Detroit Lions 2018 Roster Review: Quarterbacks, Special Teams

The Detroit Lions are in a holding pattern, waiting for their rumored new head coach to finish the Super Bowl. In the meantime, let’s look at the team’s current roster.

The Detroit Lions enter this offseason with several questions to answer about their team. From a rumored new head coach in Matt Patricia, to how the team will solve their running back woes to the future of defensive end Ziggy Ansah in Detroit.

But the two areas of the roster that no one seems to be concerned about are quarterback and special teams. With the highest paid player in the NFL history firmly entrenched under center and the best kicking duo in the league all signed for the foreseeable future, why would there be? Still, let’s take a glance at both positional groups heading into 2018.

Quarterback

Roster

Matthew Stafford, QB
Alek Torgersen, QB

Free Agent

Jake Rudock, QB (ERFA)

Special Teams

Roster

Matt Prater, K
Sam Martin, P

Free Agent

Kasey Redfern, P (ERFA)
Don Muhlbach, LS (UFA)

Analysis

Again, the Lions are set at starter under center for the foreseeable future. And I believe Detroit will keep Rudock on the roster as the primary back-up to Stafford. Despite a shaky showing in spot duty during the regular season, the young passer showed promise in the preseason. I believe the Lions would benefit from having a quarterback like Rudock learning under Stafford for another season.

Next: Matt Patricia is already cleaning house in Detroit

As for the Lions special teams unit, chemistry is everything. Keeping longsnapper Don Muhlbach is key to that. There is simply no reason to move on from something that’s working. Martin suffered the infamous conch shell injury to start the season. And Redfern perform admirably in his place. But both Prater and Martin make up the best special teams duo in the league. Again, if it works, there is no reason to change.