The Detroit Lions made the initial significant move in restarting their pursuit of a Super Bowl title this weekend. The team assessed the newest batch of college players eligible for the draft at the yearly NFL Combine.
Athletes went through exercises and assessments to gauge their dimensions, velocity, and power, as football officials and reporters sought to understand the personalities of the NFL prospects.
Among those evaluating the players was journalist Justin Rogers, the creator of the independent outlet the Detroit Football Network, exclusively focused on covering the Lions. At the combine venue in Indianapolis, Rogers mentions that this is the opportunity for the Lions to determine who can address the gaps in an already strong Detroit lineup.
The interview below has been revised for better clarity and brevity.
Justin Rogers, Detroit Football Network: They possess multiple areas of necessity, for both the short term and the long term. I believe the most urgent issue is the defensive line. This is relevant to both the edge rushing role alongside Aiden Hutchinson and the defensive tackle role.
Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Last year, the defense experienced numerous injuries specifically. Do the Lions simply need to enhance the depth in that area of the roster, or is there a genuine need for a standout game-changer?
JR: I believe you are constantly in search of stars. However, it’s much simpler to say than to actually do. Within that, there’s a degree of projection.
The simpler approach is to enhance depth with talented players who have the ability to grow into starters. The 28th pick probably won’t provide you with the assured chances of discovering a star-level player.
When examining the injury circumstances from the previous season, it was, in many respects, entirely unusual. Generally, you don’t experience that many injuries. You definitely don’t have as many injuries on one side of the field. I believe you shouldn’t overreact to that, as it is unlikely to happen again.
Having depth in an NFL roster is always a priority. I believe that’s one of the truly remarkable traits of their present General Manager, Brad Holmes. He grasps that and appears to always be contemplating readiness for it. That’s the reason they managed to maintain their performance at such an elevated standard last year. Clearly, it didn’t conclude as everyone hoped with the playoff defeat. Yet the team secured victory in 15 matches regardless of all those injuries. I believe that’s an impressive achievement that gets overlooked due to how their season concluded.
In this draft, the Lions are choosing quite late in the first round, at 28th overall. This generates many variables regarding the choices made by the teams before you. Your capacity to trade up and trade down is somewhat more flexible and simpler, as we observed last year when they moved up to select Terrion Arnold.
If I were to make an educated guess at this early point before free agency occurs and they alter their roster through that process, I believe there’s a strong chance they will focus on the defensive line. However, the advantage of choosing so late is enjoying the freedom to pursue various paths. They can genuinely select the top player available without considering the position due to the strength of their overall roster.
QK: You mention overreacting. Numerous individuals, including various specialists, claimed that the Lions had a solid chance at a Super Bowl last year. Then they suffered the terrible defeat in the opening round of the playoffs. You’ve had discussions with numerous players and individuals in the front office. Do you believe that the playoff defeat will alter their strategy regarding roster construction through the draft or other means?
JR: I do not. I believe they consider the way they have constructed up to this point. Since the present front office took over, this team has improved from 3 wins to 9 wins to 11 wins to 15 wins. They have constructed it in a highly effective way.
I believe it is sustainable, as many of their talents are young. They’re effectively securing them in long-term contracts and maintaining that foundation.
That playoff defeat was awful, surprising, and disheartening. However, when you consider the broader perspective, you realize that eventually, all those injuries affected them. They were without Aiden Hutchinson, who could have been the Defensive Player of the Year if he had remained healthy. They lacked a starting defensive tackle and a starting cornerback. They lost yet another starting cornerback within the initial minutes of that playoff match. They lacked a starting linebacker. I mean, they were simply lacking starters everywhere. And although they managed to hold it together with duct tape and rubber cement throughout the year, it eventually caught up to them.
Thus, they are expected to return in 2025, likely with the majority, if not all, of those players back in good health. And you simply anticipate it to remain intact as it did last year. In football, injuries are unavoidable. It’s a brutal game; that’s simply an inherent aspect of it. However, achieving that level again is improbable. You utilize what you possess, incorporate additional elements, and strive to build consistently, just as you have over the past four years.
QK: The offensive and defensive coordinators of Detroit both departed for head coaching positions. Losing just one of those players who manage either side of the ball could be quite challenging for numerous teams. Currently, there are two new coordinators joining. Do you think the team will implement a different type of strategy or seek a different type of player in the draft compared to what the Lions have chosen lately?
JR: That’s an excellent question. A significant aspect of this is that Head Coach Dan Campbell, while replacing those two coordinators, was keeping a sense of continuity.
On the defensive end, they elevated Kelvin Sheppard. He has been present throughout this administration for the last four years. He was deliberately prepared to take on this role for the past two seasons. Therefore, I don’t anticipate much variation in the schematics there. Everyone views things slightly differently, so there will be a few small adjustments. However, in the broader context, I believe it will be quite alike.
In terms of offense, they executed the same strategy. They did hire an external candidate in John Morton. However, he’s an outsider who has previously been associated with Detroit. He was present in 2022, which was a significant year, as it marked Ben Johnson’s inaugural year as offensive coordinator, during which he was developing and establishing his offensive scheme. John Morton was somewhat of a behind-the-scenes person at that time as a senior offensive assistant. However, it is said that he played a significant role in forming and executing plans while collaborating closely with quarterback Jared Goff. They brought him back to help ensure the continuity of the situation. You examine their offense, the components they possess, and it would be extremely challenging to mess it up. It simply would.
The impressive part is that they aren’t picking in the top 10, as countless people have grown accustomed to them doing over the years due to their poor performance. You don’t require a standout player right in front of you at the peak of the draft. You possess the capability to remain seated and wait. Your initial choice is number 28, placing you roughly in the center of the draft, where these so-called experts think the draft’s depth lies. I believe there’s a strong chance for them to acquire two, maybe three players who can help in areas where they could greatly benefit as early as next year.