Detroit Lions: Breaking down ESPN’s five moves to make this offseason
By Zac Snyder
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has five moves the Detroit Lions should make ahead of the 2018 season. Are they good ideas or bad ideas?
The NFL offseaons is just getting started and there is still some time before we start seeing how each team goes about preparing the roster for the 2018 season. In the interim we get a variety of opinions on what teams could do, should do or must do. One such is a series by Bill Barnwell for ESPN.com featuring five moves each team should make this offseason.
His NFC North edition is out today so let’s take a look at what he suggests for the Detroit Lions. Not surprisingly, Barnwell gets started with the biggest name and biggest decision facing the Lions this offseason.
1. Sign Ezekiel Ansah to a long-term deal
What to do with Ziggy Ansah this offseason should be Bob Quinn’s number one priority. He has been marred by injuries the last couple seasons but he showed what he’s still capable of in the final games of the 2017 season. Barnwell correctly notes in his piece that there isn’t a clear right or wrong answer with how to approach Ansah’s situation this offseason but the alternatives aren’t great. Moving on from Ansah creates an even bigger pass rush void than already exists and replacing him in free agency will be difficult if not impossible based on the players expected to be available.
I’m not sure I’m sold on the idea of doing a long-term deal this offseason given the up and down nature of Ansah’s play since his breakout 2015 season, but I’m all for at least using the franchise tag to keep Ansah a Lion in 2018. If using that leverage keeps him in Detroit and there is middle ground for a multi-year deal that satisfies both Ansah and Quinn, so be it.
Verdict: agree(ish)
2. Re-sign Tahir Whitehead
Not much for me to comment on here because I’m fully on board with bringing Whitehead back. Barnwell notes Whitehead’s versatility which will appeal to new head coach Matt Patricia. Whitehead has already re-signed once since Quinn took over as general manager so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see it happen again even though Whitehead is a holdover from the previous front office.
Verdict: agree
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3. Sign Tom Johnson
Puzzling to me is Barnwell’s explanation for this move centering around replacing Haloti Ngata. I’m not sure why as Ngata finished with a better grade than Johnson from Pro Football Focus, the age difference is less than a year and Ngata has indicated a desire to keep playing. Why not just re-sign Ngata instead?
Ngata remains a productive player, is a veteran leader on the defense and has experience in both three-man and four-man fronts. Those are all valuable qualities with the Lions making a defensive shift to more multiple looks under a new coaching staff.
Verdict: disagree
4. Move on from Eric Ebron
Put me in Bob Quinn’s chair and this is one move I would not give any consideration. Barnwell’s issues seems to stem from the fact that Ebron’s production doesn’t warrant the $8.3 million price tag that comes with the fifth-year option. I can respect that opinion, but it wouldn’t be the basis for me to make a change. As Barnwell notes, it’s a risk-reward proposition either way.
"Ebron could make the organization look foolish if he succeeds elsewhere, but at this point, bringing him back based on a decent second half might make the Lions look foolish themselves."
To me, the upside out-weighs the downside. Maybe it’s an overpay by $1-2 million but that is of little concern for one year. Worst case, Ebron has another maddeningly inconsistent year but the Lions will be off the hook because they have not made a long-term commitment. Best case, Ebron builds on the second half of 2017 to emerge as a legitimate weapon in the offense. In that case his price tag is at least market rate if not a bargain and then we can have a discussion about a long-term deal for 2019 and beyond.
Verdict: disagree
5. Sign Rex Burkhead
Bob Quinn has acknowledged that the running back group will change for next season and he will have plenty of ways to go about it. Signing Rex Burkhead isn’t a move I’d be up in arms over but it’s also not the route I would take.
Burkhead is a good player and could fill a role in Detroit. My preference is more for someone who could be the guy rather than a guy. The Lions already have guys, they just don’t have the guy so why add another to the mix? Unless Quinn is considering drastic changes to the running back group, I would rather see him add a back on day two of the draft.
Verdict: disagree
Next: Lions free agent predictions
In the end, I don’t think Barnwell was far off base with his plan for the Lions but I would score it as two agrees and three disagrees from me. Moving on from Ebron is the only one I strongly disagree with at this point while the other two I had issue with were more about his plan to address a need rather than the underlying need itself. You can check out what Barnwell would do for the other NFC North teams on ESPN.com.