How will former Detroit Lions fare with their new teams in 2019?
The Detroit Lions have added some key pieces this offseason, but they lost some contributors as well. What’s the outlook for notable former Lions with their new teams in 2019?
Hope springs eternal in the NFL this time of year. Your favorite team has retooled, plugged critical roster holes, shuffled the coaching staff and looks poised to take the league by storm. The Detroit Lions certainly felt that way a year ago, then they went out and lost ten games. Oops.
Upending a roster rarely yields instant turnaround success, but as the old saying goes, if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. Many teams are in a position where they can’t afford to get worse.
Changes are inevitable every offseason, for practically each NFL team. Even the reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will look very different in 2019, losing key personnel on the field and from the coaching staff.
At first glance when compared to 2018’s version, the Lions’ roster looks improved. The tight end corps could go from a black hole to a team strength. General manager Bob Quinn’s previous three draft classes boast several players who appear on the cusp of stardom. And another year under head coach Matt Patricia’s guidance could help realize his vision.
The Lions knew that significant roster changes were in order after a disappointing 2018, the first year under Patricia. Coaching and scheme changes can often take several years to bear fruit, but will the Lions end up missing any of the players that they didn’t bring back for 2019?
Several players who made contributions for Detroit in 2018 and in prior seasons find themselves in new colors this year; deemed replaceable for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, the Lions could come out on top of these decisions when all’s said and done with the players who took their place. Only time, and a lot of football games will tell.
In the meantime, SideLion Report examines some of the departed Lions from last season, their fits with their new teams and what to expect and look for from them in 2019. Who will they miss the most, who was most replaceable, and what impact could they make with their new squad?