The Detroit Lions have a long history of missteps and errors, and a new regime has paid for them.
The Detroit Lions are losing again, the last winless team in the NFL this season, and it isn’t just about one offseason when there was far too much to do in order to right the ship. This ship was sinking before general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell were hired.
Bad free agent signings and poor drafting have been a way of life for the Lions. This franchise can be expected to get the decisions wrong. It’s just what they do.
There are so many mistakes that can be highlighted, from the decision to pass on Aaron Donald in the 2014 NFL Draft to the multiple signings of New England Patriots castoffs under the Matt Patricia/Bob Quinn regime.
There is no arguing the multitude of bad moves the Lions have made. But one that the fans keep grumbling about is the decision to pass on a quarterback in the last two drafts. Were those missed opportunities that just threw gas on the dumpster fire this franchise is?
That depends on your point of view. The Lions could’ve had Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa with the third selection in the 2020 draft. Herbert has been a star from the moment he stepped on the field. Tagovailoa has had his struggles, but he’s a young quarterback and it is unrealistic to expect every rookie passer to play like Herbert did.
Then there are fans who are upset the Lions didn’t kick off their new rebuild by drafting Justin Fields last April. Time will tell if that was truly a mistake, and the Lions will get a close look twice a years with Fields under center for the Bears. From another angle, Mac Jones might actually be the one who got away.
While Jones does not have the mobility of Fields, his decision-making, accuracy, and intangibles might remind everyone of a former Patriots quarterback who wasn’t overly mobile but has seven Super Bowl rings. That isn’t to say Jones will have the success Tom Brady has, but he will improve and become a reliable quarterback that won’t wilt in the clutch.
Speaking of the clutch, Jared Goff hasn’t exactly been lighting the league on fire. Most Lions fans would be happy to have Herbert, Tagovailoa, Fields, or Jones at the helm of the Lions instead of Goff right now.
Lions’ history of mistakes doesn’t have to be repeated
Unfortunately, that highlights the errors this franchise has made. Who would any of those young signal-callers throw to? Sure tight end T.J. Hockenson is very talented, but he is being frequently double-teamed by opposing defenses since they don’t have wide receivers who are a real threat. Injuries this season haven’t helped.
Even if the Lions find a gem of a quarterback in next April’s draft, he still will need more talent around him before he’ll have a fighting chance.
Goff’s limitations and flaws are easy to see, as he continually checks down and refuses to throw deep to save his life. Even if he doesn’t have a receiver clearly open deep, maybe Goff should still chuck the ball down the field every once in a while just to keep the defense honest.
While Goff hasn’t played well and he deserves his share of the blame, it’s not all his fault. Having a limited receiving corps and an injury-hampered offensive line would hinder anyone playing quarterback for the Lions. This team is building from the ground up, and Goff has certainly never been seen as a long-term answer despite Holmes’ early platitudes suggesting otherwise. Winning the offseason, through good drafting and smart free agent signings, is the No.1 priority as a tough season rolls on.
The Lions will lose plenty of games this year. But if Holmes can continue to put together solid draft classes, and gets the time to build a good roster 1-53, the mistakes of the past (and past regimes) may finally stay in the past.
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