Category: Detroit Lions

 

Seven of the nine teams they face on the road made this year’s playoffs, five made the divisional round and two teams are the Super Bowl 59 participants: the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Traditionally over the past two decades, with a few exceptions, the Super Bowl winner has hosted the league’s opening kickoff game on Thursday night in Week 1.

 

So, would the NFL pick the Lions to open the 2025 season on the road at the defending champion?

 

The Lions certainly have the cache, named America’s Team once again entering the 2024-25 playoffs. They opened the 2023 season at the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs, winning 21-20. A season-opening rematch two years later, should the Chiefs be crowned for a third consecutive season Sunday, seems a bit farfetched.

 

But if the Eagles win the Super Bowl, the Lions could be a prime target. Here’s how it breaks down:

 

The Eagles have eight home games, including their usual three in the division, plus five cross-divisional games. Their home opponents:

 

Washington Commanders

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angles Rams

As we see it, the five most likely opening games would feature, in no order, the Commanders, Lions, Bears, Broncos and Rams.

 

The Rams, whom the Eagles survived in the NFC divisional round, and the Commanders, whom the Eagles crushed in the NFC championship game, would offer immediate postseason rematches.

 

The upstart Broncos are coming off a playoff berth and the Bears have last season’s No. 1 pick at quarterback and a new head coach in Ben Johnson, whose offenses in Detroit were among the NFL’s top five each of the past three seasons.

 

And then there are the Lions, the NFC’s No. 1 seed this season and pre-playoff Super Bowl favorites. They were upset in the divisional round by the Commanders, 45-31, but should return nearly all their starters (left guard Kevin Zeitler, No. 3 receiver Tim Patrick and cornerback Carlton Davis III are the lone free-agent starters).

 

The NFL has stayed away from division rivalry games in its kickoff openers — three times it has happened since the league went to a mid-week opener in 2002 — though the Jayden Daniels-led Commanders will be one of the most sought-after teams for broadcast partners in 2025. Both the Eagles and Commanders play in the NFC East.

 

The Broncos lack star power and the Rams don’t have the same juice as the Lions and, potentially, Bears.

 

So, should the Eagles win Sunday night to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs from a Super Bowl three-peat, a matchup of the top two regular-season teams in the NFC from the previous year, who last faced each other in 2022, would be quite the potent NFL kickoff celebration.

 

The Lions last played in Philadelphia in 2019, a 27-24 Detroit win.

 

The 2025 NFL schedule will be revealed this spring, likely in mid-May.

 

Stay tuned for the best Lions coverage all year long at freep.com/sports/lions.

 

 

The Detroit Lions have become one of the most promising teams in the NFL, and after a heartbreaking playoff exit in 2024, they are determined to do whatever it takes to make a Super Bowl run in 2025. With a solid roster and significant cap space, the Lions are in an excellent position to add another star player. Enter DK Metcalf, the explosive wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

DK Metcalf Detroit Lions
Could Metcalf Be the Missing Link?
According to Bleacher Report, the Lions could pursue Metcalf, a player who would instantly elevate their already formidable offense. With Amon-Ra St. Brown already serving as Jared Goff’s top target, adding Metcalf would give the Lions one of the most dangerous receiving trios in the NFL, alongside Jameson Williams. Metcalf’s combination of size, speed, and athleticism would stretch opposing defenses, creating even more opportunities for Detroit’s high-powered attack.

During the 2024 season, Metcalf recorded 66 receptions for 992 yards and five touchdowns, despite playing in a run-heavy offense. At just 27 years old, Metcalf still has a lot of football left to play, and his ability to make game-changing plays in the air could be the missing piece the Lions need to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

What Would It Take to Land DK Metcalf?
The question is: what would it cost for the Lions to acquire Metcalf? The Seahawks are likely to ask for a hefty return for their star receiver, given his age and production. The Lions would probably need to part with at least one high draft pick, and potentially more, depending on how motivated Seattle is to move Metcalf. However, with Detroit’s window to win now and their aggressive approach in recent years, it’s clear why they might be willing to make such a move. The Lions have already shown they are not afraid to take risks when building their roster, and adding a player of Metcalf’s caliber would align with their bold strategy.

Why Metcalf Fits Detroit
If the Lions were to acquire Metcalf, they would boast one of the most lethal offensive units in the NFL. The thought of Metcalf lining up across from St. Brown, with Williams providing a deep threat, would keep defensive coordinators up at night. Detroit’s offense would become even harder to stop, with three dynamic playmakers capable of turning the game around at any moment.

