The Detroit Lions Podcast

Campbell's stance on Sewell and the line Dan Campbell used the NFL owners meetings in Arizona to make one thing clear. He is open, even preferential, to moving Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. That headline changes how the Detroit Lions approach the spring. Sewell will excel wherever he lines up. There are zero worries about his performance. The context matters. The Lions might have a new left guard this year. They do have a new center in Bates Mays. That is a lot of change in the middle of an elite unit. Continuity counts. Fewer moving pieces usually help. Campbell's view suggests the staff is comfortable reshaping the front to fit the bigger plan. Right tackle reality and draft ripple Brad Holmes, in last week's sit-down, essentially anointed Larry Borom as the starting right tackle without using the exact phrase. As of today, it is hard to see anyone else opening Week 1 on the right side. His contract is for one year, so the long term is still open. But the near term points to Borom. That alters draft calculus. Detroit does not have to take a tackle at 17. They can wait. The second round now looks more viable for a tackle. Trading around to target a value pocket makes sense. It also cools interest in left-tackle-only prospects. Caleb Holmes fits that bucket. Caleb Lomu was an early favorite there if 17 had been earmarked for offense. With Sewell at left tackle and Borom on the right, profiles shift. Blake Miller, a natural right tackle who looks ready to start, fits the current board better, whether at 17 or later. Edge talk at 17 and board shaping Holmes also discussed the edge group, with DJ Oneum in the mix. That points the first-round lens back to defense. The instincts about Kendrick Small at 17 feel firmer after this week. If it is not Falk, there is still a clean case for TJ Parker. Akeem Mesa remains in the conversation. The picture is not final, but the tiers are clearer. Yesterday's mock draft on the Detroit Lions Podcast explored trade paths and explained the logic through each move. Today's update tightens that logic. Sewell to left tackle. Borom trending at right tackle. A deeper tackle board available after the first round. Edge rising at 17. That is how the Lions can attack April. It is a plan that fits Campbell's comments and the current roster structure. Short term clarity. Long term flexibility. The kind of balance good teams use to stay good. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dancampbell #peneisewellatlefttackle #larryborom #bradholmes #nflownersmeetings #levionwuzurike #djwonnum #josiahtrotter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mock Draft 3.0 on the Detroit Lions Podcast put trades on the table. Jeff Risdon charted plausible moves and a first round that ends with Clemson edge TJ Parker in Detroit. The approach targeted value, added picks, and stayed aligned with how the Detroit Lions build their defense in the NFL. Trade Down with Houston Reshapes Round 1 At No. 17, a deal with the Houston Texans set the tone. Houston offered No. 28, No. 69, and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Detroit sent back No. 17, No. 157, and a 2027 seventh. The trade-value math favored Detroit. The aggressive team usually pays about a 10 percent tax to move up, and this one fit that pattern. Houston used the move to grab Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. Detroit slid to 28 and took TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson. The board cooperated. The drop secured extra capital without losing the preferred profile at edge defender. Why TJ Parker Fits Detroit's Front Parker matches what Detroit wants across from Hutchinson. He plays power to speed and can flip it to speed to power. He is a little smaller than the typical prototype, but his style answers that. He had a down year in 2025. Even so, last August and early September mock drafts often projected him as the first defensive player off the board. At the combine, he explained the dip with poise. He did not bury Clemson's coaching. He handled it diplomatically. That maturity reads well in Allen Park. Value matters here. Risdon liked Parker at 17, but he liked him more at 28. He likes almost any player more at 28 than at 17. Landing the same target at a lower slot while pocketing No. 69 and a future asset checks boxes for roster building. How the Board and Process Shaped the Pick Reider Falk was gone at 21 to the Steelers. On the clock at 28, options included Vaki Reader, Max, and Blake Miller. Those names fit areas Detroit could weigh. This mock projects what the Lions would do, not a personal wish list. The "what I would do" edition comes closer to draft weekend. The process mattered. Player availability was cross-checked on multiple simulators without using their trade engines. The exercise aimed for plausible outcomes. Houston's current needs made their jump for defensive line make sense. They have upgraded three starting offensive line spots and still need one more, but defensive line looms larger. Detroit capitalized on that urgency, then found a clean schematic fit in Parker at 28. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft3.0 #t.j.parker #clemsonfootball #blakemiller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decker's endgame in Detroit: where the blame sits On today's Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon drilled into the Taylor Decker situation and why it unraveled. After sleeping on it, he called a recently retired player he trusts. The player walked through how this works in the NFL. Agents handle the hard talks. Pay cuts. Buyouts. Even filing retirement paperwork. That is the standard flow. Decker didn't follow that path. By his own account, he contacted the Lions himself. He spoke with Dan and tried to reach Brad while Brad was at the combine. The host's takeaway was clear. Either Decker's agent dropped the ball by not running point or Decker chose to supersede his agent. If the agent failed to warn him that staying on the same contract was unrealistic given his health, that is negligence. If Decker ignored that advice, that is on him. Could the Lions have called sooner? Probably. After Decker's Instagram post hit minutes before Brad took the stage in Indianapolis, a same-day call would have helped. But Decker asked for his release. He wanted out. The Lions owe him nothing at that point. Based on how a subsequent interview was framed, a reunion does not sound imminent. The timeline around Indy The combine setting mattered. Decker's post landed about twenty minutes before Brad's media time in Indianapolis. That complicated immediate outreach. Communication should have been tighter early, but the core breakdown appears to be on the player-agent side. The version of Decker from last season did not match the money he expected this year. That reality hurts. It also explains why talks stalled and why responsibility shifts toward Decker and his representation. Roster notes: Tyler Conklin and the Dortch-for-Raymond swap A radio hit earlier in the week surfaced two notable items. First, the group walked through players the Detroit Lions have added, including Tyler Conklin. One guest who coached him at Central Michigan admitted he didn't realize the signing had happened and was pleasantly surprised. Second, Greg Dortch came up as a near one-for-one replacement for Raymond. The host emphasized that Lions fans may not fully grasp how directly Dortch can mirror Raymond's role. He did some quick, bare-bones research to compare them and saw the logic in the move. The fit looks clean for how Detroit structures its receiver usage. A Thanksgiving rule memory That radio spot also detoured into a 2012 Thanksgiving memory. Former NFL kicker Shane Graham recalled being on the Texans side of the infamous Jim Schwartz rule moment, when a challenge on an unchallengeable play drew a penalty. He also noted he kicked a field goal in that game. The story framed how thin game margins can be, and why process matters, whether on challenges or contract talks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #taylordecker #agentnegotiations #paycuttalk #buyoutdiscussion #retirementpaperwork #bradatthecombine #danconversation #instagrampostinindianapolis #releaserequest #communicationtimeline #shanegraham #texansthanksgiving2012 #jimschwartzrule #tylerconklinsigning #gregdortchforraymond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 606: Taking Stock of a Thin Secondary The Detroit Lions sit a month from the draft with a fresh headache. Episode 606 of the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroes in on cornerback Terrion Arnold's name surfacing around an incident. He has not been charged by prosecutors. His name appears in text messages tied to people he knows. The team is quiet while facts get sorted. The NFL does not need a conviction to act. That is the real risk. The conversation stays on the field. The Lions are already stretched in the secondary with Branch and Joseph out. One more hit would strain a room that carried them late last season. The NFL can move quickly. The timing may not help Detroit. Arnold's Cloud and the NFL Risk The situation is murky. The discussion made clear there is no direct allegation of Arnold participating in the acts. He is mentioned in messages. That alone can trigger league interest. Protecting the shield matters in the NFL. The league acts on its own standard. It does not need investigations to finish. It does not need a courtroom to set discipline. If a four to six game suspension landed in 2026, the Lions would feel it immediately. Cornerback depth would thin to the bone. Safety help would already be compromised. That is how a headline becomes a roster problem. It also becomes a draft problem. If a Suspension Hits, the Draft Board Shifts The panel walked through the calculus. Detroit is a month out from the draft. If the league decides after April, the board they build today could get flipped in June. That uncertainty forces contingency plans. Cornerback jumps higher. Safety help stays in play. The room cannot afford a slow start in September if games are missed. The Lions have lived the bad timing before. A player kept a decision under wraps until after the draft. The team expected a different outcome based on internal talks. That left the front office exposed. The same trap exists here. Will Detroit know Arnold's fate before they are on the clock? No one can say. Timing Questions That Keep Detroit on Edge This is a roster management problem framed by the league's timeline. The best outcome is clarity before the draft. The most likely outcome is limbo. Detroit must act like the suspension could happen and build a board that survives it. That means early cornerback consideration. It means secondary depth as a priority, not a luxury. Nothing in the discussion convicted Arnold. It did spotlight risk. The NFL moves on its own calendar. The Lions must be ready if that calendar collides with theirs. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #terrionarnold #branchandjoseph #secondarydepth #cornerbackneed #fourtosixgamesuspension #protectingtheshield #draftcalculus #textmessages #prosecutorsdecision #secondarycrisis #monthoutfromthedraft #2026season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Week Recon and a New Name Up Front The Detroit Lions Podcast checks in from Pittsburgh, where the NFL Draft setup is coming together four weeks out. The walk-through comes with roster news that hits the trenches. Detroit added guard Ben Barch to an already crowded interior offensive line. He is a big body with real NFL snaps. He also carries real medical flags. Barch climbed from a D-III program to Jacksonville and showed promise after a strong Senior Bowl in 2020. A dislocated knee derailed that progress. That is a bone issue, not a tendon tear. He later landed with the San Francisco 49ers and opened last season tracking as their starting left guard. An ankle injury in Week 2 sent him to injured reserve. He lost the job to Spencer Buford. The tape before the injuries said NFL starter. The health record says proceed with care. Sorting the Interior: Starters, Jobs, and Budget Reality The Lions have numbers on the interior now. That affects draft plans and daily reps. Tate Rallidge is set to start at right guard. Cade Mays is set to start at center. He is the only free agent on a deal longer than one year, and that signals trust. Left guard is open. Christian Mahogany is in that mix. So is Barch. Josse Scruggs joins the competition after arriving in the David Montgomery trade. Mills Frasier is another name to watch. There are four players fighting for two game-day jobs behind the starters: the backup center Colon and the swing guard role. May the best man win. Cap space matters here. Detroit has room, but not enough to burn minimum deals on sign-and-cut churn. Adding Barch only works if he pushes the room. If he is healthy, he has shown he can. Awosika Moves On; Mahogany's Challenge Coyote Awosika signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after four years in Detroit. He was a dependable reserve and even started in a big spot in San Francisco. He topped out as a primary backup. A fresh look makes sense for both sides. The staff wants upside in those depth chairs. Scruggs may be the best pure talent of the challengers because he can also play center. That flexibility is gold on game days. Mahogany controls his own case at left guard. He was very good early last year. In the opening loss to Green Bay, he was arguably Detroit's best lineman. Later, lateral resets in pass protection failed him. Clean that up, and he can lock the job. If not, Barch and Scruggs will press him every rep. Prospect Debates Will Rage, and That's Fine The show also nods to recent prospect debates. Disagreement is part of the process. Watch the film. Make the case. NFL teams see players differently too. Detroit's interior battle will showcase that truth all summer. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #benbarch #leftguardbattle #christianmahogany #jossescruggs #taterallidge #cademays #backupcentercolon #swingguardrole #capspace #coyoteawosika Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes' one-year plan and a fresh O-line move Weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with roster building. The focus landed squarely on Brad Holmes and a revealing sit-down he did on The Lions Collective. The headline takeaway according to the hosts: the Lions leaned into affordable one-year deals in free agency. That approach manages short-term cash while keeping a ready-made contender intact. Holmes also said they are not done in free agency. That point felt validated when an offensive line signing hit the wire the next morning. The move fit the broader plan the hosts heard throughout the interview. Improve the interior, especially center. Maintain flexibility so the team can sign cornerstone pieces like Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta when their time comes. The conversation acknowledged the scrutiny on the general manager. Pressure follows a roster built to chase a title. One-year deals invite debate, but they also buy options. That was the tone: a disciplined, cap-savvy march rather than a splashy sprint. Draft board lean: defensive end vs. tackle The hosts circled back to the NFL Draft. They see the Detroit Lions sitting at 17 and 50 with a likely path toggling between defensive end and offensive tackle. Vice versa works too. Nothing from the Holmes interview screamed a locked-in direction. Still, clues surfaced. The discussion touched on a run-stout edge already added to the room in Wanam. He profiles as a strong run defender who can give some pass rush. If you are looking for tea leaves, that kind of player type points to a complementary long-term piece at defensive end. Keldrick Falk came up as the sort who mirrors that run-first style in a bigger, younger package. The door remains open to tackle at 17 or 50 depending on how the board falls. Reading between the lines on roles and re-signings Holmes did not offer many specifics, but the messaging lined up with existing expectations. The free agency function was to stabilize center, fortify the offensive line, and protect the ability to keep the core together. That means future deals for Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta stay front of mind. Player evaluation questions remain. Kirby Joseph drew different reads from the room, and the interview did not change those priors. That felt like the theme: confirmation rather than revelation. The calendar matters now. A mock draft is on deck next week. The show expects to go live for the draft on Thursday. The last pieces are moving into place. The plan feels steady, not splashy. For the Detroit Lions, that might be the point. