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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/doctordoriangray on 2025-08-13 13:50:45+00:00.
Detroit Lions Offseason Review
Coaching Changes
John Morton: new offensive coordinator. He is a home grown man, having played HS and college ball in Michigan as a WR. He also has a 5 year career across various professional teams and leagues. He started coaching with the Oakland raiders in 98-99. Coaching experiences include working under John Gruden, Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton, and Dan Campbell himself. It is hard to say what he is capable of with the Lions caliber of offense as the teams he has worked with in the past were not as loaded with talent. Past coaches and prior experience with this team is reason for optimism though and he has the type of career progression of possibly being a head coach himself someday.
Kelvin Sheppard, new defensive coordinator. At only 37 years old, and with only 4 years coaching total, all with Detroit, this is a big unknown. Dan Campbell has enough faith in him, so he must see something. While I would love to include stats from his prior years of coaching, that is about where his resume coaching ends. He does have an 8-year career playing linebacker in the NFL, including his last with Detroit, so his knowledge and experience are real and current.
Grades: B
John Morton has the history, experience, and familiarity with the team to make his hire a hit. Not just a hit, but a successful continuation of one of the best offenses in the league. Kelvin Sheppard is the unknown that keeps the grade at only an optimistic B. Sheppard’s recent history of being a player will hopefully translate to understanding what to call in-game. Having seen how Dan Campbell stayed involved in Anthony Lynn’s attempts at offensive coordinator, and his eventual firing when he didn’t fix his ways, gives me confidence that Campbell will be involved and guiding Sheppard in his first year.
Free Agency Losses
| Position | Player | New Team |
|---|---|---|
| CB | Carlton Davis | Patriots |
| DE | Za’Darius Smith | Unsigned |
| G | Kevin Zeitler | Titans |
| S | Ifeatu Melifonwu | Dolphins |
| CB | Kindle Vildor | Buccaneers |
| DE | Jonah Williams | Saints |
| C | Frank Ragnow | Retirement |
The loss of Davis and Zeitler will hurt, although it is looking like Brad Holmes is doing his best to address the problems right away in free agency and the draft. Carlton Davis’s departure is unfortunate as well as he played well and was liked. Now while the secondary should be able to chug along and not miss a step with Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and Terrion Arnold returning, it’s the loss of Zeitler with Frank Ragnow’s unfortunate retirement that gives cause for concern. Sewell, Glasgow, and Mahogany will return but there are now questions about just how good this line will continue to be.
Technically Za’Darius Smith hasn’t signed back with the team, but word out of camp and from Dan Campbell himself is that they are staying in touch. Likely Smith doesn’t want to have to go through camp again and there is some difference in what he wants in a contracts vs what the lions are offering. He’ll likely sign back sometime in the near future.
Special shout out to Frank Ragnow. He has been an unbelievable rock to this team throughout some of its lowest years and I’m glad he got to see some degree of success. Anyone who knows him or has seen his interviews knows that this team meant the world to him and he gave his body up to prove it. While we’ll all miss him on Sunday I’m sure the city of Detroit wishes him the best in the future.
Free Agency Adds and Returns
| Position | Player | Contract Length | Previous Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB | DJ Read | 3 years | Jets |
| LB | Derrick Barnes | 3 years | Return |
| DE | Marcus Davenport | 1 year | Return |
| LB | Ezekiel Turner | 1 year | 49ers |
| OL | Dan Skipper | 1 year | Return |
| DT | Roy Lopez | 1 year | Cardinals |
| DT | Levi Onwuzurike | 1 year | Return |
| DE | Al-Quadin Muhammad | 1 year | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | Tim Patrick | 1 year | Return |
| QB | Kyle Allen | 1 year | Steelers |
| TE | Kenny Yeboah | 1 year | Jets |
| TE | Shane Zylstra | 1 year | Return |
| DT | Myles Adams | 1 year | Seahawks |
| RB | Craig Reynolds | 1 year | Return |
| LB | Grant Stuard | 1 year | Colts |
| DT | Pat O’Connor | 1 year | Buccaneers |
| CB | Khalil Dorsey | 1 year | Return |
| CB | Rock Ya-Sin | 1 year | 49ers |
| CB | Avonte Maddox | 1 year | Eagles |
The big free agency signing has been the addition of DJ Reed at corner. He comes from the Jets where he played opposite of Sauce Gardner. By the numbers his play is comparable to Carlton Davis’s, but he’ll actually come with a contract 4 million cheaper than Davis’s.
