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Ranking Lions, Texans, and Falcons’ jobs for 2021 coach/GM prospects

By Sayre Bedinger

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia walks off the field after the 41-25 loss to the Houston Texans at Ford Field, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.Sad Matt Patricia, Sad Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia walks off the field after the 41-25 loss to the Houston Texans at Ford Field, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.Sad Matt Patricia, Sad Detroit Lions /
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Matthew Stafford, 2021 NFL Draft
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

3. Detroit Lions

The Lions’ roster, like many with a former New England Patriots influence at head coach, has been tailored to a very specific system.

Matt Patricia was obviously not Detroit’s GM, but his stamp of approval was obviously all over many of the moves made in the past three years and as a result, the Lions have a team that was supposed to emulate what Patricia did in New England, where he was a tremendous defensive coach.

At this point in time, it’s hard to say or know whether Matt Stafford is still going to be in Detroit beyond this season. Even as difficult as it would be to trade his contract and eat the dead cap, the Lions could go for a full rebuild, offload Stafford, and start from scratch.

The team’s key pieces under contract for 2021 are left tackle Taylor Decker, defensive lineman Trey Flowers, tight end TJ Hockenson, cornerback Jeff Okudah, and running back D’Andre Swift. Star receiver Kenny Golladay is a free agent.

The Lions are estimated to have just over $1 million in cap space and they have picks in the first five rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Of the available jobs, this one looks like it’s easily the biggest rebuilding project with the worst assets available.

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