Breaking down the 2025 Detroit Lions roster, biggest position battles ahead, and assessing the team’s depth at each position.

 

With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, most of the Detroit Lions’ roster acquisition is done. There will still likely be a signing or two before training camp, but what you see with the Lions 2025 depth chart is pretty much what you’re going to get this season.

 

So on this week’s episode of the PODcast, we’re taking inventory of the entire roster. Where are the Lions the strongest? Where are they the most vulnerable? Where are they set up for the future? And where do they still need to ensure they find long-term solutions?

 

Plus, we dip our toe into the spots on the 53-man roster that are still up for grabs. While the core of this team is stronger and deeper than ever, there are still those roles—like TE3, OL10, WR6, S3—that will be won and lost in training camp. And there are even a few starting positions (see: guard) that will be determined in the upcoming months.

 

Overall, the exercise is to assess each position, but to also underline that this Lions roster is robust. Yes, it’s not perfect—no roster is. But in terms of the amount of blue-chip players, quality depth, and shrinking amount of needs from 1 to 53, the Lions are in a pretty darn good spot.

 

You can listen to our entire assessment of the Lions roster in the embedded player below or on any of your favorite podcasting platforms.

 

If you’d rather watch the PODcast—with plenty of in-between segments bonus content, you can check out this week’s show on YouTube or Twitch.

 

A look at eight free agents the Detroit Lions may be interested in after the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

Halfway through the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes reminded the media that the player acquisition phase does not end with the draft.

 

“We’ll keep looking. I mean, we’ll turn over every stone. There are other avenues in the player acquisition process, so it doesn’t stop at the draft,” Holmes said.

 

Though the Lions are at their maximum of 90 rostered players right now, they will undoubtedly be looking for every opportunity to improve their roster from top to bottom. So here are eight free agents the Lions should consider adding now that the draft is over.

 

I am centering my focus on what I believe the Lions’ only two real remaining needs: edge defender and safety.

 

EDGE Za’Darius Smith

Let’s just get this one out of the way. According to Lions general manager Brad Holmes, the ball is in Smith’s and his agent’s court. Smith produced 4.0 sacks and 40 pressures in eight games with the Lions last year. Detroit clearly has a price limit on Smith after cutting him earlier this offseason—saving them $11 million over two years—but it’s unclear where Smith’s priorities currently lie.

 

EDGE DeMarcus Walker

The Lions hosted Walker for a free agency visit back in April. Walker brings some inside/outside versatility along the defensive line. And while he only has 7.0 sacks in the past two seasons (as a starter with the Bears), his size (6-foot-4, 280) and violence make him an above-average run defender.

 

EDGE Von Miller

I find it pretty hard to believe the Lions would be interested in Miller at this stage in his career (36 years old). But if they just wanted a situational pass rusher, Miller did produce 40 pressures and 6.0 sacks in just 332 snaps over 13 games (about 25 snaps per game).

 

EDGE Matthew Judon

Judon struggled last year with the Falcons but had a strong career with the Ravens and Patriots. In his best season—2022—he produced 15.5 sacks, 69 pressures, and even an above-average PFF run defense grade (67.0). Judon will be 33 before the season starts, though.

 

S Marcus Williams

I believe the Lions could use a veteran in the safety room, not just to provide much-needed experience behind their two starters but also to help get rookie Dan Jackson up to speed.

 

Williams has five years of experience in this defense from his days with the Saints—four of which directly overlapped with Dan Campbell’s time in New Orleans. The biggest downside here is that Williams may be seeking a starting role and hasn’t regularly played on special teams since 2018.

 

S Justin Simmons

Simmons may be in the same boat as Williams—seeking an opportunity to start. He’s just a year removed from a Pro Bowl season, but he’s a physical run defender who has plenty of ball skills, too (21 interceptions in the last five seasons). Last year, he signed a one-year, $7.5 million, fully guaranteed deal, so he’d likely only cost slightly less than that—probably too much for a backup role.

 

S Rayshawn Jenkins

Jenkins may be a more realistic target. Though he was a full-time starter since 2019, his last year with the Seahawks, he accepted a more situational role after being overtaken by Coby Bryant.

