The Detroit Lions released tackle Rick Wagner on Friday leaving them with more holes on both lines than they may logically be able to fill this offseason.
The Detroit Lions offseason game plan seems to be addition by subtraction. Especially in the trenches where football games are won or lost.
This past Friday the Lions released veteran right tackle, Rick Wagner. Unfortunately, in Wagner’s three seasons in Detroit he never lived up to the contract he signed as a free agent back in 2017. However, the move does leave the Lions offensive line with more questions than answers.
Salay-cap moves are not at all uncommon in the NFL and perhaps the $6.1 million they are saving could help general manager Bob Quinn to piece together that winner they have been mandated to field next season.
But as the Lions stare down the advent of free agency this coming Wednesday, you would have to forgive any of us that see nothing more than a roster filled with holes that will take a few seasons to reasonably fill. Unless they have gone into rebuilding mode.
I have heard quite a few of the conspiracy theorists that have accused the Lions of rebuilding this offseason instead of building a contender.
Quite frankly the more Quinn deconstructs the Lions, the more difficult it becomes to see how they are going to suddenly become winners this fall. Especially given his track record as Detroit’s general manager.
If we can believe Martha Firestone Ford’s edict that she expects the Lions to be contenders next season, then Quinn is going as far out on a limb as possible to somehow gut this team, especially in the trenches, before they rise from the offseason ashes and suddenly become winners.
Let’s be honest, this isn’t a story that is believable enough to be sold in Hollywood. Yet somehow in the world of reality, Lions fans are expected to mindlessly watch this regime at work and find hope?