Roundtable: Senior Bowl Takeaways
1.) What was your reaction to Antwaan Randle El saying the Lions need two-three more receivers on the roster?
Vito Chirco: I think he's definitely on to something. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the Lions' best receiver going into 2022, and while he is a definite asset, he's not good enough to be the team's No. 1 wideout throughout the entirety of a season. So, the Lions should strongly consider adding a receiver -- whether it be in free agency or via the draft -- that can complement St. Brown well by stretching defenses vertically. Meanwhile, the USC product can take care of things over the middle.
St. Brown is best suited as a slot receiver moving forward, so acquiring that "X" receiver will be vital this offseason.
Second, the Lions presently have little-to-no depth behind St. Brown.
After St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond were Detroit's best two receivers on a weekly basis, and both are slated to be unrestricted free agents at season's end.
Additionally, second-year pro Quintez Cephus, who showcased some signs of improvement in 2021, is recovering from a collarbone injury that sidelined him for the majority of the past regular season.
Subsequently, adding both a No. 1 receiver and depth at the position, in the form of one or two additional pass-catchers, would be optimal for the Lions this offseason.
Adam Strozynski: Immediately, I don't like all the needs talk pre-draft, from the coaches and front office personnel. However, I don't think he's wrong. The receiving corps was pretty brutal last year, and was a massive weakness of this team. If you can get a guy who can make a difference, like Amon-Ra St. Brown did, then this offense will look much different in 2022.
2.) Which player impressed you the most during the week of the Senior Bowl?
Chirco: Easily Florida State EDGE Jermaine Johnson II.
He looked like a monster coming off the edge during the week of practice in Mobile, Ala.
His stock has shot up since, and he now might be a top-15 pick in this April's NFL Draft.
If you're an NFL team that doesn't land Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top of the draft, Johnson might be the next best thing.
Strozynski: Sticking with wideouts, Jalen Tolbert out of South Alabama had an impressive week. Coming out of a small school and not just competing but dominating guys from larger schools, Tolbert established himself as a guy who I believe is worthy of an early-round grade.
3.) Looking far ahead, is Bryce Young a quarterback who will have success at the NFL level?
Chirco: I have some concerns because of him being a bit undersized at 6-foot-0, 194 pounds. But, there's still no question that his accuracy and arm strength are top notch and that he has the definition of "a live arm."
I'm intrigued by the type of season Young is going to have as a second-year starter in 2022. It will go a long way toward determining how high he'll be taken in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
Strozynski: Young looked impressive this past season, with his strong arm and nimble feet putting him ahead of the rest of the pack. I think he needs to fill out a bit still, but another year at Alabama will suit him well. I think he will be a successful quarterback at the next level.
4.) Do you think the Ford family knew about Bob Quinn potentially conducting sham interviews?
Chirco: I wouldn't put it past the Ford family or any NFL franchise when it comes to having conducted "sham" interviews in years past to satisfy the requirements of the Rooney Rule.
And like Adam said, I bet Quinn knew from the jump that he was going to hire Patricia.
But, I don't want to dive into the topic any further without knowing specifics from the aforementioned hiring cycle that resulted in Patricia's failed tenure in Detroit.
Strozynski: I think everyone knew. It was no secret that Bob Quinn wanted Matt Patricia and was going to do whatever it took to get him to Detroit.
5.) Your early impressions on the Rams-Bengals Super Bowl?
Chirco: As of right now, I think Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are going to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night next Sunday.
But, Joe Burrow -- aka "Joe Cool" -- is a legit threat, and is going to give the Rams a run for their money.
If the Bengals do pull off the upset, it'll be because of Burrow taking over and making some big-time throws in the final minutes of the game.
Strozynski: I'm excited to see Joe Burrow just compete. He is so damn exciting. The guy has moxie, swagger and that "it" factor, and carries himself like a true leader.
