Tag: Detroit Lions

Jan 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) celebrates after breaking up a fourth down pass by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the end zone in the third quarter at Ford Field. The pass was incomplete.Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Lions 2025 draft needs, picks, best fits, history

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Almost untouchable until the Washington Commanders spoiled a Super Bowl plan in the postseason, the Detroit Lions did a lot of losing since the calendar turned to 2025.

Beyond another painful dismissal from the postseason, the Lions lost nearly half of their coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson became head coach of the Chicago Bears, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is the new boss of the Jets and several position coaches and support staff are no longer in Detroit.

Many of the perceived vital players are the same, from quarterback Jared Goff to offensive tackle Penei Sewell, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. And defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is expected to be full strength after surgery to repair a broken leg before midseason in 2024.

The Lions are still looking for additions to the roster capable of making a major impact. The pass rush was a scramble to assemble without Hutchinson and injuries at linebacker and cornerback took some of the bite out of a group exposed by Jayden Daniels and the Commanders in January.

General manager Brad Holmes has aced multiple drafts, and the Lions’ culture is anything but woe-is-me these days. So how will coach Dan Campbell and Holmes get the Lions back to the top of the NFC and beyond?

Let’s look at their options.

–Team needs
Defensive end: Hutchinson missed half of the season and still led the team with 7.5 sacks. A pass-rushing linebacker in the mold of Micah Parsons would be an option, but a traditional defensive end to complement Hutchinson rates as first priority. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill is also returning from injury and could stand to benefit from blocking changes that would come along with adding to the defensive line.

Cornerback: Detroit drafted heavily at cornerback in 2024 (first-rounder Terrion Arnold and second-rounder Ennis Rakestraw Jr.) and signed D.J. Reed (three years, $48 million), so there’s something to work with here. But the Lions finished 30th against the pass in 2024. Until the team confident it has enough at the position, Holmes will continue taking swings at this position.

Interior offensive line: For the second offseason in a row, the Lions lost a starting guard to free agency. Drafting a tackle who can play guard until Taylor Decker no longer mans the left side is a strong consideration.

–Best prospect fits
OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
DE Mike Green, Marshall
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
OG Kelvin Banks Jr, Texas

–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 7
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 28, 28
2: 28, 60
3: 38, 102 (NFL compensatory selection)
4: 28, 130
6: 20, 196 (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
7: 12, 228 (from Dallas Cowboys)
7: 28, 224

–History Lesson
–A few of the top players selected No. 28 overall are Pro Football Hall of Famers: LB Derrick Brooks (Buccaneers, 1995) and CB Darrell Green (Washington, 1983).

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) warms up before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Agent: Lions sign CB Avonte Maddox to 1-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions signed former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox to a one-year contract, agent Jason Chayut confirmed Friday.

Maddox, who turns 29 on March 31, capped his seven-year tenure in Philadelphia with a victory in Super Bowl LIX.

Maddox played in all 17 regular-season games (three starts) in 2024 but was on the field for just 33 percent of the defensive snaps, a career low, while losing time to rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

He recorded four interceptions, three sacks, eight forced fumbles and 270 tackles in 81 games (41 starts) since the Eagles made him a fourth-round pick in 2018.

The Lions announced two deals with cornerbacks on Thursday, re-signing Khalil Dorsey and signing former second-round pick Rock Ya-Sin.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) celebrates in the first half against the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Lions’ Jameson Williams escapes NFL discipline for gun incident

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wideout Jameson Williams will not face discipline from the NFL for carrying an unlicensed gun, with a league spokesman telling the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday that the matter is “closed.”

Williams, 23, also avoided criminal charges for the gun, discovered by police during a traffic stop in October. He was a passenger in the car being driven by his brother when police pulled them over for speeding. Two guns were found, one registered to Williams and one to his brother.

Williams, however, did not have a concealed pistol license to carry the gun at the time but obtained one later.

Wayne County (Mich.) prosecutors in late November declined to charge Williams.

Williams has been suspended by the league two times — for six games total — in his first three seasons in the NFL for violating gambling and performance enhancing drug policies.

He hauled in 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) in 2024. He has 10 touchdowns in 33 career games (21 starts) since the Lions selected him No. 12 overall in the 2022 draft.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw before the game against the Washington State Cougars at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Former Stanford coach David Shaw joins Lions’ staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions added former Stanford head coach David Shaw to a revamped coaching staff on Tuesday as their passing game coordinator.

Shaw, 52, was a four-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year at Stanford from 2011-22. With a record of 96-54, he resigned as the winningest coach in Cardinal history.

Joining head coach Dan Campbell’s staff marks Shaw’s first formal position since leaving Stanford. He spent the 2024 NFL season as a senior personnel executive with the Denver Broncos but hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2005.

Shaw’s NFL experience includes stints as an assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles (1997), then-Oakland Raiders (1998-2001) and Baltimore Ravens (2002-05).

The Lions lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (New York Jets) to head coaching positions following a franchise-record 15-win season in 2024.

In addition to Shaw and new OC John Morton and new DC Kelvin Sheppard, the staff changes announced Tuesday include hiring Tashard Choice as running backs coach and moving Scottie Montgomery from RBs coach to assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.