 

Jenkins, too, is a physical run defender who is probably more fit to be a box safety than single-high, but he has plenty of experience and has played a decent amount of special teams his entire career.

 

S Marcus Maye

Maye has two years of experience in the Saints defense (2022-23), so there is some schematic overlap even though he wasn’t in New Orleans when Campbell was. At 32 years old, Maye has struggled with injuries for much of his career, but he played in 15 games last year—starting four.

He played over 100 special teams snaps last year. It’s worth noting back in 2023, he was suspended for three games as a result of a DUI incident in 2021 and was arrested for aggravated assault in a road rage incident in 2022, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

 

Breaking down Lions’ first round pick Tyleik Williams’ tape from his 2024 season at Ohio State University.

 

First up in our film review of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft class is a first-round pick and defensive tackle out of Ohio State, Tyleik Williams. If you are looking for a video to go along with this written film study, be sure to check out our work over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel.

 

After spending the last several days watching Williams’ All-22 tape from 2024, I am really excited to see what he can do in Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Despite pushing 330 pounds, Williams is very much an athlete on the defensive line. He played football and basketball throughout his childhood and set his Virginia high school’s record in the shot put. If this sounds familiar, Lions’ star defensive tackle Alim McNeill was also a multi-sport star back in his home state of North Carolina.

 

Having started 25 games for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, Williams faced a strong level of competition during his college career, making it easier to see what should translate to the professional level. Let’s jump into the All-22 and take a look at how Williams impacted games in 2024.

 

Smart and dominant run-defender

When you turn on Williams’ 2024 tape, you see a player who has seen the game slow down for him in terms of how he processes things mentally, and typically that isn’t something often said about interior defensive linemen.

 

On top of what he picks up pre-snap, his ability to stack blockers, extend his arms, and find the ball carrier is elite. You rarely catch him staring at a blocker while working, and instead his eyes are consistently where they need to be, allowing him to make more impact plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

 

Below, we have a clip from his game against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal round. Third-and-4 on their own side of the 50 and he helps make a big stop for his defense.

 

 

Up next is a rep where Williams stacks and sheds the right guard before working down the line of scrimmage to help make the stop.

 

Another theme you quickly pick up from Williams’ tape is his ability to violently defeat blocks while simultaneously keeping his eyes on the ball carrier. Watch below as he discards Texas’ center before making the play on the running back.

 

 

Next up, we have another example of Williams having strong play recognition. Watch as he takes a few steps down towards the center out of his stance in an effort to squeeze that gap. While doing so, he is able to peek around the right shoulder of the guard (#76) blocking him.

 

In an instant, Williams uses his strength to turn the guard’s hips and, in doing so, is able to spill the run towards the right for a 1-yard gain. The rookie should be one of many Lions defensive linemen that the linebackers will enjoy playing behind.

 

In our last clip of this section, Williams throws Kelvin Banks Jr (who just went ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints) out the club before taking a good angle to help string out the ball carrier toward the boundary.

 

 

Pass-rushing juice and potential

In our first clip of this section, Williams begins lined up on the guard’s outside shoulder in the three-technique. Ohio State runs a game where the end loops back around both Williams and defensive end Jack Sawyer (#33), allowing Williams to work one-on-one against the center (#65).

 

Williams is able to instantly reset the center’s initial punch, allowing him to open up the right shoulder of the blocker. In doing so, he opens up a straight line to the quarterback, Quinn Ewers. Ewers is able to hit the bottom of his dropback, but at that point, Williams had already collapsed the pocket, forcing the ball out in a hurry.

 

Next up, we have another example of Williams being efficient with his hands while also understanding his opponent’s tendencies. And while it isn’t a pass-rush rep, I wanted to include it here because of how quickly he won in this particular instance.

 

This is the kind of rep that can change a series, or sometimes—the entire game. If the Lions are able to generate more interior pressure in 2025 on top of getting star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson back, it could lead to some really big things for the defense as a whole.

