Unbliveable: Chicago bears Star Exposed Lions’ Head “Coach Daniel Allen Campbell”
Christian Booher: I think the Lions’ 2023 campaign should be viewed as a success. They achieved their goal of winning the NFC North, and in my opinion, overperformed in the playoffs. Going into the season, I expected them to win the division, as well as one playoff game. So, by reaching the NFC Championship Game, the season was a success. Now, the circumstances in which their season came to an end were unequivocally disappointing. The second-half collapse was a bummer, but it could serve as fuel that could carry the team through next season.
Vito Chirco: Overall wise, it can’t be viewed as anything but a success. Twelve wins, a division championship for the first time in 30 years, a playoff win for the first time in 32 years and two consecutive postseason victories for the first time since 1957. I can go on and on about all the Lions’ great achievements in 2023. However, none of the above is able to remove the “stink” from Detroit’s second-half collapse and subsequent devastating loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. It was an ugly defeat – and undeniably a blown opportunity to play for the Lombardi Trophy – for the Super Bowl-starved franchise. Yet, when the 2023 campaign is reviewed 10 years, 20 years and more down the line, I believe it will be remembered, and rightfully so, as one of the best seasons in franchise history. 2.) What is the Lions’ biggest offseason need? The Brand New Subaru Crosstrek 2024 Is Sheer Perfection – See Prices Subaru Crosstrek | Sponsored Search Now Crossout: New Apocalyptic MMO Check out the new Crossout 2.0 for free. Discover PvP and PvE in our upgraded Action MMO. Countless unique Vehicles, PvE and PvP, Trading. Are you ready? Destroy vehicles your opponent took hours to craft and enjoy. Join now for Free Crossout | Sponsored Play Now Incredible: seniors are snapping up this pain-relieving product Alert Health | Sponsored Shocking news: The pain-relieving product that changes lives! Alert Health | Sponsored New Subaru Crosstrek For Seniors Under 85 In 2023 Is Pure Brilliance 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review, Pricing, and Specs Subaru Crosstrek | Sponsored Learn More 2024 Real Estate Investment Degree Programs In The Bahamas (Earn More Than You Think!) Real Estate Investment Courses I Search ads | Sponsored Search Now Egbaen: Click Here To See The Price Of Solar Panels Solar Panels | Search Ads | Sponsored Booher: I believe the secondary should be priority number one for the Lions. Cam Sutton is, I believe, still a solid player. Yet, he proved this year that he cannot match wits with top wide receivers. As a result, I think the Lions should seek out a legitimate top, shutdown cornerback. The free-agent market is one option, as is the draft. However, if the Lions want the best that the class has to offer, GM Brad Holmes will have to get creative, plus likely move up to land one. Chirco: There’s no doubt to me that it’s at cornerback. The Lions cannot afford to go another season with Cam Sutton as their No. 1 cornerback. He struggled all season long with staying in front of opposing teams’ top wideouts, and it played a contributing factor in Detroit’s devastating NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers.
he Detroit Lions signed defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson last offseason as part of an overhaul to their struggling secondary, but injuries and inconsistent play left him with a limited impact.
With Gardner-Johnson now headed back to free agency, one report suggests it could be time the Lions try again this offseason by taking aim at another big-name player — Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon compiled a list of trades that can “reshape” the NFL in 2024, suggesting that the Lions could find the final piece that would help get them to the Super Bowl.
he Detroit Lions signed defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson last offseason as part of an overhaul to their struggling secondary, but injuries and inconsistent play left him with a limited impact.
With Gardner-Johnson now headed back to free agency, one report suggests it could be time the Lions try again this offseason by taking aim at another big-name player — Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon compiled a list of trades that can “reshape” the NFL in 2024, suggesting that the Lions could find the final piece that would help get them to the Super Bowl.
“Yeah, this one isn’t as glitzy as the rest. But when you consider how close the Detroit Lions got to the Super Bowl in 2023, a deal for a game-changing defender could be the type of move that puts the team over the top in 2024,” Gagnon wrote.
Broncos Could Be Perfect Trade Partner
Gagnon noted that Simmons has a profile that matches Detroit’s needs perfectly, adding that a trade would offer the Broncos some much-needed cap relief.
“Simmons is on the wrong side of 30, and a Denver Broncos team that simply hasn’t been competitive can save $14.5 million by moving on ahead of a walk year for the two-time Pro Bowler, per Spotrac,” Gagnon wrote.
“Here, they can send him out of the conference to a team that could get more bang for its buck with him as a contender in 2024.”
While Gagnon didn’t suggest what price the Lions might need to pay in order to land Simmons, Detroit does have seven draft picks this year and could be willing to part with some to fill such an important need.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s Trying Season
The Lions had hoped that Gardner-Johnson could have an immediate impact in Detroit, but his season was cut short by a pectoral injury suffered in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Though he returned to the roster in December, the former Philadelphia Eagles safety struggled down the final stretch, especially in the team’s NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
As PFF noted, the Lions struggled on defense in the 34-31 loss and Gardner-Johnson had a team-worst three missed tackles. He also had a costly penalty when he was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting wide receiver Deebo Samuel during an interception return off Brock Purdy.
Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press suggested the Lions could focus on cornerback as they look to beef up the secondary, naming Chidobe Awuzie as a potential target in free agency.
“Assuming the price for a top cornerback available like Jaylon Johnson will be above what the Lions will pay for, a player like Awuzie could be a potential target after being a starter on the Bengals since 2021, including their run to the Super Bowl,” Ramsey wrote. “He was previously on a contract worth $7.25 million per season, and the Bengals have been drafting cornerbacks in recent years, which means Awuzie could be available, likely at a raise or similar rate as his previous deal.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions for Heavy.com. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
