The Detroit Lions went from rebuilding to playoff contending. A few key moves helped the Lions become the NFC’s most interesting team.
How the Detroit Lions Became the Most Interesting Team in the NFC
History Favors the Bold
General Manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have become known for being unafraid of taking risks. They have a certain style of player they covet, and the two have shaped a roster in that mold. By being bold in the NFL Draft and making one key trade, the pair have built the Lions into contenders.
While trading Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams appeared at the time to be a salary cap dump and pivot for more draft capital, the Lions came out of that 2021 trade with a haul. Landing Jared Goff, plus a treasure trove of picks, helped the Lions rebuild quickly. It also put a big chip on Goff’s shoulder. While high draft picks are valuable, the NFL Draft is no sure thing. Detroit didn’t hit on all their extra picks from the trade, but they did land premier playmakers like Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs. If Jameson Williams can produce explosive plays consistently, the trade haul becomes increasingly more impressive.
Holmes and Campbell took an approach that was unconventional but pragmatic. Stafford had won them dozens of games over his years as a Lion. In 38 of his 165 starts in Detroit, Stafford engineered a game-winning drive (per pro-football-reference). Many of the Detroit teams that Stafford played on were hindered by poor defense. His tenacity and toughness made him a fan favorite. But the decision to move on from him set the Lions up for future success.
Nailing the Draft
Campbell and Holmes inherited a Lions roster with one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. Once Goff got to town, the two got to work to surround him with talent. Landing Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft also helped kick off the rebuild for Campbell and Holmes. While that draft class produced five projected starters for the 2024 Lions team, St. Brown is the best of the group. Having a solid offensive line and a cast-off at quarterback helped the Lions properly build their roster through the draft. Nailing draft picks always helps speed up a rebuild, but Holmes and Campbell have done as good of a job as any duo in the NFL at identifying talent.
With another successful draft in 2022, the Lions landed more pillars for their team. Aidan Hutchinson has blossomed into one of the best pass rushers in the league and is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. By continuing to stack solid draft classes together, Detroit has gone from being a bottom-dweller in the NFL to a serious playoff contender. Had it not been for a late-game meltdown against the San Francisco 49ers, the Lions would have punched a ticket to Super Bowl LVIII. While a crushing defeat can spell the end of a run for some teams, Detroit appears to be just getting started on their return to relevancy in the NFC. With the help of Holmes and Campbell, the Lions have become the most interesting team in the NFC.
Main Photo: Junfu Han-USA TODAY Sports
