Detroit Lions offensive roster
Looking at the roster, there are not a ton of building blocks there, either. The offense has a decent offensive line featuring left tackle Taylor Decker and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow as the centerpieces. Rookie running back, D’Andre Swift and Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson are two young weapons to build around, too. After that things get more complicated.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is 32 and coming off of a decent season that has him on the border of notching another 4,000-yard season on his belt, which would be his eighth of his twelve-year career.
He has an out in his contract after this year but could stay until 2022 at least if he plays out the entire deal. Some fans are calling for the new regime to move on from the 12-year vet in the face of mounting losses and their need to blame the highest profile player.
Additionally, wide receiver Kenny Golladay is also a potential free agent after this year. Golladay has been the leading receiver for the last two years but has only played in five games after making the Pro Bowl in 2019.
Further muddying the wide receiver water is that the Detroit Lions only have two receivers under contract for 2021, rookie Quintez Cephus and journeyman Geronimo Allison. Both Marvin Jones, Jr. and slot Danny Amendola both have expiring contracts along with Golladay.
The cupboard isn’t nearly as bare as on the defensive side of the ball although the line probably still needs a piece and a couple of depth players to be considered a strength. Beyond Stafford there are no quarterbacks waiting in the wings. The depth at most positions ends at the starters.
Tyrell Crosby has come along at tackle, Matt Nelson played some meaningful snaps at tackle, too, after being a defensive tackle convert project. Jonah Jackson, a rookie guard, is among some of the younger talent that could improve with the right staff coaching him. There is some hope for the offense if they can find a couple of pass-catchers or re-sign Golladay and find some depth behind him.
A lot depends upon what they do with Stafford. Keep him, you almost have to tag Golladay to keep your best wideout for Stafford. Get rid of him via trade and it makes little sense to spend on Golladay when you could get a compensatory pick and draft a receiver on a rookie deal.