After narrowly missing out on the playoffs this year, these three bold moves could put the Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl next season.
After starting 1-6 this season, and with legit questions about head coach Dan Campbell’s job security if things continued that way, the Detroit Lions won eight of the their last 10 games to finish above .500 for the first time since 2017.
With even a little less ineptitude from the referees in the Seahawks-Rams Week 18 game, they may have gotten the help they needed to make the playoffs (a Rams win).
But the future is bright for the Lions. And if offensive coordinator Ben Johnson choosing to stay rather than further entertain head coaching opportunities is an indication, Detroit is becoming a place players and coaches want to be.
Via SI.com, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick has already tabbed the Lions as Super Bowl contenders for 2023.
"I’m going to say this now. I believe this team is a Super Bowl contender in 2023. I think what Dan Campbell is doing is just absolutely phenomenal, in terms of culture setting,” Riddick said. “I think young offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, what he did with Jared Goff this season — when Jared Goff had basically been thrown on the trash heap."
Lions going to playoffs in ‘23 and gonna be a real contender for the trophy when they do.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) January 18, 2023
If the Lions are going pay off Riddick’s prediction, these three bold moves would get them there.
3 bold moves to get the Detroit Lions to the Super Bowl next season
Move No. 3: Trade for Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey
Even with head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford coming back, the Rams need to shake some things up this offseason. Ramsey stirred up speculation about his future after the aforementioned season-ending Week 18 loss to Seattle.
https://twitter.com/jalenramsey/status/1613831200115654657?s=20&t=-ZfmJfd-PoSgB0h_jXYszQ
That felt like an expectation from Ramsey the Rams will try to trade him this offseason. The 28-year old has three years left on his contract, at base salaries of $17 million (2023), $14.5 million (2024) and $15.5 million (2025), with dates each year where either a chunk of salary (2023) or a $4 million roster bonus (2024 and 2025) comes due (via Over The Cap). The Rams would retain the cap implications attached to Ramsey’s prorated signing bonus, but a post-June 1 trade would clear $17 million in cap space for them this year.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes was working in the Rams’ front office when they acquired Ramsey, as was assistant GM Ray Agnew. Detroit’s search for a No. 1 corner this offseason may start (or end?) here, at a cost which wouldn’t necessarily have to be prohibitive in terms of draft capital.
NFL reporter Jason La Canfora recently offered a note mentioning Ramsey.
"It’s a matter of when Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Arizona Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins are traded, not if. And the GMs I’ve spoken to don’t believe those teams will get anywhere near the compensation that their fans might expect."
Move No. 2: Sign Tony Pollard
Jamaal Williams is a free agent, as is No. 3 running back Justin Jackson, and D’Andre Swift is heading toward the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. Re-signing Williams feels like a no-brainer, while trading Swift at a relative low-point in his value (unless his solid finish can be upsold) feels like it wouldn’t be ideal.
Unless an upgrade can be had. Enter Pollard.
People clamoring for the Cowboys to give Pollard more touches got to see it this season. He topped 1,000 yards rushing yards (1,007), while averaging 5.2 yards per carry with nine touchdowns on the ground over 193 carries. He added 39 receptions for 371 yards (9.5 yards per catch), with three more scores through the air.
Among 38 running backs who had 150 or more touches this season, Pollard had the top yards per-touch average (5.9)
Pollard is a big play waiting to happen. Pro Football Focus credited him with 31 explosive rushes (sixth-best in the league) and 15 explosive receptions (in the top-15 of the league) this season. That did come with a negative play once in awhile (a 9.3 percent stuff rate, per PFF; 20th-highest among 67 backs with at least 50 carries), for those who want to pick nits.
Rather than run it back with Williams as the short yardage and goal line “Thunder” to Swift’s occasionally fully healthy “Lightning”, why not sign Pollard and have an explosive back who’s ready to be an unquestioned lead guy?
If the price is right, even at more expensive than it’s going to be to just keep Williams, Pollard would look awfully good in Honolulu Blue.
Move No.1: Acquire Lamar Jackson
Jackson is headed for free agency, but there seems to be a very, very slim chance the Baltimore Ravens don’t use a franchise tag on him. There’s a slightly (maybe more than slightly at this point) better chance he doesn’t sign the franchise tender. Not signing the tender invites other outcomes, like him not signing it until a trade to another team is done, the Ravens rescinding the tender (rare, but has happened before), etc.
If Baltimore used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, he can negotiate with other teams and the Ravens would get compensation if he left. A traditional franchise tag followed by a trade would be possible, and most likely.
The Lions are getting some, if unlikely and almost entirely hypothetical, mentions as a possible landing spot for Jackson.
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus put together a trade scenario. In it the Lions give up both of their first-round picks this year, a second-round pick this year, their 2024 first-round pick and a third-rounder in 2024 for Jackson.
The prevailing angle here has been that Jared Goff is a “fine” quarterback, but the Lions will need an upgrade if they want to eventually reach (or win!) a Super Bowl. A quarterback of Jackson’s caliber and age–he just turned 26 on Jan. 7–doesn’t become available often. At this point, with a lot of moving parts to lock down, he is theoretically going to be available on some avenue this offseason.
The Lions should be broadly open to the idea of acquiring the 2019 NFL MVP right now, whatever the mechanics of the move will entail. If it’s rendered moot so be it, but there’s a growing chance Jackson and the Ravens are headed for a divorce.