 

 

Lastly, we have another quick win for Williams, this time with a powerful bull rush on third down. Once again, his power quickly overwhelms the center for Texas. Watch as Williams is able to extend his left arm after knocking him backward out of his stance, which in turn opens up the left shoulder of the offensive lineman. Ewers is still able to get this pass off, but it appears to be a tick early in terms of timing and ends up falling incomplete.

 

 

The Detroit Lions revamped their roster this offseason with seven new selections in the 2025 NFL draft including Tyleik Williams of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tate Ratledge of the Georgia Bulldogs.

 

The Lions’ draft coup has been lauded by fans across the nation as coach Dan Campbell’s team prepares to defend its back-to-back NFC North Division crowns this fall.

 

This weekend, a Lions post-draft signee was given the spotlight treatment by Michigan native and former New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter, who offered words of encouragement for the former high school prodigy.

 

Ohio Bobcats RB Anthony Tyus III hurdles a defender.

Anthony Tyus III hurdles a Jacksonville State Gamecocks defender at Camping World Stadium on December 20, 2025.

 

“Big congrats to Kalamazoo @JetersLeaders alum Anthony Tyus III, who’s heading to the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent!” Jeter wrote on Facebook.

 

“Since graduating high school in 2021, he’s played for the Northwestern Wildcats and joined the Ohio Bobcats prior to the 2024 season, where he broke records.

 

“Following his junior campaign, he even earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

 

“#Turn2 (Derek Jeter’s Foundation) couldn’t be prouder of Anthony’s resilience and leadership, and will be cheering him on in this next step of his football journey.”

 

Tyus III stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 215 pounds.

 

He will join a crowded Lions backfield that includes Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery this fall in the Motor City.

 

Tyus III had 1,215 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns along with 16 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns with the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio last season.

 

 

 

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes says he doesn’t draft for need.

 

“I think you can get in trouble chasing these sometimes and then you’re dependent on a rookie,” Holmes said prior to the 2025 NFL Draft and countless times before that.

 

Yet when you look at the Lions’ draft class this year, it covered many of the team’s long-term needs. Whether by coincidence or intention, the Lions got their interior defender of the future, a pair of guards to contend for open starting spots, their potential long-term X-receiver, they safety depth they needed, and, yes, even a developmental edge defender who could grow into a significant contributor.

 

If you take a look at the Lions’ current depth chart, it’s looking pretty darn good.

 

 

Today’s Question of the Day is:

 

What is the Lions’ biggest post-draft need?

My answer: Despite the addition of Dan Jackson in the seventh round, I still think this team could use more trusted depth behind their safeties. If Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch suffered an injury, the Lions would be forced to start either Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, Erick Hallett, or Jackson. Those players have a collective one defensive snap at the NFL level.

 

There is one other player to consider at the position, and that is veteran nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox. He has seen a fair share of time at safety, but struggled to find a long-term role there in Philly. The Lions’ actions in the draft tell me he’s likely to get some action at safety during the preseason, and Holmes even mentioned his potential at that position.

 

“We’re excited to get a guy like Maddox, a veteran that’s got versatility,” Holmes said at the owners meetings. “He can compete, obviously, he can play nickel, but he’s got some safety versatility as well that we’re excited about, and he can play on special teams as well.”

 

Still, it feels like the Lions would be best served to add another veteran to that room, and there are still some options available out there in free agency, including Marcus Williams (who has plenty of familiarity with Detroit’s defense from his Saints days), Justin Simmons, and Quandre Diggs (who is admittedly coming off a Lisfranc injury).

 

I know many are going to say edge defender, and there’s certainly plenty of room to grow in that room, but in my opinion, it’s not as pressing as safety. If Marcus Davenport does indeed go down with injury, the Lions do have some experienced bodies at that position, be it Josh Paschal, Al-Quadin Muhammad, or Levi Onwuzurike. I do think they should still add more competition to that room, but I just think safety is a little more pressing.

 

What do you think? Scroll down to the comment section and sound off!

 

Beefing up the interior: While Tyleik Williams doesn’t win as a pass rusher consistently, he fits the Lions’ need for pocket pushers from the interior to let Aidan Hutchinson clean up on the edge.

