SideLion Report
FanSided

Detroit Lions free agents have Super Bowl pedigree

By Steven Mullenax

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles and Brandon Bolden #38 of the New England Patriots greet each other after the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles and Brandon Bolden #38 of the New England Patriots greet each other after the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

As the Detroit Lions build their roster for the upcoming season, the front office appears to have an eye for those with championship experience.

Whenever an NFL franchise experiences a coaching change, there are bound to be plenty of roster ramifications. And the 2018 Detroit Lions are no different.

Earlier this year, the Lions ousted head coach Jim Caldwell after four relatively successful seasons. A tenure in which Caldwell led Detroit to three winning seasons and two playoff appearances. Unfortunately, the Lions failed to win in the postseason. Which was likely the main reason for his firing.

In Caldwell’s place, general manager Bob Quinn looked to a familiar face to help introduce the Motor City to a new winning culture. Quinn hired former New England Patroits’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. A man with a history of winning Super Bowls. Quinn undoubtedly hopes Patricia will bring that championship pedigree to Detroit.

And Quinn’s search for Super Bowl experience didn’t end with Patricia. It has spilled over into free agency as well. Out of all the free agents the Lions have signed since the market opened two weeks ago, five of them own Super Bowl rings.

Those players being tight end Luke Willson, cornerback DeShawn Shead, defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, linebacker Jonathan Freeny and running back LeGarrette Blount.

"“Willson and Shead won titles with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2013 season,” wrote Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “Williams won with the Denver Broncos in 2015, Freeny was on the New England Patriots’ title team in 2016, and Blount won with the Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles the last two years.”"

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 - The First 20 Picks

According to Bob Quinn, the fact these five share championship experience is just a coincidence. I’d call it the building blocks to a winning formula for the Detroit Lions. This is a team looking for something to help them get over the playoff hump. The Lions haven’t won a game in the postseason since 1992. But with a strong aerial offense in place, a commitment to improving their running game and a defense led by one of the brightest minds in the NFL; the future in Detroit is looking very bright.

Home/Lions News