Lions' Top 5 Offseason Needs: Fixing Defense Must Be Focus
The 2023 offseason will be a critical one for the Detroit Lions.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are looking to continue building the team into a playoff contender. With the young core showing promise through the first nine games of the 2022 season, the time for contention may not be far away.
The Lions will boast plenty of cap room and two first-round picks, so the regime has the opportunity to make a splash.
Here are the Lions’ top five needs for the 2023 season.
5.) Linebacker
In Malcolm Rodriguez, Detroit has a rookie that has shown the capability to be a starter. However, the youngster has shown struggles that indicate he still has a way to go before he is a dominant linebacker.
Rodriguez had started every game next to Alex Anzalone prior to missing the Lions’ Week 10 game against the Chicago Bears. Anzalone is on a one-year deal, and hasn’t played well enough to be considered a future piece.
There’s also Derrick Barnes, who had a big game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. However, Detroit needs more stability at the linebacker position. Rodriguez and Barnes have youth that is appealing, but the Lions could benefit from adding a veteran to help call the defensive shots.
Related: Why Oregon’s Noah Sewell is a player Lions should watch
4.) Tight end
The Lions made a big move at the trade deadline when they traded away starting tight end T.J. Hockenson. Currently, the team is relying on Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and rookie James Mitchell to help fill the void.
While the Lions seem to like what they have in their current crop, an upgrade is necessary. Both Wright and Mitchell have shown run-blocking prowess, but neither has been a consistent target in the passing game.
The Lions need to add depth at this position, as the loss of Hockenson creates a big hole to fill. With Wright’s contract due up at the end of the year and Mitchell still getting acclimated, Detroit needs another piece to provide help in the passing game.
Related: Four tight ends Detroit could draft to replace T.J. Hockenson
3.) Defensive tackle
Detroit has wisely built its defense with two young EDGE rushers in Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal. However, the interior of the defensive line lacks stability and size.
Levi Onwuzurike, a second-round pick last year, will miss the entirety of his second season with an injury. He’s dealt with injuries in each of his two seasons as a pro, which is concerning. Aside from fellow 2021 pick Alim McNeill, Detroit has gotten little from its defensive tackles.
Detroit signed Isaiah Buggs and added Benito Jones off waivers to help combat the issue, but neither has proven to be a long-term piece. Because of this, Holmes and Campbell would be wise to invest a draft pick in a young defensive lineman who can defend against the run.
Related: Why Georgia’s Jalen Carter is prospect Lions should watch
2.) Quarterback
It’s no secret that the 2022 season was a big one for Jared Goff’s future as the team’s starting quarterback. To this point, he has struggled to create belief that he is the signal-caller of the future.
Goff is under contract through the 2024 season, but his cap hit is just $10 million this upcoming offseason. Whether or not Detroit elects to hold on to him, it should strongly pursue taking a young quarterback.
Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud are the top two options in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and the Lions have the draft assets to trade up, should they not have a top pick.
If Young and Stroud are not available for the Lions in the draft, here are four other options for the team to consider drafting.
Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY NETWORK
1.) Cornerback
Detroit has one of the worst defenses in football, and has struggled to contain against the pass. The emergence of Jeff Okudah as a solid corner has been a bright spot, but Detroit has yet to establish a top option on the other side of the field.
Amani Oruwariye, who is in a contract year, has taken a massive step back from what was a solid 2021 campaign. Meanwhile, Jerry Jacobs and Will Harris are still working to prove they can be consistent.
There are several good cornerbacks available in the 2023 draft, starting with Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. If the Lions elect to not go after a top quarterback with their first-round picks, a cornerback like Porter could fall right into their laps and become a difference-maker on defense.
