Category: Lions News

Damon Harrison’s flop has to impact the Lions’ thought process on Darius Slay

Damon Harrison’s flop has to impact the Lions’ thought process on Darius Slay in his desire for a big new contract

Less than a year ago the Detroit Lions had two defensive stars with their hands out looking for more money. Defensive tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Darius Slay both threatened holdouts and waged social media campaigns to capitalize on their great 2018 seasons. Represented by the same agency, Rosenhaus Sports, the defensive duo looked to strike while the iron was hot.

The Lions chose to pay Harrison instead of Slay. It was a controversial choice, and it proved to be the wrong one.

Harrison’s one-year extension paid him $11 million more above his existing contract from his days with the New York Giants. New York dealt him in part because they had no real interest in paying “Snacks” more. That looked foolish when Harrison almost singlehandedly transformed the Lions defense upon arrival. The 32nd-ranked run defense (yards per carry allowed) became the 3rd-best over the games Harrison played in Detroit in 2018. Just for good measure, he chipped in 3.5 sacks — a career-high and pleasant surprise.

Harrison was a top-50 player in both the NFL.com and Pro Football Focus preseason rankings. He earned PFF’s Run Defender of the Year title. Paying him, even at 31, made perfect sense. The short-term deal rewarding Harrison was almost universally lauded, even by most of the most critical elements of the Detroit media.

Alas, Harrison’s play fell off a proverbial cliff. A difficult offseason where he dealt with off-field issues impeded the big man, and he never got right. Lions Wire colleague Bryce Rossler created a graphic representation of just how dramatically “Snacks” plummeted in performance:

Nobody expected such a regression. But it happened, and it’s a cautionary warning for the Lions concerning Slay.

It’s not a straight line from Harrison to Slay’s current situation. It’s hard to ignore the parallels, however.

Slay is entering the final year of his deal. He’s 29 and coming off his worst season since his rookie campaign in 2013. The Pro Bowl cornerback has battled some injuries, too. Is he already showing the signs of a Harrison-like decline?

There’s no way of knowing that, of course. But the Lions have to be cognizant of the potential warning signs. Harrison’s flop has to factor into the decision whether to give Slay his much-desired contract extension. He wants to be the highest-paid CB in the NFL, after all.

Once bitten, twice shy…

Breaking Report: the Lions are releasing Damon Harrison

Report: the Lions are releasing Damon Harrison

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are releasing nose tackle Damon Harrison.

After an injury-prone 2019 season that saw his play take a drastic decline, and culminating in an emotional post-game interview where Harrison admitted he was contemplating retirement, the Lions are making a proactive decision to move on.

Harrison was acquired by the Lions in a trade with the New York Giants halfway through the 2018 season and he immediately paid dividends on the Lions defensive line.

Expected to be the anchor on the defensive line, Harrison plays one of the most critical roles in the Lions 2-gapping/multiple scheme. When he struggled last season, the players around him struggled as well.

With Harrison now gone, the Lions are left with third-year undrafted John Atkins as the most experienced nose tackle on the active roster, with undrafted Olive Sagapolu as the only reserve after signing a futures deal in January.

The Lions will incur a $5 million cap hit by releasing Harrison, but they will also free up an additional $6.75 million in cap space to find his replacement.

Replacing Harrison this offseason will be one of the important decisions general manager Bob Quinn will make and he will have options to choose from. Nose tackle — and potential 2020 free agent — D.J. Reader has experience in an identical role with the Texans and would be a tremendous option in free agency. There will also be an increased uptick in mock drafts that pair the Lions with Auburn’s Derrick Brown, one of the top defensive linemen in the draft.

At this time, it is not clear if Harrison wishes to continue his NFL career or retire from professional football.

Former Lions TE Michael Roberts reportedly signing with Dolphins

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that former Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts is signing with Miami Dolphins.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that former Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts is signing with Miami Dolphins.

Roberts was a dynamic player at Toledo, scoring 16 touchdowns during his senior season and eventually being drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the ensuing draft.

Overall, his play was frustratingly inconsistent during his two years with the Lions, and over a six-day period last June, his NFL career looked like it had potentially come to a close.

