltoverton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Center solved: Cade Mays and the pocket math The Detroit Lions moved decisively at the spot that mattered most. Center was a top need. Cade Mays arrives as the prize of this free agency window and fits what this offense asks. He is better in pass pro than as a straight mauler. That matters for Jared Goff. Immediate interior pressure is what stresses this passing game. Mays lowers that risk and stabilizes the middle. His background adds value. In four years in Carolina, he worked under three different offensive coordinators with different blocking schemes. He played guard early, shifted responsibilities, and handled more read and react asks. He has not been asked to be aggressive while at center. Detroit can shape that. The contract tells the story too. Mays is the only multiyear signing so far. That signals starting center now and a long-term plan inside. Short-term bets and a long-term tell Elsewhere, the approach stayed disciplined. One-year deals fill immediate needs without anchoring the cap to older veterans. Avoidance of bad contracts is the point. Younger players with short-term upside get the nod over aging names signed for comfort. Expectations of a giant splash never made sense beyond center. Nothing they did, with the exception of Mays, should tilt the draft board. The front office cleared the road for April. Flexibility matters in the NFL. Detroit can target value and avoid reaching. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it simply: stock the depth chart now, let the draft finish the job. Tackle depth, placeholders, and the next move Larry Borom arrived to be the swing tackle and a placeholder at left tackle while Decker is still out there. The number is modest, roughly in that $5 million range, and not a commitment. He is an upgrade over Giovanni Manu and over what Dan Skipper offered last year. Skipper is coaching now, which closes that loop. There is more depth in the pipeline. Horton has upside and is from Detroit. Juice Scruggs came in via the demo trade and profiles as another interior option. These are the kinds of layers that keep an NFL roster functional through camp and into October. One question remains open by design: is Borom better on the right or left? The Lions can let that play out while the draft provides another swing at tackle or interior help. The plan stays intact, and the board stays clean. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #cademays #startingcenter #passpro #interiorpressure #jaredgoff #blockingschemes #readandreactasks #playedguardearly #multiyearsigning #draftboardflexibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darius Slay’s sendoff and legacy The Detroit Lions Podcast opened with a moment for Darius Slay. The longtime cornerback announced his retirement. He was a fantastic player and an easy person to like. He represented Detroit well. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. He wants to spend time with his teenage kids and be a sports dad. Hall of Fame talk will follow him. That debate is fair. At minimum, he belongs in the hall of very good. Someday his No. 23 could spark a banner discussion at Ford Field. Quiet depth move up front Detroit did not add a headline name on Thursday. The Lions brought back a familiar defensive lineman on a low cost deal. He knows the defense. He can play inside and as a five tech. He showed backfield disruption in the injury ravaged 2024 season. He did not get many snaps last year. This is continuity. It is a depth signing that should stick. Free agency slows, draft needs sharpen The calendar now favors patience. Veterans are waiting for the NFL Draft to pass. They do not want to sign and watch a team spend a first round pick on their spot. Expect little action in free agency around Allen Park until after the draft. Several pass rushers are still out there with clear warts. DJ Reader is cited as No. 2 among available free agents. Taylor Decker shows up at No. 5 on that board. Mock focus at 17: tackles on the board Detroit opted for DJ Wonnum over AJ Epenesa in that tier. Wonnum gets into the backfield, even if the finish rate is uneven. He fits the Lions profile as the No. 3 edge. The plan still points to drafting another pass rusher in the first or second round. Maybe they double up. Mock drafts stacked up this week. One projection sent Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, to Detroit at 17. That buzz is growing. Another popular option in the mocks is Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle from Utah. Tackle sits firmly in play at No. 17. