On the one hand, it is much too early to jump the gun. But on the other hand, this is a discussion board, so I will unload my hot take:
The Tigers seem to have completed their rebuild and hopefully add a few high-end players this winter. I have an imagination how the Red Wings and the Pistons might come to that same stage within a few years - it might not happen, but I think I see a plan.
However, I do not see such a path for the Lions. They had good opponents, but the team does not seem competitive at all - in spite of several potential building blocks already in place:
- Goff had a solid start; not much worse than Stafford I would say. Every year some college QBs look like revelations personified, but I don't see massive room for improvement on this cerebral position.
- The OL should be good, perhaps even a bit better than that. The Lions invested two first-rounders, a third-round pick and two expensive contracts into their projected starting five. Vatai seems to be overpaid a bit, but that won't likely be a decisive factor.
- The RBs should be good as well. Swift was a high 2nd rounder, then there is a veteran on an average contract and some RB3. That seems to be a decent investment.
- Their TE1 was a high pick, who found his footing. TE2 is a veteran on a budget contract, which is not unusual in this league.
- The WR core is obviously the worst in the league, although it did not look that horrible as of now. The Lions might get two good WRs for LAR's 1st and their 2nd rounder, if they want to.
- The DL has an expensive veteran, who was decent previously, and some mid-round picks plus low-end veterans. This unit is not shiny, but might not be the problem either.
- One DE is on a very expensive contract, the next on a mid-level extension plus additional veteran and a mid-round pick. The Lions invested quite a bit here already.
- The LBs seem to be a Achilles heel once again. But the Lions have another quite expensive veteran here plus another mid-round pick.
- The DBs sure are another reason for concern; the safeties seem less far away from an average unit than the CBs, where the highest Lions pick in ages will likely not make any leaps next year either.
Let's just assume Goff performs like Stafford on some #10-15 QB level, which would be a boon for the Lions. Then they find a star DE/LB, a very good WR, another solid WR and a decent DB in the next draft - which sounds like a best-case scenario to me. Will this really be sufficient to ascend to a team with chances of and even in the playoffs? I know that the new GM was a part of a successful rebuild with the Rams, but it just seems too much to expect within a few years. But afterwards, the Lions will have to replace some current building blocks without having the luxury of high picks and cap space. This clouds my optimism considerably.
Gruß,
BSHH
