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Detroit Lions: Bold Offseason Predictions

By Mike Payton

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Tulloch Stays

Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Purely a hunch to start us off here. Although aren’t these all hunches? During the season if you asked me if Tulloch would be back in 2016, I would have confidently said no. Now I’m not so sure. The fact is Stephen is old, but he’s not that old. At 31 the linebacker did see some regression in play this past season. But he still managed to rack up 107 tackles and is a leader in the locker room.

Where Tulloch looked bad was in the pass game. But frankly any linebacker the Lions have on their roster would have looked bad in that spot. With Levy out of the lineup, Tulloch was forced to fill in for him in spots where Levy succeeds. It didn’t work out so well. But with Levy back in the lineup in 2016, Tulloch can focus on what he’s excelled at in the past, and that’s stopping the run. What makes this move a question mark is Tulloch’s contract. He’s going into his final year in 2016 and will draw just over $7 mil. The Lions may choose to restructure Tulloch for an extra year to allow for more money this offseason.

Keeping Tulloch could pay off in the long run as he can play mentor to the rookie the Lions bring in to be his successor.

Next: Lions Sign One Big Free Agent

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