The Detroit Lions and NFC North 2021 season preview

NFC North fourth place: Detroit Lions

This leaves the Detroit Lions in the NFC North basement. The rebuild started in earnest this past offseason, but there is plenty more work to do.

For the first time in over a dozen years, Matthew Stafford is not the Lions quarterback. Instead, Jared Goff will be the field general. Despite the innovative and wide-open offense of John McVay in Los Angeles, Goff spent too much time turning over the ball the last two years and now he is in Detroit as a result.

These Lions don’t seem to have a lot of margin for error so Goff will need to take much better care of the ball. As a matter of fact, he may need to play more of a game manager role like Kirk Cousins. Goff is capable of making plays, but not carrying the team.

The offensive line is expected to power the offense. Center Frank Ragnow is one of the best in the business and Taylor Decker is coming off a very good year at left tackle. The hope is that first-round pick Penei Sewell will pick up his game at right tackle and solidify the line play.

Given holes to run through D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Willimas will happily do so. Given good health, this one-two punch should be very productive on the ground and in the air given the state of the receiving corps.

This is the biggest concern on offense. Tyrell Williams appears to be the Lions’ top receiver. If healthy, Williams has proven he can be a major asset to the offense and make big plays. Health, however, has always been the problem. The trade for Trinity Benson puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders to prove he’s worth it. Rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown looks like a keeper and we’ll see how much the rest of the bunch is able to contribute.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson is ascending towards the elite in the league and Darren Fells is capable depth.

The Lions’ defense hasn’t scared anyone in some time, but the hope is that a talented, deep defensive line will make progress towards changing that.

Veteran acquisition Michael Brockers should be a welcome addition while rookies Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike should help give the Lions some punch in the defensive trenches.

Reigning sack leader Romeo Okwara and Trey Flowers have been converted to outside linebackers. They should help heat up the pass-rush while Julian Okwara and Austin Bryant have shown promise.

Middle linebacker is the biggest question. Jamie Collins was reliable but was unspectacular last season. Alex Anzalone will line up next to him, however, Derrick Barnes seems to have the most potential of anyone in the middle.

Cornerback is a position of youth for the Lions. Jeff Okudah needs to prove his worth and Amani Oruwariye has to continue to improve. The depth here is completely unproven and will be tested.

Tracy Walker appears to be the leader of the secondary at safety, but he needs to have a big bounce-back year after last season. Will Harris is being given the nod at the other safety position and he will have a lot to prove after a couple of seasons of looking lost.

The Lions are expected to battle the Houston Texans for the top pick in next April’s draft. I’m not concerned about the record this season, just how well they compete. There are still plenty of holes to fill and a high draft pick wouldn’t hurt, but this season has to be about the foundation that Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are laying.

How the young players develop and the competitive attitude that these Lions display are more important to what the new regime is building than wins this season.

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