While not initially signed with too much noise, signing Rock Ya-sin may be a big addition as last year’s 2nd round pick Ennis Rakestraw has recently been put on season ending IR. Coming from the 49ers he will likely continue to be a depth player, but all it takes is one fluke injury for him to see significant field time. I know, I know, why would the Lions be concerned about injuries?
Kyle Allen is an interesting addition as I think it may be a peek into the quarterback room and how Hendon Hooker has, and hasn’t, been developing. Hooker hasn’t shown much in his preseason games this year and last and bringing in a retired Teddy Bridgewater to be the playoffs backup QB was a big vote of no confidence. If Allen looks good and makes the roster it’s a concern for Hooker.
Draft Picks
| Round | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | DL | Tyleik Williams |
| 2nd | OL | Tate Ratledge |
| 3rd | WR | Isaac TeSlaa |
| 5th | OL | Miles Frazier |
| 6th | DL | Ahmed Hassanein |
| 7th | S | Dan Jackson |
| 7th | WR | Dominic Lovett |
Draft summary 1st round: Tyleik Williams was supposed to be an exciting pick to help anchor the center of our D-line and chew up double teams to free Aiden Hutchinson. With Levi Onwuzurike’s preseason torn ACL, and Alim McNeil still recovering from his own torn ACL, this pick feels a little more like plugging a crack in the dam than a big time addition. That said, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about Williams. 6’3”, 334lbs, and a strong history at Ohio State, he has the potential to be a big building block for the future of the defense.
2nd round: This 6’6” 315lb guard from Georgia helps replenish a line that is seeing some turnover this offseason with Zeitler leaving and Ragnow retiring. He comes with 3 years of starting experience and is expected to contribute quickly. The really interesting aspect of Ratledge’s potential though is his ability to learn center. Camp reports have him taking some snaps at center and learning both positions with the expectation of making the move in the future or filling in for injury. I was going to say this was a solid but not sexy pick, but then I saw the man and knew how wrong I was.
3rd round: Isaac TeSlaa was the splash of Detroit’s draft, with GM Brad Holmes giving Jacksonville a total of 3 3rd round picks for TeSlaa and 2 6th round picks. Initial fan response was mixed for the 6’4” receiver from Arkansas as some feel those draft picks could have filled more pressing needs and he clearly is a raw talent. That said, there is a lot of raw talent to work with. Watching him in camp and preseason has shown that he uses his height well to high point the ball, catches away from his body with his hands, and will be a solid contributor to special teams. While he is listed on the depth chart behind Jameson Williams, I expect he will eventually take Tim Patrick’s role. My hot take is that in 3 years TeSlaa will be Holmes’ best pick of this draft.
5th Round: Miles Frazier is a versatile 6’6” 324lb guard who can play both sides of the line and will be, at the least, good depth to replenish the O-line. As per ESPN, “Since the start of 2023, Frazier has only allowed three pressures in nearly 1,000 pass blocking plays (0.2%), which is the second-lowest pressure rate allowed at guard in the FBS in that time .” Plenty of reason there to be optimistic.
6th round: Ahmed Hassanein is a much needed defensive piece at DE to go opposite Hutchinson. As a 6th rounder he isn’t expected to be a day 1 starter, but during his last season at Boise he had the most tackles for loss in the FBS and was 2nd in sacks. The potential is there and he has looked good so far in preseason.
7th round: Dan Jackson was drafted as a depth piece behind Branch and Joseph, but will be a contributor to specials teams. Some insight into this player’s mindset, he was a pure try-out walk on to Georgia and worked his way to being the starting safety.
7th round: As the third Georgia player taken by the Lions, Dominic Lovett is a WR depth piece and special teamer. Despite being a 7th round pick, he has seen a lot of play time and targets already in the preseason and has shown some potential returning punts.
Starting line up
Offense QB Jared Goff
RB Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR Jameson Williams
WR Tim Patrick
TE Sam LaPorta
LT Taylor Decker
LF Christian Mahogany
C Graham Glasgow
RG Tate Ratledge
RT Penei Sewell
Review: Despite the loss of Ben Johnson there is the expectation for this elite offense to stay producing. The entirety of the skill positions are returning with another year of experience under their belt, and Jared Goff continues to produce elite passing performances, including the 2nd mo…
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