Inside the Article:
Following the 2021 regular season, there was no question about it that the Detroit Lions had a plethora of off-season needs, and they addressed some of those needs via free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft. When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, GM Brad Holmes was able to improve the defensive line by adding the likes of Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston. He also added LB rookies Malcolm Rodriguez and S Kerby Joseph, who made tangible impacts in 2022. As far as the offensive side of the ball goes, WR DJ Chark was signed as a free agent and WR Jameson Williams was selected in the draft. The team was certainly improved in 2022, but the hope is that they can add a few more pieces during the upcoming offseason, and win the NFC North in 2023.
Why it Matters
The Lions looked like one of the top 5 teams in the NFL over the final 10 weeks of the season, but that does not mean they don’t have to fill some glaring needs if they want to take the next step in 2023.
- 9-8 record in 2022
- The goal should be to win the NFC North and host (and win) a playoff game in 2023
- In order to do that, they will have to add some more pieces to the puzzle
Detroit Lions’ biggest need for 2023
As noted above, the Lions have some glaring needs to address, but, in my opinion, their biggest need comes at the cornerback position. During the 2022 season, Detroit had one of the worst pass defenses in the league, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they will be looking to add a couple of corners to the mix for the 2023 season.
Here is how I rank Detroit’s biggest needs heading into the off-season:
- 1. Cornerback
- 2. Interior Defensive Line
- 3. Offensive Guard
- 4. Linebacker
- 5. Tight End
- 6. Backup Quarterback
Bottom Line
The Lions secondary as a whole struggled in 2022, and there is no doubt in my mind that Holmes will leave no stone unturned as he looks to identify and land a couple of cornerbacks. My guess is that he will add one solid cornerback during free agency and one with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Bottom line is that the Lions’ secondary is going to look different in 2023 compared to 2022, and that is a good thing.