Furthermore, Metcalf’s physicality and ability to win contested catches would complement St. Brown’s precise route-running and Williams’ speed. This trio would make it nearly impossible for defenses to focus on any one player, resulting in an offense that could match up with the NFL’s best.

Detroit Lions
The Key Question: Is It Feasible?
While the idea of acquiring Metcalf is enticing, the trade must make sense both financially and in terms of the compensation for the Seahawks. The Lions are in a position to be aggressive, but they will need to balance the cost against the potential reward. Whether or not they pull the trigger on a deal for Metcalf will depend on how much they are willing to sacrifice for one of the league’s most explosive wide receivers.

As the offseason progresses, the Lions are likely to explore a range of options to improve their roster, and trading for Metcalf could be a tantalizing move. If the Seahawks are open to negotiations, Detroit could emerge as one of the leading candidates to acquire the star receiver, potentially making them the team to beat in the NFC.

 

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with quarterback Jared Goff with just over two minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 at Ford Field. The Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-31.(Jake May | MLive.com)

Despite coaching the Detroit Lions to heights the franchise hadn’t reached in more than 30 years — and some they had never experienced — head coach Dan Campbell once again left the NFL Honors show empty-handed.

 

Campbell, a finalist for this season’s Coach of the Year award, came up short up, losing out to Minnesota Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell. Campbell placed second in voting.

 

Also in the running were Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and Kansas Chiefs head coach Andy Reid — who will be coaching in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday.

 

This year also marked the second straight year Campbell was a finalist but didn’t take home the award.

 

While all the finalists led their teams to impressive seasons — some even major turnarounds — there’s a real argument that Campbell was snubbed.

 

For starters, losing out to O’Connell, specifically can be considered a head scratcher, as two of the Vikings’ three losses this season were to the Detroit Lions, who went unblemished in the NFC North.

 

The also Lions finished the regular season with a franchise-best 15-2 record while also becoming the NFL’s fourth-highest-scoring offense of all time, setting numerous franchise and single-season marks along the way.

 

Defensively, the Lions were hit hard by injuries, with as many as 16 players landing on injured reserve.

 

Notable losses included defensive end Aidan Hutchinson; linebackers Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin; defensive lineman Alim McNeill; and cornerback Carlton Davis III.

 

Yet, despite those setbacks, the defense still managed to make key plays when it mattered — including producing the league’s interception leader in Kerby Joseph.

 

Factoring everything in, Campbell leading Detroit to the NFC’s top seed and a second straight division title makes his case for Coach of the Year as strong as anyone’s.

 

 

However, it was O’Connell, who guided the Vikings to a 14-3 record, that took home the award. He navigated Minnesota through significant early challenges, including losing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy before the season and starting offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw to an ACL and MCL injury after just seven games.

 

O’Connell also played a key role in the resurgence of quarterback Sam Darnold, who finished fifth in both passing yards (4,319) and passing touchdowns (35).

 

While Campbell walked away victorious, his quarterback did not.

 

Jared Goff, a finalist for this season’s MVP award, came up short as the honor went to Buffalo’s Josh Allen, marking the first time the Bills quarterback has won the award. Goff placed fifth in voting.

 

Goff finished the season second in passing yards (4,629), first in completion percentage among quarterbacks who played all 17 games (72.4%), fourth in touchdowns (37), and second in passer rating among quarterbacks who played all 17 games (111.8).

 

Despite his strong resume, a Week 10 performance against the Houston Texans— a game the Lions won on a game-winning field goal as time expired — was largely held against Goff throughout the season.

 

In that game, Goff threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns but was also intercepted five times in what was arguably the worst performance of his career.

 

After that game, however, Goff rebounded, throwing 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions over the final eight outings while completing roughly 73% of his passes.

 

 

 

Lions predicted to draft 6’2, 78-TD quarterback as Jared Goff heir apparent image

 

 

Questions about the future at quarterback for the Detroit Lions arose after the team was bounced from the playoffs early at the hands of the Washington Commanders.

 

While the Lions were able to post 31 points on the Commanders, quarterback Jared Goff struggled mightily in the losing effort, throwing three picks and losing a fumble. This was just the latest example of Goff struggling in the playoffs, something that was prominent during his days with the Los Angeles Rams.

 

Despite that, the Lions aren’t going to be moving off Goff anytime soon, as he’s still under contract through 2028. However, they can start planning for the future, which AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton has them doing in the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

In his latest mock draft, he has the Lions taking a Day 2 swing on Alabama signal-caller Jalen Milroe.