–Field Level Media

Lions linebacker coach Kelvin Sheppard talks with media during a practice at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Lions announce John Morton as OC, Kelvin Sheppard as DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions on Thursday announced the hiring of John Morton as offensive coordinator and the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator.

Terms of their respective contracts were not disclosed by the Lions.

Morton, 55, replaces Ben Johnson, who was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Sheppard, 37, was elevated from linebackers coach to replace Aaron Glenn, now head coach of the New York Jets.

Under Johnson, the Lions boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense this season (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game). Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) were franchise records.

With Morton as Denver’s pass game coordinator, the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.

Morton spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.

When Glenn took over as Detroit’s DC in 2021, Sheppard came on board and has spent the last four seasons learning under the former three-time Pro Bowl defensive back and 15-year NFL veteran.

Sheppard, who played linebacker for eight NFL seasons, including his final season with Detroit in 2018, served as director of player development at his alma mater LSU in 2020 before returning to the Motor City.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell shakes hands after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Vikings, Lions to settle No. 1 seed in ‘fairytale’ showdown

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Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell brings intensity to every game.

As for Sunday night’s matchup between the Lions and Minnesota Vikings, which will determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Campbell knows his adrenaline will be pumping.

“You couldn’t write a better scenario,” Campbell said. “This is fairytale stuff.”

The stakes are clear for the latest game in a longtime rivalry between NFC North foes Detroit (14-2) and visiting Minnesota (14-2).

The winning team will seize the top seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. The losing team will earn a wild-card berth and begin the postseason on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons.

The Lions and Vikings took much different paths to the regular-season finale.

Detroit reached the NFC championship game last season and led by 17 points at halftime against the San Francisco 49ers on the road. But the Lions faltered in the second half and lost 34-31 to the 49ers to miss out on a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

This year, Detroit surged to a 12-1 record to start the season and has been one of the top teams in the NFL for months. Both Lions’ losses — a 20-16 setback against Tampa Bay and a 48-42 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills — came by single digits.

Campbell knows that a No. 1 playoff seed could help to prevent a repeat from last season’s heartbreaking road loss in the conference title game. The Lions also have been hit by recent injuries, and a bye could provide an important extra week for players to rest and heal.

“You come out of that game and feel like, what gives you the best odds to where the ultimate (goal) is, which is as we all know what the prize is, and that’s the Super Bowl,” Campbell said, reflecting on last year’s playoff loss at San Francisco. “You try to set yourself up the best you can, and that’s why you put those goals out there.

“So, yeah, it’s been there for a while. Certainly, this is something we want to do and we’ve had in our minds — division and one seed and all that, and it’s right there in our hands.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota entered the season as a longshot to win the division, let alone make a deep run in the playoffs. The Vikings went 7-10 a year ago and parted ways with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed as a free agent with Atlanta.

In Cousins’ place, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract as a possible reclamation project. They also drafted JJ McCarthy out of Michigan in the first round.

McCarthy sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. Darnold took full control of the offense and never looked back.

In 16 starts, Darnold has passed for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Darnold deserves praise for his excellence this season.

“You can tell a guy what it’s going to be like and you can tell a guy a lot of things,” O’Connell said. “But only the player is responsible for getting himself to where Sam has gotten himself to.”

Darnold said he was excited to take the field with his teammates on Sunday night. The Vikings are riding a nine-game winning streak and have not lost since Oct. 24 against the Rams.

“I will say this: It’s fun,” Darnold said. “That’s really all it is. Just having a ton of fun playing football right now. Whatever happened last week and the week before that, it doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is this game and this opportunity, and that’s all I’m thinking about.”

Justin Jefferson is Darnold’s top target with 100 catches for 1,479 yards and 10 touchdowns. Aaron Jones leads the ground attack with 1,093 rushing yards and five scores.

For Detroit, Jared Goff has also shined at quarterback with 4,398 yards, 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown has 109 catches for 1,186 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The showdown also features an intriguing head-to-head challenge between two of the more respected assistants in the NFL — Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The teams last met in Week 7, when the Lions held on for a 31-29 win in Minneapolis. Goff threw for two touchdowns and Gibbs rushed for two more.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater takes the field for warm up before the Denver Broncos game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

Report: QB Teddy Bridgewater to unretire, rejoin Lions

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Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, NFL Network reported Thursday.

Bridgewater, 32, appeared in one game (three snaps) for the Lions last season. He announced his retirement in February and spent the 2024 season coaching his alma mater Miami Northwestern High School to a Class 3A Florida state championship.

A first-round pick by Minnesota in 2014 and a Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings in 2015, Bridgewater also played for the New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Carolina Panthers (2020), Denver Broncos (2021) and Miami Dolphins (2022) before joining the Lions in 2023.

Bridgewater owns a 33-32 record as a starting quarterback, completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 15,120 yards with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in 79 games. He has also rushed for 844 yards and 11 scores.

He would provide experience and depth behind starter Jared Goff as the Lions (13-2) chase the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs. Hendon Hooker, a third-round pick in 2023, is Goff’s current backup.

Detroit visits San Francisco (6-9) on Monday night before ending the regular season with an NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) in Week 18.

–Field Level Media