Detroit Lions: Does the preseason really mean anything?

The preseason is nothing more than a pure coaching tool. It’s about having an opportunity to give your starters some live game situations to work on the execution of their assignments and get used to the contact again after having the opportunity to rest their bodies and heal up from the previous year over the offseason, OTA’s notwithstanding.

It’s also an audition for draft picks and free agents who are trying to make the team. as a matter of fact, about 95% of the exhibition season is strictly about players trying to make teams.

It’s pretty much a given that any starters in their prime will most likely make the team regardless of what happens during these glorified scrimmages. Unless management and the coaching staff is looking to replace them. High draft picks will also get a pass. The first-round pick will basically make the team even if he’s the worst player on the field. Although they will be on notice by his second or third season.

Second-round picks will usually get a little bit of a pass as well. Sometimes the third-rounder might get that treatment too, especially if the organization has been touting what a ‘steal’ they were.

But pretty much the rest of your draft picks and any rookie free agents are in a collective battle for positions. The same can be said of veterans who have been around awhile. they may have been stars at one point, but if they have lost a step or just simply don’t have the ability they once did, they will be fighting for their lives.

When all is said and done, the preseason is truly about all of those players that are on the bubble and trying to make the team. It’s about having a stage to impress their coaching staff and even put what they do on film for other teams that may be looking for a player who fits what they do when putting together their final roster.