A much-needed edge presence on Day 3: Despite being a bit of a raw talent, Ahmed Hassanein brings effort and physicality at the point of attack, which will lead to him being a favorite of Lions coaches, even though he lacks elite athletic traits.

Final chance to claim 25% off PFF+: Use code DRAFT25 and unlock access to player grades, fantasy tools and the 2025 Draft Guide.

 

 

 

Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes value their type of player over all other evaluation, which is emblematic of this draft class. Despite perceived reaches on Days 1 & 2, the Lions added quality talent throughout the process, and gained value on Day 3. Ultimately resulting in positive marks in PFF’s draft grades.

 

A powerful run-stuffing defensive tackle in Round 1: The Lions were inevitably going to draft a defensive lineman, and they didn’t disappoint with a run-stuffing tackle. Tyleik Williams’ 88.6 PFF run-defense grade was one of the best of the class, as was his 7.8% run-stop rate. While he doesn’t win as a pass rusher consistently, he fits the Lions’ need for pocket pushers from the interior to let Aidan Hutchinson clean up on the edge.

 

A perfect fit at guard in Round 2: The Lions beefed up their already stellar offensive line with three-year Georgia starter Tate Ratledge. He fits Detroit’s style as a powerful downhill blocker who also shows good, light feet in pass protection. Ratledge allowed just two sacks over three years and gave up only seven total pressures in his senior season. His 77.3 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked above the 70th percentile nationally.

 

 

 

TeSlaa began his college career at the Division II level before making the leap to the SEC. While his production didn’t pop against top-tier competition, his size, explosiveness and sure hands give him a starting-caliber ceiling as a big slot or X option with developmental upside as a downfield threat, after having generated a 141.9 quarterback rating when targeted.

 

Brad Holmes has been quoted as saying TeSlaa was his “favorite receiver in this draft,” which prompted the trade-up to select him in the third round. While the trade didn’t project as a solid value for the Lions, the investment will likely mean TeSlaa will see the field early.

 

Position/role battle to watch: ED Ahmed Hassanein vs. ED Josh Paschal

 

When the Lions selected Paschal in the second round in 2022, the expectation was that he would bring solid acumen as a run defender while he further developed as a pass rusher. Three years later, Paschal has failed to eclipse a 59.0 PFF overall grade in any season.

 

Needless to say, that won’t cut it for a contender looking for more up front. Despite being a bit of a raw talent, Hassanein brings effort and physicality at the point of attack, which will lead to him being a favorite of Lions coaches, even though he lacks elite athletic traits. His 76.0-plus PFF grades as both a run defender and pass rusher will help him find his way into the Lions’ rotation.

 

Our staff makes their pick for the most valuable selection made in the Detroit Lions’ 2025 NFL Draft.

 

The Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft wasn’t really about value. Detroit was aggressive in grabbing three top-70 players, trading up twice with negative trade value. No one will care if the players they grabbed hit, but by some metrics Detroit’s picks quite literally had the lowest value in the league.

 

Regardless, that wasn’t necessarily true for all of the Lions’ seven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. So in the latest edition of our draft recap roundtable, our staff made their picks for the most valuable selection made over the weekend.

 

Previous roundtables:

 

What was the Lions’ best value pick of the 2025 class?

Erik Schlitt: Miles Frazier

 

Most draft analysts viewed Frazier as having third-round value—Daniel Jeremiah even ranked him No. 61 on his final draft board—so for the Lions to land him with pick No. 171 looks like massive value. Frazier may end up being OG4 on this roster, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he starts a game or two when injuries occur.

 

Al Karsten: Miles Frazier

 

Frazier already brings the size, demeanor, and punch that offensive line coach Hank Fraley covets, and his pass protection chops should let him hit the ground running. Fraley can clean up the technical stuff—but Frazier had no business falling this far. Picks like this are a reminder that Brad Holmes might be an evil genius operating at the expense of the rest of the league.

