Detroit Lions’ first free agency week is in the books, and if there’s anything to take away from the NFL’s raging first days of the new league year, it’s that Lions will look much different from what they did last year. They may not be better. They may not be any worse. But they will definitely be different.
Many players’ roles will change or disappear completely in Detroit. Some seem to have benefited from Detroit’s changes, while others may be in trouble.
So here are four winners and two losers from the first week of the Lions free agency.
Winner: Kenny Golladay
Despite a deflated wide receiver market, Kenny Golladay was paid. Although many laughed and rolled their eyes when the news came that Golladay wanted $ 18.5 million a year, he almost got it. Despite losing 11 games last year and some minor clashes with the Lions’ previous coaching staff, Golladay overtook the New York Giants rigorous interviews.
In the end, Kenny Golladay proved that the skeptics were wrong and got a fat contract, probably his last chance before hitting 30. Good for him.
Winner: Logan Stenberg
The release of Joe Dahl by the Lions was somewhat surprising. Combined with Oday Aboushi’s permission to sign with the Chargers, Lions will now lose their titleholder and their primary reserve in the right guard.
While it is likely that Detroit will add some depth of offensive line in the near future, now the way is open for Stenberg – a choice for the fourth round in 2020 – to enter the roster and potentially start. Although Stenberg did not make a single offensive snap in the past year, his style of play may well match the kind of obstinate football that coach Dan Campbell is looking for.
Loser: Jared Goff
Take away the fact that Goff was kicked out of a successful Los Angeles Rams team and landed with one of them in a complete reconstruction (whether he wants to admit it or not). Even with that out of the equation, it wasn’t a great week for Goff.
First, Lions were unable to commit to Goff as their long-term quarterback, simply saying that he should be the starter in 2021, but admitting that if the right amount is there, the quarterback is still at the table in his first round to choose.
And if this is a one-year or two-year audition for Goff, Lions have not yet prepared him for success. While he has a decent offensive line and the running back team looks good, Detroit let Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. and Jamal Agnew walk. They just added Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, neither of which is projected to be No. 1 receiver and both present significant risks. Sure, Lions probably haven’t finished adding wide receivers this off-season, but for now, Goff isn’t exactly looking at an arsenal of weapons.
That said, Goff had a big win over the weekend:
Winner: Nick Williams
Many – including me – considered Nick Williams to be one of the easiest decisions for Lions. With an inflated limit of $ 5.7 million reached in 2021 and only $ 1 million in potential, cutting Williams, who offered little haste last year, looked like a no-brainer.
But Lions chose to cut Danny Shelton instead, and while it is never a wise decision to read a lot on vague social media posts, it seems that Lions may have given Williams some guarantee that he will remain with the team this year. :
We will see the taste of these kneecaps this year
– Nicholas Williams (@ NickWilliams_98) March 16, 2021
Lions can value their fast-pass skills and believe they can get more out of it than their previous coaching staff.
Winner: The Okwaras
Romeo Okwara would probably never go anywhere else in Detroit, but he did extremely well in the three years, $ 39 million he signed with Lions just before the free agency actually opened. With the way the contract is established, he has basically guaranteed that he will be on the list for the next two years – probably for all three of his extension.
But the real benefit here is not monetary. Romeo made it extremely clear how important it was to stay in Detroit with his newly hired brother Julian. Being able to play – and live – with your brother is an invaluable experience and will likely be mutually beneficial. Anyone who has had a brother knows how much he can motivate. Furthermore, a young player like Julian will certainly benefit from the guidance of someone like Romeo.
Loser: Kerryon Johnson
A few weeks ago, I argued that Kerryon Johnson could push for the role of RB2 after proving to be a great pass blocker last year. When Duce Staley told us how impressed he was with Johnson as a full-fledged defender, it looked like Detroit may be heading in that direction.
However, with the hiring of Jamaal Williams, it is clear that Johnson, once again, will be in the background. I don’t blame the Lions for the change, as Johnson’s injury history and significant knee problem make it difficult to trust him for a significant role. However, for Johnson, it could mean another difficult season with few touches and many blocking assignments. This was certainly not what he expected when he was drafted in the second round three years ago.