Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) gets set on offense against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
News Replacement” Detroit Lions Head Coach As Announced The Replacement Of Jonah Jackson
With the departure of starting left guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions are in need of a suitable replacement to maintain the strength of their offensive line. While the Lions have made commendable additions in free agency, there’s a glaring gap at the left guard position that needs to be addressed before the 2024 season kicks off.
Currently, the Lions have Colby Sorsdal and Kayode Awosika as potential options for the left guard spot, but neither seems to be the ideal choice for a starting role. Given this situation, it’s highly likely that Lions GM Brad Holmes will make a move to sign a free-agent guard before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Ideal Candidate: Kevin Zeitler
In my opinion, the Lions should target Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. Zeitler, who entered the NFL as the No. 27 overall pick in the 2012 draft with the Cincinnati Bengals, has consistently been one of the league’s top offensive linemen. His recognition as a Pro Bowl guard last season was long overdue. According to Pro Football Focus, Zeitler was the NFL’s second-highest-graded pass-blocking guard in 2023, allowing just 21 pressures throughout the year.
Signing Kevin Zeitler would not only provide an immediate upgrade to the Lions’ offensive line but also bring a wealth of experience and stability to the unit. His skill set and performance align perfectly with the Lions’ needs, making him an ideal fit for the team. Furthermore, I anticipate that Brad Holmes will also look to reinforce the interior offensive line through the 2024 NFL Draft, likely targeting a promising prospect within the first three rounds. Securing a proven talent like Zeitler should be a top priority in the Lions’ offseason strategy to ensure better protection for quarterback Jared Goff and enhance the team’s overall offensive capabilities.
The Detroit Lions have made a concerted effort to fix their secondary, but there’s one more move still in play to go all-in on it.
The Detroit Lions wasted little time to address their top offseason need when free agency started, acquiring cornerback Carlton Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a trade and signing cornerback Amik Robertson the next day.
Still, it’s fair to say cornerback has not been scratched or any way dropped on the Lions’ draft board, with general manager Brad Holmes having reminded us early in the offseason “you can’t have enough corners.” Davis and Robertson are not on long-term contracts, or at least not yet in Davis’ case as he enters the last year of his current deal.
Davis has promised he is the lock down corner the Lions need very badly, and Robertson adds more of the attitude and ball-hawking style that’s needed in the Detroit secondary. Cameron Sutton is not being given up on, nor should be right now as he transitions to a role that should be better for him.
But as the first wave of free agency subsides…..
Detroit Lions have a potential all-in move in play to make their secondary an absolute beast
The second week of free agency could bring a bit of activity for the Lions, as they assess things and move forward. On that front, David Kenyon of Bleacher Report tabbed them as a fit for one of the “most intriguing” free agents still available-cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
“Beyond the Cowboys, any number of corner-needy defenses should be talking to Gilmore. Detroit is in the process of overhauling its cornerbacks room, and the Minnesota Vikings could use a veteran at the position after ranking 24th against the pass last year.”
Gilmore has become well-traveled in recent years, headed for his fifth team in as many seasons in 2024 unless the Cowboys re-sign him. He played in all 17 games for Dallas last season and was quite good (6.9 yards per target allowed, 82.7 passer rating allowed, with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions; Pro Football Focus’ 35th-highest graded cornerback-out of 127 qualifiers).
After missing a big chunk of the 2021 season, as a member of the Carolina Panthers, Gilmore has played over 1,000 snaps in each of the last two seasons and missed one total game. At 33 years old, set to turn 34 early next season, he has has plenty left in the tank.
It’s easy to say Gilmore doesn’t fit in the Lions’ secondary due to the addition of Davis, since both played most of their snaps at left outside corner last season (per Pro Football Focus). But in 2022 with the Colts, Gilmore split his perimeter corner snaps nearly 50-50 by side (480 left, 477 right). A deeper dive into his career before that shows similar right and left side splits.
The second week of free agency is largely bargain time, and Gilmore was only in line for a one or two-year deal from the start. It’s hard to say it’s likely to happen, but the Lions could just got all-in to make their secondary top-notch by making Gilmore an offer he might not refuse.