 

Brandon Knapp: Miles Frazier

 

While I wasn’t initially excited about the pick, due to the team already taking Tate Rutledge, the fact that they got a top-100 player in Frazier in the fifth round (and for a very fair trade up) is amazing. Frazier can be a future starter, too.

 

Max Gerber: Miles Frazier

 

Miles Frazier was one of my favorite guards in this draft class, and I was shocked to see him fall to the end of the fifth round when many analysts had him going in the third or fourth. Detroit landed a starting-caliber player with NFL-ready size and intangibles in a spot where most teams wouldn’t. They obviously knew he was a great value pick as well, since they traded a sixth and seventh-round pick to move up and take him.

 

John Whiticar: Miles Frazier

 

Had the Lions not selected Tate Ratledge, I would have viewed this pick as the Lions getting a starting guard in the fifth round—an absolute steal.

With Ratledge competing with Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow, I think Frazier has a difficult (but not impossible) path to the starting lineup, but even if he is a mere backup, he projects as an elite one. I would have been fine with Frazier in the third round, so securing additional offensive line insurance later in the draft is fantastic. If he can become comfortable at center and tackle during training camp, even better—he would be a depth piece at every position.

 

Hamza Baccouche: Miles Frazier

 

Miles Frazier by a wide margin. He has a ton of potential and getting him in the fifth round felt like a steal. He has a very similar resume to Ratledge as a three-year starter in the SEC, and Frazier has shown positional versatility with the ability to play any position that’s not center.

 

Ryan Mathews: Miles Frazier

 

Detroit was able to get quite the value when they selected Frazier, the sixth-best guard in the class according to the consensus draft board, with pick No. 171. Even though the Lions had already drafted guard Tate Ratledge earlier with pick No. 57, some great value in and of itself, that didn’t stop Holmes from trading up again for Frazier, a guard who checks all the boxes for Detroit: athleticism (9.30 RAS), dependability (played in every game over his last four seasons), and a mean streak.

 

Morgan Cannon: Miles Frazier

 

To draft a player like Miles Frazier at pick 171 is incredible value, and is hopefully yet another late-round steal for Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes. Frazier has three productive years under his belt at LSU, and should offer some positional versatility for offensive line coach Hank Fraley.

 

Jeremy Reisman: Ahmed Hassanein

 

Frazier is the lay-up answer based on media notions before the draft, but if we’re going to dismiss the “reaches” made by Holmes, then “steals” hold the same insignificant value. I like Frazier, but he has a tough route for any meaningful snaps early in his career. Hassanein, picked a round later, could be part of the defensive line rotation on Day 1, and with his passion, energy, and growing knowledge of the game, he has a ton of untapped potential. That’s everything you want in a sixth-round pick.

 

Poll

What was the Lions’ best value pick?

Pick 28 – Tyleik Williams

Pick 57 – Tate Ratledge

Pick 70 – Isaac TeSlaa

Pick 171 – Miles Frazier

Pick 196 – Ahmed Hassanein

Pick 230 – Dan Jackson

Pick 244 – Dominic Lovett

 

Between free agency and the 2025 NFL draft, it’s abundantly clear that one Detroit Lions defender is the team’s biggest offseason loser after two months.

 

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks during minicamp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks during minicamp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.

The Detroit Lions are ready to begin the next chapter of the NFL offseason now that May is here. General manager Brad Holmes has been working hard throughout the last two months, adding hungry contributors through free agency and the 2025 NFL draft with the hope of remaining in Super Bowl contention next season.

 

While fans are thrilled to welcome the new Lions to the Motor City, the influx of fresh faces isn’t good news for everyone. Detroit’s plethora of offseason moves likely spells bad news for various roster bubble veterans, including one wideout who’s easily the team’s biggest offseason loser so far.

 

Lions DL Mekhi Wingo is Detroit’s Biggest Offseason Loser

When it comes to the Lions’ biggest offseason losers, look no further than defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo.

 

The former Missouri/LSU product was drafted 189th overall by Detroit during the 2024 draft and struggled to find playing time in his first NFL campaign. Wingo was limited to 220 snaps (176 defensive, 44 special teams) through his first 11 appearances before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of his rookie campaign.

