The Detroit Lions offseason plans are getting began somewhat sooner than anticipated. With a 17-point halftime lead within the NFC Championship Recreation, the Lions appeared poised to play within the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time. Alas, the upstart Lions couldn’t shut out the sport towards a much more skilled 49ers workforce that’s been there earlier than. The excellent news is that the 2023 season might be just the start of a wonderful period in Detroit.
Lions Vivid Future After NFC Championship Recreation Loss
If we glance nearer at a 2023 Lions season assessment, we’ll discover one of many NFL’s most outstanding seasons. Even when the Lions have been preseason favorites to win the NFC North, it’s necessary to keep in mind that Detroit is simply two years faraway from going 3-13-1. Dan Campbell turned the franchise round and altered the tradition in a near-miraculous vogue.
Whereas blowing a lead within the NFC Championship Recreation will likely be a bitter tablet to swallow, the Lions nonetheless come out of it with one of many strongest foundations of any workforce within the NFL to construct upon for 2024 and past.
Jared Goff is the Man
The 2023 season might have began with lingering questions on Jared Goff. However he’s left little question that he’s Detroit’s quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Goff completed second within the NFL in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns throughout the common season. Not solely is he a viable beginning quarterback, he’s a top-10 quarterback who’s 4-4 within the playoffs. Goff has confirmed himself to be the reply to Detroit’s quarterback questions, and at age 29, he might proceed to be the reply for a few years to return.
The Playmakers
A part of Goff’s success needs to be attributed to the offensive playmakers the Lions have put round him. Forward of the 2023 season, the Lions had a confirmed working again in David Montgomery and a large receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown who was coming off his first Professional Bowl choice in 2022. Montgomery rushed for over 1,000 yards throughout his first season in Detroit whereas St. Brown took one other step ahead and proved to be an elite huge receiver.
Nevertheless, the Lions have a lot greater than that. Rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta is already a top-10 tight finish, maybe higher. Rookie working again Jahmyr Gibbs additionally emerged as a harmful, multi-dimensional weapon for the Detroit offense. Speedster Jameson Williams additionally made strides throughout the second half of the season and will nonetheless fulfill his potential as a former first-round decide. That provides the Lions a quintet of playmakers round Goff that compares favorably towards any group within the league.
Youthful Protection
It’s no secret that Detroit’s protection wasn’t precisely a power of the workforce in 2023. However that unit had some moments of brilliance throughout the season. It was additionally among the many youngest defenses within the NFL.
Of the 11 starters within the NFC Championship Recreation, seven have three years of expertise or much less. It’s a younger unit that Campbell will be capable of mould, particularly with eight gamers on the two-deep who have been chosen throughout the first three rounds of the NFL Draft within the final three years. In different phrases, the Lions have a protection that’s each younger and brimming with expertise.
Filling the Holes
After being probably the greatest groups throughout the 2023 season, the Lions now have an opportunity to win the 2024 offseason. Detroit may have over $55 million in cap house initially of the season. The Lions even have a restricted variety of key gamers who’re set to turn out to be free brokers. Offensive linemen Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai are headed at no cost company whereas only one defensive starter will likely be a free agent in 2024.
In different phrases, the Lions have a restricted variety of urgent wants in comparison with different NFL groups. Additionally they have way more spending cash than most groups. This can enable Detroit to be aggressive in free company whereas additionally selecting and selecting the roster’s greatest wants. With a youthful protection, a dependable quarterback, and a set of dynamic offensive playmakers already in place, the constructing blocks are in place for the Lions to be even higher in 2024 and past. Whereas the collapse towards the 49ers stings, we haven’t seen the final of the Lions as a Tremendous Bowl contender.
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