Tag: John Cominsky

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller believes Jalen Carter is best suited for the Lions

Miller cited Dan Campbell and the strength of the Lions locker room

There’s plenty of uncertainty on what’s going to happen with Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. On most consensus boards, he’s one of the three best players in the 2023 NFL Draft. But once you add in the off-the-field issues with Carter, he instantly starts to fall down those boards.

Weeks after his poor performance at the Georgia pro day, there’s been team reports that Carter is already off the board. So far, those two confirmed teams are the Las Vegas Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons. We’ll find out on the opening night of the 2023 NFL Draft if the Raiders and Falcons stay true to their word.

One team worth keeping tabs on in regards to Carter is the Detroit Lions. Earlier this week, head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media and he mentioned how the Lions spoke to a former teammate. Campbell said, “…he told us some things we didn’t know. That nobody probably would’ve known. It was like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.”

Campbell wouldn’t elaborate if those things were good or bad but needless to say, it’s an interesting comment. In addition to those comments, it’s been confirmed that Carter will take a pre-draft visit to Detroit. But it hasn’t been just interesting comments from the Lions head coach on Carter. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller also made some interesting comments.

During a conference call on Friday, Miller said, “we talked about Jalen Carter earlier, where does he fit? I think [Detroit] is the best fit for Carter, outside of Philly. This is a great fit because you have Dan Campbell. He’s going to make sure that you’re working.”

In addition to those comments, Miller also said, “talking to people at Georgia, one thing I heard consistently was that Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean were those players for Carter. They led the locker room and everyone followed, everyone got in lockstep.” These comments were made after mentioning about Carter needs to be “in a locker room that is structured and has good leaders.”

There’s a possibility that Carter could end up being the 10th overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, the Eagles could even consider moving up for Carter to ensure that they get him. Pairing him back up with Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis might do the next stage of Carter’s career wonders.

At the same time, the Lions could strongly consider Jalen Carter with the 6th overall pick. Over the years, they’ve had the NFL Draft’s best players falling into their laps. In 2021, it was Penei Sewell and in 2022 it was Aidan Hutchinson. Could it happen again this year? It’s all possible. But the main question is if Carter actually fits the Lions?

The player on the field, absolutely does. He displays a consistent motor, versatility and just raw power. His hands are active and he’s able to win with a pass-rush plan that is active but benefits from his speed and power. Carter would compliment the Lions defensive line that is led by Aidan Hutchinson. But pairing him up with Hutch, Cominsky, Paschal, McNeill and the rest of the group could truly benefit the transition to the NFL for Carter. Time will tell, especially with the off-the-field concerns, but taking one of the most talented players in this years draft seems more than possible.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Lions young core players earned sizeable performance based bonuses

Several of the Detroit Lions young core earned sizable performance-based bonuses, and the trend should continue heading into the future

The Detroit Lions saw major contributions from their late-round rookies and cost-effective free agents last year, and they are being compensated through their high efforts. Through the “performance-based pool” from the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, a $10.5 million pool is rewarded to players on low-cost contracts, and several Lions earned a piece of the bonus pool.

In all, 76 players from the Lions earned a bonus, with Kerby Joseph leading the group with a $523,538 bonus, almost topping his base salary of $705,000 from last year. Here is a list of the top ten amounts among the Lions players.

Kerby Joseph 1,408 snaps $523,538
Brock Wright 762 $451,678
Jonah Jackson 918 $441,996
Isaiah Buggs 758 $434,816
Amon-Ra St. Brown 835 $421,923
Malcolm Rodriguez 685 $389,914
Alim McNeill 784 $366,610
Jerry Jacobs 619 $366,440
DeShon Elliott 889 $355,978
John Cominsky 610 $327,154

Even though none of the Lions landed in the Top 25 of players who received from the performance-bonus pool, it is indicative of the contributions the Lions received from their late-round draftees and their low-end free agents. The Lions will lean on several of these players as core contributors this upcoming season.

On offense, Jackson is the unsung hero on the offensive line and has been one of the more reliable players for the Lions. Wright became a solid red-zone target for Jared Goff while providing key run and pass blocking. In addition, St. Brown is earning a reputation as one of the best receivers in the league.

On defense, with their rookie year under their belt, Joseph and Rodriguez will look to take the next step forward and elevate their game in their respective positions. Buggs and Cominsky earned new contracts from Detroit after their rebound seasons. McNeill is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the defensive line. Jacobs has turned from a UDFA to one of the better cornerbacks for the Lions. Eliott earned a new contract with the Miami Dolphins, but he was a nice addition, especially after Tracy Walker went down.

I would look to see this trend continue as General Manager Brad Holmes looks to have an eye for talent, either in the draft or free agency. He has made quite a few moves in this free agency that have been well received and looks to be plugging holes where they needed to be plugged. With two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, the possibilities are endless on what the Lions can do.

Breaking down the Lions free agency contract details

Here’s a quick look at the reported contracts for the Lions free agents

It’s been a busy week for the Detroit Lions in free agency. GM Brad Holmes and the Lions have brought in some outside free agents, as well as re-signing several of their own.

Here’s a quick look at the reported contracts for the Lions free agents, as listed by either Over The Cap, Spotrac or the NFLPA.

