The Detroit Lions' hiring of Drew Petzing to be their new offensive coordinator already feels like ages ago.
At the time, as debates on the hiring raged, many wondered what the Petzing hiring could mean for the Lions' roster building this offseason. Would they pursue trades with the Cardinals? Would they sign free agents who played under Petzing in Arizona?
It would make sense. After all, it would give Petzing players that he's already comfortable with and can help current Lions' players adjust to his terminology and methodology.
That hasn't been the case thus far. Even when considering the Cardinals' 3-14 record, there are still players who could improve the Lions. The Lions didn't do the obvious thing and bring back veteran guard Evan Brown, who has ties to both the Lions, from his 32 games in Detroit, and Petzing, from his two seasons with the Cardinals. Instead, Brown signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.
With the need for a backup quarterback after Kyle Allen's departure to Buffalo, Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett would've been a perfect fit for the role after starting 12 games for Petzing's offense last season. Instead, the Lions brought back Teddy Bridgewater for yet another stint.
The Lions haven't completely avoided players with ties, however loose, with Petzing. One of the team's most under-the-radar signings qualifies.
The one signing that does have a Petzing connection
Petzing's NFL coaching career extends further back from his three-season stint as the Cardinals' OC, of course. This does open the door for more players familiar with Petzing to join the Lions, such as tight end Tyler Conklin, who was just brought in to fortify the TE room.
Conklin was a member of the Minnesota Vikings when Petzing was on the coaching staff. The two overlapped during Conklin's first two seasons, 2018 to 2019. At the time, Petzing was the assistant quarterbacks coach and later the wide receivers coach. Afterward, Petzing joined Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland, where he received his first TE coach role in the NFL.
READ MORE: Don't get too excited about the Jared Goff contract restructure
Conklin split time between offense and special teams, catching 13 passes for 135 yards across two seasons. Five of those passes went for a first down. Conklin's role in Minnesota expanded in the seasons that followed, peaking with 61 receptions in 2021, a mark he would later match in 2023 as a member of the New York Jets.
Sure, just because the Lions have yet to sign or trade for a player who was a part of Petzing's offense in Arizona doesn't mean they won't, although defense should be a higher priority right now. Nor does that mean they haven't tried. But, so far, one of the few things most expected out of the Lions this offseason hasn't come to pass, adding to an already unpredictable offseason.