 

“Milroe did not have a good week and he’s fallen out of the first round,” Payton wrote. “That is going to help the Lions because this draft is not going to be about starters so much as it’s all about the future now. That’s what happens when you’re a really good team. You need to have sustained success and that means planning for the future.”

 

“Milroe would be the future and he would give the Lions a significant amount of time to develop him into a starting-caliber quarterback,” he added. “The potential and athleticism is there. It just needs to be guided.”

 

Once projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class, Milroe’s stock has taken a hit after a lackluster 2024 campaign and recent struggles at the Senior Bowl.

 

The Alabama product completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,844 yards while rushing for 726 yards and scoring 36 total touchdowns and throwing 11 picks. For Milroe’s college career, he threw for 6,016 yards, rushed for 1,577 yards, and found pay dirt 78 times.

 

“Overall, Milroe possesses all of the physical tools to play QB in the modern NFL. With the right development, he can become an impact quarterback in the NFL,” The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez said in his scouting report.

 

The Lions already have a young quarterback on the roster in Hendon Hooker, but the fact that Detroit added Teddy Bridgewater and had him serve as the backup in the playoff loss to Washington isn’t a great sign for his development or the Lions’ faith in him.

 

Detroit would be a good landing spot for a developmental quarterback like Milroe, as he’d have multiple years to hone his craft behind Goff. However, we just don’t see the Lions spending this high of a draft pick on the position considering Goff remains locked-in for multiple more years.

 

 

The Detroit Lions are coming off their most successful season in the Super Bowl era, finishing with an impressive 15-2 record. Unfortunately, that still wasn’t enough to secure their first Super Bowl appearance, as they were eliminated in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Now, after losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators, the Lions will need to find a way to improve and come back even better. This will be challenging, but adding more talented players with playoff experience could be exactly what Detroit needs to take the next step.

Detroit Lions could use Jared Goff connection to land Cooper Kupp The Detroit Lions boast a talented receiving group, highlighted by two-time All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown and 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams. Having a Pro Bowl tight end in Sam LaPorta is also a big asset. However, there’s still room for improvement on the roster.

One area that could be upgraded is the No. 3 receiver position, which was held by Tim Patrick last season. With Patrick set to hit free agency, the Lions will need to find a replacement at that spot.

As ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently pointed out, Cooper Kupp could be a great fit in Detroit. The Los Angeles Rams are considering trading their former All-Pro receiver, and Kupp has already established a strong rapport with Jared Goff, having spent four seasons together in LA.

“Regarding teams that are considering Cooper Kupp, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked into him at the trade deadline last season. They still have a need at receiver. Washington could use a complement to Terry McLaurin. The Patriots should at least consider it given their receiving situation. And a bit of a surprise: Detroit Lions. Jared Goff and Cooper Kupp have a history together, and that chemistry is valuable. This feels like a move the Kansas City Chiefs would make too.”

Kupp signed a three-year, $80 million contract extension with the Rams in 2022, which leaves two years remaining on his deal and a $29.7 million cap hit in 2025 unless he restructures.

On paper, this move makes a lot of sense, especially if Kupp is looking to compete for another Super Bowl. However, the Lions will need to outbid a likely strong market for the former Super Bowl MVP.

 

 

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and new pass game coordinator David Shaw go way, way back.

 

As we all prepare to learn about how the Detroit Lions offense will change under several new coaches, which includes new offensive coordinator John Morton, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown revealed on his podcast this week that he has a long, shared history with another new coach. Former Stanford head coach—and now Lions pass game coordinator—David Shaw goes way back with St. Brown.

 

That’s because St. Brown’s brother, Osiris, went to Stanford while Shaw was the head coach there. Amon-Ra, still in high school at the time, went to a few camps out there during his recruitment and got to know Shaw.

 

“When I saw [the news], I was like, ‘No way! Coach Shaw with the Lions? That’s a crazy full-circle moment,’” St. Brown said.

 

As for how much he knows about Shaw and his offenses, St. Brown said he got to know him more on a personal level rather than talk about football.

 

“It was more like just talking to him about life, what I want in a college, what I like and things like that, but I never got into super depth details about football,” St. Brown said. “But I’m sure he’s awesome. He was with Johnny Mo(rton) in Denver, and Johnny Mo was doing a lot of good stuff when he was here in Detroit.”

 

A few days after Shaw got the job, he made sure to reach out to Amon-Ra.