 

After the Lions overhauled the tight end room, adding four players including first-round pick T.J. Hockenson, Roberts was traded to the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, he failed a physical in Foxborough and reverted back to the Lions. The Lions then released him. The next day, Roberts was claimed off of waivers by the Green Bay Packers, but after another failed physical, he was once again released.

The unique ordeal took its toll on Roberts who wrote on social media, “I’ve faced depression, weight gain, huge feeling of unworthiness, uncertainty and so much more.”

Then in late August, Roberts had reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder and began refocusing on rebuilding his life. His work as paid off, as now six months later, Roberts appears to be back in the NFL.

We at Lions Wire wish him the best of luck.

Schefter: Darius Slay trade must include new contract for the Pro Bowl CB

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports any Darius Slay trade must include a new contract for the Pro Bowl Lions CB

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter brought some national cognizance to what those of us in the Lions media have known and reported for several weeks now: Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay could be traded this offseason.

There is something new and quite noteworthy in Schefter’s tweeted report. He states that the team acquiring Slay will need to compensate him with a new contract as implied terms of trading for him. That is significant on a couple of levels.

First, it takes away the risk from a team trading for Slay that he’s just a one-year rental. Slay’s contract is up at the end of the 2020 season and he eagerly seeks more money. That’s why the Lions would have interest in trading him — they know what he wants and don’t intend to give it to him, so they would get something in return.

Slay’s camp mandating that a new deal by the new team is part of the trade actually helps the Lions. They can boldly ask for more in return because the new team has insurance that Slay will be there longterm.

Secondly, the more public acknowledgment of the Lions actively listening to calls (again, this is not anything new or profound) ramps up any potential market. If a team really covets Slay and is willing to meet his lofty contract demands, the pressure to get it done before anyone else does just escalated. That helps the Lions maximize the return on any trade involving Slay.

We still don’t know if Slay will be traded or not. We still don’t know what the exact desired compensation is for either Slay’s contract demands or the Lions’ trade demands. We just know now that the rest of the NFL world is more acutely aware of the possibility that Slay will not be in Detroit in 2020 or beyond.

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Kenny Golladay led the NFL in targets inside the opposing 10-yard line

Kenny Golladay led the NFL in targets inside the opposing 10-yard line

No player in the NFL caught more touchdown passes in 2019 than Kenny Golladay. The Lions wideout finished his third season with 11 TDs, earning him a receiving TD title and a Pro Bowl berth. That did not happen by accident. No player in the league had more targets on snaps from inside the opposing 10-yard line than Golladay.

The Lions offense force-fed their top wideout inside the red zone. That was especially true with the field shrunken even further, inside the opponent’s 10. Golladay saw a league-high 13 targets, two more than anyone else.

It worked pretty well, too. Golladay caught seven of the 13 pass attempts, scoring six TDs. Interestingly, he wasn’t targeted much when the ball was snapped between the 10 and 20. Golladay had just two targets in those situations, catching one but failing to score.

Chart courtesy NFL Inside Edge

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Bob Quinn defiantly rejects Matthew Stafford trade rumors

Trading away the starting quarterback and simultaneously setting almost $11 million on fire is not how the Lions will win in 2020. 

There is no truth to the unsubstantiated rumors from near or afar that the Detroit Lions are attempting to trade franchise QB Matthew Stafford. But don’t just take my word for it…

Listen to the words from Lions GM Bob Quinn, the man who would be making such a decision.

“100% False!!” Quinn texted to the Detroit Free Press in response to the rumors, via Dave Birkett.

Quinn’s defiant refutation of rumors that have originated in Miami and recently popped up on a Detroit TV outlet. Aside from Quinn’s rejection of the speculation, the financial implications of trading Stafford make any deal almost impossible.

With his recent contract restructuring, it would cost the Lions $10.7 million more to trade or release Stafford than to have him play for Detroit in 2020. Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia are under a mandate from ownership to become a playoff contender in the upcoming season or else they’ll be fired.

Trading away the starting quarterback and simultaneously setting almost $11 million on fire is not how the Lions will win in 2020.

PFF believes Lions have best chance to go from worst to first

Will the Detroit Lions be the latest team to rise from worst to first in their division? Pro Football Focus believes they have the best chances among the eligible teams next season.

Will the Detroit Lions be the latest team to rise from worst to first in their division? Pro Football Focus believes they have the best chances among the eligible teams next season.

PFF ranked the eight teams who finished at the bottom of their division in 2019 and named the Cincinnati Bengals the least likely to make the jump, followed by Washington, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars, with the Lions finishing in the top spot.

“Prior to Matthew Stafford’s season-ending injury,” PFF’s Ben Linsey said, “the Lions were a competitive team at worst. Through that Week 9 game against the Oakland Raiders, the Lions were 3-4-1 with one-score losses to the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. Stafford was a big reason for that, pushing the ball downfield and doing it well. He led the NFL with an average depth of target of 11.4 yards, and his 8.6 yards per attempt were fewer than only Ryan Tannehill among qualifiers. That all unraveled after Stafford’s injury, and the Lions proceeded to lose the rest of their games.”

It seems like a long time ago, but heading into Green Bay on “Monday Night Football” the Lions players and fans spirits were flying high. But things took a sharp turn when — as Barry Sanders commented — the Lions were “robbed” late in the game, and the downward spiral began, exposing problems with the roster.

“Getting a healthy Stafford back next season to get the ball into the hands of downfield playmakers Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. should be a huge boost to this offense,” Linsey continued. “With a high draft slot and a decent amount of cap space to work with, there’s an opportunity for the defense to improve, as well. It’s not difficult to see the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings taking a step back next season, and that opens the door for Detroit to potentially host its first home playoff game since 1993.”

The Vikings, Packers, and Chicago Bears are among the bottom-10 teams when it comes to available cap space and draft pick slot entering the 2020 offseason.

The Packers have $23.7 million in cap space (10th worst) and their first draft pick is No. 30 overall.

The Bears have just $5 million in cap space (5th worst) and their first draft pick is No. 43 overall.

The Vikings are actually $11.3 million over the cap already (worst in NFL), meaning they will have to cut or restructure players just to get within cap compliance, and their first draft pick is No. 25 overall.

Meanwhile, the Lions have $45.8 million in cap space and hold the No. 3 draft pick overall — they also hold pick No. 35 meaning they are scheduled to select twice before the Bears get their first opportunity.

Rick Wagner: Why cutting the Lions starting right tackle makes little sense

Dumping Wagner creates another hole the Lions cannot afford to capably fill

One of the more popular notions from Lions fans on social media and sports talk radio is to cut starting right tackle Rick Wagner. It’s not something GM Bob Quinn and the Lions should seriously entertain.

Contractually, dumping Wagner does little positive. The team would gain $6.1 million in cap room for his salary, but cutting him forces Detroit to eat $5.8 million in accelerated bonuses Wagner is guaranteed. The $6.1 million in new space doesn’t begin to afford a suitable replacement for Wagner.

Then there’s the matter of replacing a veteran starter at right tackle.

Wagner is coming off his worst season, a subpar year marred with a knee injury and a revolving door on his inside shoulder at right guard. He finished ranked 47th out of 60 offensive tackles who played at least half the offensive snaps in 2019 according to Pro Football Focus grading. It was a rough year, no question.

But the prior years, when he was healthy and had a relatively stable presence at guard, Wagner was solid. He was 29th out of 62 tackles in 2018 and 14th out of 57 (and No. 3 in right tackles) in 2017 in PFF rankings.

With a new primary starter coming at right guard — Graham Glasgow is a free agent — creating more instability on the line is a recipe for disaster. Wagner is a great candidate for a rebound season, and his contract is lower than what a replacement of equal caliber via free agency (Jack Conklin, Anthony Castonzo) figures to cost.

If the plan is to install Tyrell Crosby as the replacement right tackle, that’s a little easier to swallow. Crosby was better in the run game than Wagner, though his struggles with penalties and handling edge speed in the pass game were a definite downgrade from the more proven veteran. Finding a new No. 3, or “swing” tackle to replace a promoted Crosby is a lot easier than finding a ready-made starter, too.

Even so, spending resources to fill a hole that doesn’t currently exist takes away from the Lions’ ability to plug the more pressing, urgent holes that are keeping the team from succeeding. Teams don’t get better by artificially creating more problems for themselves.

Report: Former Lions OC Scott Linehan connected to opening at LSU

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman is reporting that former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is taking a position at LSU as their passing game coordinator.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman is reporting that former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is taking a position at LSU as their passing game coordinator.

