Detroit Lions: 3 starters who could be on their way out
By Max Gerber
With a new coaching staff and plenty of picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions appear to be in the middle of a major rebuild, leaving some starters’ futures with the team in question.
The acquisition of head coach Matt Patricia has lead to a significant amount of changes to the Detroit Lions roster. With a talented 2018 draft class and some big acquisitions through trades, free agency, and waiver claims, the team appears to be going through a rebuild.
The 2018 season has not played out as many Lions fans have hoped. There is much blame to go around, but a big reason for the team’s lack of success can be pinned on injuries and poor play by some of their key players.
While these players have made some big contributions during their tenures in Detroit, it is reasonable to say that their jobs are no longer safe as the Lions staff continues to reshape their roster.
Now standing at 3-6 and dead last in the NFC North, the Lions are likely to start looking ahead to next season. Here are three starters who may be on the outside looking in next offseason:
Glover Quin, Free Safety
Glover Quin has been a leader of the Lions defense ever since he came to Detroit during free agency in 2013. The free safety led the league in interceptions in 2014, bringing him to the Pro Bowl that same year.
Quin has had an outstanding career as a Lion, racking up 19 interceptions, 399 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. He has yet to miss a game while wearing the Honolulu Blue, which is one of the many reasons why he has been such a dominant force for the secondary.
In 2017, the Lions signed Quin to a two-year contract extension worth $13 million. The free safety has been so consistent playing at an elite level over his career, but he hasn’t been living up to those expectations.
This season, most of the secondary, including Quin, has struggled. Their poor play blamed for most of the big plays put up against Detroit. He has yet to record an interception and only has one pass defensed. He also has the second-most tackles on the team, but that’s only half of the story. The 32-year-old safety has struggled in coverage much of the season and many of those tackles are due to him and the rest of the secondary allowing those catches in the first place.
It is evident that the team will be focusing on the cornerback and safety positions this offseason and there is a chance that Quin’s job won’t be safe. If he has truly lost a step, the team may move on from him and have rookie free safety Tracy Walker fill the role. If the team continues to struggle throughout the season, expect Walker to start getting a cut of Quin’s snaps.