Because an NFL season is getting ready, it starts with an audit: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the workforce? Then, how to strengthen via the market and the draft. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the off-season of the 32 franchises.
In 2022, the Detroit lions started their season with six losses and only one victory! Coach Dan Campbell cried with rage at a press conference. Nobody, then, gave much of their skin.
But four of those six losses had been by 7 points or less: hope was therefore possible. The next ten games brought eight wins!
The owners
1. Jared Goff, QB
2. Penei Sewell, OT
3. Aidan Hutchinson, DE
Who would have bet on a revival of Jared Goff? No, the former Rams passer hasn’t become a top 5 in his position, but his 29 touchdowns for 7 interceptions is the best result of his career. In European football, we often hear that the age of maturity of a player occurs at 27: Jared Goff is 28 and he is the legitimate medium-term plan of Motor City.
Announced as a generational tackle in the 2021 draft, Penei Sewell struggled to confirm his status as a top 10 pick (7th) for his rookie season. A year later, no one dares to criticize! If he still needs to be more disciplined (8 penalties), he was effective in protection and a real tank for the racing game: missing only 0.9% of his run block ! At the start of the 2023 season, Penei Sewell will not yet have celebrated his 23rd birthday: “the sky is his limit”.
Although a rookie, Aidan Hutchinson carried the defense in 2022: 52 tackles including 9.5 sacks and 3 interceptions! Logically, he is already the favorite in the hearts of the fans: because he is good on the field and also because he was born in the state and was educated at the University of Michigan. He is the “face of the franchise”.
Undesirables
– Romeo Okwara, DE
– Michael Brockers, DT
Coming out of a 2020 season with 10 sacks, Romeo Okwara was injured in week 4 in 2021. He could not return to the field until week 14 in 2022! In the meantime new coaches have arrived and new players have revealed themselves to his position. Feelings rarely have a place in the NFL and parting with Romeo Okwara would save $7.5 million.
Same logic with Michael Brockers: injured for a large part of the 2022 season, the 32-year-old player would save $10 million. Update: Michael Brockers was indeed cut on February 25.
The summer man
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR)
Constantly progressing since his draft in 2021, ARSB was the most wanted player by Jared Goff in 2022: 146 times, twice as many as any other player! His 106 receptions confirmed that he was the team’s WR1.
Used as often outside as in the slot (46%), it exceeded the symbolic bar of 1000 yards (1161). Although he does not correspond to the cliché of the “ideal size”, for his second season only he has been roaring: quite simply the best receiver in 2022 road win rate, 5th in EPA and effective against the zone as against the man !
With a healthy Jameson Williams to accompany him, he could take another step. Not to be at the level of a “Mister Universe” like his father, but Detroit needs to count on a receiver registering more than 6 touchdowns per year!
The main players at the end of the contract
1. Jamaal Williams, RB
2. Evan Brown, IOL
3. Alex Anzalone, LB
4. John Cominsky, DE
5. Will Harris, S.
6. DeShon Elliott, S
A free agency successful, it is above all to have known how to preserve its good elements. Several quality players are out of contract so there will be choices to be made.
In the NFL, runners rarely get a 3rd contract. But after his 17 touchdowns in 2022, Jamaal Williams has proven his worth. Powerful and reliable (3 fumbles in 262 carried), he is also highly respected in the locker room. It is unlikely that the two parties will not be able to agree.
Effective when he has to replace inside the offensive line (center and guard), the fate of Evan Brown is necessarily linked to what Detroit plans to do with Halapoulivaati Vaitai: the latter would free up $ 9.5 million if cut and Evan Brown could hold the job. Keeping both seems impossible.
Alex Anzalone’s 128 tackles in 2022 won’t be easy to replace, but the appearances of youngsters Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes could push the former Saints elsewhere. In the 3rd round of the 2023 draft, the Lions could then afford a good replacement for cheap: defense organized in 425, the vast majority of the time.
Choice of the 4th round (135) of the Falcons in 2019, John Cominsky revealed himself with Detroit in 2022: 30 tackles including 4 sacks and 3 defended passes! If his agent remains reasonable, both parties have everything to gain by continuing the adventure together.
For two seasons, Will Harris has been the holder: whether as a safety or as a nickel corner. For his 4th NFL season and his 1st with Detroit, safety DeShon Elliott signed 96 tackles and played 76% of the actions in defense! The two players offer different qualities and the salary cap will no doubt force Detroit to make a choice between the two.
The others: Amani Owurariye (BC)Brock Wright (TE), Isaiah Buggs (DT), Mike Hughes (CB), Benito Jones (DT), Chris Board (ST)
The main needs
1. Defensive tackle
2.Cornerback
3. Recipient
4. Tight End
In 2022, the Lions conceded to their opponents an average of eight first attempts per game on the ground! Only four run defenses have done worse in the NFL!
The imposing Alim McNeill has found his marks since his draft in 2021: very good against the ground game and not missing a game in two seasons. But he lacks a quality partner at his side. Drafted in the 2nd round in 2021 (41), Levi Onwuzurike could not play the entire 2022 season (back operation). His return will be good but it will be insufficient and the Lions must strengthen this position.
The air defense was hardly better: 30th defense out of 32 in yards collected in the air in 2022!
Top 3 in the 2020 draft, Jeff Okudah finally had a healthy season in 2022. In 2023, he will clearly play his future: his level will decide whether or not to activate the option for a 5th season. The Lions have 4 picks in the top 60 and it sounds like a no-brainer that they’re going to use at least one of those. pick on a cornerback.
Brock Wright is a target near the end zone (4 touchdowns) and youngster James Mitchell has shown progress. But, former NFL tight-end, Dan Campbell will probably ask for a little reinforcement in this position during the Saturday of the draft (rounds 4 to 7).
Target
Jonathan Jones (BC – Patriots)
Detroit has some talented young defenders like Hutchinson, Houston, McNeill, Rodriguez or Joseph. But to cross a course, a little experience would be welcome.
Unknown to the general public, Jonathan Jones has been a regular player since 2016 with the Patriots. In 2022, he even signed his best season: 4 interceptions and 69 tackles! On a similar level, he could be signed with the same type of contract as that of DJ Reed by the Jets in 2022: 33 million dollars over 3 years, 20 of which are guaranteed ($10.5M + $9.5M bonus at Signature).
The new blood
Xavier Hutchinson (WR-Iowa State)
Led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the receiver squad is promising and not lacking in speed. What he lacks is that beefier type of player for mid-zone struggles.
Xavier Hutchinson can offer that to Jared Goff. Because he doesn’t have that alluring speed to become a 1st-round pick, Detroit should be able to sign him with the 55th-round pick.
And given the success of another Hutchinson, the franchise could be seduced by such a surname. (joke)
