With one game remaining on the schedule, the Detroit Lions will soon be entering an offseason of transition and change. Already having undergone a major facelift during the regular season with the dismissals of Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn along with player turnover, great is the task that lies ahead for whomever is ultimately named Quinn’s successor.
Among the decisions to be made will be what to do with the team’s pending free agents. And one such player is entering his prime, and should be retained.
The Detroit News had this to say:
“Okwara has set himself up for a hefty pay raise with a breakout season. Not only does he have a career-high nine sacks, he’s been one of the most productive edge rushers at generating pressure this season, affecting the quarterback on nearly 50 other snaps.”
Okwara, who first came to Detroit through the waiver wire in 2018, is approaching double-digit sacks and is also ranked in the top-5 of NFL DE’s in several categories:
Among #NFL DEs this season, @Lions DE @RomeoND45 is top-5 in the following:
– 3rd-down strip sacks (1st)
– 3rd-down FFs (t-1st)
– Games with a TFL (t-1st)
– Games with a sack (t-2nd)
– Strip sacks (t-2nd)
– 3rd-down sacks (t-2nd)
– Sack yards (4th)
– Sacks (t-4th)
– FFs (t-5th) pic.twitter.com/DqKB8Mx0Ov— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 29, 2020
The Lions will absolutely be facing competition from other teams for Okwara’s services, and it will absolutely cost more than the $2.75 million he’s currently raking in.
Of course, the fact that Okwara’s younger brother Julian was drafted by Detroit can’t hurt things.
While we certainly don’t want to see Detroit’s next GM overpay to keep Okwara around in a deal that could have the potential to be regretted, we’re hopeful a deal beneficial to both sides can be arranged in the near future.
– – Quotes via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News Link – –