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmesinterview #nflfreeagency #one-yeardeals #offensivelinesigning #improveatcenter #defensiveendtarget #offensivetackletarget #pick17 #pick50 #kirbyjoseph #wanamrundefense #keldrickfalk #gibbscampbellbranchlaporta #thelionscollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Easterling joined the Detroit Lions Podcast to sort the NFL draft through a Detroit lens. He stressed needs, fit, and reality. The thread was constant. Fortify the offensive line. Add an edge who punishes single blocks. Be ready when the board throws a curve. Edge Help to Unlock Hutch The edge spot opposite Hutch drove the talk. Offenses slide help to Hutch. They chip him. They send protection his way. That leaves one-on-ones on the other side. Detroit needs a player who cashes those chances every series. The goal is simple. Force a choice. Either Hutch gets more true one-on-ones, or the other edge wins fast and often. That is how this front takes the next step. Rebuilding the Left Side of the Line The offensive line sits at the top of the needs list. The right side looks set with Ratledge and Sewell. Everything to the left is uncertain. Age, attrition, and injuries have piled up. Easterling's recent mock locked in a left tackle at 17 and a guard at 50. That is a double dip in the trenches. The idea is to remove doubt. Secure the blind side. Add power and reliability inside. Keep the pocket clean and the run game on schedule. Pick 17 vs. Pick 50: Board and Value The edge class is deep. That gives Detroit real options at 50. Passing on an edge at 17 to secure a tackle could make sense. Taking a guard at 50 aligns with depth and value. But nothing is linear on draft weekend. Sometimes the best player on the board forces a change. If a talent is too good to pass, you take him. Need and value can meet. They also collide. Detroit must be ready for both outcomes. How Fit Shapes the Lions' Draft This process is about more than a depth chart. It is scheme, body types, history, and past misses. That is why outside voices check with team-aware eyes before finalizing mocks. For Detroit, that means knowing what works for this staff and this room. It means understanding why certain prototypes have hit or failed. It also means keeping contingency plans. A single injury in the secondary can flip priorities. The same is true for the interior of the defensive front. The takeaway is clear. Build the line. Add an edge who wins. Stay agile when the board moves. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #offensiveline #aidanhutchinson #2026nfldraft #caleblomu #blakemiller #keldricfaulk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mapping the Perfect Pair at 17 and 50 Jeff Risdon and Russell Brown dialed in on the Detroit Lions draft plan at pick 17 and pick 50. The premise felt simple. If the Lions take an offensive tackle at 17, then edge likely waits until 50. Flip it, and the tackle comes later. The conversation asked which bucket looks stronger at each slot. The hosts noted how the NFL rumor cycle muddies late information. Combine mock drafts have been more accurate than the final rush. They plan to lean on what they heard in Indy and on the pro day circuit. The goal is clarity, not noise, for the Detroit Lions at two pivotal picks. Tackles at 17: Board Reality and Dream Combo They walked through names they expect off the board by 17. Branch Mowenow, Allen Barnes, and David Bailey came up as likely gone. Monroe Freeling probably gone too. Brown called Freeling the dream at 17. Pair that with Malachi Lawrence at 50 and it is a quick-strike haul. Realistic options at 17 look different. Spencer Fano should be there. Caleb Blomu should be there. Blake Miller should be there. Colon Proctor might be there, a true 50-50. Neither host sounded high on Proctor. They also kicked around I Niese and Heinecker as names the Lions could consider at tackle. Brown leaned toward Blomu. He sees a ready-made left tackle who can play right away. A player who fits early, then grows. That matters if edge depth at 50 looks acceptable. Edge at 50 vs Tackle at 50: The Tradeoff This Detroit Lions Podcast framed the decision like a seesaw. Do you prefer the edge rushers available at 50 over the tackles at 50? If yes, take the tackle at 17. If no, grab the edge at 17 and wait on the line. The calculus turns on how the board falls in real time. Malachi Lawrence at 50 headlined the edge wishlist if the dream scenario hits. Beyond that, the hosts kept the focus tight on structure. They want value aligned to slot. Trust the combine reads. Cross-check with pro day notes. Avoid chasing late buzz. Where Risdon and Brown Land Today Freeling at 17 and Lawrence at 50 is the clean finish. If Freeling is gone, Blomu became the practical pivot for Brown. Miller and Fano stand as viable options if the room agrees on fit. Proctor is a maybe. I Niese and Heinecker stay in the mix. The Lions must win both pockets of the board. That is the perfect pair game. Two picks. One plan. The NFL clock is ticking, and Detroit holds leverage at 17 and 50 if they trust their stack. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #pick50 #offensivetackle #defensiveend #monroefreeling #malachilawrence #spencerfano #calebblomu #blakemiller #colonproctor #combinemockdrafts #prodaycircuit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A record morning in the NFL wide receiver market Jackson Smith Njigba just reset the board. Seattle handed the receiver a four-year, $168.6 million extension with more than $120 million guaranteed and an average of $42.15 million per year. That is the new top of the market. The Detroit Lions feel that ripple right away. Amon Ra Saint Brown signed a four-year deal worth about $120 million with $77 million guaranteed less than two years ago. That contract now sits ninth among receivers. Timing rules this league. The salary cap climbs. Revenues climb. Prices follow. The Detroit Lions Podcast drilled into what this means in Detroit. The front office has made a habit of striking pre-market extensions with core players. That approach has saved money as the market spikes. It does not hit every time. Injuries complicate situations for players like Decker and Kirby Joseph. Still, the strategy pays off more often than not. Jameson Williams looks friendlier on the books now than it did at signing. The receiver market ran under value for years. Calvin Johnson's mega deal once overshot by a wide margin and then held the crown for a long time. Today the market has finally caught up. Sign early or pay more later. That was the theme. If you wait, the next contract at the same position sets a taller bar. That is why the Lions should move quickly on Jahmyr Gibbs. Get him done before Robinson signs and nudges the number higher. The first player to ink usually lands for a touch less. The second player copies it and adds a small bump. Wait too long and you also invite drama. Questions about value. Questions about commitment. That is noise the Lions do not need. The broader NFL lesson is simple. The cap is not going down. Neither are elite position prices. Detroit has benefited by acting before the spike. Keep doing it with the right players, at the right time. The episode also mapped out safeties across every round of the upcoming NFL draft. Safety is on the radar for the Detroit Lions at multiple points. Not a lock in the first round, but firmly in play if the board cooperates. Caleb Downs is the dream scenario at 17. If he somehow reaches that slot, he is the best player available case. The expectation, though, is that he will be gone well before the Lions are on the clock. Another first-round safety option discussed earlier makes sense too. If it is not round one, Detroit can find value later. The class offers answers on day two and day three. The board will decide, but the need and the plan are clear. Why timing matters for Detroit's core. Safety talk at pick 17 and beyond https://youtu.be/aoa8PpetwKg #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jacksonsmithandjigba #four-year #$168.6millionextension #morethan$120millionguaranteed #averageof$42.15millionperyear #topofthemarket #amonrasaintbrown #premarketextensions #kirbyjoseph #decker #jamesonwilliams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Case for a Detroit Do-Not-Draft List Jeff Risdon sets a different agenda on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Not the usual mock. Not a wish list. A do-not-draft list. The focus is fit, risk, and timing for the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft. He wants to plant flags now on prospects who match Detroit's general profile yet still should be avoided at certain prices. His lens is simple. What have we learned from recent cycles about traits, health, and roster priorities. Where does a strong prospect still become a poor bet for Detroit's current build. Drawing Lines From Past Drafts Risdon rewinds to the tight end class that produced LaPorta. He recalls being on the field with Russell Brown and Chris at the Senior Bowl and watching Luke Musgrave struggle. Couldn't beat a jam. Didn't win contested balls. Red zone reps went nowhere. He was fine as a prospect. He just was not the right Lions pick. Detroit chose differently, and he was glad they did. Last spring brought another caution. Landon Jackson, the defensive end from Arkansas, looked the part but lacked twitch. The concern was real enough that he hoped Detroit would pass. Again, a solid player. Just not the best choice for what the Lions needed then. Why Jermott McCoy Gives Detroit Pause The headline name is cornerback Jermott McCoy from Tennessee. He sits at No. 20 on the Detroit Lions Podcast consensus big board that Chris updates daily. The tape from 2024 at Tennessee is outstanding. First round caliber traits show up. Speed. Instincts. Power. Route adjustment. That is not the problem. The issues are availability and experience. McCoy missed the 2025 season after a January 2025 injury. He was allegedly cleared but chose not to return. He did not work out at the combine because he still was not right. A pro day looms on March 31, but there is worry he might not go there either. He has 17 college starts across two programs. That combination of recent injury and limited mileage is a pass for Detroit at premium cost. Roster context matters. Detroit likely has its top five cornerbacks on the roster already. The room feels competitive and deep enough that a first round corner is not a need. If they add, it should be someone they trust to play right away without medical questions. Risdon admits he is more cautious on injuries than many. That tension sits against a front office that has embraced risk before. Wide Receiver Risk: Jordan Tyson Jordan Tyson from Arizona State is a different kind of red flag. On skill, he might be the best wide receiver in this class. The problem is a lengthy injury history and a style that refuses self-preservation. He is still not working out post-injury. Detroit is loaded at wide receiver. That likely keeps the position off the board until the middle of Day 3, if not later. Talent is real. The fit and timing are not. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #jermodmccoy #akheemmesidor #kylelouis #calebbanks #ltoverton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Center solved: Cade Mays and the pocket math The Detroit Lions moved decisively at the spot that mattered most. Center was a top need. Cade Mays arrives as the prize of this free agency window and fits what this offense asks. He is better in pass pro than as a straight mauler. That matters for Jared Goff. Immediate interior pressure is what stresses this passing game. Mays lowers that risk and stabilizes the middle. His background adds value. In four years in Carolina, he worked under three different offensive coordinators with different blocking schemes. He played guard early, shifted responsibilities, and handled more read and react asks. He has not been asked to be aggressive while at center. Detroit can shape that. The contract tells the story too. Mays is the only multiyear signing so far. That signals starting center now and a long-term plan inside. Short-term bets and a long-term tell Elsewhere, the approach stayed disciplined. One-year deals fill immediate needs without anchoring the cap to older veterans. Avoidance of bad contracts is the point. Younger players with short-term upside get the nod over aging names signed for comfort. Expectations of a giant splash never made sense beyond center. Nothing they did, with the exception of Mays, should tilt the draft board. The front office cleared the road for April. Flexibility matters in the NFL. Detroit can target value and avoid reaching. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it simply: stock the depth chart now, let the draft finish the job. Tackle depth, placeholders, and the next move Larry Borom arrived to be the swing tackle and a placeholder at left tackle while Decker is still out there. The number is modest, roughly in that $5 million range, and not a commitment. He is an upgrade over Giovanni Manu and over what Dan Skipper offered last year. Skipper is coaching now, which closes that loop. There is more depth in the pipeline. Horton has upside and is from Detroit. Juice Scruggs came in via the demo trade and profiles as another interior option. These are the kinds of layers that keep an NFL roster functional through camp and into October. One question remains open by design: is Borom better on the right or left? The Lions can let that play out while the draft provides another swing at tackle or interior help. The plan stays intact, and the board stays clean. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #cademays #startingcenter #passpro #interiorpressure #jaredgoff #blockingschemes #readandreactasks #playedguardearly #multiyearsigning #draftboardflexibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darius Slay's sendoff and legacy The Detroit Lions Podcast opened with a moment for Darius Slay. The longtime cornerback announced his retirement. He was a fantastic player and an easy person to like. He represented Detroit well. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. He wants to spend time with his teenage kids and be a sports dad. Hall of Fame talk will follow him. That debate is fair. At minimum, he belongs in the hall of very good. Someday his No. 23 could spark a banner discussion at Ford Field. Quiet depth move up front Detroit did not add a headline name on Thursday. The Lions brought back a familiar defensive lineman on a low cost deal. He knows the defense. He can play inside and as a five tech. He showed backfield disruption in the injury ravaged 2024 season. He did not get many snaps last year. This is continuity. It is a depth signing that should stick. Free agency slows, draft needs sharpen The calendar now favors patience. Veterans are waiting for the NFL Draft to pass. They do not want to sign and watch a team spend a first round pick on their spot. Expect little action in free agency around Allen Park until after the draft. Several pass rushers are still out there with clear warts. DJ Reader is cited as No. 2 among available free agents. Taylor Decker shows up at No. 5 on that board. Mock focus at 17: tackles on the board Detroit opted for DJ Wonnum over AJ Epenesa in that tier. Wonnum gets into the backfield, even if the finish rate is uneven. He fits the Lions profile as the No. 3 edge. The plan still points to drafting another pass rusher in the first or second round. Maybe they double up. Mock drafts stacked up this week. One projection sent Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, to Detroit at 17. That buzz is growing. Another popular option in the mocks is Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle from Utah. Tackle sits firmly in play at No. 17. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dariusslayretirement #halloffamedebate #fordfieldbannertalk #familiardefensivelineman #fivetech #backfielddisruption #injuryravaged2024season #freeagencyslows #allenparkuntilafterthedraft #djreaderrankedno.2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions kept stacking useful pieces. On this Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Michael Grey broke down three new additions, all on one-year deals. Edge DJ Wonnum, wide receiver Greg Dortch, and linebacker Raymond Clark arrived as targeted fits. Another signing could be coming soon. New arrivals and a one-year plan The front office is leaning into short-term, role-specific help. Each deal is a fill-in. The message is clear. Add competitive depth without blocking long-term answers. The hosts also noted movement on another potential addition, with word that another Jones could be in play. The expectation is more action today. Edge plan: DJ Wonnum and the Paschal template Wonnum checks the Lions' NFL edge profile. Physical style. Power to speed. Edge setter. He plays the run on the way to the quarterback better than he rushes the passer. That should sound familiar. Think the role carved out for Josh Paschal. Early in his career, this type has handled c gap and b gap snaps and bumped outside as needed. The vision is obvious. Wonnum can work five tech, set sturdy edges, and finish when opportunities come. He has starting experience and some sack production. He fits as a part-time player, likely edge three or edge four, depending on how the rest of the room shakes out. The depth chart mentions tied to this move matter too. Makai Wingo's best spot is still in question. Ahmed Hassanein's development is a variable. Levi Anserrique Reed has played outside and can handle five tech. The piece today is about defined jobs. Wonnum gives them one. Slot and return game: Greg Dortch's fit with Petzing Dortch brings juice to the slot and special teams. He is five-foot-seven-ish, around a buck eighty, and a proven return specialist from the Arizona Cardinals. He worked with Drew Petzing and spoke at length about that trust in his introductory Zoom. He talked about love of football again and again, and his energy jumped off the screen. Dortch has bounced around, was advised at one point to consider the CFL, then the Cardinals gave him a shot. He ran with it. He is very sure handed, with a high catch rate over recent years. In Detroit, he profiles as a quick separator and secure outlet who can flip field position in the return game. Linebacker depth and what comes next Raymond Clark adds competition at linebacker. Another one-year, role-focused piece. Special teams and sub-package snaps are in play. The Lions are not done. The hosts repeated that. Expect another signing, with indications that talks on another Jones are moving. This roster building approach matches the recent surge of part-time, short-term additions. It fits the moment. Add the right tools. Keep flexibility. Let camp sort the rest. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #djwonnum #gregdortch #damoneclark #nflfreeagency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A backfield pivot reshapes Detroit's plan Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a chaotic week of 80 mile per hour winds and the first surge of NFL free agency. Their focus was Detroit's backfield. The Lions signed Isaiah Pacheco on a one year deal after agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Early last week, outside of Cade Mays and Pacheco, the board felt quiet. That pause raised the question of a defense heavy draft with nine or ten picks. By midweek, the tone changed. Detroit looked younger, healthier, and more intentional on both sides of the ball. How Isaiah Pacheco fits Detroit's run game Pacheco's usage in Kansas City lived inside a unique ecosystem. The offense followed Patrick Mahomes, often playing out of shotgun with inside zone and outside zone as staples. Timing was quick. Reads could get muddy. The result was a frenetic style. At times he pressed so hard he ran into his own linemen. Vision looked limited on that tape. Detroit projects something different. With Jared Goff under center, the back has clearer landmarks and defined intent. The hosts expect better angles, more counter, and the pin and pull concepts that Drew Petzing loves. That structure could slow Pacheco's clock and clean up his decisions. He still brings size and a physical edge. The price is light, roughly one to one and a half million dollars, all guaranteed for one season. It is a classic change of pace add that does not block a draft pick in April. Montgomery's exit and the draft signal Moving Montgomery and renting Pacheco for a year points to a draft add. The board from round four through round six makes sense, and the Lions hold multiple picks in that range. Names surfaced as possibilities, including Nicholas Singleton, Cochran Allen, and Jahmari Taylor. Internal options exist too. Jacob Sailors is in the room. Vaki profiles as a special teams piece more than a true back. None of that keeps Detroit from targeting a runner who complements Pacheco now and carries a larger load later. Clock to the 2026 NFL Draft As of this Wednesday, the 2026 NFL Draft sits 36 days away. Early inactivity on defense sparked talk of spending most of the capital on that side of the ball. The recent moves eased some of that urgency. The Detroit Lions can pair a tough runner with under center structure, add a mid round back, and let the board dictate the rest. In a week that started slow, the plan sharpened. The NFL hinges on fit and timing. Detroit just gave itself both in the backfield. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #isaiahpachecooneyeardeal #davidmontgomerytotexans #jaredgoffundercenter #pinandpullconcepts #insidezoneruns #outsidezoneruns #changeofpaceback #midroundrunningbacktarget #roundfourthroughroundsix #nicholassingleton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saint Patrick's Day. Mock Draft 2.0. The Detroit Lions Podcast goes straight to the needs. Offensive tackle and edge sit at the top. The board cooperates, and the plan stays firm. Why OT at 17: the Blake Miller case Round 1 lands on Blake Miller, the Clemson right tackle. Four-year starter. Seasoned. His hand usage improved. His footwork improved. He fits the grit. The knock is positional. He is a right tackle only. That places the left-side question on Penei Sewell. The preference is keeping Penei at right tackle. Moving him is not off the table. The goal is the best five in front of Goff and Jamir Gibbs. Protect the high octane passing game. With Miller, that feels attainable right away. The usual suspects at tackle were gone early. Monroe Freeling went sixth. Kendrick Small went tenth. Francis Mawanawa went twelfth. Dylan Spielman was still there, but safety is not the priority at 17. The trenches are. The front office knows it. Nobody wants to roll into the NFL season with Larry Corrao as the unquestioned starter at left tackle. Miller at 17 makes sense. Edge in Round 2: burst over bulk with Gabe Thomas Round 2 turns to edge. Gabe Thomas from Illinois headlines the card. He looks like a defensive tackle at 260, but his first step pops. Inside to outside. Power to speed. The style echoes Josh Paschal. The burst off the snap is the sell. Quick pressure has been an admitted need. Thomas supplies it. The concern is run defense. It improved, but it is not a strength. That might nudge some teams elsewhere. Here, the pass rush juice carries the day. Several names were in play, yet the choice settles on that explosive profile. Day 3 swing at safety: Bud Clark profile No third-round pick, so the board skips to Round 4. Bud Clark, safety from Strickland, becomes the target. His scouting read mirrors Kirby Joseph out of Illinois. Rangy. Heady. Ball hawk. Tackling is streaky. Angles can wander. The ball skills are real. The range shows up. In this slot, that blend plays. He can push for snaps if the room is healthy. He can live as a takeaway threat if it is not. Board math and alternate paths There were alternate paths. Max Decker from Arizona State has a higher ceiling, but he is more developmental. TJ Harper, the edge from Thompson, drew a long look. The decision to go tackle first reflects a sharper drop-off from Round 1 to Round 2 at that spot. Edge offered more value later. The strategy holds together. Fix the trenches. Get faster to the quarterback. Add range on Day 3. Simple. Targeted. Detroit Lions football. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #gabethomas #budclark #peneisewell #goff #jamirgibbs #clemsonrighttackle #millerat17 #round2 #day3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montgomery's payday and the Lions backfield reality The Detroit Lions entered a quiet weekend, but one move from a former starter framed where the backfield stands. David Montgomery reached a two-year, $16.5 million deal with Houston, with $10 million guaranteed. His remaining guarantees in Detroit were under $5 million. He wanted more security and a bigger role. He found both. The calculus in Detroit changed because Jamir Gibbs is a superstar. Montgomery is 28. This is likely his last big contract. The money places him among the top running back salaries until a Gibbs extension, which is expected this offseason. He praised his time in Detroit and also celebrated the opportunity in Houston. The takeaway: the market confirmed why his role in Detroit was narrowing. Trenches in focus: tackle urgency and draft plan After Friday's additions of Tyler Conklin and Roger McCreery, the Lions stood pat. The line conversation did not. There is hope that Juice Scruggs can emerge as the top reserve interior offensive lineman. That remains a competition. At tackle, a recent signing in the $5 million range sits between backup and starter money. If the season kicked today, he would be the starting left tackle. That is a concern. Coaching and scheme could help, especially after a rough Miami stint, but the need remains. Expect an offensive tackle with one of the first two draft picks. The other early target profiles as an edge rusher. Safety is possible as well. That board reflects both value and how the depth chart looks today. Slot, safety, and Rakestraw's health update McCreery projects in the slot. Another newcomer, "Izzy," fits the super sub role across the defensive backfield that the staff values. Those pieces ease the urgency at outside corner. The belief here is that corner is not the priority early, with the top group for 2025 and 2026 effectively on the roster. Safety stays in play because of usage versatility. Over the weekend, Rakestraw addressed his status directly on Instagram: fully healthy, and healthy since December. That clarity matters for how the secondary snaps could stack when camp opens. Around the NFL and what's next The NFL stayed mostly quiet, but one headline popped: the Chiefs acquired Justin Fields for a sixth-round pick. The Lions were not involved. Detroit's focus shifts to the pro day circuit over the next couple weeks. The staff will be out in force. Eyes on offensive tackle and edge align with needs and draft positioning. If a Lions player or coach steps in front of a camera during the tour, you will hear it here. For now, Friday's roster adds stand, Montgomery has his guaranteed money in Houston, and the draft board points straight at the trenches. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #ennisrakestraw #davidmontgomery #masonreiger #larryborom #nflfreeagency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit adds experience at tight end and in the slot The Detroit Lions moved quickly in NFL free agency, signing tight end Conklin and slot corner Roger McCreery. The Detroit Lions Podcast digs into why both add immediate, specific value. Contract terms were not disclosed. The expectation is short deals, likely one year. Conklin arrives as a known quantity. He entered the league in the 2017 draft out of Central Michigan. He started with the Vikings, then found a bigger receiving role with the Jets, and most recently had a brief, bumpy stop with the Chargers. McCreery comes from the 2022 draft class and profiles cleanly as a starting-caliber slot defender. Conklin's resume, role, and Petzing connection Conklin earned his way onto the field in Minnesota because he blocked well. That came even as his targets and catches climbed later. From 2021 through 2023 he recorded 87 targets each season and caught at least 58 passes annually. He averaged around 10 yards per catch. He was not a consistent red zone threat, outside of his final season in New York. He started regularly for the Jets on some uneven teams. The Chargers stint did not click. Drops and unreliable blocking put him in Jim Harbaugh's doghouse. That is a hard place to escape. Still, the overall profile is stable. He is an eight-year veteran with close to 300 career receptions and functional in-line work. Drew Petzing, the Lions' new offensive coordinator, overlapped with Conklin early in Minnesota. The years have passed, but that familiarity matters for role clarity. The early view: Conklin slots as tight end three. He can push Brock Wright for tight end two. If injuries hit Brock Wright or Sam LaPorta, Conklin can elevate. Proven depth beats a late flier or an untested option. McCreery's slot chops and production McCreery brings a steady slot presence. He plays the ball well. He understands route concepts. He has quickness and can attack the catch point when needed. Power is not his calling card, but the instincts and movement skills are there. The production backs it up. He started right away and posted 84 tackles as a rookie, then 86 the next season. In 2024 he started most of the time, appearing in 15 games with 50 tackles. Ball production dipped last season, but the reliability in the slot remained his anchor trait. Depth, fit, and next steps These moves raise the floor. Conklin gives the Detroit Lions a trustworthy safety net behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. McCreery tightens the middle of the defense with a proven slot corner. Both signings fit defined roles and reduce risk across a long NFL season. That is smart roster building for a team with big plans. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #tylerconklin #rogermccreary #nflfreeagency #2026freeagency #lionsrostermoves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quiet Detroit Day, Isian Finalized Detroit Day arrived with a hush. On March 13, the Detroit Lions made Christian Isian's signing official and left everything else on hold. He is scheduled to speak with the media today, time unspecified. The rest of the NFL news cycle stayed still around Allen Park. That silence is wearing on fans. It showed up in the Detroit Lions Podcast inbox and chat. So today's focus shifted to what remains on the market at positions of need, starting with edge. Edge Options: Veterans With Caveats The top of the remaining edge group carries risk. Joey Bosa headlines it on name value, but injuries have changed his game. At 31, he is no longer the same pass rusher. The question becomes price and reliability. That same worry hangs over Marcus Davenport. The plea was clear: do not run that experiment back. If the Lions wanted an older, banged-up rotational piece, they could have kept Al-Quadin Muhammad. They did not. He's in Tampa, with an introduction there today. Other names bring clearer roles. Calais Campbell is 39, durable, and still a quality fit for a one-year stopgap. That makes sense at the right number. Jadeveon Clowney brings steadiness but not quick pressure. The Lions need faster wins off the edge. That has never been Clowney's calling card. Von Miller sits at the very end of a great career. Cam Jordan keeps surfacing in the top tier of lists, and a single season of his savvy feels attractive if the price cooperates. None of these require a rush. Veterans like this can wait out the market. Draft Signals and Stopgap Talk There is still a glaring need opposite Aidan Hutchinson. The current pile of available edges looks more like placeholders than needle-movers. That points the Detroit Lions toward the draft. One of the first two picks at edge makes sense. It does not mean free agency is over at the position. It means the team can pair a rookie with a one-year veteran who understands multiple systems and can play a role on day one. Recent depth stories reinforce the urgency. The Josh Paschal experiment never truly took off because of injuries. John Kaminski flashed during a healthy stretch, then faded when he got hurt. Levi is a question until proven otherwise. Hope is not a plan. Quick pressure is. The Detroit Lions Podcast kept circling that need. If the front office is slow-playing the board, waiting for veteran prices to soften, the logic tracks. Finalizing Christian Isian closed one file. The edge file stays open, with the draft looming as the real solution and a short-term stopgap still in play. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #christianisian #aidanhutchinson #joeybosa #jadeveonclowney #calaiscampbell #camjordan #vonmiller #al-quadinmuhammad #marcusdavenport #joshpaschal #johnkaminski #levi #edgerusher #quickpressure #oneyearstopgap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New pivot and CB3 clarity The Detroit Lions Podcast carved up a busy slice of NFL free agency. The team introduced new signings to the media, including Cade Niese and Isaiah Pacheco. The headliner is a new starting center on a three-year, $25 million deal with $14 million guaranteed. Cade Meeks steps into the middle and replaces Glasgow at center. Personality-wise, he mirrors Frank Ragnow. That should play well in Detroit. On the outside, Rock returns on a one-year, $4 million contract. He slots as the number three outside corner. That price fits the role. He played well last season. Amik moved on and got paid by Washington. Slot grit: Christian Isian's fit Detroit moved to fill the slot with Christian Isian from Tampa Bay. He is undersized at around 5-foot-9 but scrappy. He tackles. He defends the run. Coverage results have been mixed. Tampa Bay let him go and replaced him with last year's third-round pick. Isian offers positional flexibility, but the slot is his best home. The Lions learned with Amik that fit matters. Keep him where he wins. Expect a feisty presence inside and a tone-setter on run downs. Tackle depth and draft signals Larry Borom arrives on a one-year, $5 million deal. He has NFL starts at tackle and guard. He will compete with Giovanni Manu to be the number three tackle. The current mix with Penei Sewell, Borom, Manu, and maybe Myles Frasier does not feel final. Depth remains a need. The draft hints are clear. Edge rusher stands out as the top priority. Edge number two probably is not on this roster yet. Tackle also profiles as an early target. The sequencing could be edge in the first round and tackle in the second. Free agency has set that board. CB room churn and a miss in the market The cornerback room turned over again. Rock is back at CB3. Amik is out after landing a bigger deal elsewhere. The slot flips to Isian. One notable miss hit the market ticker. Muhammad signed with the Buccaneers. That stings for a team still searching for pass-rush help. The best remaining free agent edge option is a looming question. For now, Detroit's free agency added a center, a slot fighter, and versatile line depth. The edge solution likely comes next, and the draft is the cleanest path. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #cademays #amikrobertson #larryborom #nflfreeagency #bradholmes #christianizien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Agency Day, Real Moves The NFL's free agency window finally turns official at 4:00. The market already feels volatile after a reported Max Crosby deal fell apart on medical review. That backdrop matters for the Detroit Lions. Big names tempt. Medicals and money complicate. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on what actually changed in Detroit today. Cap Reset: What Goff's Move Signals Jared Goff restructured his contract, converting $40 million of base salary into a signing bonus and adding another void year. The move frees up $32 million in 2026. Detroit was not pinned against the cap, but the team needed room to do anything meaningful. This creates it. The Lions did not max out their options. They could have cleared up to $40 million this year by converting almost the entire salary to bonus. They chose restraint. The contract now runs with a void through 2029, with that final year voided. Cap figures spike in 2028 and 2029, but another adjustment then is expected. The point today is flexibility. Expect measured signings at the same tier we have seen, plus the breathing room to stage extensions for Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Branch, and maybe Sam LaPorta. You need upfront space to absorb signing bonuses without creating a bigger balloon later. Detroit will not do restructures just to admire cap space. There is a purpose coming. No Crosby Splash for Detroit The Crosby situation underlines why. A reported Raiders-Ravens deal is off after Baltimore reviewed his medicals. The Cowboys are said to be out, too. Crosby is a good player. The health flags are real in this market. Given Detroit's recent injury frustrations, passing on that kind of swing makes sense. The hypothetical of sending two first-round picks and then backing out on medicals is a cautionary tale. You lose time. You lose leverage. You invite chaos. Detroit's approach reads like discipline, not hesitation. Depth Chart: Rodriguez and Bridgewater Back While driving home last night, the news hit: the Lions brought back Malcolm Rodriguez and Teddy Bridgewater. Rodriguez's return locks in the top reserve linebacker role. He drew interest from the Houston Texans and some from the Seahawks, but he stays in Detroit. Contract terms were not disclosed. The team still needs another linebacker. Coverage has been a known limitation for Rodriguez, so competition and roles will matter. Bridgewater's return stabilizes the quarterback room behind Goff. Continuity counts in March. It keeps the offense aligned while the front office works the margins on defense and special teams. As free agency formalizes this afternoon, expect the Lions to keep pressing the same smart, steady pace. Cap clarity. Targeted adds. No forced splashes. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jaredgoffrestructure #nflfreeagency #malcolmrodriguez #teddybridgewater #cademays #isiahpacheco #lionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Departures define Day 1 One day into the NFL legal tampering period, the Detroit Lions saw exits, not arrivals. Four Lions agreed to terms elsewhere. Those agreements are not official until the league year opens Wednesday. Nothing meaningful has landed on the incoming side yet, especially on defense. It is early. Less than 24 hours in. But the shape of the roster is shifting. Alex Anzalone to Tampa Bay Linebacker Alex Anzalone is headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reported deal is two years for $17 million. He is 32. He has an injury history, though he has been largely durable in Detroit outside of a broken forearm. Tampa Bay gets help. Detroit loses a starting linebacker. Taylor Decker was released. He is no longer with the Detroit Lions. That move stood out as the only fully completed transaction on Day 1. Cap math squeezes the middle This is the cost of a top-heavy roster. Big deals for core stars like Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Aidan Hutchinson, and Kirby Joseph crowd the middle tier. The Lions also chose to pay Derrick Barnes on a three-year, $24 million deal. You cannot carry that many linebackers at premium rates. Paying a third linebacker $8.5 million per year does not fit when the top of the pyramid is that heavy. Decisions have consequences. Scheme pivots and the RB plan Detroit leaned on three-linebacker packages more than any other team last season. With Anzalone gone, a pivot makes sense. A 4-2-5 structure is on the table. Two linebackers with five defensive linemen in certain fronts. A full-time slot defender. More snaps for a hybrid linebacker-safety type. That path matches the personnel pressures and modern NFL spacing. The backfield changes too with David Montgomery departing. Late last season, once Dan Campbell took over the offense, the second back settled into 8–12 touches per game. That should hold. Feature Jameer Gibbs. Keep the ball with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta. The No. 2 running back should complement, not command, the attack. He will not be the reason you win many games. Day 1 brought more subtraction than addition for the Detroit Lions. The next moves will signal whether this front office leans into lighter boxes, faster coverage, and a clearer pecking order at running back. The window just opened. The blueprint is already visible. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflfreeagency #taylordecker #cademays #alexanzalone #bradholmes #larryborom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal tampering is here. Recent history speaks The NFL legal tampering window opens in hours. The Detroit Lions have three recent free agency classes that frame expectations. The 2022-to-2023 line marked the pivot from rebuild to contender. The record since then shows real swings, timely hits, and costly misses. It also shows that the front office does, in fact, go after top-tier veterans. 2023 swings: one clear hit, several misses Detroit targeted premium talent among outside free agents. David Montgomery arrived as the No. 3 running back on the market and was paid the second-most at his position. He outplayed the higher-paid back and delivered strong production in Detroit. That was a clear win. Cam Sutton was the No. 3 cornerback on the board and commanded major money. The signing was graded as an A- at the time and was widely viewed as aggressive and on-target. It did not work. Beyond off-field problems, the on-field fit sagged, and Detroit overpaid for a corner who never synced with the scheme. C.J. Gardner-Johnson entered as the No. 3 safety and became the fourth-highest paid safety from that class. He brought tone and edge to the locker room, but the move failed, in part due to injury. He missed all but two games. Emmanuel Mosley, ranked eighth among cornerbacks, never got on the field because of injuries, though his deal was low budget. Marvin Jones returned in a fan-pleasing move but retired soon after. Jalen Reeves-Maybin also returned in that class. Those depth bets did not move the needle. 2024 outcomes: quiet headlines, subtle value DJ Reader was the fifth-rated interior defensive lineman and signed the fourth-richest deal among his peers. The move even drew an A+ grade at the time. Reader underwhelmed some fans on the stat sheet. The film told more. He kept linebackers clean and helped Aleem grow into a higher-impact interior presence. That value matters on early downs and in money downs alike. Kevin Zeitler arrived as the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in his class and outplayed at least eight players signed above him during his year in Detroit. Then he left for Tennessee on similar money. It stung because the team expected him back, but the one-year return was strong value for the cap dollar. What this pattern says about the next 48 hours Across 2023 and 2024, the Lions targeted players near the top of consensus rankings and paid near the top of market at select positions. They took calculated swings at cornerback and safety that missed, landed a back who fit, mined value on the interior of both lines, and absorbed injury risk on short-term flyers. The evidence is clear: Detroit signs players in free agency, aims high at priority spots, and lives with variance. With the NFL's window opening, expect targeted aggression, not inactivity. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflfreeagency #lionsfreeagencyhistory #bradholmes #djreed #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a hotel breakfast room in Michigan, Jeff Risdon set a practical free agency roadmap for the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The legal tampering period opens Monday. Signings start Wednesday. Expect targeted moves over splashy pursuits. Free Agency, Not a Spending Spree Big-ticket names sit out there. Hendrickson was the example. Tyler Lindenbaum at center came up too. Both would be great. Both feel unlikely. A bidding war does not fit the Lions plan. The focus is cost, fit, and familiarity. Scheme matters. Character matters. Past connections to Lions coaches and staff matter. That is the lane. Smart contracts for players who match what the Detroit Lions do, not headline chases. The door is open to being surprised, but the expectation is restraint. Quarterback Room: Keep It Steady The quarterback spot is simple. The team is built around Jared Goff. Kyle Allen as a solid No. 2 works. Bring him back and keep the operation clean. If Allen returns, there is no need to add another veteran. Detroit can still bring in a project as a No. 3. Think a UFL quarterback or an undrafted rookie. Even a low-cost trade for a developmental arm was mentioned. Sam Howell was floated for a laugh more than football reasons. Status quo at quarterback is fine. Backfield Help and a Budget WR4 Running back is a need. The question is investment level at RB2 now that David Montgomery is gone. Detroit wants a complement to Jamir Gibbs. Eight to twelve touches per game. Reliable hands. Good pass protection. A runner who hits the crease without delay. Wilson was the top name on the realistic board. A sturdy between-the-tackles runner with dependable receiving. He has been a second option before and can be that again next to Gibbs. Later in the market, an Isaiah Pacheco type fits too. Downhill. Short-yardage strength. Willing in pass protection. A past knee injury was noted, but the style matches what the Lions can afford if they avoid high prices. At wide receiver, the top three are set, with Saint Jr. and Teslaa among the group. They will command most of the targets. Kalif Raymond can return as the kick returner on a short deal. Another team might view him as a WR3, so price matters. Detroit should not pay a premium for WR4. A ring-chasing veteran could still make sense. DeAndre Hopkins fits if the number is small. Think a one-year, 3.5 million dollar deal with incentives. Strong hands. Savvy routes. Willing blocker. He knows he is not the feature. It is not a priority, and the money may play better elsewhere, especially with internal options like Dominic Lovett coming. But if the price is right, it helps the room. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #legaltamperingperiod #hendrickson #tylerlindenbaum #jaredgoff #kyleallen #uflquarterback #undraftedrookie #rb2complement #jamirgibbs #davidmontgomerydeparture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News about Taylor Decker hit during a long drive to Marquette. The Detroit Lions asked their veteran left tackle to take a pay cut. He did not agree. He then asked for his release. The tone on the Detroit Lions Podcast shifted from relief over his return to urgency. The NFL calendar keeps moving. Detroit needs clarity at left tackle, and fast. Decker Pay-Cut Shock and Fallout Decker announced he was coming back, and the room was excited. The pay-cut request surprised him more than many expected. His reaction on Instagram suggested he felt blindsided. The team viewed the request as reasonable. It was tied to risk. The situation escalated when he asked for his release. That put Detroit right back where it was weeks ago. The need for a starting left tackle returned to the top of the board. This is not an easy split. Decker has been well paid. He has also battled through a lot. But the timing and the price point clashed with the team's plans. No one likes the optics. Everyone understands the stakes. Injury Reality and Contract Math Decker's 2025 form slipped. The shoulder injury mattered. He could not practice consistently. There was little confidence it would improve. The Detroit Lions asked him to share the financial burden for that risk. He declined. He has openly weighed retirement. This looks like his last year. He is not getting another big deal. An $18,000,000 one-year number is hard to justify for a player in this spot. He wants to maximize earnings. The club wants protection. Those positions collided. Assigning blame is tricky. Communication could have been cleaner. Preparation could have been better. But the facts are simple. The Lions tried to right-size a number. Decker did not accept it. Now both sides face consequences. Draft Board Tilts to Offensive Tackle Detroit planned to draft an offensive tackle regardless of Decker's status. That part has not changed. The urgency has. A first round pick at tackle now feels close to mandatory. The Lions need a starter at left tackle right away. The board offers options. Blake Miller from Thompson profiles as a target. Caleb Lomu is in the mix. Monroe Ferland might not be there when Detroit picks. Fit and availability will decide it. The path is clear. Stabilize the edge. Protect the quarterback. Rebuild the line's future while respecting its past. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it plainly. Set the price, set the plan, and stick to it as the NFL Draft approaches. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #taylordecker #lefttackle #paycut #shoulderinjury #practicelimitations #releaserequest #offensivetackle #firstroundpick #nfldraft #blakemiller #caleblomu #monroeferland #retirement #$18 #000 #000one-yeardeal #detroitlionsoffensiveline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mailbag After Indy, With a Fresh Trade in the Rearview The Detroit Lions Podcast mailbag hit right after the NFL Combine and right after the David Montgomery trade. The timing sharpened every question. Subscribers asked for specific names and roles. They got them. The conversation opened with a quick nod to the community. Questions came in from the Detroit Lions Podcast Slack. It was an honest, on-the-fly session. No scripts. Just straight answers. Combine Risers the Lions Could Target Chase Besantis stood out. The Texas A&M guard moved with clean agility and poise in on-field work. He has some length questions, but the tape and testing say top-60. He belongs in the mix if the Detroit Lions stay at pick 50. There were athletes who tested as advertised. Allen Green, the Arkansas quarterback, showed the traits of a position-switch candidate. He profiles as the kind of NFL utility piece who can help on specials and handle gadget snaps if needed. Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt flashed as well. Sonny Styles had himself a week. Dylan Tieneman earned a real conversation at 17. He fits the Detroit Lions mold and checks toughness and processing boxes. Red Flags and Availability Concerns One prominent faller was Manu McCoy, the Tennessee outside corner. He has not played in almost 18 months after a knee injury. He was expected to work out. He did not. For a corner who wins with athletic ability, that is a bad signal. Mock drafts that pair him with Detroit at 17 look aggressive now. Availability matters. The point landed hard: do not draft injured players who stay injured. Chris Rakestraw was cited as a painful reminder. Diego Pavia did himself no favors either. The performance and the claim that he is the best quarterback in the class did not help his outlook. Roster Holes and a Pragmatic Draft Plan Confidence is high that Detroit can fill needs for a deeper playoff push. This is not a star-laden class. That is fine. The Lions already have stars. They need B and B-plus contributors who are ready to roll. Linebacker is rich. Running back offers real depth. Day-two and early day-three should deliver instant help. Jeremiah Lovett came out as another big Combine winner. He participated, competed, and should go in the top five. That pushes more value down the board. Offensive line help is available at center and tackle. With Decker coming back, Detroit can target the right profile and timeline instead of forcing a reach. Two quick notes closed the mailbag. The broadcast marked the eighth anniversary of a MAB award for a Sunday morning tailgate show. And there is more on the air next week, with hosting duties on The Huge Show across Michigan. A Munich trip is on the wish list too. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #davidmontgomerytrade #nflcombine #nflfreeagency #lionstargets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montgomery to Texans, Gibbs takes lead The Detroit Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. It was a business decision. The return matters, and so does the timing. Free agency is a few days out. