Detroit Lions: The painful offseason moves may not be over
By Robert Jones
Building for the future
We knew there would be many changes before next season, but as things have unfolded, especially given the Stafford trade, it seems we have just hit the tip of the iceberg. The Lions roster which needs some mass purging will get that.
Once Matthew Stafford asked to be traded, we knew there would be a new signal-caller under center next season. For the moment it looks like that will be Jared Goff. Who he will throw to outside of T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift out of the backfield, is a mystery.
Meanwhile, the defense is a bigger conundrum. No one could argue if every current defensive player was cast adrift and the Lions just pulled anyone with a pulse off the street to start the rebuilding process.
Fortunately, the draft should bring in a few building blocks for the defense, but it is still a major reconstruction.
On offense, there are a few building blocks in place, like D’Andre Swift, Frank Ragnow, T.J. Hockenson, and Jonah Jackson, but that still leaves plenty of work to be done. However, the most painful part of this rebuild might be who else won’t be back next season.
There are two other very productive players that are still young enough to be building blocks, but may become casualties of the Lions rebuild and salary cap.
When all is said and done, more difficult decisions need to be made in order for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell to meet their goal, which isn’t about next season, but building for two seasons down the road.
That is what Dan Campbell has stated their mindset will be in order to help perpetuate a winning program. So they will try to build through the draft and most likely add young cost effective pieces in free agency.
That will be their way of running the business; foresight instead of knee-jerk reactions.
Does that mean if they accomplish their goal and build a contender they won’t be willing to add a higher-priced piece or two in free agency or trade to get that player they think will put them over the top? One has to believe the willingness will be there when the time is right, but the conscientious decision to keep an eye on the future is a good way to avoid short-term mistakes.