Linehan was with the Lions under coach Jim Schwartz from 2009 through the 2013 seasons and was quarterback Matthew Stafford’s first offensive coordinator as a professional.

Linehan organized his vertical offense to rely on Stafford’s big arm but he also heavily leaned on future Hall-of-Famer (maybe as soon as the next cycle) Calvin Johnson.

In their third season together (and finally healthy) Linehan orchestrated Stafford’s only 5,000-yard passing season in 2011, while Johnson’s career year came the following season in 2012 when he caught 122 passes for 1964-yards receiving.

Linehan will take over at the defending National Champion LSU Tigers for Joe Brady who accepted an offensive coordinator position with the Carolina Panthers.

Last season, Brady and Steve Ensminger — LSU’s offensive coordinator — made a formidable duo designing and calling plays for the Tigers, producing one of the best offenses in college football.

Darius Slay: Predicting his next contract, his future with the Lions and beyond

Darius Slay: Predicting his next contract, his future with the Detroit Lions and beyond

Don’t blame Darius Slay for believing he should be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. And certainly don’t blame Slay for trying to get that in his next contract.

Don’t expect that type of contract offer to come from the Detroit Lions, either.

Slay is entering the final year of his 4-year, $48,150,000 contract extension he inked in July of 2016. His salary of just over $12 million a year currently ranks 14th among NFL cornerbacks.

The eye test will tell anyone that Slay is better than the 14th-best CB in the NFL over the last four years. That’s even true coming off a down season where he scored his lowest Pro Football Focus grades across the board since his rookie campaign back in 2013.

Slay has earned the “Big Play” nickname as one of the best playmaking and coverage corners in the NFL over the past few seasons. He’s a better player than Xavien Howard of the Dolphins, who is the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at $15.05 million per year. He’s a more reliable player than Josh Norman of the Redskins, owner of the richest overall CB contract at $75 million. He’s certainly better than Trumaine Johnson, who makes $14.5 million a year and $72.5 million overall on a deal he signed in 2018.

But the Lions need to know better than to pay for what he’s done. That’s what the Redskins did in paying Norman, and they surely regret it. Heck, Washington benched Norman during their loss to the Lions this past season.

Slay’s next contract is only about what he will do during the life of that new contract, not the great play he’s provided for several seasons. That’s the reality of NFL economics. It’s a concept the Lions should know and have proven to practice in the past. See: Ndamukong Suh and Golden Tate. And the Lions were right on both fronts.

Is Slay worth $16 million a year (or more) after 2020, when he’ll be beyond 30 years old? It’s possible. I certainly don’t fault him for asking for that much. Slay, like all NFL players, is trying to maximize his earnings while he still can. If he doesn’t ask for it, he’ll never get it from the Lions or anyone else. Good for him for going after every last penny he can get.

But Slay needs to understand the Lions aren’t going to be the team that gives it to him. Nor should they, even though he’s been the team’s best defensive player for the last half of a decade and across multiple schemes and different coaches. The odds are extremely slim that Slay is going to get better at his age, and the Lions cannot afford to risk that kind of cap room and cash betting on 23 in a one-spin roulette wheel.

If it means trading him to get back some appreciable return, so be it. The return has to be higher, no, much higher than the compensatory pick — if those will even still exist under any new collective bargaining agreement — the Lions would get for letting Slay walk after the season and signing a huge deal elsewhere.

Just as Slay is right for asking for the most return he can get, the Lions would need to do the same. A first-round pick in 2020 must be the minimum price tag right now. My belief is that a motivated Slay playing for his last big payday is worth more in one year than a 3rd-round compensatory pick would ever deliver over the life of what the 98th player drafted in 2022 would contribute. I believe the Lions will feel the same, but that’s just my guess.

My prediction: the Lions shop Slay but don’t get the desired asking price. Slay plays the entire 2020 season in Detroit and does so without being a distraction. I strongly suspect he’ll get back to the All-Pro caliber player he was in 2017-2018, and then cash in with a lucrative contract (best guess: 2 years, $30.8 million fully guaranteed with a team option) somewhere else as a free agent in the winter of 2021. I’ll wish him well and still root for Slay, too.

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