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it around role and value. Amon-Ra St. Brown said on his podcast that Montgomery wanted a bigger role. The Lions are prioritizing Jameer Gibbs. That tracks with how the backfield evolved. Paying heavily for a clear No. 2 over the next two years did not fit the plan. The haul: Day 3 picks and Juice Scruggs Detroit landed a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. That was more than many expected. Those selections become currency on draft weekend. They let the front office move around the board. The deal also brought interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. He has center and guard versatility and around 20 career starts in Houston. The appeal is obvious. He can step in across the interior and stabilize depth at a low cost. The read here is that he looks better at center than at guard. Backfield usage and value calculus Gibbs is the priority. He earned it with early-career production. The Lions will feature him and live with that decision. Montgomery is a good NFL running back. He could start for several teams. At times, there was frustration about his usage in Detroit. He set a tone as a runner when fed. But giving premium dollars to a No. 2 while preparing to extend Gibbs is tough. This move aligns resources with roles. Detroit can add a complementary back through the draft or free agency if needed. The key is volume and fit next to Gibbs, not a one-for-one replacement. Center question, free agency clock Scruggs also touches the bigger question inside. Center is unclear right now. The position will have people guessing until the moves land. Scruggs profiles as a swing interior player who can handle snaps in a pinch. Free agency arrives soon, and the board will shift quickly. The NFL combine chatter feeds that, and the Lions will have options. With two day-three picks added and a flexible interior piece, Detroit gained room to operate. This was about clarity. Prioritize Gibbs. Add picks. Fortify the line. Then attack needs when the market opens. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #davidmontgomerytrade #jahmyrgibbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chasing the Champs, Skipping the Myths Michael Grey and Jacson Bevens from The Cigar Thoughts Podcast have an offseason check-in built around one question: how do you chase a champion without convincing yourself there is a secret code? Bevens shares his insights fresh off a Seahawks title run he says he is determined to savor. He remembered how the first championship a dozen years ago got blunted by the way the following Super Bowl ended. This time, he is taking nothing for granted. That perspective anchored a clear theme. Everyone in the NFL tries to reinvent the latest champion. Mock drafts pile up. Free agent priorities harden. Armchair GMs get loud. But this Seattle season did not look preordained in September. By December, it did. The shift matters for Lions fans trying to separate lessons from mirages. Health, Schedule, and a Thursday Night Pivot Bevans traced two pillars. First, health. He called it the tie that binds Super Bowl champions. Seattle stayed remarkably healthy by modern standards. Second, the league's shape helped. Expected powers stumbled. The Chiefs cratered. The Bills were good, not great. The Ravens cratered. The Lions cratered. The Eagles stacked wins without looking convincing. The Niners took a ton of injuries. Suddenly there were good teams but not great ones in the AFC, and in the NFC it was largely Seattle and the Rams. One inflection point stood out. A Thursday night win over the Rams pushed Seattle into pole position. From there, they held serve. Bevans also admitted he was bullish early. The opening win total sat at seven and a half. Last year's team had won 10. He put his biggest sports bet on Seattle to clear it, and they did so with room to spare. Detroit Lions Takeaways for a Real NFL Sprint So what should the Detroit Lions actually copy? Start with availability. Health powered Seattle's sprint. Next, accept evolution. September narratives lie. December decides. There is no single formula to import. Defensive head coach talking points will surface all offseason, but context and roster shape matter more than slogans. Grey framed it as an offseason mandate. Build smart. Own free agent priorities. Treat mock drafts as tools, not gospel. Avoid chasing a dynasty script before you win the next game. The Seahawks were not crowned in camp. They earned status piece by piece, then protected it. That is the blueprint worth stealing for the Detroit Lions in a ruthless NFL. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seattleseahawks #nfcrace #ramsthursdaynightwin #superbowlchampions #wintotal7.5 #injuriesandhealth #mockdrafts #freeagentpriorities #armchairgm #quarterbacksmith #dkmetcalf #afchadnogreatteams #ninersinjuries #bestteaminthenfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Combine fallout reshapes Detroit's No. 17 board The Detroit Lions Podcast finally hit the post-combine reset after a chaotic week that included a David Montgomery trade and the release of Graham Glasgow. Jeff Risdon and Michael Grey used Indy results to revisit the five most likely options for the Detroit Lions at pick 17 in the NFL Draft. Three names from the pre-combine slate remain. Two dropped out for clear, on-field reasons. The three still standing at 17 The core of the list holds: Auburn edge Keldrick Falk, Clemson edge TJ Parker, and Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller are still in play at 17. The Lions' needs on the line of scrimmage keep all three relevant. Detroit values trench versatility and production, and each brings a different answer to that profile. Why Keldrick Falk fits Detroit's front Falk checks the size and power boxes as a crush the can edge who can also reduce inside. He is young and very athletic, even if not a classic twitch rusher. His floor arrives with elite run defense. His ceiling rises with inside-out flexibility. He can play a big end role, then kick to three-tech on passing downs. Detroit has mixed five-man fronts and odd looks, moving bodies to find matchups. Falk fits that menu. Post-combine, his range tightened. He could be gone by 17. Dallas is a possibility. Miami is a possibility. There is even outside buzz about Kansas City at nine. He remains a strong Lions match if he lasts. TJ Parker's stock rebounds in Indy Parker stacked a strong combine on top of earlier production. He moved himself more firmly into the 15-to-20 range. His past billing in some mocks as the first defensive player off the board slipped during the season, but he explained the context well and showed maturity. Traits, motor, and makeup line up with what Detroit wants on and off the field. He is a devoted father, a motivated worker, and a confident finisher. Parker could still be there at 17. It also would not shock if he goes just above Detroit. Either way, he is squarely in the tier the Lions are weighing. Who fell off the board at 17 Caden Proctor slid out of round-one consideration for Detroit at that slot. His wave drill was rough, and the consensus view now leans guard projection. Many see him in the 25-to-40 range as a supersized interior lineman. His athletic background at Alabama, including tight end and short-yardage running back snaps, does not fully translate to NFL offensive tackle. Monroe Freeling went the other direction. He became a combine darling. He looks likely to be gone well before 17, perhaps even the first offensive lineman taken and a candidate in the top 10. That makes the Freeling-at-17 dream unrealistic for the Lions. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #combine #keldricfaulk #tjparker #blakemiller #monroefreeling #dillonthieneman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions turned the page at center. The conversation zeroed in on why the job is open, who is in the mix, and how the scheme should fit the winner. Center Shake-Up: Glasgow Out, Scruggs In On Monday, the David Montgomery trade with the Houston Texans delivered interior help. The Lions acquired Choice Scruggs, a former second-round pick out of Penn State, who played his best snaps in 2024 at center in Houston. The Texans later moved him to guard after adding Jake Andrews from the Patriots, a center-only piece who struggled but still stayed in the lineup. The vacancy in Detroit became real when the Lions cut Grey Glasgow to free cap room. The move was expected. Glasgow posted a thank-you within minutes of the release going public. He is widely respected in the building. He gave what he had. The last couple seasons were uneven, especially in the run game. Context matters. Frank Ragnau retiring when he did put the team in a massive pinch. Coaches asked Glasgow to execute things Ragnau could do. Very few can do what Ragnau did. That mismatch hurt the line. That is on the approach as much as the player. Early Depth Chart: Real Competition Scruggs immediately joins a live competition. Seth McLaughlin is in that fight too. He is a former Alabama and Ohio State center who missed his rookie season with injury and spent time on the Bengals practice squad. He needs to be healthy and will have to earn it. Nothing should be handed out. This is the type of battle that defines camp reps. It also clarifies protection rules and run fits. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it plainly: the best center must match the assignment load and restore timing in the run game. Why Tate Ratledge Makes Sense in the Middle Tate Ratledge can play center. He logged some snaps there last year. Combine comments indicated the team moved him to right guard because it was easier on him, and he was very good at right guard. There is a case to put him back at center. At guard, he can struggle when squaring up defenders not aligned over his face. If a rusher shades an outside or inside shoulder, his first reaction can be a tick slow. Climbing to the second level from that stance was also a problem at times. Experience can clean up part of that. Center naturally mitigates those issues. The cone of responsibility is tighter. There are fewer immediate threats from wide angles. That buys time, trims the aiming points, and lets his power and balance show. If Detroit wants quicker run fits and a cleaner ID process, Ratledge in the middle is a real option to weigh against Scruggs and McLaughlin. The job is open. The skill set must match the asks. Detroit needs the right center, not just a center. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #centercompetition #grahamglasgow #frankragnow #juicescruggs #houstontexans #davidmontgomerytrade #sethmclaughlin #tateratledge #bradholmescombinecomments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montgomery Dealt to Houston: Terms and Timing The Detroit Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans on Monday morning. Detroit received a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. The move followed a tense 24 hours in which Montgomery publicly pushed back on reports of his trade request. He wanted out. The compensation includes a fourth Houston owns among multiple selections. Another Houston trade also hit earlier in the day, adding to the churn. Why Detroit Moved On This came down to role, cost, and touches. Montgomery was the NFL's 12th-highest-paid running back. His workload slipped to about 10 touches per game behind Jameer Gibbs. That math did not fit the Lions cap plan. Detroit frees money with the deal. The staff valued his production. He was more efficient in 2025 than in 2024. He was also a very good pass protector. That skill will be missed. But paying starter money for a No. 2 back on a light workload was not sustainable. Roster Fallout: RB2 Search Starts Now The depth chart has a hole at RB2. Vaki was drafted to play special teams. Injuries have slowed his work at running back. The staff does not see him as ready for a bigger role. Jacob Saylors remains in the room. The Lions must add another back. Third-down protection and short-yardage snaps are now open questions behind Gibbs. The front office saw this coming and acted fast. They refused to let a noisy situation linger. Scruggs Arrives, Houston Reacts Detroit adds Scruggs to the offensive line mix. The expectation is utility and competition on the interior. On the Houston side, reaction is mixed. The Texans traded Titus Howard earlier in the day. Fans there like Montgomery's durability and lead-back traits. They also worry about who will block for him after the Howard move. From Detroit's view, the fourth-rounder helps stock draft capital. The seventh adds a swing. The lineman gives depth now. The cost was a productive back who wanted a larger role. The Lions reset the room and keep building for 2026 and beyond. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #davidmontgomery #jameergibbs #rb2hole #passprotector #caproom #houstontexans #juicescruggs #2026fourth-roundpick #2027seventh-roundpick #bradholmes #dancampbell #jacobsaylors #vakispecialteams #10touchespergame #12th-highest-paidrunningback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montgomery's Status and the Salary Math Episode 604 of the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with the biggest topic from Indianapolis. David Montgomery's future. A report from the combine week suggested he wants out. Montgomery pushed back publicly. The timing still raised eyebrows. Context matters. Brad and Dan went to the podium in Indy and talked about smoothing things over with Montgomery. That is not casual podium talk. His role dipped last fall. He lost about six touches per game between rushes and receptions. He is 28. He is currently the 12th highest paid running back in the NFL. Here is the crunch. Jameer Gibbs is headed for a massive payday. Carrying a top-tier contract for Gibbs while keeping Montgomery at his current number is tough. Especially when the Detroit Lions have one defensive end on the roster, two healthy safeties, and are out a starting linebacker. Roster needs meet running back economics. That is the conflict. Gibbs' Deal and the Roster Squeeze If Gibbs signs soon, Montgomery becomes a high-priced No. 2. Teams can often find backs who replicate most of that production for far less. That pressure is real. It also tests locker room chemistry. Being a good teammate gets harder when touches shrink and the market says your role is replaceable. Montgomery spoke the right words during the season. He has said he likes Detroit. He also returned to Twitter after nearly two years to address the rumor. That is not nothing. It signals a player guarding his salary and his standing while the Detroit Lions weigh cap priorities. No one here is questioning his effort. The question is fit and cost after Gibbs gets paid. Combine Reactions and Draft Board Ripples The show framed the NFL Scouting Combine as more than testing numbers. It clarified needs. Edge, safety, and linebacker sit on top. That aligns with the depth concerns mentioned on air. The big draft board will reflect that urgency. Indianapolis also delivered insider buzz. The Montgomery item surfaced there and intersected with podium hints from leadership. Public negotiation talk does not sit well. The Detroit Lions typically keep business quiet. That is why this flare-up hit so hard during combine week. The takeaway is simple. The Detroit Lions must balance a potential Gibbs deal with immediate defensive needs. They also need to keep Montgomery aligned with his role. The calendar will force decisions soon. The cap, the board, and the backfield are colliding. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #davidmontgomery #jameergibbs #nflscoutingcombine #bigdraftboard #contractextensionconversation #onedefensiveend #twohealthysafeties #startinglinebacker #touchespergame #rolediminished #jeremyfowler #bradanddanatthepodium #indianapolis #runningbacksalary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday testing sorts the board for Detroit The edges, defensive tackles, and off ball linebackers hit Lucas Oilfield and brought clarity. Several headliners crushed testing and pushed firmly out of Detroit Lions range at 17. Sonny Styles had a day. He looked like a top-two selection after the work he put in. Arnold Reed will not be there at 17 either. David Bailey's surge put him on wish lists, not draft boards in the teens. Not everyone went. Room Maddox did not work out. Akeem Mesador sat as well. Kendrick Fox did not run the 40, and another Jones skipped a key portion too. The top of this NFL class made itself scarce for Detroit, and that matters. For a Lions roster looking to add juice on the edge and speed in the second level, Thursday underlined how the board may force a different path. Malachi Lawrence puts himself on the Lions radar UCF edge Malachi Lawrence delivered the kind of profile the Detroit Lions covet. He clocked a 1.58 10-yard split, leapt 40 inches in the vertical, and posted a broad jump just shy of 11 feet. That burst showed up in every drill. His get-off was immediate. His hands stayed active. He won with speed first, then mixed in power. The overall athletic score matched the eye test. The Lions have talked to him, including prior to Indianapolis. He is not a pick-17 projection. He looks like a second-round target who could line up across from Aidan Hutchinson and change the cadence of Detroit's four-man rush. He is not the cleanest finisher and the tackling consistency needs tightening, but the traits translate to the NFL. Put his name in ink on the board of realistic upgrades. Day-three value from Iowa: Max Allen's clean work Max Allen from Iowa is a different kind of find. Tall and angular, he moved with surprising smoothness. In the position drills he stayed on schedule. No extra gather steps. No wasted feet. He looked like a power-based edge who can kick inside when asked and win over either shoulder of a tackle. The profile echoes Romeo Oquara. Allen is not an exceptional tester, but he is good enough and well coached. Fourth or fifth round feels right. For the Detroit Lions, that is the sweet spot to fortify the rotation with a versatile, durable piece who brings baseline strength and sound mechanics. TJ Harper reframes a rocky year TJ Harper owned the room at the podium. He entered 2025 as a potential number one overall pick. The season did not deliver the numbers. He explained the context clearly and maintained he played better, which his tape supports. It was direct and measured, the kind of response teams want when the stat line dips. For the Detroit Lions Podcast audience, Thursday in Indy underscored two truths. The elite rose out of reach. The smart value sits right where Detroit can strike. