It’s probably not a huge surprise considering last year’s shift younger, but the Detroit Lions now have one player over 30 years old.
Through the Matt Patricia-Bob Quinn era, the Detroit Lions were the bad combination of not very good and a generally more “experienced” roster. The start of the rebuild under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell last year came with some financial pain in terms of dead money, but things are looking a lot better there moving forward.
With that rebuild meant the Lions’ roster got younger, and through some injuries last year it was even younger on some game days. The team’s level of play got better late in the season though.
The line where an NFL player is considered “old” isn’t totally clear, mostly because it’s dependent on position. Running backs decline and age out faster than most, while the rules allow quarterbacks to realistically try to play into their 40s as Tom Brady sets that bar.
The Detroit Lions have one player over 30 years old
Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire had it first, but I investigated myself anyway. Looking at the Lions current roster, with no more veteran additions on the way and almost certainly no one who would change it if they were added, there is one player who is over 30 years old.
Defensive lineman Michael Brockers turned 31 in December. The next-oldest Lion is guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who will be 29 in June. There are three other current 28-year olds–tight end Garrett Griffin, tackle Taylor Decker and long snapper Scott Daly. Quarterback Jared Goff will turn 28 in October.
On other end of the spectrum, the Lions have four players who are currently 21 years old–incoming rookies Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams and Kerby Joseph, along with tackle Penei Sewell, who will turn 22 in October.
On the off chance Brockers is cut between now and Week 1, or traded between now and the in-season trade deadline, the Lions would then have no one who’s 30 years old on the roster. But having a young roster, as a contender is attempted to be built, is the right course.