The Detroit Lions are coming off their best season in the Super Bowl era, finishing with a remarkable 15-2 record. However, that wasn’t enough to earn them their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, as they were eliminated in the Divisional Round playoffs.
Now, with the loss of both their offensive and defensive coordinators, the Lions must find a way to improve as a team. This won’t be easy, but adding more experienced players with playoff success could be exactly what Detroit needs.
The Lions already boast a talented receiving corps, led by two-time All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown and 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams. The presence of Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta certainly strengthens their offense as well.
Yet, there is still room for growth.
One position that could be upgraded is the Lions’ No. 3 receiver role, which was held by Tim Patrick this past season. With Patrick set to become a free agent, the Lions will need to find a replacement this offseason.
As ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently pointed out, Cooper Kupp could be a perfect fit in Detroit. The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly looking to trade their former All-Pro receiver, and Kupp already has four seasons of chemistry with Jared Goff from their time together in LA.
Kupp signed a three-year, $80 million contract extension with the Rams in 2022. He has two years left on the deal, and his cap hit in 2025 will be $29.7 million unless it is restructured.
On paper, the fit seems ideal, especially if Kupp wants to pursue another Super Bowl ring. However, the Lions will have to contend with what is expected to be a strong market for the former Super Bowl MVP.