Detroit Lions: offensive line
Services like Pro Football Focus, which are just a source of information, have ranked the Rams unit as near the top of the NFL for the entire season. The bigger point here is that a lot of what they do is only possible because they give their runners holes to run through and their quarterback time to throw or execute the offense. Andrew Whitworth, Roger Saffold, John Sullivan, Austin Blythe, and Rob Havenstein are all playing well together.
KCW believes that the Lions have some talent up front but that a minimum of two spots needs to be solidified. Graham Glasgow has done a good job as the center. Rookie, Frank Ragnow, has looked like a rookie at times but is solid and should be a very good starter for years to come. Taylor Decker, the left tackle, has been streaky and hasn’t seemed to get much better since his exceptional rookie campaign in 2016.
All three are on their rookie deals and will probably be around for several more years. The Lions right guard and right tackle, T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner, are two costly options that are past their best years. Wagner is 29, Lang is 31, and Lang has had a string of concussions and back problems.
Wagner’s salary also escalates to $11.9 million dollars next year but they have a potential out in 2020. An average starter at right tackle would make between $4.5 and $5.5 million per year, according to this year’s data, via Over The Cap. Lang’s salary with bonuses is similar at $10.8 million, escalating to $11.5M next year.
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Wagner’s Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade for this year is 71.8, which is above average. After 2019 the Lions need to have another solution on the roster. Lang needs to be replaced this offseason, where he is likely to retire.
KCW would like to see the Lions move Decker to right tackle and to draft a better athlete at left tackle. Tyrell Crosby, a rookie from Oregon, may be able to start somewhere next year, too, but it is too early to tell. Joe Dahl has not ever graded out well and doesn’t look to be anything more than a backup, ditto any other lineman on the roster currently.
The offensive line has to be a priority for Bob Quinn going into the draft because of how much money they have committed to Wagner and Lang (assuming the latter returns). If Lang retires, which he has not indicated yet, that would free up some cap and put a free agent as a possibility.
Most likely with 8-10 picks in the 2019 draft, the Lions brain trust will draft at least one prospect. There are a few high priority needs, cornerback, edge rusher-defensive end, and wide receiver all seem to be necessities right along with the offensive line.
David Edwards, Wisconsin, and Mitch Hyatt, Clemson, are two tackles who are not first round prospects but that may be targeted a little later to compete at left or right tackle.