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Predicting the Detroit Lions’ offseason: Free agency and the draft

By Robert Jones

Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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What the Detroit Lions do in free agency will affect how they approach the draft. Here’s a guess as to how it may play out.

ALLEN PARK, MI – FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI – FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Free agency and the draft go hand-in-hand not only for the Detroit Lions, but for every other team in the NFL as well. The one sets up the other as teams try to improve their roster each offseason with dreams of championships dancing in their heads.

There are many directions the Lions could go for free agency and the draft, but considering the number of holes they need to shore up as well as general manager Bob Quinn’s belief that the Lion’s can do better than the 9-7 record they posted this past season, they will have to make some shrewd moves to acquire all the pieces they need.

Now the truth of the matter is that this Lions team is not as talent depleted as many of it’s predecessors, but it does have some specific needs that will make all the difference between having the opportunity to contend and coming up short again.

Lions new head coach Matt Patricia revealed to the press last week at the NFL combine that he believes in building from ‘the ball out’. That means up the middle on defense (defensive tackle, middle linebacker and safeties) and offense (center, guard, quarterback and running back).

On defense the Lions are fairly strong up the middle. Jarrad Davis had a very solid rookie season at middle linebacker and under Patricia’s tutelage he should only get better. Glover Quin and Quandre Diggs ended the year at safety playing at a very high level. That means defensive tackle is probably the priority on defense in the ‘ball out’ scenario.

Now the Lions are very high on A’Shawn Robinson, but he didn’t take a step forward as expected last year. He will get all the help necessary to do so, but the point is that they are very thin beyond him.

Meanwhile on offense the Lions believe in Matthew Stafford at quarterback. While he hasn’t proven himself by consistently beating winning opponents or in the playoffs, there is no denying that he may have the most arm talent in the league. That leaves needs at center or guard depending on where they decide to employ Graham Glasgow and running back.

So the question is simple; how will they fill their needs?

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