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0rF9mCM3o #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #malachilawrence #nflscoutingcombine #2026nfldraft #tjparker #jackkelly #maxllewellyn #terrionarnold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside a Quiet Combine Day for the Lions Jeff Risdon checked in live from Indianapolis on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Thursday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine brings the first on-field work across the street. Wednesday was lighter. For the Detroit Lions, it was mostly defensive podium sessions. Useful, but limited. You learn how prospects communicate. You hear how they talk football. You watch poise and clarity. You do not get many hard answers. What Detroit Looks For in Combine Meetings The NFL churns on the question, did you meet with the Lions? It is a weak tell. Teams meet for different reasons. The Detroit Lions use those rooms to learn the person. Competitiveness. Ability to be coached. How a player meshes with coaches. The whiteboard matters, but less than with some clubs that grill pure X's and O's. Others will demand a defensive tackle recite gap fits from a specific snap. Detroit more often probes mindset and fit. Do not overread formal versus informal. Kirby Joseph had only an informal visit at the Combine and left thinking the Lions were not all that interested. He became a Detroit Lion anyway. There is also a player from this regime who was drafted with no Combine meeting at all. On the flip side, a prospect two drafts ago helped himself with a strong interview. The door swings both ways. Timing matters too. Podium appearances happen before many meetings. Prospects stay in town through workouts. A player who says he has not met Detroit yet on Wednesday might sit down with them Thursday night. Keep that context in mind when the meeting lists hit social media. Kelvin Shepherd's HC Interview Was Real One media session cut through the noise. The Dolphins GM discussed their head coach search after moving on from Mike McDaniel. Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepherd interviewed for that job. Some dismissed it as a box-check. The GM made it clear Shepherd was a serious candidate. That resonates in Indianapolis. It reflects how league decision-makers view Detroit's staff after back-to-back ascents. It also underscores why interviews at this NFL event are about people as much as plays. There is broader chatter. Miami's situation drew side-eye. Questions linger about Tua. There was even speculation about who will play quarterback for the New York Jets. Kyler Murray's name came up. It is not a great year to need a quarterback. None of that changes Detroit's plan this week. Watch. Learn. Separate signal from noise. The Combine is about stacking small edges. The Lions are sticking to it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflscoutingcombine #indianapolis #podiuminterviews #formalmeeting #informalvisit #whiteboardx'sando's #defensivetackle #abilitytobecoached #kirbyjoseph #dolphinsgm #mikemcdaniel #tua #kylermurray #newyorkjetsquarterback #kelvinshepherdheadcoachinterview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad and Dan speak at the Combine The Detroit Lions hit the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday with clarity at a critical spot. Minutes after Dan Campbell wrapped his podium, Taylor Decker posted that he is coming back. The timing sharpened the conversation that both Campbell and Brad Holmes started in Indianapolis. Plan as if Decker might not be there. Welcome him if he is. Now he is. That stabilizes left tackle. The Lions still want a real plan B at tackle. Even with Decker back for 2026, they need depth and a future answer. The return eases the pressure to chase a plug-and-play starter immediately. It also widens the draft choices. Detroit can shop for value instead of forcing the board. Ready-Now vs. Upside at Tackle, and the Ripple at Edge With Decker in place, the Lions can consider a developmental tackle at 17 or 50. That shifts the calculus between floor and ceiling. Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa are widely viewed as the most NFL-ready. They might not reach Detroit. The alternative is betting on growth. Caleb Lomu fits the long-range model. Monroe Freeling does too. There is even patience baked in for an injured stash like Isaiah Wood on Day 3. Freed from a must-start tackle search, Detroit can let the best player win the room. The vibe in Indianapolis points to edge and offensive line as the early pillars. Safety lingers as a swing factor. The first two rounds still look like edge and offensive line, with safety in the mix if the board breaks right. Safety Health Clouds the Secondary, Card-Ready at 17? Both leaders addressed the safeties' health. The update on Kerby was cautious. More will be known in about a month. The staff is probing his recovery and realistic timeline. It did not sound overly promising. Branch tore his Achilles late in the season. A return before the start seems unlikely, and peak form could take time in 2026. The defense felt that loss. When the NFL's interception leader went down with a knee injury, the secondary buckled and the unit needed weeks to adjust. That context keeps safety very live on Day 1 or 2. If Cam Dow is there at 17, the card goes in. Otherwise, Detroit can let a deep edge class meet a flexible tackle board and take what the NFL gives. One more steadying note from the Combine floor: the defensive coaching staff stays intact. Campbell is energized by that continuity. The Detroit Lions Podcast will have more as medicals and workouts reshape this board in real time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OzHbLEbLDg #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #taylordecker #bradholmes #dancampbell #nflscoutingcombine #lucasoilfield #offensivetackle #edgerusher #spencerfano #francismanu #caleblomu #monroefraley #isaiahwood #kirby #branchachilles #pick17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions Podcast lit the fuse on NFL Combine week with real news and real stakes. On Bish & Brown, Scott Bischoff, Russell Brown, and Chris reacted in real time to Taylor Decker signaling Year 11, then zeroed in on what the combine means for Detroit and this draft class. Decker's Year 11 and What It Means at Tackle Mid-show, Decker posted “Year 11” with a tunnel photo. The room shifted. His return stabilizes left tackle and the Lions' core up front. It does not end the draft conversation at offensive tackle. The hosts said pick 17 could still be in play, citing Monroe Fraley out of Georgia as a target they have championed. Depth, succession planning, and premium position value keep the door open. Trent Williams chatter framed the urgency earlier. Decker's post clarified the baseline: Detroit can build from strength instead of scrambling at a cornerstone spot. Defense on the Clock, Injuries in View The offseason remains complex. The discussion turned to veterans like Graham Glasgow and David Montgomery, and the ripple effects of injuries on defense. The Lions may not have Kirby Joseph or Ryan Branch to start the year. That uncertainty shapes free agency and draft priorities. The hosts stressed that this week is a launch point, not a finish line. Decisions on defense will hinge on medical timelines and what value appears after the combine testing and interviews. Combine Week: Drills, Data, and Day-Two Targets This is a true preview. Not every prospect will run or test. Some will skip the 40 yard dash. Others will pass on bag drills or the three cone drill. The hosts plan to stack 10 to 12 players each, from top names to day two guys, and let the tape and testing meet in the middle. Thursday will reveal who works and who waits for pro day. Spotlight: Jeremiah Love's Rare Movement Skills Potentially the top player in the draft depending on who you ask, Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love drew a long look. One host admitted there is no path to Detroit for him, but the evaluation matters. Love is different. Lateral quickness. Smooth stride. He glides and explodes. He was used more down the field in the passing game this year and looks like a three down, workhorse type. The measurables feel secondary because the movement is so clean, but the compare-and-contrast on change of direction against this running back class will be telling. He is viewed as far and away the superior runner in the group. That context helps calibrate the board for where the Lions do shop on days two and three. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflscoutingcombine #taylordeckeryear11 #trentwilliamsbuzz #grahamglasgow #davidmontgomery #kirbyjosephinjury #ryanbranchinjury #daytwoguys #40yarddash #threeconedrill #bagdrills #jeremiahlovenotredame #offensivetackleatpick17 #monroefraleygeorgia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coaching Staff Set: Titles, Roles, Continuity The Detroit Lions locked in their coaching staff on Monday, and the announcement landed with steadiness, not shock. Dan Campbell remains at the top. Drew Pessing is confirmed as offensive coordinator. Scotty Montgomery holds the associate head coach title. Safeties coach Jim O'Neil adds the assistant head coach role. Continuity is the headline. Caleb Collins is listed as a defensive assistant. Fraley is back as a running coordinator. Bruce Gradkowski, a former NFL quarterback, moves into the assistant wide receivers coach spot after a year as an offensive assistant. The Lions like his trajectory. Other teams do too. That momentum matters. One familiar name returns in a fresh lane. Dan Skipper is now an offensive assistant. The role is nonspecific by design. Expect Skipper to live in the film room, move between position groups, and serve as a trusted bridge between players and coaches. He just retired. He knows the locker room. That can pay off on long practice weeks. Defense: Why They're Running It Back The defensive staff remains intact aside from O'Neil's added title. That decision stirred reaction after uneven results. The context matters. Before the bye, with a healthy secondary, Detroit ranked as a top-eight defense in scoring and yards per game. The plan worked when the pieces were available. Then injuries hit. Results slid. Late in the year, Kelvin Sheppard mixed things up. Fronts changed. Coverage rules shifted. Blitz patterns evolved. The staff adjusted to the talent on hand and found gains in the final two games. That flexibility is part of why they are running it back. The defensive line is the pressure point. Kacy Rogers returns after a difficult first season. There were late signs of progress. Work with Tyleik Williams and Roy Lopez began to show. More technique wins. Better finish on plays. Year two needs to convert flashes into production. New and Notable: Passing Game and Specialist Roles David Shaw stays on as passing game specialist after previously serving as passing game coordinator. He arrived with John Morton, who is back in Denver at his old job. The shift from coordinator to specialist narrows his scope and clarifies lanes around the passing game build. Indianapolis Notes and Draft Buzz The Detroit Lions Podcast checked in from Indianapolis on a frigid morning with early draft rumors floating in the air. Most of the NFL arrives today. Brad and Dan are scheduled to speak this afternoon, with Pessing also set to meet with the media on Tuesday. Those sessions will shape how the finalized staff plans to deploy scheme tweaks, personnel development, and the next wave of additions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v7HazlUBgM #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #detroitlionscoachingstaff #indianapolisdraftbuzz #2026nfldraft #lionscoaches #kelvinsheppard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Defense Set the Tone Across the NFL Michael Grey welcomed Kevin Kugler for one last look at the 2025-26 NFL season. The Detroit Lions Podcast audience got a simple theme. Defense carried the year. Teams with great defensive play stayed in the mix. Seattle did it. Houston did it. Denver did it. Cleveland had a good defense but lacked answers elsewhere. The lesson was clear. Pair a good defense with at least a serviceable offense and you can go a long way. Seattle's Surprise and the Sam Darnold Question Seattle opened with questions everywhere. How good would the defense be? How good would the coaching staff be? Could Sam Darnold hold up? They found answers. The defense led. The offense stayed steady. Darnold avoided the meltdown many expected. Even late, including the Super Bowl, he did not have that three interception game. It was not flashy. It was solid. That was enough. Limits Exposed: Houston, Denver, Cleveland Houston rode defense while searching for consistent quarterback play from CJ Stroud. The running game never really arrived. Still, Houston reached the divisional round because the defense was that good. Denver showed the other side. When Bo Nix went down, the margin vanished. Even a strong defense has limits when the offense dries up. Cleveland offered a final reminder. A pretty good defense, by itself, is not a plan. You need something to go with it. Copycat Season, Combine Clock This is a copycat league. Teams will try to become the next Seattle. Good luck. Finding another Nick Emmanwori will be hard. Replicating what Mike McDonald did with the Wolverines and in Baltimore will be harder. The search will expand to the transaction wire. Who is the next Sam Darnold? Who is the next Daniel Jones before injury? Veterans will get long looks. The combine is underway. The draft is coming fast. Balance is the goal. Lions fans know the assignment. Build a roster that marries reliable offense with a defense that can win field position and save possessions. That is the blueprint that traveled, week after week, across a long season in the NFL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPUL186C-ek #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seattleseahawks #samdarnold #houstontexans #denverdefense #clevelandbrowns #cjstroud #runninggame #divisionalround #copycatleague #mikemcdonald #baltimore #bonix #danieljones #combine #draft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Combine Week Opens Under a Storm Cloud The Detroit Lions hit Indianapolis as travel trouble grips the NFL combine. Flights from the East Coast stalled. Media and colleagues got stuck. Coach and GM podiums scheduled for Tuesday could shuffle. Brad and Dan are slated to speak, but timing depends on who makes it into town. Indianapolis feels familiar. This is the sixteenth combine trip for our on-site voice. He arrived late Friday and is here through Saturday night. The weekend included a stop at the Indiana Volleyball Academy for his daughter's tournament. The weather is stubbornly Grey. A move to a new hotel happens tomorrow to escape the road noise. Lions, Gibbs Eye Highest-Paid RB Deal The headline in Detroit is clear. Multiple reports indicate the Lions and Gibbs are closing on a contract that would make him the highest paid running back in the NFL. The expected figure hovers around $20 million per year on a three- or four-year deal. Gibbs earned it. He changed the offense. Explosive runs flipped field position. Catch-and-run plays from simple swing passes created 25-yard first downs and red-zone setups. He is not a standard running back in this scheme. The Lions built calls to maximize his space and speed. He is indispensable to what the offense wants to do. Market context tracks with that price. Recent top deals include Saquon Barkley at $20 million, Christian McCaffrey at $19 million, with James Cook and Jonathan Taylor lower due to production and injury variables. Age matters. Production matters more. Gibbs checks the boxes for Detroit. Cap Mechanics and What Comes Next Expect the familiar structure. The Lions use void years to ease the early cap hits. Front-loading flexibility keeps space for other premium contracts. That matters because more big checks are coming. Two years from now, more core pieces will need new money. The cycle continues if the window is to stay open. The order of operations explains the timing. LaPorta is still injured. Branch is still injured. Jameson Williams is already handled. Jack Campbell could be next, but Gibbs sits at the front of the line now. The calculus is simple. The Lions do not win as often without him. So the week begins with two watch items. First, how the combine schedule adapts to the travel mess. Second, whether the Gibbs figures solidify near that $20 million average with three or four years attached. The Detroit Lions Podcast will ride both stories from downtown Indianapolis as the interviews start and the deals take shape. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jahmyrgibbs #contractextension #scoutingcombine #akheemmesidor #joshcuevas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast with a tight focus. What should the Detroit Lions do at No. 17 in the NFL Draft? The board points to two paths. A press corner who fits the defense. Or an offensive tackle that stabilizes the offense under Drew Petzing. They set the table, compared notes from recent film, and laid out the cases. Press Corner Case: Colton Wood at No. 17 Colton Wood drew early attention. Scott called him a stylistic match for the Lions. Press traits. Physical hands. A willingness to tackle. He steps up and hits. The profile checks out. At six foot and around 195, he looks built for press man. He anticipates routes in off coverage. He stacked a strong Senior Bowl week. The questions are clear. How does his long speed hold when asked to recover? Can he stay clean at the line and finish reps downfield? If the Lions want to roll with press outside, Wood is one of the class options they would stare at. Scott also left the door open for a different DB at 17. A possible safety, or a very aggressive slot corner, could still drive how this defense operates. That aligns with how they want to play. It would not be tackle or edge, but it would fit the identity. What a Corner Pick Signals for Detroit Russell weighed the room. He noted the club already spent money for DJ Reed and used draft capital two years ago for Terry Ryan Arnold. Taking a corner at 17 could say a lot. It might mean they are out on Rakestraw. It would add real competition. It could push the depth chart and sharpen the group. He would be fine with Wood there. The tape shows consistent, physical play and sharp route awareness. But he flagged the cost. Corner at 17 tips the hand and reshapes expectations across the room. Offensive Tackle or Bust, and Blake Miller Russell kept circling back to one thing. Offensive tackle or bust at 17. The offense under Drew Petzing makes that path compelling. Protect the quarterback. Keep the run game square. Create balance. That set up his recent study of Clemson's Blake Miller. The lower body movement jumped out. The footwork and range looked promising. He expects Miller to test well. The takeaway was simple. If the Lions want a long-term bookend, this draft gives them a chance to get one without forcing the board. Combine Watch and What Comes Next The hosts will dig into drills and events next week and push a deeper combine preview before 3 PM Thursday when the combine kicks off. They plan to track corners in press periods, safeties and slot players in space, and offensive tackles through movement testing. The evaluations will tighten. The board at 17 will come into focus. The Detroit Lions Podcast will have it covered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1128gDn0Ok #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #coltonwood #pressmancorner #pick17 #safetyorslotcorner #seniorbowlweek #blakemiller #clemsonoffensivetackle #drewpetzingoffense #rakestraw #djreed #routeanticipation #combinedrills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pre-Combine Focus on Pick 17 Jeff Risdon set the stage on the Detroit Lions Podcast with a clear mission. It is Friday, February 20, and the NFL Combine is next. He heads to Indianapolis early tomorrow. The focus is pick number 17 for the Detroit Lions. Interest around that slot is intense after Daniel Jeremiah's press conference. Based on current projections, five names stand out heading into the week. The board can change after testing and interviews. For now, these are the most likely targets. Keldrick Falk fits the Lions' blueprint Auburn edge Keldrick Falk leads the defensive options. He plays with power to speed and a crush-the-can style that pairs with Aidan Hutchinson. He is 20 years old. He owns exceptional football character. He was a team captain and a culture builder by reputation. Production has not matched traits yet. Auburn used him as an end in a three man front last season, not a four man front. That put him in the b gap and exposed him to extra blockers from guards and tackles. His get-off is not twitchy, but he showed late-season growth shedding outside blocks and finishing. He has workable pass rush moves. Athletically, he compares favorably to Levi Onwuzurike. If the Lions go defense at 17 and skip offensive tackle, Falk is the pick on this pre-combine board. He sits as No. 22 overall here, so it would be a slight reach. The combine could tighten that gap. Tackles on the board: Monroe Fraley, Blake Miller Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Fraley surged after Jeremiah's praise. He is a left tackle who has played some right tackle. He is long and balanced. His pass protection improved over the season. He stays square with shoulders, hips, and feet aligned to the rusher. That trait shows up in elite NFL tackles. Fraley's run blocking needs cleaner technique. He lunges more than he attacks at times. Still, the pass pro floor and size profile fit what the Detroit Lions value. Right tackle Blake Miller, from Jackson, is gaining momentum as the combine nears. His name rose alongside Fraley in recent conversations. If Detroit prioritizes tackle at 17, both belong in the discussion. TJ Parker's surge and Hatten Proctor's case Clemson edge TJ Parker used the Senior Bowl to recharge his stock. He looked more like the early-season version of himself and answered some questions. He slots into the edge mix behind Falk as a viable play at 17 if the board breaks right. Alabama's Hatten Proctor continues to land in mocks for Detroit. He remains a frequent projection even if the preference leans elsewhere. The buzz is steady enough that he cannot be ignored at 17. This is the pre-combine snapshot. Testing, medicals, and interviews in Indianapolis will move names up and down. For now, those are the five most likely paths for the Detroit Lions at pick number 17. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #picknumber17 #nflcombine #keldricfaulk #monroefreeling #blakemiller #tjparker #kadynproctor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Jeremiah dropped real Detroit Lions intel on a two-hour NFL pre-combine conference call with roughly 150 media members. Three Lions-centric questions made the queue. The answers steered straight to offensive tackle and contingency planning. This Detroit Lions Podcast zeroes in on what matters for pick 17 and March. OT at 17: Monroe Freeling and Blake Miller Asked about offensive tackles at No. 17, Jeremiah immediately named Monroe Freeling of Georgia and Blake Miller of Clemson as fits he believes the Detroit Lions could consider. It is early in the process, and these are his opinions, but those were the first two prospects he tied to Detroit's draft slot. Both are squarely in the conversation before the NFL combine. Why Freeling resonates: learning curve and toughness Jeremiah outlined why Freeling stands out. Quick learner. Still improving. Limited experience but trending up. He added an off-field note with on-field value: Freeling's mother is a yoga instructor, which he views as a positive for injury prevention. He also relayed a durability moment. Freeling was expected to miss a game with a high ankle sprain. He said he felt healthy enough to go, entered on an emergency basis, then played the entire game and played well. That combination of growth, recovery habits, and resilience landed with the room. Free-agent tackle buzz and the contingency map Unprompted, Jeremiah said the Lions are sniffing around the free agent offensive tackle class. He did not elaborate. On the podcast, we walked through the practical outcomes of that note. It can be veteran insurance if a rookie tackle is the pick at 17. It can cover the possibility that Giovanni Manu is not ready to be the next man up. It can protect the depth spot that Dan Skipper filled. The class lacks sizzle, but there are playable options. Jermaine Illuminore has had decent starting stretches with the Lions and Raiders. He is not Taylor Decker, but he can start if needed. Braxton Jones is coming off a rough season. Jack Conklin brings a long injury history in Cleveland. Former Michigan State Spartan. Chicago area roots. Tough profile, but questions remain. Many in this market are primarily right tackles. This draft also gives Detroit room to stack swings. Beyond Freeling and Miller, there are many tackles in range throughout the weekend. Names mentioned as possibilities included Spencer Branch Manu, Caleb Holmes, Caleb Tiernan, and Dimitris Brown of Texas A and M as a Day 3 type the Lions could like. Doubling up is not out of the question if the board cooperates. For the Detroit Lions, the path at tackle runs through No. 17 and the veteran aisle. The next two weeks before the NFL combine will sharpen it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #monroefreeling #blakemiller #freeagentoffensivetackles #taylordecker #giovannimanu #danieljeremiah #highanklesprain #jermaineilluminore #braxtonjones #jacksonconklin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who Makes the Calls in Allen Park Now? Episode 603 of the Detroit Lions Podcast opens with the question hanging over Allen Park. With Rod Wood retiring, who is steering football decisions day to day? The show lays out a direct agenda: assess the cap, sprint through free agency priorities, and prep for the NFL Scouting Combine. The timing matters. Combine week concentrates information, from personnel whispers to process checks. That is where clarity on roles can sharpen. The show centers the concern without panic. The operations list is long. Football choices cannot stall. The Lions have a window to align budgets, targets, and evals before Indy. Rod Wood's Legacy and Ford Field's Staying Power The conversation traces Wood's arc with the Detroit Lions. He worked for the Ford family in one form or another for almost thirty years, with roughly twenty more in investment banking before that. His tenure with the team dates to 2015, the Jim Caldwell era, marked by mediocrity and dead cap. He was involved in the Patricia decision, though he was not the decision maker. The organization even brought in outside counsel, including Ernie Coursey, to shape that process. Wood's imprint shows in concrete ways. Ford Field remains a viable venue, even as it nears thirty years and sits among the NFL's ten oldest stadiums. Built in the late 1990s and opened in 2000 or 2001, it still works because it improved. That is part of Wood's legacy. He also pushed to end an outlier status in Allen Park by securing the Meeks sponsorship for the training facility. The league had moved in that direction. Detroit aligned. Cap Outlook, Free Agency Sprint, Combine Plan The episode maps the near-term workload. First, clarify the Detroit Lions cap picture. Then hit a sprint through free agency to set tiers and timelines. Finally, lock in combine prep. Measurements, interviews, and positional benchmarks drive the board. The show frames Indy as the place to learn not only about prospects, but also about how the league values the Lions roster and decision makers right now. Every day lost before the combine is costly. The Lions need decisions on structure so scouts, coaches, and execs move in sync. That is the task list before wheels up. Why Indy Matters for the Detroit Lions Indy concentrates the NFL. It is where schedules stack, meals turn into meetings, and league perception reveals itself. The hosts emphasize that they learn more there about how the league perceives the Detroit Lions than any other week outside free agency and the draft. That intel feeds back into cap choices, free agency targets, and how to deploy limited time with prospects. Even the small stuff surfaces, from stadium quirks to fan experience notes. A rancid ketchup complaint gets a laugh, but it underlines a core point. Details and decisions both define a franchise. With Rod Wood stepping away, clarity on who makes the football calls is priority one as Detroit heads to the combine. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #rodwood #allenpark #fordfield #jimcaldwellera #patriciadecision #erniecoursey #meekssponsorship #salarycap #freeagencysprint #combineprep #indy #leagueperceivesthelions #episode603 #fordfamily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anzalone vs. the Lions' social media team The Detroit Lions posted a highlight reel of top defensive pass breakups from last season. Linebacker Alex Anzalone did not appear in it, and that rubbed the pending free agent and team leader the wrong way. Anzalone took to social media to call out the Lions in real time. He called out the team account and the way the breakup was being handled. Other pending free agents were featured in the clip. He was not. The reaction was swift, public, and emotional. Deleted Tweets, Leverage, and a Rising Price The tweets came down. The walk-back arrived with claims of a joke. The damage felt done. Anzalone is set to hit the NFL market and will be 32 this season. He has been vital to the Detroit Lions defense, but he is not indispensable. That reality shapes the negotiation. Roster math looms. The Lions already have money committed to core pieces and emerging ones on the way. Taylor Decker and Derrick Barnes are in the fold. Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs will all command major resources soon. Veterans in Anzalone's tier, and names like DJ Reader discussed previously, get squeezed when the young core ascends. League Eyes and Possible Suitors Other NFL teams noticed the flare-up. That is how the cycle works. When chaos hits one city, rival markets pounce. A Chicago outlet framed Anzalone's likely exit as music to Bears fans. That oversells the moment, but it underlines his respect across the division. The Bears were even cited as a potential landing spot. The market is healthy. Logical fits include the Commanders, Dolphins, Texans, and yes, the Bears. Public frustration can double as a bat signal to bidders. The message is simple. He is open for business. What's Next on the Detroit Lions Podcast The NFL Combine arrives next week. Coverage ramps up for the rest of the week. Today's Prospect of the Day is Oregon IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, who just might be what the Lions are looking for in the second round at guard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaUrNkBG_qY #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #alexanzalone #detroitlionsfreeagency #nflfreeagency #bradleychubb #emmanuelpregnon #lionsfatargets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anzalone, Reader Hit Free Agency; No Tag Coming The contracts for Alex Anzalone and DJ Reader have officially expired. The Detroit Lions are not expected to use the franchise tag on either veteran. This was anticipated. Both players are over 30 and not part of the long term plan. That does not close the door on a return for Anzalone. It simply puts both into the open market. This is routine in the NFL. