An outlet has named one player (non-quarterback) they can't afford to lose, but these five players are the ones most critical to the Detroit Lions success in 2023.
After winning eight of their last 10 games last season, the Detroit Lions enter the 2023 season with a level of expectations it's hard to remember when they had last. Many are high on their prospects for this year, some more than the others, but the base level expectation appears to be a division title for the first time since 1993 (when it was called the NFC Central).
While training camp will have a few interesting position battles (linebacker, right guard, kicker), there are obviously a lot of Lions players who have no questions about their jobs security/starting job. Those players don't really need to be listed out, as we know them well, but they account for a big chunk of what will end up as the 53-man roster heading into Week 1.
Narrowing even further, and inspired by CBS Sports' list of one non-quarterback each NFL team can't afford to lose this season, here are the five Detroit Lions players who are most critical to the team's success in 2023. Frankly, they could be put in any order and it wouldn't be wrong.
5 players who are most critical to the Detroit Lions success in 2023
5. DE Aidan Hutchinson
Afte some early kinks, Hutchinson rounded into form to become one of the best edge defenders in the NFL over the stretch run of his rookie season last year. He led all rookies in sacks and pressures, and played the second-most snaps of any defensive lineman in the entire league.
Hutchinson was everything the Lions could have hoped for as a rookie, but he is not resting on any laurels. On "Twentyman In the Huddle" with Lions.com writer Tim Twentyman recently, outside linebackers coach David Corrao talked about Hutchinson making a second-year leap.
"He's progressed to the point where you're not focusing on -- and this is where you want to be, right, you don't want to spend all day on 'Where do I line up and what do I do?' You want that to just be automatic," said Corrao. "Once you've got that experienced confidence that I know what I got to do and I know where I got to do it, now you get to spend more time on how do I do it. "
"When they're not worried about what to do, nah, that's not an issue. Now, I'm just focused. My eyes are on my key and I'm playing. I'm worried about my hands, my feet, and I'm just, 'Where's the ball? Go get the ball.' That's when you see players play fast. And, that's what they talk about the game slows down, because they start to play so much faster.""
Experience is now in Hutchinson's corner more than it was during his rookie season. If the Lions defense is going to level up noticeably this season, as it inarguably has to if they're going to reach high expectations, last year's No. 2 overall pick will be the driving force.
4. C Frank Ragnow
Ragnow gutted through a recurrence of the toe issue that cost him a big chunk of the 2021 season last year, all the way to being the only Lion voted in to the Pro Bowl. He'll be playing with the issue to some degree until further notice by the sound of it, perhaps the rest of his career.
Evan Brown filled in very capably for Ragnow in 2021, but he left for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency this offseason. Former Lion Graham Glasgow was brought back in a subsequent move, and if Halapoulivaati Vaitai takes back the starting job at right guard he would be Ragnow's backup at center. But it's also safe to say Glasgow has had a rough last couple seasons, due in part to injury.
Ragnow seems to walking a fine line betwen being able to play with his injury, and possibly facing significant missed time like in 2021. The difference could literally be an awkward step or someone stepping on his foot. Losing the literal center of one of the league's best offensive lines would not be good for the Lions.
3. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
St. Brown has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL over the last two seasons, and he's eyeing being a bigger threat all over the field in his third season.
St. Brown is no-doubt going to be the Lions' No. 1 wide receiver, but target share and overall impact. But the group around him got a little thinner for the early part of the season, when Jameson Williams receive a six-game gambling suspension. So St. Brown's performance will now have a little bit more spotlight on in over those six games, and more importance to the functioning of the Lions' passing game.
2. RT Penei Sewell
Sewell has immediately become one of the best right tackles in the NFL, and he's starting to get prominently noticed as such. At just 22 years old (he'll turn 23 during the coming season), the sky feels like the limit and last year was only the first of what will be many Pro Bowl selections in his career (hopefully spent entirely with the Lions).
Sewell was the non-quarterback selection for the Lions on the aformentioned "can't afford to lose" list from Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports.
"An elite blocker in a 2022 breakout, Sewell is one of the biggest reasons Jared Goff was able to surprise skeptics with borderline top-10 production last year. His size and athleticism at right tackle are simply unteachable."Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
When left tackle Taylor Decker missed the early part of the 2021 season and Sewell shifted over to replace him, we saw how generally overmatched Matt Nelson was as a starting tackle. That would be lined up to happen again this year if Sewell were to go go down with an injury.
There would an obvious and clear drop-off from Sewell to anyone who would have to replace him if he were out, and he had a strong case for No. 1 on this list.
1. QB Jared Goff
Goff had a very good season in 2022, literally one of the best of his career. His ability to repeat it, or at least somewhat closely repeat it (no one should expect 300-plus more pass attempts without an interception) will be a barometer of success for the Lions this season.
At the practical outset of the offseason, Lions general manager Brad Holmes declared priority on the No. 2 quarterback spot. That ultimately yielded bringing back Nate Sudfeld, and reports in April about a "strong offer" to Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater not taking said "strong offer" is not the Lions' fault, but he can't have been the only plan to upgrade the backup situation behind Goff. Or he shouldn't have been, anyway. Now, everyone is saying how comfortable they are with the quarterback room.
Independent of broader thoughts about Goff's upside or his ability to repeat his performance from last year, which for some fans you shouldn't talk negatively about, the Lions will have a hard time winning any games he misses and Sudfeld has to start this season. Maybe not quite Tim Boyle circa 2021, but closer to that than anyone would like.
The high hopes for the Lions in 2023 go down with Goff if he is sidelined by a serious injury. After Holmes practically promised that wouldn't happen back in January, the failure to really address the backup situation only heightens how important Goff is (performance and health-wise) to the team's success this season.