The Detroit Lions are headed into the 2025 season riding a wave of optimism. After a completely disastrous 2024, marred by injuries, they’re now prioritizing health and player development. The Lions finished the previous season with a league-high 21 players on the injured reserve list, significantly impacting their performance. Of those, 16 players on the defensive side were forced to sit, leaving them the most decimated team in the NFL on that side of the ball.
Despite entering 2024 with the expectations of a title contending team, a brutal injury plague derailed the Lions hopes at a deep season run. Even with these disappointments, they continue to have high hopes for their youngsters. They are looking ahead to greater health in the new year.
The Lions orchestrated the most controversial move of the entire NFL offseason. So they retreated from the flashy move, choosing to continue to draft their talent unconventionally. Their most notable offseason addition was former New York Jets cornerback D.J. He came aboard with a three-year, $48 million deal. Reed’s addition only makes their defensive front that much scarier. This transition follows the departure of Carlton Davis III, who signed a new three-year, $60 million contract with the New England Patriots.
The Lions have prioritized retaining key players from their roster. Defensive end Marcus Davenport, linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike have all returned on new contracts. Finally, the return of wide receiver Tim Patrick shouldn’t go overlooked. These moves are just another example of the team’s efforts to establish continuity and stability going into the new season.
That’s a key part of Holmes’ plan — develop young players especially on valuable rookie contracts. I mean, we don’t have to go too deep here. It’s because they fit us,” he stated. Holmes emphasized that understanding a player’s fit within the team is vital, particularly during free agency when teams often lack familiarity with new signings.
The Lions plan to exercise the fifth-year option for wide receiver Jameson Williams, aiming to maximize his potential as part of their offensive strategy. Plus, they’re on the hook to actively budget extensions in advance. This effort has included some key players, such as All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph and star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
While there has been some adversity, head coach Dan Campbell is still very bullish about where this team is heading. “What’s wrong with us? We did it right. We had 15 wins. End of season,” he remarked, reflecting on the team’s performance last year. Campbell acknowledged that while they played poorly at critical moments, there is no need for drastic changes: “Careful tweaking things, what you got is good enough. We just got to play better in that moment.”
The Lions currently hold the 28th overall pick in the first round of the draft, which presents another opportunity to enhance their roster. With a history of keeping their own players around for long-term deals, they continue to build a cohesive team culture that prioritizes loyalty and development.
Holmes created some new parameters to their financial obligations, and discussed with us their long-term plan when it comes to budgetary intentions. “You have financial responsibilities. You have a mortgage, or your kid’s college fund… but that might require you can’t take the vacation you really want right now,” he explained, shedding light on the careful financial planning necessary for team operations.
Now looking ahead into the new season, the newly crowned NSL champions are already determined to continue from where they ended. They want to maximize what seems like an unprecedented stockpile of youthful talent, while walking the tightrope of player health and development.
“So, that’s kind of where we are right now,” – Brad Holmes
Leave a Reply