Detroit Lions 2022-2023 Season Preview

Can the Detroit Lions take a step towards contention in 2022?

Prior to the 2021 season, the Detroit Lions traded longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, beginning a full-scale rebuild, while also allowing Stafford to not suffer the same fate as Lions greats Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, who spent their entire careers in Detroit with nothing to show for it.  As expected, in their first year without Stafford since going 0-16 in 2008 the Lions were, once again, amongst the worst teams in the NFL, finishing 3-13-1.

 

Despite having the second worst record in the league, the Lions actually performed much better down the stretch.  Following an 0-10-1 start, the Lions were 3-3 in their final six games, including wins against the 13-win Green Bay Packers and 11-win Arizona Cardinals, both of whom made the postseason.  While Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers didn’t play the second half of the Week 18 matchup, the Lions were already winning before he was pulled from the game.

The Lions, who have done a nice job of adding talent in recent years, were still able to land the second overall pick despite winning some meaningless games down the stretch.  They were able to use that pick on their top target, and Michigan native, pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.  As a result of the Stafford trade, the Lions also possessed the 32nd pick of the first round.  They used this pick, as well as, their own second-round pick and third-round pick in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move up to 12th overall, while also picking up Minnesota’s second-round pick.  With the 12th pick, the Lions added to their skill position group, picking up wide receiver Jameson Williams.

 

Although Williams suffered an ACL tear in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Lions felt strongly enough about his talent that they moved up for him.  While it remains unclear when Williams will make his debut, if he is able to recover and return to the player he was in college, the Lions will have gotten a steal.  The organization should feel no pressure to rush Williams back from his injury, but he is expected to debut at some point during the season.

Can the Lions take a step towards contention?

Adding Hutchinson and Williams in the top-twelve of one draft has the potential to be a move that pays off tremendously for the Lions.  In recent years, we have seen pass rushers and wide receivers, arguably, become the two most important positions outside of the quarterback.

 

The Lions were also very fortunate to have offensive tackle Penei Sewell fall to them at 7th overall the prior season, after many felt he would be the first non-quarterback off the board.  Sewell, who was advertised as a potential All-Pro tackle, looked like he could one day reach those lofty expectations, as he turned in a solid rookie season.

 

While it remains to be seen if the trio of young players will reach their potential, adding long-term potential stars at offensive tackle, pass rusher, and wide receiver in two drafts gives the Lions a solid foundation for the future.

 

The jury is still out on Jared Goff, who was acquired in the Stafford trade, however, he did have a decent season despite not having many weapons.  Goff, who helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018, has become somewhat underrated in the time since, partly due to his inability to become a top-tier talent.  Goff likely won’t reach the expectations that were placed on him when taken first overall in 2016, but he is a serviceable quarterback, who can win you games, particularly when on a team with talent.

 

The Lions will need to use 2022 to evaluate whether Goff is their long-term solution at the position.  Although they chose not to target any of the quarterbacks available in the draft, next year’s quarterback class is expected to be much stronger, and the Lions will be able to get out of Goff’s contract without a massive dead cap hit.

 

If Goff can exceed expectations and lead the Lions to be competitive, he might do enough to convince general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell that he is the man for the job.  However, if the Lions end up picking in the top-two again, it is likely that they will go with either Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.  If for some reason Goff is able to exceed expectations, but the team around him doesn’t perform, we could see the Lions target Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson to pair with Hutchinson.

 

Ultimately, the oddsmakers don’t believe that Goff will do enough to lead the Lions to victories as their over/under win total for the season sits at just 6.5 wins.  While this is an improvement from 2021, it may not be enough to make Detroit steer clear of a quarterback.  The Lions currently are being given +400 odds to make the postseason, and +1000 odds to win the NFC North, good for third in the division.

 

As far as winning the entire NFC, the Lions odds, +6000, are tied with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants for the fourth-worst in the conference, ahead of only the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago Bears.  Their odds to win the Super Bowl, +15000, is tied with the Seahawks and Bears for the third-worst in the entire NFL, ahead of only the Falcons and Houston Texans.

 

Although the Lions are unlikely to seriously contend for a postseason spot in 2022, there is a good chance that they finish better than last in the division for the first time since 2017.  They also figure to be more competitive on both sides of the ball.  While that may not necessarily translate to wins, for a rebuilding team with the youngest roster in the NFL, showing signs of improvement is still encouraging.