Roundtable: Should Lions Consider Trading for QB Trey Lance?
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1.) What was your favorite memory of the 2022 season?
Christian Booher: There are several choices that come to mind when I think of a favorite memory. This group was endearing and so much fun to cover.
In terms of specifics, I think the final drive against the Packers, in the regular season finale, stands out as my favorite. Any time the Lions play the Packers, it’s never over until the clock hits triple zeroes. This was the case on that Sunday, as Detroit needed to bleed over three minutes off the clock. Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson dipped into the bag of tricks, and a late pass from Jared Goff to DJ Chark sealed the deal. That finish was so emblematic of the Lions’ second-half, as they made all the key plays at the right time.
Vito Chirco: There were a lot of great moments for the Lions in 2022. But, for me, there was nothing better than Detroit beating the Packers in Week 18 at Lambeau Field and preventing Aaron Rodgers & Co. from making the playoffs.
Rodgers had made some disparaging remarks and had gone out of his way to disrespect the Lions all season long. So, I'm of the belief that Rodgers thought his team would handedly beat Detroit, especially considering how bad the Lions historically have been when playing at Lambeau.
The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, however, failed to realize that he wasn't playing the "Same Old Lions." And, in the process, he was forced to eat a big piece of "humble pie."
To me, that was the most satisfying moment of the Lions' 2022 campaign.
2.) Which Lions player needs to take a step forward in 2023?
Booher: I believe D’Andre Swift is heading into an intriguing season. Next year will be the final of his rookie deal, and Detroit must figure out what it has in the talented, yet injury-prone running back.
If the team can bring Jamaal Williams back, Swift likely won’t be an every-down back. For that reason, he must show he’s capable of making big plays in a smaller sample size. Increased durability wouldn’t hurt his case, either, as he’s yet to play a full season.
Chirco: I'm going to go with Jameson Williams. The Alabama product missed the majority of his rookie campaign with a torn ACL, and then upon making his NFL debut, he failed to develop much of a rapport with Lions signal-caller Jared Goff.
Williams was sparingly used, recording just one total catch (and a touchdown) in six games. It's expected that the 2022 No. 12 overall pick will be a much more active part of Ben Johnson's weekly offensive gameplan next season.
3.) Why did the Lions miss the playoffs this year?
Booher: The Lions missed the playoffs, because they were too inconsistent in the first half of the season. Had they converted in late-game situations against Minnesota and Seattle, they’d have made the playoffs.
Obviously, it turned out as a blessing in disguise when the youth on the team learned to put opponents away later in the year. Still, those late-game struggles wound up making a huge difference on the team’s postseason hopes later in the year.
Chirco: To me, it was clearly because of the weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball. There were far too many instances in 2022 where defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's unit was ineffective in both stopping the running games and the passing attacks of opposing teams. The Lions' defense also allowed way too many chunk plays this past season. If Detroit makes a concerted effort to improve its defense this offseason, it will greatly enhance the chances of the Lions being a playoff team in 2023.
4.) Are you rooting for a team in the postseason?
Booher: I am fascinated with the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback dynamic. Trey Lance was knighted as the quarterback of the future, but missed most of the season with an injury. After backup Jimmy Garoppolo suffered an injury of his own, Brock Purdy stepped in and did an admirable job.
The thought of Purdy leading his team to a Super Bowl after being selected last in the 2022 NFL Draft is so intriguing. Because I root for storylines, I think a 49ers championship is the best-case scenario. In the event he pulls it off, I wouldn’t envy the decision facing the 49ers' brass regarding the team's quarterback of the future.
Chirco: Yes. I'd like to see the Bills make a run to the Super Bowl. After what they've experienced with the Damar Hamlin health scare, I believe Buffalo could be the team of destiny this season.
I'm also a big fan of Josh Allen and the team's rabid fanbase, known as "Bills Mafia."
I think it'd be very fitting for Buffalo to hoist the Lombardi trophy this February – and also because of the fact that the franchise has been snakebitten in years past and has yet to win a Super Bowl.
5.) Should the Lions consider trading for QB Trey Lance?
Booher: This question ties directly to my previous point. If Purdy takes the team to a Super Bowl, how can you justify moving on from him? Lance is still relatively raw, but there will be teams interested in him.
I believe the Lions shouldn’t make a deal for Lance unless it's at a minimal expense, with the ceiling being somewhere in the vicinity of a third-round pick. He’s certainly an intriguing prospect, but I’d hate to see general manager Brad Holmes stray from his process of building through the draft to take on a project (and at the expense of valuable assets).
Chirco: This is a hard pass for me. I don't think Lance has what it takes to be a starting quarterback at the NFL level. And, similar to Booher, I wouldn't want to see Holmes & Co. part with precious draft capital to acquire the unproven passer.
I think it was a mistake when the 49ers took Lance at No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and I think it'd be a big mistake for the Lions to deal for the North Dakota State product.
Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
6.) Is Aaron Glenn the right coach for the defense?
Booher: I believe Glenn is the right person for the Lions' defense. He’s a capable leader and motivator, with his playing experience resonating in the locker room.
While his schemes have been gashed since he’s taken over, most of that should be chalked up to a less-than-ideal talent situation left by the previous regime. I’m curious to see this defense in 2023, after he gets the offseason to continue developing the organization’s plethora of young talent.
Chirco: I think Glenn has shown some glimpses of being a decent defensive coordinator. But, I refuse to go any further than that when evaluating the former NFL defensive back's abilities as a defensive play-caller.
I believe the Lions are fine with him running the defense, and I strongly believe that Detroit's defensive players enjoy playing for him and play hard for him. However, because of the Lions' anemic production on the defensive side of the ball the last two seasons, I believe the verdict is still out on whether Glenn is the absolute "right coach" for running the team's defense.