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dariusslayretirement #halloffamedebate #fordfieldbannertalk #familiardefensivelineman #fivetech #backfielddisruption #injuryravaged2024season #freeagencyslows #allenparkuntilafterthedraft #djreaderrankedno.2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions kept stacking useful pieces. On this Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Michael Grey broke down three new additions, all on one-year deals. Edge DJ Wonnum, wide receiver Greg Dortch, and linebacker Raymond Clark arrived as targeted fits. Another signing could be coming soon. New arrivals and a one-year plan The front office is leaning into short-term, role-specific help. Each deal is a fill-in. The message is clear. Add competitive depth without blocking long-term answers. The hosts also noted movement on another potential addition, with word that another Jones could be in play. The expectation is more action today. Edge plan: DJ Wonnum and the Paschal template Wonnum checks the Lions’ NFL edge profile. Physical style. Power to speed. Edge setter. He plays the run on the way to the quarterback better than he rushes the passer. That should sound familiar. Think the role carved out for Josh Paschal. Early in his career, this type has handled c gap and b gap snaps and bumped outside as needed. The vision is obvious. Wonnum can work five tech, set sturdy edges, and finish when opportunities come. He has starting experience and some sack production. He fits as a part-time player, likely edge three or edge four, depending on how the rest of the room shakes out. The depth chart mentions tied to this move matter too. Makai Wingo’s best spot is still in question. Ahmed Hassanein’s development is a variable. Levi Anserrique Reed has played outside and can handle five tech. The piece today is about defined jobs. Wonnum gives them one. Slot and return game: Greg Dortch’s fit with Petzing Dortch brings juice to the slot and special teams. He is five-foot-seven-ish, around a buck eighty, and a proven return specialist from the Arizona Cardinals. He worked with Drew Petzing and spoke at length about that trust in his introductory Zoom. He talked about love of football again and again, and his energy jumped off the screen. Dortch has bounced around, was advised at one point to consider the CFL, then the Cardinals gave him a shot. He ran with it. He is very sure handed, with a high catch rate over recent years. In Detroit, he profiles as a quick separator and secure outlet who can flip field position in the return game. Linebacker depth and what comes next Raymond Clark adds competition at linebacker. Another one-year, role-focused piece. Special teams and sub-package snaps are in play. The Lions are not done. The hosts repeated that. Expect another signing, with indications that talks on another Jones are moving. This roster building approach matches the recent surge of part-time, short-term additions. It fits the moment. Add the right tools. Keep flexibility. Let camp sort the rest. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #djwonnum #gregdortch #damoneclark #nflfreeagency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A backfield pivot reshapes Detroit’s plan Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a chaotic week of 80 mile per hour winds and the first surge of NFL free agency. Their focus was Detroit’s backfield. The Lions signed Isaiah Pacheco on a one year deal after agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Early last week, outside of Cade Mays and Pacheco, the board felt quiet. That pause raised the question of a defense heavy draft with nine or ten picks. By midweek, the tone changed. Detroit looked younger, healthier, and more intentional on both sides of the ball. How Isaiah Pacheco fits Detroit’s run game Pacheco’s usage in Kansas City lived inside a unique ecosystem. The offense followed Patrick Mahomes, often playing out of shotgun with inside zone and outside zone as staples. Timing was quick. Reads could get muddy. The result was a frenetic style. At times he pressed so hard he ran into his own linemen. Vision looked limited on that tape. Detroit projects something different. With Jared Goff under center, the back has clearer landmarks and defined intent. The hosts expect better angles, more counter, and the pin and pull concepts that Drew Petzing loves. That structure could slow Pacheco’s clock and clean up his decisions. He still brings size and a physical edge. The price is light, roughly one to one and a half million dollars, all guaranteed for one season. It is a classic change of pace add that does not block a draft pick in April. Montgomery’s exit and the draft signal Moving Montgomery and renting Pacheco for a year points to a draft