 

“He texted me and said he can’t wait to see me out in Allen Park,” St. Brown said. “So I’m excited to see him. it’s going to be fun. New coaches, fresh faces, time to get back to work.”

 

St. Brown also gave some insight into what Osiris thought about him during their shared time at Stanford.

 

“He said he’s a good dude, good coach,” St. Brown said. “I didn’t ask him too much about it. I don’t think Osiris knows much about how much (Shaw) knows about pass game because he was the head coach with Stanford, so I think it’s a little different.”

 

When goaded by his brother Equanimeous about the offense potentially taking a step back, Amon-Ra made it clear he wasn’t worried.

 

 

One NFL insider believes the Detroit Lions could get involved in a Cooper Kupp trade.

 

“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships,” Kupp tweeted on Monday. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA. Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.”

 

The Lions don’t have a huge, pressing need at wide receiver, although their third starter—Tim Patrick—is set to become a free agent. Nevertheless, ESPN’s insider Jeremy Fowler suggested on Tuesday that the Lions could get involved in Kupp trade talks during an appearance on SportsCenter.

 

“As far as early teams that people are bantering about, Pittsburgh Steelers looked into Cooper Kupp at the trade deadline last season. They still have a need there. Washington could look for a complement to Terry McLaurin. The Patriots would be foolish not to at least check in on this given their receiver situation. And here are a few surprises for you: Detroit Lions. Jared Goff came in the league with Cooper Kupp. That’s instant chemistry. And then doesn’t this feel a Kansas City Chiefs move a little bit?”

 

Now let’s be clear: this reads as mere speculation and dot connecting from Fowler. The entire start to his “report” is “early teams that people are bantering about.” There is no clarification about who these people are and who they’re bantering with. He is not saying anything suggesting the Lions have already inquired about Kupp. And it certainly sounds like the only reason the Lions are mentioned is because of Goff’s four shared seasons with Kupp in Los Angeles. That’s far from enough evidence to suggest the Lions will get involved.

 

There’s also the matter of compensation. Right now, Kupp carries a pretty significant contract with him. He’s got a $12.5 million salary for 2025 and a $7.5 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the new league year. That’s a $20 million cap hit for the team acquiring him, although some experts suggest the Rams may agree to eat some of that. Similarly, Kupp has a $14.85 million salary in 2026 with a $5 million roster bonus—although none of that money is guaranteed.

 

With a contract that large, the fact that Kupp will be 32 years old to start the 2025 season, and injuries plaguing his last three seasons, it’s unlikely the Rams will catch anything other than a pick on Day 3 for the veteran receiver. That may make the deal most intriguing for a team like Detroit, but that contract still seems a bit too prohibitive to me.

 

Detroit would likely be able to re-sign Tim Patrick for far less and continue to have the explosive offense they had in 2024. That money would be better spent on the other side of the ball, where the Lions have some tough decisions, like what to do with pending free agents Carlton Davis, Levi Onwuzurike, and Derrick Barnes.

 

Once widely seen as a bridge quarterback for a building Detroit Lions franchise, Jared Goff has rebuilt his career and been a Pro Bowl signal-caller in two of the past three years.

 

Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has come with Ben Johnson as his offensive coordinator for the last three seasons.

 

Now, Johnson has departed to be the Chicago Bears head coach, leaving Goff to face him twice a season going forward.

 

“He’s a hell of a coach,” Goff told SiriusXM NFL Radio this past weekend at the Pro Bowl Games. “He’s a guy that’s made a ton of difference in my career. I’m obviously a big fan of his. I was joking with him — I wish he didn’t have to be in our division, so I didn’t have to try to beat him twice a year.”

 

Goff and the Lions won five of six against the Bears with Johnson at OC. The QB is obviously hoping that won’t change.

 

“He’s going to do a great job,” Goff said. “Hopefully not too good, though, with us being in the division together still. I’ll always be a fan of his and we’ll always have a good relationship.”

 

Over the last three seasons working with Johnson, Goff has completed 68.1% of his passes for 13,642 yards, 96 touchdowns to 31 interceptions and gone to two of his four career Pro Bowls.

 

After throwing for a career-high 37 touchdowns and completing a career-best 72.4% of his passes in 2024, Goff will now look to carry on his run of success under new OC John Morton.

 

Goff has some familiarity with Morton and is optimistic about the partnership ahead.

 

“We were together in 2022,” Goff said. “He was an assistant on our staff. Has done it before, has been a coordinator before, has a lot of experience in our league. He’s been around a lot of great coaches. I’m excited to work with him and see where we can go.”

