For The Detroit Lions, The Time Is Now To Push The Chips To The Middle

The Detroit Lions nearly reached the postseason after a 1-6 start. With things coming together, now is the time to push the chips in to reach the mountain top.

There were a lot of murmurs and a lot of doubt clouding the Detroit Lions near midseason. After a 1-6 start, there were questions if Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes would truly be the pair to reverse the fortune of the Lions franchise.

In an instant, a switch was flipped, and the momentum carried. The Lions finished 9-8, just a tiebreaker away from postseason play. The offense played fantastic football and stayed creative under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, even after trading away starting tight end T.J. Hockenson. Jared Goff played at a high level, Jamaal Williams set the franchise record for rushing TDs in a season, Brock Wright emerged at TE, and Amon-Ra St. Brown continued to be his productive self. Not to mention, the offensive line looks good at the three most important spots.

The unit got some help from other receivers as well. Kalif Raymond made some big plays down the field, as did D.J. Chark. Josh Reynolds contributed as well. They worked back in Jameson Williams from his injury at Alabama, and his speed is going to be nightmare fuel for the NFC North.

The defense found a gem in James Houston to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who found his own stride down the stretch of the season, producing like a top pick. Malcolm Rodriguez had a solid rookie season. The secondary has some pieces.

They aren’t completely finished, especially building on defense, but the Detroit Lions are in luck. Thanks to the Hockenson trade and the Matthew Stafford trade, they currently hold picks 6, 18, 49, 60 (still TBA on where the Vikings finish), and 82 in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. Five picks in the top 85 is plenty to apply finishing touches on the roster.

However, as the Lions sit on the cusp of serious contention, it is time. They have the chips. Holmes and Campbell need to push them to the center of the table in the form of getting a franchise quarterback.

This isn’t a major slight to Goff, who has been productive and comfortable in this offense. He’s plenty good enough to get the Lions to the postseason every year for the foreseeable future. However, Detroit isn’t here to just reach the baseline goal of the playoffs. It’s about winning a championship in this business. Goff has been to a Super Bowl, but his limitations were in part why they failed to deliver on the biggest stage.

Detroit was smart in the 2022 NFL Draft, passing on selecting a quarterback in a putrid class. They added important players in Hutchinson and Williams, and got some important role players in Houston, Rodriguez, and Kerby Joseph. The 2023 NFL Draft presents the opportunity for the Detroit Lions.

The top two quarterbacks, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (Stroud hasn’t declared at the point of this writing, but should before Monday’s deadline), both have what it takes to be franchise quarterbacks.

Young will be an outlier, there’s no doubt about it. There’s a chance he comes in at just over 5’9″ and 185-190 pounds. That isn’t ideal to bet on, but it’s everything else that makes Young that dude. He’s very good at reading things out pre-snap, and can set and adjust protections when necessary. Young operates the quick game at a high level, throwing with impressive anticipation. He has the sufficient arm strength to push the ball vertically as well, and he’s got the pinpoint placement. Don’t forget about the impressive poise in the pocket and a penchant for coming up big when it counts. He’s a great playmaker out of structure too.

C.J. Stroud is more of the pocket passer of the two quarterbacks, with flashes of anticipation and excellent pocket movement to buy time. He’s a precise passer with wicked good placement to all levels of the field, varying touch throws with his fastball into tight windows. Handling pressure and becoming more consistent on the move and out of structure was the knock with Stroud, something he showed a bit more of in the second half of 2021. The game against Georgia in the College Football Playoff proved that Stroud has it all to be a franchise guy.

Waiting for 2024 is a possibility as Caleb Williams and Drake Maye look like franchise signal-callers as well, but 2023 presents the best opportunity to push the chips in to become a true Super Bowl contender. The Detroit Lions are oh so close, but the quarterback must be upgraded to prevent holding them back.