The 2018 Detroit Lions season is officially a wrap and with a 6-10 record, they finished in last place in the NFC North.
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In this piece, I am going to break down what I believe the 2019 Detroit Lions starting offense would look like if Bob Quinn makes the right moves in free agency and the draft.
So, without further ado, I give you the 2019 Detroit Lions starting offense.
Quarterback – Matthew Stafford
Though some of you are eager for the Lions to part ways with Matthew Stafford, that is not going to happen. At least not this year.
Wide Receiver 1 – Kenny Golladay
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Golladay continues to show flashes of why he will be a No. 1 wide receiver in this league for a long time. I truly look forward to watching him grow in a Lions uniform.
Wide Receiver 2 – Marvin Jones Jr.
Marvin Jones will be back again in 2019 and if he is healthy, he is a nice weapon for Stafford and the Lions offense.
Wide Receiver 3 – Adam Humphries
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When the Lions traded Golden Tate, they knew they would have to find a replacement for him before the start of the 2019 season. The perfect replacement, in my opinion, is current Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver, Adam Humphries. Humprhies, who is just 25, has had a nice season thus far for the Bucs, catching a career-high 71 passes for 750 yards and five touchdowns. At 5-11, 195 lbs, he can play in the slot for the Lions in 2019 and though I would not expect Golden Tate-like production, Humphries would certainly be a nice weapon to have.
Running Back – Kerryon Johnson
Though it would be nice to get Kerryon Johnson some more reps this season to help his development, I would not be upset if the Lions decided to rest him for the remainder of the season. Johnson has an opportunity to be a top-tier running back in this league IF the offensive line does their part.
Tight End – Jared Cook
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When the Lions revealed they were parting ways with Eric Ebron last offseason, I cringed because I knew he was a weapon that opposing defenses had to respect. Bob Quinn failed to replace Ebron this season and I believe that is one of the reasons why Stafford has (seemed to) regress. This offseason, it is crucial for Quinn to do whatever it takes to get a competent tight end and he could find that in Jared Cook. Cook is in the final year of his contract with the Raiders and unless they work out a deal soon, he will become a free agent. This season, Cook has 65 catches for 868 yards and six touchdowns. Though 31 years old, he could give the Lions the tight end they lacked in 2018.
Left Tackle – Taylor Decker
Though Decker has been a middle of the pack tackle ( up to this point, he is still young and has time to develop into a top-tier player. This season, he was coming off an injury so it will be interesting to see what growth he makes between now and the start of the 2019 campaign.
Left Guard – Frank Ragnow
Like Decker, rookie Frank Ragnow has been an average guard so far in the NFL. That being said, he is very young and he has shown the flashes of dominance that great guards possess. I fully expect for Ragnow to take a HUGE step forward in 2019.
Center – Graham Glasgow
Graham Glasgow is often the most overlooked Lions offensive lineman but he has been solid this season. According to Pro Football Focus (which I generally do not care for), he is the No. 14 center in the league, which is not too shabby. Expect him to continue to improve next season.
Right Guard – Tyrell Crosby or Michael Jordan
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This one is interesting. Rookie Tyrell Crosby, when he has had the opportunity to play, has played well. As of now, with the loss of T.J. Lang, I would assume the Lions will role with Crosby at right guard next season. That being said, if Quinn does not believe in Crosby as more than a backup, look for the team to give Michael Jordan out of Ohio State a long, hard look in the second or third round of the draft. Jordan can play both guard and center so he would not be a bad guy to have around.
Right Tackle – Rick Wagner
Though Rick Wagner is not the greatest thing since sliced bread, you can expect him to be the Lions right tackle again in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus, Wagner is an above average tackle (No. 22 tackle in the league).
So, there you have it, the Detroit Lions 2019 starting offense, according to Don Drysdale!
Nation, what do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts!