add. The board from round four through round six makes sense, and the Lions hold multiple picks in that range. Names surfaced as possibilities, including Nicholas Singleton, Cochran Allen, and Jahmari Taylor. Internal options exist too. Jacob Sailors is in the room. Vaki profiles as a special teams piece more than a true back. None of that keeps Detroit from targeting a runner who complements Pacheco now and carries a larger load later. Clock to the 2026 NFL Draft As of this Wednesday, the 2026 NFL Draft sits 36 days away. Early inactivity on defense sparked talk of spending most of the capital on that side of the ball. The recent moves eased some of that urgency. The Detroit Lions can pair a tough runner with under center structure, add a mid round back, and let the board dictate the rest. In a week that started slow, the plan sharpened. The NFL hinges on fit and timing. Detroit just gave itself both in the backfield. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #isaiahpachecooneyeardeal #davidmontgomerytotexans #jaredgoffundercenter #pinandpullconcepts #insidezoneruns #outsidezoneruns #changeofpaceback #midroundrunningbacktarget #roundfourthroughroundsix #nicholassingleton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saint Patrick's Day. Mock Draft 2.0. The Detroit Lions Podcast goes straight to the needs. Offensive tackle and edge sit at the top. The board cooperates, and the plan stays firm. Why OT at 17: the Blake Miller case Round 1 lands on Blake Miller, the Clemson right tackle. Four-year starter. Seasoned. His hand usage improved. His footwork improved. He fits the grit. The knock is positional. He is a right tackle only. That places the left-side question on Penei Sewell. The preference is keeping Penei at right tackle. Moving him is not off the table. The goal is the best five in front of Goff and Jamir Gibbs. Protect the high octane passing game. With Miller, that feels attainable right away. The usual suspects at tackle were gone early. Monroe Freeling went sixth. Kendrick Small went tenth. Francis Mawanawa went twelfth. Dylan Spielman was still there, but safety is not the priority at 17. The trenches are. The front office knows it. Nobody wants to roll into the NFL season with Larry Corrao as the unquestioned starter at left tackle. Miller at 17 makes sense. Edge in Round 2: burst over bulk with Gabe Thomas Round 2 turns to edge. Gabe Thomas from Illinois headlines the card. He looks like a defensive tackle at 260, but his first step pops. Inside to outside. Power to speed. The style echoes Josh Paschal. The burst off the snap is the sell. Quick pressure has been an admitted need. Thomas supplies it. The concern is run defense. It improved, but it is not a strength. That might nudge some teams elsewhere. Here, the pass rush juice carries the day. Several names were in play, yet the choice settles on that explosive profile. Day 3 swing at safety: Bud Clark profile No third-round pick, so the board skips to Round 4. Bud Clark, safety from Strickland, becomes the target. His scouting read mirrors Kirby Joseph out of Illinois. Rangy. Heady. Ball hawk. Tackling is streaky. Angles can wander. The ball skills are real. The range shows up. In this slot, that blend plays. He can push for snaps if the room is healthy. He can live as a takeaway threat if it is not. Board math and alternate paths There were alternate paths. Max Decker from Arizona State has a higher ceiling, but he is more developmental. TJ Harper, the edge from Thompson, drew a long look. The decision to go tackle first reflects a sharper drop-off from Round 1 to Round 2 at that spot. Edge offered more value later. The strategy holds together. Fix the trenches. Get faster to the quarterback. Add range on Day 3. Simple. Targeted. Detroit Lions football. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #gabethomas #budclark #peneisewell #goff #jamirgibbs #clemsonrighttackle #millerat17 #round2 #day3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montgomery’s payday and the Lions backfield reality The Detroit Lions entered a quiet weekend, but one move from a former starter framed where the backfield stands. David Montgomery reached a two-year, $16.5 million deal with Houston, with $10 million guaranteed. His remaining guarantees in Detroit were under $5 million. He wanted more security and a bigger role. He found both. The calculus in Detroit changed because Jamir Gibbs is a superstar. Montgomery is 28. This is likely his last big contract. The money places him among the top running back salaries until a Gibbs extension, which is expected this offseason. He praised his time in Detroit and also celebrated the opportunity in Houston. The