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, the message was direct. Do not confuse an expired deal with a cut. The Lions did not release Anzalone or Reader. Their contracts ended on the league calendar. You cannot trade expired contracts. They are not on the roster today. Free Agents Are Off the Roster Until They Re-Sign The guidance was practical. Treat unrestricted free agents as off the roster until a new deal is signed. Build your mental depth chart around who is under contract. That includes names like Robertson and Khalif Raymond. They are not Detroit Lions right now. They can return if the sides agree. There is nothing wrong with wanting them back. Just do not plan around it until ink meets paper. The weekend brought noisy headlines. Many framed it as the Lions parting ways. That misreads the process. Free agency is a timeline, not a rupture. Contracts expire. Teams and players reassess. Decisions follow. What Anzalone Gave Detroit and Who Replaces Him Anzalone delivered real value. He arrived from the Saints with injury concerns and rebuilt his stock. He became a leader in the huddle. He handled coverage duties at a reliable level. He even played through setbacks, including a broken forearm in 2024. Jack Campbell is an All Pro. Anzalone is still the better coverage linebacker right now. That is a specific role the Lions must replace if he departs. The answer might not be on the current roster. Detroit must plan for that coverage snap volume. It is not just tackles and blitzes. It is spacing, leverage, and range. Losing that skill set changes how the second level plays. Cap Priorities Shape the Next Moves The Lions operate in a new salary cap reality. Even with a cap bump, every dollar has a path. A Jared Goff restructure is possible, but the future cash points to the core. Think Sam LaPorta. Think Jameer Gibbs. Think Brian Branch. Younger players will command raises. That priority drives today's restraint with veterans over 30. Anzalone wants to stay. If all things are equal, a reunion makes sense. All things rarely are. Detroit will weigh price, role, and timing. Reader's future follows the same logic. The board is set. Now the market speaks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflfreeagency #franchisetag #alexanzalone #djreader #coveragelinebacker #jackcampbell #jaredgoffrestructure #samlaporta #jameergibbs #brianbranch #khalifraymond #robertson #unrestrictedfreeagent #salarycappriorities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A personnel-first plan from Detroit's new play-caller Jeff Risdon laid out the biggest takeaway from the new Detroit Lions offensive coordinator's interview: Drew Petzing will build the offense around the players on hand. He said he does not cling to a single philosophy. He adjusts week to week based on personnel and injuries. That mindset hit home. The Detroit Lions need flexible answers, not rigid slogans, in an NFL that punishes sameness. Petzing also values input from defensive coaches. He coached defense earlier in his career and uses that lens to spot tendencies. What are defenses reading from a formation? Which tells need to be broken? That readiness to self-scout should help the Detroit Lions offense stay one step ahead. Fixing what broke in 2025 Last season exposed a costly flaw. When Sam Laporta and Brock Wright went down, the Lions kept rolling out two tight ends and asked backups to do the same jobs. They could not. The staff did not adjust to Graham Glasgow at center instead of Frank Ragnell either. Glasgow has strengths. They are not identical to Ragnell's. That mismatch hurt the offense and it hurt Goff. Petzing's words made clear he will not treat “next man up” as a plan. He will tailor roles to who is actually available. Influences and evidence of adaptability Petzing cited North Turner and Kevin Stefanski as distinct influences. Turner's lineage favors downfield, long-to-short reads paired with a power run game. Stefanski's tree leans to timing, layered route concepts, and pre snap motion. Petzing blends concepts, not labels. That came through in how he explained his Arizona stint. With injuries everywhere, he leaned into 13 personnel. He said they played seven different tight ends, lost their top two running backs, and started 10 to 12 offensive linemen. He adapted to what he had, not what the playbook once assumed. What it means for David Montgomery and two-back looks Talk that Deemo could be on the way out never held up. After hearing Petzing, it sounds even flimsier. Unless David Montgomery wants out, expect him here and featured. Petzing discussed two back sets in practical terms: get the best personnel on the field to attack the situation. His Cleveland experience with varied backfields showed he is comfortable finding value in pairing runners. That matters for the Detroit Lions as they search for efficient answers in short yardage, red zone, and four-minute situations. This Detroit Lions Podcast episode delivered clarity. The coordinator is aligned with what this roster needs: adaptability, self-scouting, and player-driven plans. If actions match the words, the offense will look smarter, faster, and harder to predict. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #drewpetzing #davidmontgomery #jaredgoff #samlaporta #brockwright #detroitlionsjakeslaughternfldraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edge remains a top Detroit need Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a week away and went straight back into draft talk. The focus: edge defenders for the 2026 NFL Draft. They have hit offensive tackles two weeks ago and plan to zigzag position groups in the coming weeks. Edge help stays high on the Detroit Lions list. The hosts have grumbled about it since the trade deadline and do not expect that to stop. There is no promise the Lions attack the position at pick 17. They could wait and address it later. But the top of the class offers real juice, and the conversation centered on one name. Ruben Bane scouting report: power, fit, and limits Ruben Bane, the edge out of Miami, landed as the favorite fit between the two hosts. If he is on the board at 17, they are sprinting to the podium. They doubt he lasts that long. The tape points to a down defensive end in a four three who can set the edge versus the run and live in the backfield. The style is attack. He gets up the field, hunts the ball, and harasses quarterbacks. Length shows up on the sheet. The hosts do not see shorter arms as a problem for Bane. He plays with power. He is good with his hands. He wins by shortening the path, leaning with his inside shoulder, and reducing the surface an offensive tackle can touch. Foot quickness and pop in his lower half help him close. He is strong enough to park a block, then rip free and finish. There is a knock to note. Ankle mobility and bend are not elite. At full speed he can run past the spot, then has to gear down to finish a tackle. Flattening to tight angles is not always there. Even so, the overall disruption and physicality fit what Detroit wants at defensive end. Pick 17 realities The hosts framed Bane as a top target for Detroit, but they expect him to be gone before pick 17. If he makes it to that slot, something strange likely pushed him down. In that unlikely case, the card should be easy. If he is off the board, the Lions may pivot and take edge later, depending on how the first round falls. What's next on the board Expect more position swings each week. Tight ends may be next. One early note slipped in: Oscar Delp from Georgia sits as a possible No. 2 tight end on their personal board. The Detroit Lions Podcast will keep rolling through the NFL draft cycle with that plan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v4Z49sYrx8 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #edgedefender #pick17 #rubenbane #edgeoutofmiami #downdefensiveendinafourthree #settheedgeversustherun #shorterarms #goodwithhishands #anklemobility #insideshoulder #footquickness #offensivetackles #oscardelp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Skipper reports for duty on the Lions coaching staff The Daily DLP for Thursday celebrates recently retired offensive lineman Dan Skipper rejoining the Detroit Lions as a coach. While we don't yet know the exact coaching role, bringing Skipper back to the Lions' den is a savvy nod to his grit, as well as his proven leadership with the players on the offensive roster already. Skipper joins LB coach Shaun Dion Hamilton as guys who moved straight from the field into the Lions coaching staff. After working out well in a short trial run coaching tight ends and offensive tackles at the Shrine Bowl right after he retired in January, Skipper is ready. With all the talk about Taylor Decker potentially retiring, and with Frank Ragnow's early retirement still fresh, now some other NFC contenders are facing some potential, unexpected retirements on their offensive lines. How does that impact the Lions, the draft class and the outlook for the Rams and Eagles? The DLP Prospect of the Day is Auburn DL Keldric Faulk, who looks to be a very real possibility for the Lions at No. 17 overall. There is a lot to like about Faulk, but he won't excite every Lions fan for a few reasons. Faulk is only 20 and can play the way Levi Onwuzurike, Marcus Davenport and John Cominsky have done for Detroit recently--and he's healthy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVADSWsYCtI #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #danskipper #assistantoffensiveline #assistanttightendscoach #shrinebowl #frisco #texas #lockerroomleader #sidelinefrustration #hankfraley #dancampbell #giovannimanu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking down OL draft prospects with NFL scout Scott DiBenedetto The Daily DLP from the Detroit Lions Podcast features an interview with former Cleveland Browns scout Scott DiBenedetto. He and host Jeff Risdon go over some offensive line options for the Lions in the 2025 NFL Draft. It starts with the offensive tackles, where the Lions have already lost Dan Skipper to retirement and face the potential of losing long-time starting LT Taylor Decker to retirement as well. Penei Sewell is the best in the business at right tackle, but Detroit badly needs to address the other starting spot for the long term as well as the depth. Options are presented for the first round, then Day 2 and also Day 3, with the pros and cons of several different prospects discussed. After wrapping the tackles, Risdon and DiBenedetto go over the interior line options for Detroit, focusing on center but also prospects who can play either guard or center. There are quite a few appealing options as the draft plays on. Calling upon DiBenedetto's background as a former football player at John Carroll University in Cleveland, he offers a breakdown of Senior Bowl star, JCU WR Tyren Montgomery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmuepQ3uFJU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #detroitlionsoffensivetackle #taylordeckerretirement #danskipperretired #giovannimanu #middleofthefirstround #firstroundoffensivetackles #righttacklestopofclass #procteralabama #campbelllomuutah #rungamefit #conditioningandsizeconcerns #consistencyissues #johndorseydetroit #clevelandbrownsplayoffwinpittsburgh #kevinstefanskicovid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The cold offseason is here. The Super Bowl sits in the rearview. The Detroit Lions have work to do. Michael Grey cuts straight to it with fellow DLP'r Jeff Risdon: interior pressure wins. The big game dragged more than it dazzled, but it did spotlight roster building truths. Talent needs a plan. When there isn't one, a player and a team both suffer. Defensive structure set the tone. Playoff blueprint: interior pressure rules January The teams that reached the conference championship games ranked one through four in pressures from the defensive line. Interior rush was the separator. Big-name quarterbacks didn't swing it. Units led by Sam Darnold and Drake May advanced because they could rush, squeeze, and dictate. That's the NFL copycat code for 2026. The Lions have bodies who can do it. They delivered too little of it compared to the top groups. Detroit's front must level up The defense needs its edge star to nudge from excellent to takeover. He's been fantastic, but he isn't at the Parsons, Watt, or Garrett tier yet. Help matters. The interior defensive line was disappointing. Allen had one fantastic game on his return, then went quiet. He has to earn his money. There is optimism about Mills, another year removed from the ACL, but it must show up on Sundays. Tully Williams flashed in the final two weeks. Before that he looked a little too big and unsure. Year two should raise the floor and the ceiling. That's the expectation. It has to be reality. 2026 plan: waves inside, smarter bets Seattle's model is the target: waves of interior rushers who can collapse pockets all game. The Lions tried that approach. It hasn't clicked yet. It needs to in 2026 and beyond. The offensive brain trust keeps growing as Dan Campbell collects coaches like Pokemon. That's good. But the pivot is defense. Interior pressure feeds takeaways, hides coverage warts, and turns third downs into punts. Build the room, trim what doesn't fit, and unleash fresh legs in series. Do that, and the Lions turn January from survival to control. That's the job this Goff season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNokaUW9eXA #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #interiorpressure #interiordefensiveline #insiderush #a-gaps #edgeplay #aidanhutchinson #jelanitavai #dancampbell #goffseason #offensivecoaches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seattle's win reframes the path for Detroit Seattle lifted the Lombardi, and the day after on the Detroit Lions Podcast Jeff Risdon laid it out plainly. The Detroit Lions can follow that model. He even circled February 15 next year as a date this city can chase. Seattle went 10-7 in 2024 and missed the playoffs. They moved on from Pete Carroll. They swapped Geno Smith for Sam Darnold, a quarterback with a lower floor but a higher ceiling. Many mocked that decision. Darnold just won the Super Bowl. That matters for the NFL and for the Lions. Jared Goff can do what Darnold did. Goff is better than Darnold. He does not need to be a lottery-ticket quarterback to win. The league's trend line says a really good team that wins in multiple ways can take it all. That is where Detroit lives. What Seattle did, and how Detroit matches it Seattle won with an exceptional defense. They mixed coverages. Jones and the safeties were disciplined. Devon Witherspoon filled a Brian Branch type of role. The Seahawks generated pressure by committee. No single alpha, but several rushers affected the pocket. It looked more like how the Eagles win than how Detroit typically rushes, but the approach travels in January. On offense, Seattle leaned on a power run game. Kenneth Walker was the MVP. His jump-cut and bounce outside when a linebacker filled the gap flipped downs. Jahmyr Gibbs can do that. He already has. A rookie offensive lineman, Dion Grey Campbell, stepped in and helped. If the Lions are healthy, their line is not behind that group. Taylor Decker's health was a problem last year, but the baseline is strong. Jackson Smith-Njigba took home NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He earned it. Is he that much better than Amon-Ra St. Brown? Different styles, same tier of impact. A healthy Sam LaPorta stacks up better than any tight end Seattle put out there. AJ Barnes, the Michigan man, even snared a touchdown. Detroit has that complementary piece in Brock Wright. The checklist to make it real in Detroit The Lions are close, and the NFL is moving toward how they are built. It still requires boxes checked. Injury luck. A very good Jared Goff season. A strong offseason. Brian Branch getting healthy quickly. More versatility in coverage and sustained pass-rush depth so the pressure never fades, even without one headline star. None of this guarantees a parade. But Seattle proved the window is open for teams like these Lions. The path is not theoretical. It is on film, and Detroit has the personnel to walk it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seattleseahawks #samdarnold #genosmith #jaredgoff #jalenhurts #brianbranch #jahmyrgibbs #kennethwalker #devonwitherspoon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Super Bowl Eve Spotlight: Why Max Crosby On Super Bowl eve, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Max Crosby as the most polarizing offseason swing. The chatter is not just in Detroit. The Bengals, Cowboys, Patriots, and Falcons have all been mentioned as alleged suitors. Crosby is 28, from Lapeer, Michigan, and came out of Eastern Michigan. He wins with power to speed, has some bend, and never stops. He is comfortable standing up, but he is better with his hand in the dirt. The case is rooted in run defense. The show framed Crosby as the best run-defending edge in football among the elite pass rushers. He owns two of the top ten seasons in NFL history for tackles for loss, in 2022 and 2023. That production sets an edge and closes lanes. It also travels to January. Sacks, TFLs, and Reality Check Crosby's sack totals do not always match his reputation. He had 10 this past season. He posted 7.5 in only 12 games in 2024. His peak was 14.5 in 2023, when he earned first-team All-Pro and piled up 23 tackles for loss. The Raiders have not consistently fielded another threatening rusher opposite him, which has amplified his workload and attention. That profile matters for the Detroit Lions. Pair Crosby with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. Add Tyreek Williams, who quietly played well down the stretch, with Jack Campbell behind them. That front four controls tempo. It lets a defense rush with four, squeeze gaps, and dictate drives. The show pointed to the Houston Texans as proof of concept, noting how they almost never blitzed and still dominated both of their playoff games. Turnovers, not defense, flipped those outcomes. The All-In Price Tag There is a catch. Acquisition cost and opportunity cost headline the downside. This is an all-in move. The hypothetical package discussed mirrored the price “Green Bay” paid to get Micah Parsons: two firsts and a third. In this scenario, the Lions send their first this year and next, plus next year's third because they do not have a third this year. To balance that, the Raiders send back their pick at the top of the second round this year, sliding Detroit from pick 17 to around 33 or 34. The Lions would still keep their own second. A 2025 fourth this year may need to be added to make the math work. The upside is obvious. Crosby beside Hutchinson could make the Detroit Lions the NFC North favorite and a top seed contender. The risk is just as clear. Two firsts and more means fewer swings at premium talent, fewer cheap starters, and less flexibility if injuries hit. The debate is simple. How much is one of the NFL's most complete edges worth to a roster already built to win? #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #maxcrosby #aidanhutchinson #alimmcneill #tyreekwilliams #jackcampbell #rundefendingedge #tacklesforloss #fourmanrush #almostneverblitz #twofirstroundpicksandathird Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices