Brian Branch Could Get Reps at Safety in 2024

Branch could play multiple roles during the upcoming season.

The Detroit Lions' 2023 draft class yielded spectacular results last season. 

As rookies, each of general manager Brad Holmes' first four selections were in the team's starting lineup. Among them was Brian Branch, an Alabama product who owned the team's nickel position defensively from the season-opener. 

The Lions found themselves lucky to have Branch still available in the second round, and selecting him ended up paying huge dividends. He started for Nick Saban as a freshman at Alabama, which is a huge characteristic given the Crimson Tide's defensive complexities.

He showed off the ability to quickly understand the Lions' defensive system and owned his role, a tough thing to accomplish, given everything assigned to the nickel position in Aaron Glenn's scheme.

In 15 games, Branch had 74 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions and one sack. One of his interceptions, the first of his career against Kansas City in the opener, he returned for a touchdown. 

Though Branch played nickel last season, Lions' coach Dan Campbell hinted that his role could change at points in 2024. With Ceedy Duce off to Philadelphia, Branch could get reps at the safety position. 

Branch had the team's fifth-best defensive grade via Pro Football Focus at 78.9. His coverage grade was first among the team's defensive backs at 77.7. Working as the team's slot cornerback, he allowed a completion percentage of 64.5 percent on passes thrown his way.

Per PFF, Branch played 624 snaps in the slot, 127 in the box, 46 at the boundary corner position and 34 as the team's free safety.

The Lions will likely feature Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu at the safety spots. Joseph has developed into a takeaway star in his two seasons as a pro, while Melifonwu emerged as a breakout player late in the 2023 campaign. 

The Lions were banged up at safety last season, as Ceedy Duce suffered a torn pec in Week 2. With him sidelined, the team initially turned to Tracy Walker to start opposite Joseph.

Yet, Walker's performance was up and down and the Lions eventually turned to Melifonwu as a starter beginning in Week 14. After his first two seasons were initially limited by injuries, Melifonwu took advantage of his opportunity to break out and was a huge part of the team's success late in the year.

The Syracuse product had two interceptions, including one to seal the NFC North crown against Minnesota, and three sacks across the season's final four games.

Lions in favor of new kickoff rule

Drastic changes are coming to the NFL kickoff.

On Tuesday, NFL media reported that a new method of lining up will be introduced in the 2024 season. The kick return and kickoff teams, minus the kicker, will line up five yards apart and the kickoff team will always be lined up 25 yards ahead of the kicker.

Campbell shared that he was in favor of the change, which passed on a vote of 29-3. He admitted that he and special teams coach Dave Fipp have already begun watching film on the XFL, where this method of kicking off initially was introduced.

The changes to the play are initially viewed as positive. As touchback rates remain high and the current set-up for kickoffs has played a part in significant injuries as a result of high-speed collisions covering the play.