takeaway: the market confirmed why his role in Detroit was narrowing. Trenches in focus: tackle urgency and draft plan After Friday’s additions of Tyler Conklin and Roger McCreery, the Lions stood pat. The line conversation did not. There is hope that Juice Scruggs can emerge as the top reserve interior offensive lineman. That remains a competition. At tackle, a recent signing in the $5 million range sits between backup and starter money. If the season kicked today, he would be the starting left tackle. That is a concern. Coaching and scheme could help, especially after a rough Miami stint, but the need remains. Expect an offensive tackle with one of the first two draft picks. The other early target profiles as an edge rusher. Safety is possible as well. That board reflects both value and how the depth chart looks today. Slot, safety, and Rakestraw’s health update McCreery projects in the slot. Another newcomer, "Izzy," fits the super sub role across the defensive backfield that the staff values. Those pieces ease the urgency at outside corner. The belief here is that corner is not the priority early, with the top group for 2025 and 2026 effectively on the roster. Safety stays in play because of usage versatility. Over the weekend, Rakestraw addressed his status directly on Instagram: fully healthy, and healthy since December. That clarity matters for how the secondary snaps could stack when camp opens. Around the NFL and what’s next The NFL stayed mostly quiet, but one headline popped: the Chiefs acquired Justin Fields for a sixth-round pick. The Lions were not involved. Detroit’s focus shifts to the pro day circuit over the next couple weeks. The staff will be out in force. Eyes on offensive tackle and edge align with needs and draft positioning. If a Lions player or coach steps in front of a camera during the tour, you will hear it here. For now, Friday’s roster adds stand, Montgomery has his guaranteed money in Houston, and the draft board points straight at the trenches. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #ennisrakestraw #davidmontgomery #masonreiger #larryborom #nflfreeagency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit adds experience at tight end and in the slot The Detroit Lions moved quickly in NFL free agency, signing tight end Conklin and slot corner Roger McCreery. The Detroit Lions Podcast digs into why both add immediate, specific value. Contract terms were not disclosed. The expectation is short deals, likely one year. Conklin arrives as a known quantity. He entered the league in the 2017 draft out of Central Michigan. He started with the Vikings, then found a bigger receiving role with the Jets, and most recently had a brief, bumpy stop with the Chargers. McCreery comes from the 2022 draft class and profiles cleanly as a starting-caliber slot defender. Conklin’s resume, role, and Petzing connection Conklin earned his way onto the field in Minnesota because he blocked well. That came even as his targets and catches climbed later. From 2021 through 2023 he recorded 87 targets each season and caught at least 58 passes annually. He averaged around 10 yards per catch. He was not a consistent red zone threat, outside of his final season in New York. He started regularly for the Jets on some uneven teams. The Chargers stint did not click. Drops and unreliable blocking put him in Jim Harbaugh’s doghouse. That is a hard place to escape. Still, the overall profile is stable. He is an eight-year veteran with close to 300 career receptions and functional in-line work. Drew Petzing, the Lions’ new offensive coordinator, overlapped with Conklin early in Minnesota. The years have passed, but that familiarity matters for role clarity. The early view: Conklin slots as tight end three. He can push Brock Wright for tight end two. If injuries hit Brock Wright or Sam LaPorta, Conklin can elevate. Proven depth beats a late flier or an untested option. McCreery’s slot chops and production McCreery brings a steady slot presence. He plays the ball well. He understands route concepts. He has quickness and can attack the catch point when needed. Power is not his calling card, but the instincts and movement skills are there. The production backs it up. He started right away and posted 84 tackles as a rookie, then 86 the next season. In 2024 he started most of the time, appearing in 15 games with 50 tackles. Ball production dipped last season, but the reliability in the slot remained his anchor trait. Depth, fit, and next steps These moves raise the floor. Conklin gives the Detroit Lions a trustworthy safety net behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. McCreery tightens the middle of the defense with a proven slot corner. Both signings fit defined roles and reduce risk across a long NFL season. That is smart roster building for a team with big plans. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #tylerconklin #rogermccreary #nflfreeagency #2026freeagency #lionsrostermoves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quiet Detroit Day, Isian Finalized Detroit Day arrived with a hush. On March 13, the Detroit Lions made Christian Isian’s signing official and left everything else on hold. He is scheduled to speak with the media today, time unspecified. The rest of the NFL news cycle stayed still around Allen Park. That silence is wearing on fans. It showed up in the Detroit Lions Podcast inbox and chat. So today’s focus shifted to what remains on the market at positions of need, starting with edge. Edge Options: Veterans With Caveats The top of the remaining edge group carries risk. Joey Bosa headlines it on name value, but injuries have changed his game. At 31, he is no longer the same pass rusher. The question becomes price and reliability. That same worry hangs over Marcus Davenport. The plea was clear: do not run that experiment back. If the Lions wanted an older, banged-up rotational piece, they could have kept Al-Quadin Muhammad. They did not. He’s in Tampa, with an introduction there today. Other names bring clearer roles. Calais Campbell is 39, durable, and still a quality fit for a one-year stopgap. That makes sense at the right number. Jadeveon Clowney brings steadiness but not quick pressure. The Lions need faster wins off the edge. That has never been Clowney’s calling card. Von Miller sits at the very end of a great career. Cam Jordan keeps surfacing in the top tier of lists, and a single season of his savvy feels attractive if the price cooperates. None of these require a rush. Veterans like this can wait out the market. Draft Signals and Stopgap Talk There is still a glaring need opposite Aidan Hutchinson. The current pile of available edges looks more like placeholders than needle-movers. That points the Detroit Lions toward the draft. One of the first two picks at edge makes sense. It does not mean free agency is over at the position. It means the team can pair a rookie with a one-year veteran who understands multiple systems and can play a role on day one. Recent depth stories reinforce the urgency. The Josh Paschal experiment never truly took off because of injuries. John Kaminski flashed during a healthy stretch, then faded when he got hurt. Levi is a question until proven otherwise. Hope is not a plan. Quick pressure is. The Detroit Lions Podcast kept circling that need. If the front office is slow-playing the board, waiting for veteran prices to soften, the logic tracks. Finalizing Christian Isian closed one file. The edge file stays open, with the draft looming as the real solution and a short-term stopgap still in play. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #christianisian #aidanhutchinson #joeybosa #jadeveonclowney #calaiscampbell #camjordan #vonmiller #al-quadinmuhammad #marcusdavenport #joshpaschal #johnkaminski #levi #edgerusher #quickpressure #oneyearstopgap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New pivot and CB3 clarity The Detroit Lions Podcast carved up a busy slice of NFL free agency. The team introduced new signings to the media, including Cade Niese and Isaiah Pacheco. The headliner is a new starting center on a three-year, $25 million deal with $14 million guaranteed. Cade Meeks steps into the middle and replaces Glasgow at center. Personality-wise, he mirrors Frank Ragnow. That should play well in Detroit. On the outside, Rock returns on a one-year, $4 million contract. He slots as the number three outside corner. That price fits the role. He played well last season. Amik moved on and got paid by Washington. Slot grit: Christian Isian’s fit Detroit moved to fill the slot with Christian Isian from Tampa Bay. He is undersized at around 5-foot-9 but scrappy. He tackles. He defends the run. Coverage results have been mixed. Tampa Bay let him go and replaced him with last year’s third-round pick. Isian offers positional flexibility, but the slot is his best home. The Lions learned with Amik that fit matters. Keep him where he wins. Expect a feisty presence inside and a tone-setter on run downs. Tackle depth and draft signals Larry Borom arrives on a one-year, $5 million deal. He has NFL starts at tackle and guard. He will compete with Giovanni Manu to be the number three tackle. The current mix with Penei Sewell, Borom, Manu, and maybe Myles Frasier does not feel final. Depth remains a need. The draft hints are clear. Edge rusher stands out as the top priority. Edge number two probably is not on this roster yet. Tackle also profiles as an early target. The sequencing could be edge in the first round and tackle in the second. Free agency has set that board. CB room churn and a miss in the market The cornerback room turned over again. Rock is back at CB3. Amik is out after landing a bigger deal elsewhere. The slot flips to Isian. One notable miss hit the market ticker. Muhammad signed with the Buccaneers. That stings for a team still searching for pass-rush help. The best remaining free agent edge option is a looming question. For now, Detroit’s free agency added a center, a slot fighter, and versatile line depth. The edge solution likely comes next, and the draft is the cleanest path. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #cademays #amikrobertson #larryborom #nflfreeagency #bradholmes #christianizien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Agency Day, Real Moves The NFL’s free agency window finally turns official at 4:00. The market already feels volatile after a reported Max Crosby deal fell apart on medical review. That backdrop matters for the Detroit Lions. Big names tempt. Medicals and money complicate. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on what actually changed in Detroit today. Cap Reset: What Goff’s Move Signals Jared Goff restructured his contract, converting $40 million of base salary into a signing bonus and adding another void year. The move frees up $32 million in 2026. Detroit was not pinned against the cap, but the team needed room to do anything meaningful. This creates it. The Lions did not max out their options. They could have cleared up to $40 million this year by converting almost the entire salary to bonus. They chose restraint. The contract now runs with a void through 2029, with that final year voided. Cap figures spike in 2028 and 2029, but another adjustment then is expected. The point today is flexibility. Expect measured signings at the same tier we have seen, plus the breathing room to stage extensions for Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Branch, and maybe Sam LaPorta. You need upfront space to absorb signing bonuses without creating a bigger balloon later. Detroit will not do restructures just to admire cap space. There is a purpose coming. No Crosby Splash for Detroit The Crosby situation underlines why. A reported Raiders-Ravens deal is off after Baltimore reviewed his medicals. The Cowboys are said to be out, too. Crosby is a good player. The health flags are real in this market. Given Detroit’s recent injury frustrations, passing on that kind of swing makes sense. The hypothetical of sending two first-round picks and then backing out on medicals is a cautionary tale. You lose time. You lose leverage. You invite chaos. Detroit’s approach reads like discipline, not hesitation. Depth Chart: Rodriguez and Bridgewater Back While driving home last night, the news hit: the Lions brought back Malcolm Rodriguez and Teddy Bridgewater. Rodriguez’s return locks in the top reserve linebacker role. He drew interest from the Houston Texans and some from the Seahawks, but he stays in Detroit. Contract terms were not disclosed. The team still needs another linebacker. Coverage has been a known limitation for Rodriguez, so competition and roles will matter. Bridgewater’s return stabilizes the quarterback room behind Goff. Continuity counts in March. It keeps the offense aligned while the front office works the margins on defense and special teams. As free agency formalizes this afternoon, expect the Lions to keep pressing the same smart, steady pace. Cap clarity. Targeted adds. No forced splashes. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jaredgoffrestructure #nflfreeagency #malcolmrodriguez #teddybridgewater #cademays #isiahpacheco #lionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Departures define Day 1 One day into the NFL legal tampering period, the Detroit Lions saw exits, not arrivals. Four Lions agreed to terms elsewhere. Those agreements are not official until the league year opens Wednesday. Nothing meaningful has landed on the incoming side yet, especially on defense. It is early. Less than 24 hours in. But the shape of the roster is shifting. Alex Anzalone to Tampa Bay Linebacker Alex Anzalone is headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reported deal is two years for $17 million. He is 32. He has an injury history, though he has been largely durable in Detroit outside of a broken forearm. Tampa Bay gets help. Detroit loses a starting linebacker. Taylor Decker was released. He is no longer with the Detroit Lions. That move stood out as the only fully completed