The Detroit Lions must patiently rebuild, not go for the ‘quick fix’

The Detroit Lions started their rebuild last offseason, and they need to stay the course instead of being sucked into the ‘quick fix’.

The Detroit Lions‘ 2021 season was a mixed bag. They started out 0-8 before getting an unimpressive tie in Pittsburgh, as head coach Dan Campbell took over the offensive play calling after the bye. Two more losses followed before the Lions finally broke through by beating the Vikings on the final play of regulation in Week 13.

The Lions were low on talent, but high on motivation and effort. A more competitive stretch run over the final several weeks landed them with a 3-13-1 record.

Since the Lions’ season ended after Week 18, there have been several mock drafts and plenty of speculation about what the Lions’ next move(s) will be. Some of it isn’t bad, but some of it reeks of why the Lions have failed to put together a sustainable contender since the franchise’s last championship in 1957.

Here is some advice to general manager Brad Holmes, Campbell: Be patient, and stay the course.

The Detroit Lions need to commit to a patient rebuild

Holmes launched into the rebuild by trading Matthew Stafford to the Rams for a package highlighted by two first-round picks. The slate was cleared for Holmes to show he can build a contender. It would be surprising to see Holmes make a dramatic shift now, even as he has cited entering the “player acquisition phase” of things.

For a long time, decades even, the Lions would overspend in free agency on the idea they were a few pieces away from getting over the hump. The subsequent results have spoken for themselves.

The suggestions that the Lions break the bank to get a receiver like Michael Thomas in a trade or spend big money in free agency for another receiver like Davante Adams or Chris Godwin sounds good because it would give Jared Goff a legitimate weapon. But it would also hamper the Lions in a broad sense.

The Lions will have money to spend this offseason, but they have several needs. Spending big on one one guy would not be a good allocation of resources. In a couple years, if the Lions seem to actually be ready to contend, then signing a high-priced free agent who is the missing piece will be acceptable.

Holmes put together a solid first draft class in 2021, and the front office found a few undrafted free agents who contributed as rookies too. Keeping this year’s draft capital intact (10 picks), rather than trading multiple picks for a veteran who’s available, would be the more ideal plan.

Chasing the ‘quick fix’ is often a trap for long-struggling franchises, and the Lions have been no exception. But for at least one more offseason, with some faith in Holmes and company, patience has to be the word in Detroit.