The Detroit Lions had an uncharacteristically active offseason. There was a significant amount of roster churn due to age-related replacements and financial concerns. The Lions certainly got younger and more financially flexible, but whether they upgraded their roster overall remains to be seen. Out of all the offseason departures, who will Detroit miss the most?
Let's look at some candidates.
Alex Anzalone is clearly a big loss. Not only because he was a key part of the defense and a team leader for a long time, but also since the Lions don't have an obvious replacement on the roster. But the Lions probably couldn't have afforded to give him the two-year, $17 million deal he received from the Buccaneers.
Roy Lopez and DJ Reader's departures could also be significant. The Lions expect big things from second-year player Tyleik Williams at defensive tackle. However, if he isn't able to step up and Alim McNeill can't go back to his pre-injury form, the interior defensive line could be a major problem. In that scenario, the Lions may really regret not paying Lopez or Reader.
Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker would also be reasonable answers. The Lions revamped their offensive line this spring and lost two key veterans who have been such a big part of their offensive success. The need to get younger and cheaper there was understandable, but the Lions may have downgraded in the O-line.
Lions may regret not keeping RB David Montgomery
The correct answer, however, may be David Montgomery. Reportedly not satisfied with his role on offense, D-Mo was traded to the Houston Texans. It was for a decent return of Juice Scruggs, a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder, but that may not be enough to compensate for the big loss.
Yes, the Lions brought in Isiah Pacheco to replace Montgomery, but the former Chief will likely find his shoes too big to fill.
Montgomery was an underrated and big part of the Lions' success over the last three years. He was the epitome of Lions football: tough, gritty, and reliable. He seemingly always delivered when the team needed him the most and played through all sorts of injuries.
It was understandably a frustrating season for Montgomery, who saw his touches and rushing attempts fall significantly. His desire to leave is, therefore, understandable, but the Lions could and should have done more to keep him in Detroit. Not every RB can complement Jahmyr Gibbs as well as D-Mo did, thanks to his physically imposing, downhill style of play.
This will be evident when Isiah Pacheco takes the field for the Lions. As good as he was earlier in his Chiefs tenure, Pacheco was not good at all last season and has dealt with injuries over the last two years. He is a player trending in the wrong direction, and unless he turns it around, the Lions' front office will regret thinking that he could be a suitable replacement for Montgomery.
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