 

Unfortunately, Wingo didn’t have much to show for his limited opportunities. He ended the year with nine total tackles (1 solo effort) while playing to less-than-inspiring Pro Football Focus grades regarding pass rushing (58.9), run stoppage (46.4), and overall defense.

 

Wingo’s outlook would look more promising had the Lions cleared up the defensive logjam ahead of him, but that hasn’t been the case. Not only did the Lions re-sign a D-line quartet (Levi Onwuzurike, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Pat O’Connor, and Mitchell Agude), but they also signed former Arizona Cardinals DL Roy Lopez, who boasts much more experience (50 starts in 63 games) than Wingo.

 

The D-Line additions didn’t end there, much to Wingo’s dismay. The 2025 draft saw the Lions further bolster their frontline, using the 28th overall pick on Ohio State standout Tyleik Williams before drafting Boise State disruptor Ahmed Hassanein towards the back half of Round 6. That’s without mentioning Detroit signing undrafted Houston DL Keith Cooper Jr., who might develop into one of the biggest post-draft steals.

 

In other words, Wingo is about to face even more competition for playing time. Yes, he’s had nearly a full year in the Lions’ system, however, that doesn’t change the fact that his rookie performance wasn’t impressive, nor does anyone know how he’ll perform post-injury.

 

It’s going to take a strong showing from Wingo if he wants to prove to head coach Dan Campbell & Co. that he belongs on the roster. The 291-pound defender’s next opportunity to showcase his abilities will come when the Lions host their organized team activities, beginning on Wednesday, May 28.

 

 

 

 

Hendon Hooker throws a pass at Detroit Lions minicamp.

The Detroit Lions took a big swing four years ago, trading franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford in exchange for Jared Goff and a slew of draft picks.

 

Goff came to the team as a successful quarterback who already had one Super Bowl appearance under his belt, but it wasn’t until coming to Detroit that he finally put all of his physical traits together and solidified his spot as a starting quarterback.

 

Though the Lions are set at the top of their quarterback depth chart, the team appears to be preparing for a battle behind Goff this summer. The Lions used a third-round pick on Hendon Hooker in 2023, but he has failed to solidify the No. 2 job and faces a major challenge this summer from veteran Kyle Allen.

 

Lions Pitting Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen in Camp

The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy broke down all of Detroit’s position groups after the NFL draft, releasing an initial depth chart. But he was unable to pinpoint whether Hooker or Allen would land the role of backing up Goff, noting that the team is preparing for a true quarterback competition in training camp.

 

“No, the Lions did not draft Shadeur Sanders,” Pouncy wrote. “They did add a quarterback this offseason, though. Expect a battle between Hooker and Allen for the QB2 job. The Lions wanted to add competition and found some in Allen, who has 19 career starts under his belt. Front office applying a bit of pressure here, hoping it pays off for Hooker.”

 

Allen has a much deeper NFL resume, having started 19 total games including 12 for the Carolina Panthers in 2019. He has completed 62.7% of his passes for 4,753 yards with 26 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his career.

 

 

Hooker, the former Tennessee quarterback, didn’t see any action in his rookie season as he spent the majority of the year rehabbing a torn ACL that cut short his final college season. But Hooker failed to hold onto the job when given opportunities last season, watching the team sign veteran Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement late in the season then insert Bridgewater as No. 2 in the playoffs.

 

The team has been open about Hooker’s need to prove himself. General manager Brad Holmes said that while the team likes the third-year quarterback, he won’t have the backup job handed to him.

 

“Still got high hopes for [Hooker], but nobody’s gonna be given a job either,” Holmes said, via USA Today’s Lions Wire. “So if Hendon wants to be the number two quarterback, then win the No. 2 quarterback job.”

 

Holmes admitted that Hooker has been dealt a difficult set of circumstances so far in his career.

 

“He had the injury that first year, then last year that was the first year that he kind of was able to do a full year of training camp and during the season,” Holmes said. “And then we brought Teddy Bridgewater in just because we were gearing up for the playoffs and postseason and he just wasn’t ready yet, you know? And he understood that.”

 

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty