Welcome to 32 teams in 32 days. To get us through the offseason, we’ll be taking a closer look at every team in the league, in order of projected 2023 win totals. Up next: the Lions.
It’s been a long time since the Lions have mattered.
In fact, no team has a longer drought of success, with it being 30 seasons since Detroit last hosted a playoff game. Only the Browns have gone longer without a division title (Cleveland last won one in 1989, while Detroit was the NFC Central champ in ’91), but even then, the Lions reign supreme when you realize the Browns didn’t exist for three seasons.
Yet things are finally changing in Motown. The Lions finished last year with an 8–2 mark over their final 10 games, and many believe they’re ready to become a playoff team with real upside in the wide-open NFC. Detroit used the offseason to upgrade defensively, particularly in the secondary with free agents C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley having joined the fold.
Junfu Han/USA TODAY Network (left); Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports (center, right)
The big question is whether that’s enough to vault the defense, which last year finished dead last in total yards allowed and yards per play. If Detroit can even become average, the offense should do its part with a resurgent quarterback in Jared Goff, along with Pro Bowl receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
For the first time in forever, the Lions might roar.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Not adding another receiver
Detroit has talent on the perimeter, but it will be missing second-year receiver Jameson Williams for part of the season.
Williams was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, leaving St. Brown as the lone big-play threat until late October. In 2022, St. Brown caught 106 passes for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns, pacing Detroit in all three categories. Unfortunately for the franchise, there wasn’t much behind St. Brown, with Kalif Raymond being the second-most productive wideout with 616 yards.
After trading up to the No. 12 pick in last year's draft to get Williams, while he rehabbed from a torn ACL, the thought was he would pair with St. Brown to stretch and overwhelm defenses. Now, with his talents sidelined for a tough early stretch, the Lions are relying heavily on a rookie back in Gibbs and a supporting cast that seems a bit too thin to scare good defenses until Williams returns.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 1 to 4
The Lions are going to be tested right away in 2023.
Detroit has the exciting but unenviable task of visiting Kansas City when the Chiefs unveil their Super Bowl LVII banner to open the season, before coming home to take on the high-powered Seahawks. After a winnable game at Ford Field against the Falcons in Week 3, it’s back on the road for a divisional tilt with the Packers on short rest, playing on Thursday night.
If the Lions get off to a good start, they could pull away in the middling NFC North. However, with myriad suspensions tied to gambling, Detroit will be shorthanded early on.
Breakout player to watch: DE Aidan Hutchinson
David Reginek/USA TODAY Sports
Hutchinson was consistently excellent as a rookie, shining from start to finish: In Week 2, the 2022 No. 2 pick dominated the Commanders with three sacks before totaling two sacks in Week 18 during a victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Entering 2023, Hutchinson has experience to match his massive talent. Standing 6'7" and 265 pounds, he has a freakish blend of size and strength, along with a 4.74 40 time to showcase his acceleration.
If Hutchinson takes the proverbial next step and becomes a Pro Bowl–level player, Detroit has a good chance to find the leap it needs from its defense.
Position of strength: Offensive line
Few teams have better front walls than the Lions, who have seen the dividends from investing heavily in their line.
Since 2016, Detroit has used three first-round picks on offensive linemen, including left tackle Taylor Decker, center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell. Ragnow and Sewell have become Pro Bowlers, while Denver has long been a top-tier performer at his position.
At guard, the Lions enjoy another Pro Bowler on the left side with Jonah Jackson, while Ragnow’s right is flanked by Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Detroit doesn’t have a weakness in front of Goff, giving him the time and space he needs to thrive.
Position of weakness: Tight end
The Lions are banking on second-round pick Sam LaPorta to replace veteran T.J. Hockenson, who Detroit traded at the deadline last year to the Vikings.
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Without Hockenson, the Lions did very little at tight end last season, with backup Brock Wright catching 18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Wright will likely stay at second on the depth chart, with LaPorta getting the majority of the reps.
At Iowa, LaPorta caught 111 passes for 1,327 yards and four scores over his last two seasons with the Hawkeyes. If he can’t develop quickly as a rookie, the Lions have a significant hole.
X-factor: Secondary holding up
No team remade their secondary more radically this offseason. The Lions signed three new starters in the aforementioned Gardner-Johnson, Moseley and Sutton, giving them a new look on the back end.
The question is whether it’s enough. Sutton was a full-time starter with the Steelers in his final two years there, but can he handle top assignments in his new role? Gardner-Johnson has long been a quality player with both the Saints and the Eagles, but he could get only a one-year deal in free agency. Moseley is talented but coming off a torn ACL.
Last year, the Lions ranked 30th in pass defense and 31st in air yards against. They need a transformation, not just modest improvement.
Sleeper/fantasy pick: TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta is the latest in a long line of solid, pass-catching tight ends from Iowa. He might not be a consistent point producer, but the Lions like to use their tight ends in the offense, and LaPorta certainly has the most upside on the roster. He’s worth a late-round selection. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Take the over on Jared Goff’s 4,000.5 passing yards
Goff has done this in three of his last five seasons, including 2022, when he passed for 4,438 yards. Expect the Lions offense to pick up where it left off, as they are the current favorites at SI Sportsbook to win the NFC North. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