transaction on Day 1. Cap math squeezes the middle This is the cost of a top-heavy roster. Big deals for core stars like Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Aidan Hutchinson, and Kirby Joseph crowd the middle tier. The Lions also chose to pay Derrick Barnes on a three-year, $24 million deal. You cannot carry that many linebackers at premium rates. Paying a third linebacker $8.5 million per year does not fit when the top of the pyramid is that heavy. Decisions have consequences. Scheme pivots and the RB plan Detroit leaned on three-linebacker packages more than any other team last season. With Anzalone gone, a pivot makes sense. A 4-2-5 structure is on the table. Two linebackers with five defensive linemen in certain fronts. A full-time slot defender. More snaps for a hybrid linebacker-safety type. That path matches the personnel pressures and modern NFL spacing. The backfield changes too with David Montgomery departing. Late last season, once Dan Campbell took over the offense, the second back settled into 8–12 touches per game. That should hold. Feature Jameer Gibbs. Keep the ball with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta. The No. 2 running back should complement, not command, the attack. He will not be the reason you win many games. Day 1 brought more subtraction than addition for the Detroit Lions. The next moves will signal whether this front office leans into lighter boxes, faster coverage, and a clearer pecking order at running back. The window just opened. The blueprint is already visible. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflfreeagency #taylordecker #cademays #alexanzalone #bradholmes #larryborom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal tampering is here. Recent history speaks The NFL legal tampering window opens in hours. The Detroit Lions have three recent free agency classes that frame expectations. The 2022-to-2023 line marked the pivot from rebuild to contender. The record since then shows real swings, timely hits, and costly misses. It also shows that the front office does, in fact, go after top-tier veterans. 2023 swings: one clear hit, several misses Detroit targeted premium talent among outside free agents. David Montgomery arrived as the No. 3 running back on the market and was paid the second-most at his position. He outplayed the higher-paid back and delivered strong production in Detroit. That was a clear win. Cam Sutton was the No. 3 cornerback on the board and commanded major money. The signing was graded as an A- at the time and was widely viewed as aggressive and on-target. It did not work. Beyond off-field problems, the on-field fit sagged, and Detroit overpaid for a corner who never synced with the scheme. C.J. Gardner-Johnson entered as the No. 3 safety and became the fourth-highest paid safety from that class. He brought tone and edge to the locker room, but the move failed, in part due to injury. He missed all but two games. Emmanuel Mosley, ranked eighth among cornerbacks, never got on the field because of injuries, though his deal was low budget. Marvin Jones returned in a fan-pleasing move but retired soon after. Jalen Reeves-Maybin also returned in that class. Those depth bets did not move the needle. 2024 outcomes: quiet headlines, subtle value DJ Reader was the fifth-rated interior defensive lineman and signed the fourth-richest deal among his peers. The move even drew an A+ grade at the time. Reader underwhelmed some fans on the stat sheet. The film told more. He kept linebackers clean and helped Aleem grow into a higher-impact interior presence. That value matters on early downs and in money downs alike. Kevin Zeitler arrived as the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in his class and outplayed at least eight players signed above him during his year in Detroit. Then he left for Tennessee on similar money. It stung because the team expected him back, but the one-year return was strong value for the cap dollar. What this pattern says about the next 48 hours Across 2023 and 2024, the Lions targeted players near the top of consensus rankings and paid near the top of market at select positions. They took calculated swings at cornerback and safety that missed, landed a back who fit, mined value on the interior of both lines, and absorbed injury risk on short-term flyers. The evidence is clear: Detroit signs players in free agency, aims high at priority spots, and lives with variance. With the NFL’s window opening, expect targeted aggression, not inactivity. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflfreeagency #lionsfreeagencyhistory #bradholmes #djreed #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices