Detroit Lions 2024 Season Outlook
2023 Season Recap
Record: 12-5
Points For: 461 (5)
Points Against: 395 (23)
Off-season Roster Recap
Added:
OL Kevin Zeitler, DL D.J. Reader, DL Marcus Davenport, CB Amik Robertson, CB Carlton Davis, K Jake Bates, DL Mitchell Agude, DL Mathieu Betts,
Lost:
CB Cameron Sutton, OL, Jonah Jackson, DL Charles Harris, DL Romeo Okwara
Draft Recap Offense
(126) OL Giovanni Manu, (132) RB Sione Vaki, (210) OL Christian Mahogany
Draft Recap Defense
(24) CB Terrion Arnold, (61) CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr, (189) DL Mekhi Wingo
Overview
The Detroit Lions were 30 minutes away from going to their first ever Super Bowl. They ended up squandering their lead and failed to achieve the ultimate prize. This season, they are doing everything possible to return to where they ended last year and finish the job this time. The Lions brought back their entire offensive core that has been elite each of the past two seasons and completely revamped their defense from top to bottom in the draft and free agency.
Passing
Jared Goff is as steady as they come. After a shaky 1st season with the Lions, he’s been nothing short of fantastic over the past two seasons. He finished as QB10 in the 2022 season and as QB7 last season. The offense continues to thrive as one of the best units in the league with Goff under center. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson also stuck around for another season setting up Goff for another outstanding year.
Rushing
There was not a better 1-2 punch at running back last year than David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. The duo barely missed out on 2,000 yards combined on the ground. They also managed to find the end zone a combined 24 times last season. What will continue to help this duo (as well as QB Goff) is that the offensive line managed to replace free agent offensive lineman Jonah Jackson with veteran Pro Bowl lineman Kevin Zeitler. The offensive line remains among the top lines in the league and the duo of Detroit Rhythm and Bruise will continue to feast.
Receiving
Superstar WR Amon-Ra St. Brown received the biggest contract per annual value at the signing before the 2024 NFL Draft when his number barely beat out incumbent highest paid receiver Tyreek Hill by a smidge (roughly $30M a year) He deserves every penny after the development he’s made to becoming one of the top receivers in the league in just 3 years since being drafted in the 4th round. Partnered with him was another astounding story in tight end Sam LaPorta who broke the record for most catches by a rookie tight end in NFL history. When you add speedster Jameson Williams to this group of pass-catchers, you get a great young supporting cast around QB Jared Goff. Jahmyr Gibbs also brings stellar pass-catching skills to the table, too.
Defense
The Detroit defense is a big reason they didn’t make it to the big game. The secondary, in particular, needed some big upgrades especially after the dismissal of CB Cameron Sutton due to legal issues. They proceeded to make moves for all of these cornerbacks: traded for Carlton Davis, signed Amik Robertson, and drafted both Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. They also made it a priority to add to the defensive line by signing defensive linemen D.J. Reader and Marcus Davenport to support elite studs in Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. If these moves can turn a below-average defense into an average or above average defense, I believe this team could finally make the push for its first ever Super Bowl berth.
Fantasy Impact:
The Lions roster is littered with top tier studs at all positions. Goff is set to finish with another top 10 QB performance in fantasy. Gibbs is being drafted as a top 5 RB right now and should be a top-shelf fantasy performer this season. Amon-Ra St. Brown is in the same category, he can repeat as a top 5 WR this year. Sam LaPorta's stock is at an all-time high. Many think he may take a step back this season. I predict that he can repeat what he did last season at the very least but with so many targets to go around, he may end up losing a few. Montgomery is the most likely to take a step back with Gibbs fully adjusted to the NFL level by the end of last season. Jameson Williams is expected to make a jump after a couple incomplete seasons. I believe he will fully take the targets left behind by Josh Reynolds and then some from others.
Schedule
Week 1 vs LA Rams (SNF)
Week 2 vs Tampa Bay
Week 3 at Arizona
Week 4 vs Seattle (MNF)
Week 5 BYE
Week 6 at Dallas
Week 7 at Minnesota
Week 8 vs Tennessee
Week 9 at Green Bay
Week 10 at Houston (SNF)
Week 11 vs Jacksonville
Week 12 at Indianapolis
Week 13 vs Chicago (THANKSGIVING)
Week 14 vs Green Bay (TNF)
Week 15 vs Buffalo
Week 16 at Chicago
Week 17 at San Francisco (MNF)
Week 18 vs Minnesota
Strength of schedule: .509 (11th)
DraftKings Projected Wins - 10.5
#DRock313’s prediction 12 wins - 5 losses
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