Detroit Lions: Three players that need to be released in 2020
By Bob Heyrman
Damon Harrison
This decision may not have to be made by the Detroit Lions this offseason as Damon Harrison is set to ponder retirement.
The exceptional talent that anchor’s the Detroit Lions defensive line took a significant step in the wrong direction last season. Harrison was battling injuries, and gauging his response after the week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packer’s retirement seems much more likely than being cut for Snacks.
He was teary-eyed as he sat at his locker, expressing to the media that he’s tired of always hurting. I can’t blame a player in his 30’s that wants to call it quits, especially a player of his stature. Playing as a lineman can be problematic, to begin with.
It’s not like a wide receiver that catches a handful of balls every game and gets tripped up by a defensive back. Harrison is facing double-teamed blocking nearly every single game he plays. Every single play is equivalent to a car wreck.
Harrison was average defending the run this year, a massive drop in production from last season when he was elite. He’s not necessarily a pass-rushing interior player and graded out as average in that regard. Still, when he’s healthy, he has the ability to collapse the pocket and cause havoc in the backfield.
Harrison finished the season with 35 tackles, 14 assists, and just 2 sacks on the year. A concerning stat that stands out is his 9 missed tackles.
Potential Replacements: The Detroit Lions may look to draft Auburn’s Derrick Brown. If you felt the Lions should have selected Ed Oliver last season, Derrick Brown is a player you should fall in love with. Also, Detroit may elect to retain A’Shawn Robinson for another season.