Deeper look: 3 Senior Bowl prospects to help the Detroit Lions offense

The Detroit Lions are coaching at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and this week we’ll discuss in more depth three prospects that can help the Lions offense in 2020.

Last week it was revealed that the Detroit Lions would be one of the two teams coaching in Mobile, Alabama, for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl showcases college athletes who have graduated from their college or university or who are current seniors who are eligible for the NFL Draft. In this week’s installment, we will delve into which prospects would be the best fits for the Detroit Lions offense.

Last week Kick In The Crotch Weekly gave readers six names to know to tease your appetite for the Reese’s Senior Bowl being played January 25th. Some people don’t value this opportunity that the Lions have, nor do they look to glean important information about the way these players might transition into the NFL. This year’s game has many early-round names and some that will go undrafted through the Annual Selection Meeting, aka the draft, this year held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Offensively, the list of needs seems less important than the list of defensive needs if for no other reason than how bad the defense was. Conversely, at times the offense looked like a playoff-caliber unit if you didn’t look at run-game production.

Important notes about the Detroit Lions offense to remember:

• Taylor Decker who finished the season tied for ninth with just seven sacks allowed per Pro Football Focus (PFF) has a fifth-year option the Lions picked up in last April, so his base salary for 2020 will be $10.35m at left tackle (Spotrac website)
• Ricky Wagner, right tackle, is slated to make $11.9 million for 2020 but was graded 59.1 overall by PFF, he has an out in his deal that would cost the Lions $5.9 million in dead salary cap salary
• Graham Glasgow, center-guard, will be a free agent at the start of the 2020 NFL year if the Lions and he do not come to an agreement prior
• Frank Ragnow, center, Joe Dahl, guard, Beau Benzschawel, guard, Tyrell Crosby, tackle, Wagner are only players signed past 2020, several have voidable deals prior to the ends of their deals
• Marvin Jones, Jr., wide receiver, who is in the last year of his five-year deal, is slated to make $9.18m and the Lions would incur a $2.6 million dead salary cap cost if they waived him
• Kenny Golladay, wide receiver, is going into the last year of his rookie deal and is expected to receive a large extension to make him one of the top-paid at his position
• No other receiver is signed past 2020
• The Lions have three tight ends signed for 2020 including Jesse James, T.J. Hockenson, and Isaac Nauta
• James’ cap number for 2020 is $5.2 million, has a possible contract out after 2020 with $4.2 million in dead salary cap money
• Running back, Kerryon Johnson has two years remaining on his rookie deal, was on reserved-injured for portions of both years so far
• Ty Johnson is signed through 2022, Bo Scarborough, through 2020
• Quarterback Matthew Stafford is signed through 2022, plus there is a void/ dummy year for 2023
• Backup QB’s Kyle Sloter and David Blough are signed through 2020 and 2021, respectively

There will be a quiz over that information tomorrow. Seriously, though, we have many issues that will sneak up and leave the Detroit Lions cupboard bare if they do not take a very proactive approach at building depth while improving the starters at key positions. The Lions have just six picks in the 2020 NFL Annual Selection Meeting, aka the Draft, to address needs on both sides of the ball.