DETROIT LIONS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

A new era began for the Detroit Lions with the hiring of general manager Brad Holmes. Holmes has remade the team, letting free agents walk and making blockbuster trades that added multiple extra first round picks for years to come.

But the Lions still have to play this year and whether they nailed their head coaching hire in Dan Campbell is anyone’s guess, but the reviews aren’t good. Frankly, the only head coaching hire that looks worse than Campbell is David Culley of the Houston Texans, who took a job I think no one else in the league wanted.

But, hey, all that Campbell and Holmes have to do to prove us all wrong is to win. Is that happening this year? No.

DETROIT LIONS

Last season: 5-11, 4^th place NFC North

2021 odds: over 5 wins -115, under 5 wins -115

2021 NFL Draft: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon – Round 1, Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington – Round 2, Alim McNeill, DT, NC State – Round 3, Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse – Round 3, Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC – Round 4, Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue – Round 4, Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State – Round 7

UDFAs: Rakeem Boyd, RB – Arkansas, Dedrick Mills, RB – Nebraska, Jonathan Adams Jr., WR – Arkansas State, Javon McKinley, WR – Notre Dame, Sage Surratt, WR – Wale Forest, Brock Wright, TE – Notre Dame, Jake Housemann, TE – Ohio State, Tommy Kraemer, OG – Notre Dame, Drake Jackson, C – Kentucky, Tavante Beckett, LB – Marshall, D;Angelo Amos, DB – Virginia, Jerry Jacobs, CB – Arkansas, A.J. Parker, CB – Kansas State

Acquisitions: Jared Goff, QB – Trade, Tyrell Williams, WR – Free Agent, Michael Brockers, DL – Trade, Breshad Perriman, WR – Free Agent, Quinton Dunbar, CB – Free Agent, Darren Fells, TE – Free Agent, Charles Harris, Edge – Free Agent, Randy Bullock, K – Free Agent, Dean Marlowe, Safety – Free Agent, Alex Anzalone, LB – Free Agent, Damion Ratley, WR – Free Agent, Chad Hansen, WR – Free Agent, Jamaal Williams, RB – Free Agent, Alijah Holder, CB – Free Agent, Kalif Raymond, WR – Free Agent, Shaun Dion Hamilton, LB – Free Agent, Corn Elder, CB – Free Agent, Tim Boyle, QB – Free Agent, Alex Brown, CB – Free Agent

Key Losses: Matthew Stafford – QB, Desmond Trufant – CB, Justin Coleman – CB, Marvin Jones – WR, Everson Griffen – Edge, Jesse James – TE, Danny Amendola – WR, Chase Daniel – QB, Duron Harmon – Safety, Danny Shelton – DL, Christian Jones – LB, Matt Prater – K, Jarrad Davis – LB, Joe Dahl – LG, Miles Kellebrew – LB, Daryl Robers – CB, Kerryon Johnson – RB, Adrian Peterson – RB, Mohamed Sanu – WR, Reggie Ragland – LB, Kenny Golladay – WR, Jamal Agnew – CB, Nick Bawden – FB, John Atkins – DL

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Jared Goff

RB: D’Andre Swift

WR: Tyrell Williams

WR: Breshad Perriman

WR: Quintez Cephus

TE: T.J. Hockenson

FB: Jason Cabinda

LT: Taylor Decker

LG: Jonah Jackson

C: Frank Ragnow

RG: Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT: Penei Sewell

LDE: Michael Brockers

NT: John Penisini

RDE: Levi Onwuzurike

OLB: Romeo Okwara

LILB: Jahlani Tavai

RILB: Jamie Collins Sr.

OLB: Trey Flowers

CB: Amani Oruwariye

CB: Jeff Okudah

SS: Will Harris

FS: Tracy Walker

K: Randy Bullock

P: Jack Fox

FORECAST

The Lions might not be done just yet with their final roster, as I think it would be smart to add Todd Gurley to the mix to maximize what they can get out of Jared Goff. Goff topped out with the Los Angeles Rams and wasn’t capable of running Sean McVay’s offense to its fullest potential. There’s every chance he could bounce back in Detroit, running a simpler, run-heavy scheme.

As with every NFC North team, the issue with their possible final record is Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers remains in Green Bay, they’re the automatic favorites. If he leaves, then the NFC North is up for grabs. The Lions probably aren’t the team to grab it just yet and, the truth is, the worse they do this year the better for next year. A Top Five draft pick will likely give them another shot at a franchise quarterback if Goff doesn’t work out.

As it is, this schedule is just too tough. If Rodgers is gone in Green Bay, they could possible steal one against the Pack, but games against the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and at the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings all look like hard losses to me to open the season.

Final Record Prediction: 5-12

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