 

Goff and the Lions came up well short of their Super Bowl aspirations in the 2024 season.

 

Now, Detroit will regroup and give it another go sans Johnson.

 

Just how well Goff maintains his recent level of Pro Bowl play under Morton will be a prevailing storyline for the 2025 Lions.

As a former No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Texas A&M, Garrett, 29, had 14 sacks last season for the second consecutive season and is still one of the NFL’s most feared linemen

. He would look fantastic in Honolulu Blue and silver lining up opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the Lions’ defensive line this fall.

He has two years left on his five-year, $125-million extension.

But the Browns would reportedly take on over $36 million in dead money if they dealt him owing to the many contract restructures they have done with him over the years.

And Cleveland has been adamant they aren’t dealing him — creating an unpleasant scenario with their superstar.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry just last week as asked: “If someone sees you at dinner and says, ‘We’ll give you two ones for Myles, do you say I’m not interested?’” “Correct. You can put that on the record,” Berry said. So, we’re asking Lions fans: What would you give up to get Garrett in Detroit? For context, Khalil Mack was 27 years old in 2018 when the Oakland Raiders traded him to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks, a third and a sixth.

The Bears also got back a second-round pick and a seventh.

The best player Oakland ended up with in the deal was running back Josh Jacobs, the 24th overall pick in 2019. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:

 

The 2025 draft doesn’t have to be very complicated for the Detroit Lions, and in this post-Senior Bowl three-round mock it wasn’t.

 

 

The first tentpoles of the 2025 pre-draft process are over, with the East-West Shrine Bowl and more prominently the Senior Bowl now in the books.

 

That also means mock draft season is set to really ramp up, ahead of the NFL Combine and Pro Day season taking place. As of right now the Detroit Lions have seven picks in the 2025 draft, with two of those spots (first and second round) locked in where they’ll be (pick No. 28 and pick No. 60).

 

Using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, here’s how our post-Senior Bowl three-round mock draft turned out.

 

Detroit Lions post-Senior Bowl 3-round mock draft

First Round, pick No.28: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

Green was regarded as a potential first-round pick before the Senior Bowl, and the event was going to be a test of what he could do against tougher competition than he faced at Marshall the last two seasons. He looked great in one-on-one pass rush reps, including the viral moment where he put Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly (a potential first-round pick) on his back, and he carried that into team drills.

 

Green also set aside concerns about his weight when he came in at 251 pounds at Senior Bowl weigh-ins. He is a prolific pass rusher (an FBS-high 17 sacks last season), but he is a well-rounded edge defender (84 total tackles and 23 tackles for loss last season) who would fit the Lions perfectly.

 

It has become a strong possibility Green is gone long before the Lions go on the clock at No. 28. But he was there here, so I happily took him.

 

Second Round, pick No. 60: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

The Lions waited too long to secure a viable replacement for Josh Reynolds last offseason, and they won’t make that mistake again. Tim Patrick is a free agent who could find a solid market for his services elsewhere after finally having a healthy season, and the Lions could go down the free agency path to replace him. But a dip into the draft to add a WR3 option is hardly out of the question.

 

Enter Higgins. He has prototypical “X” receiver size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), with the pre-requisite contested catch ability along with quickness and route-running ability that defy his size. Over his two years at Iowa State, after transferring from Eastern Kentucky, he had 62 receptions of 15-plus yards (third-most in FBS over the span, according to Pro Football Focus). PFF also noted his improvement in gaining separation with his routes between Tuesday and Wednesday practices during Senior Bowl week.

 

The way the board fell here, Higgins stood out as the ideal pick for the Lions.

 

Third Round, pick No. 101: Miles Frazier, OG, LSU

Note: This is the pick the Lions are slated to get for losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets’ head coaching job, and it will fall somewhere around pick No. 100 when the full draft order is finalized.

 

Frazier settled in at right guard for most of his last two seasons at LSU (though he did start the final game of his career at right tackle), allowing just 19 quarterback pressures over more than 1,000 total pass blocking snaps in that span. However, he played every position except center over the course of his five seasons and that is the kind of versatility the Lions should be seeking in offensive line depth. By all accounts he had a strong week down in Mobile.

 

The Lions’ guard situation is in a state of flux right now, with Kevin Zeitler a free agent and Graham Glasgow coming off a down season. Frazier wouldn’t necessarily be anointed an immediate starter, but as options for overall depth and potential competition at guard go he looks pretty good.