John Cominsky’s focus and hustle earned him new life with the Lions

John Cominsky went from rags to riches through focus and hustle this past year and earned himself a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are gaining a reputation for taking players who fell on hard times, either through injury or the positional fit, and giving them new life in the NFL. Last year, the Lions took chances on a few players like Isaiah Buggs, who earned a new contract with Detroit, and DJ Chark, who will probably earn a nice contract after a bounce-back season. John Cominsky fell into that bucket and not only became a strong contributor for the Lions but felt right at home in Detroit, and they rewarded him with a two-year contract.

Heading into last year after being cut by the Atlanta Falcons before training camp, Cominsky was unsure where he would end up. However, several teams did put in waiver claims for the former Division II player, with the Lions at the top of the wavier claim pecking order were rewarded him, and he almost became a favorite amongst everyone overnight. He was an underdog player with a hard work mentality, making it easy to root for him to succeed and fit right in with the culture Detroit is trying to build, and it was something he wanted to continue to be part of.

“It’s a culture thing. It’s a cliched thing, but until you’re in this building, you don’t really understand the family dynamic that exists,” Cominsky told reporters. “I think it’s probably the furthest thing from business that you can get in the NFL. That family-oriented feel, everything is upfront, there’s no shade anywhere. You come in, and you know what you’re going to get.

Everybody’s on the same playing field, coaches make you feel like they’re no better than you. Everybody’s on the same line, everyone’s here to win. It’s a great feeling to come in, you don’t have that pressure, and you can just come in and be yourself. It’s a culture thing for me.”

Considering how many teams were after him during waiver claims and the season he produced, even with a club on his hand, it would be interesting to see what kind of market he would garner.

Although early in the offseason, Cominsky did speak about how he wanted to stay in Detroit, he understood the business side of the deal and was going to test the market. For all intents and purposes, it looked like if Detroit wanted him, he would return, which is exactly what happened.

Cominsky:

“We wanted to get what we deserved, but we also wanted to be here at the same time. There was a little balance there and Detroit called us with something solid and Coach Campbell sent me a text saying, ‘Dying to have you here.’ I told my wife, ‘That’s it, I’m going to Detroit.’

So, here we are. It was just a simple text. It’s from the head man himself, Dan Campbell. I mean, that’s the leader around here. If he sends you a text like that, it’s like, OK, this organization wants me back for sure. I was already leaning here 99.9%, and that text, I was just like, all right, OK, that’s pretty cool, Dan Campbell sent me a text.”

Could Cominsky have earned a higher contract? Probably, but I am guessing if Detroit were near anything to what other teams were offering, he would stay where he feels at home. He was able to rejuvenate his career with the Lions, and now Cominsky and the Lions are ready to run it back and take the league by storm.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Lions sign DL John Cominsky to a 2-year deal

Cominsky is back in Detroit for two more seasons

After a dalliance with the free agent market, defensive lineman John Cominsky is back in Detroit. The veteran signed a two-year deal worth $8.5 million, plus incentives.

It’s a rich reward for Cominsky, who the Lions claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons last summer. The versatile Cominsky keyed the late-season defensive turnaround after finally getting over an early-season thumb injury.

Cominsky notched four sacks and 30 total tackles, both career-highs for the 27-year-old. He played both DE spots and also some work deeper inside in his first season in Detroit. Cominky quickly became a fan favorite for his intensity, effort and impact on the team’s run defense.

John Cominsky: Pros and cons of the Lions re-signing the free agent DL

Weighing the pros and cons of the Detroit Lions potentially re-signing DL John Cominsky in free aegncy

When teams talk about “glue guys”, they’re talking about a specific type of player. It could be an offensive lineman or a receiver that specifically plays special teams but that player is a leader on and off-the-field.

One of those guys for the Detroit Lions and their defense is lineman John Cominksy. Much of that is for how he became a leader during a short period of time with the team, but he also helped coach the younger defensive lineman on the roster.

Originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, he was used sparingly and not overly productive. That forced the Falcons to waive Cominsky but he ended up being claimed by the Lions.

He ended up playing in 14 games for Detroit and started 8 of those games last season. Through most of the season, he battled through a right thumb injury and missed some time due to having surgery on the thumb. Despite not playing at 100% health, Cominsky still played in the last 10 games of the season and posted a total of four sacks. Let’s look at some pros and cons of keeping John Cominsky.

Pros of Keeping Cominsky:
  • Veteran presence for a young defensive line (Hutchinson, Paschal, Houston, McNeil and a potential first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft).
  • He’s a versatile player that can play anywhere along the defensive line. Looks best suited to play as a 4i-technique for Detroit but could bump to the inside shoulder of a guard, when needed.
  • Per PFF, Cominsky had 44 total pressures in 2022. Would have had more but missed time due to the injury.
  • Played over 550 snaps last season. Would look for him to contribute at a similar capacity for the future.
  • Talented player that came out of University of Charleston but never found his “groove” in Atlanta — he found it in Detroit.
  • Wants to be in Detroit. He made that clear after the season by posting about it on social media but he also spoke with Zac Jackson of The Athletic. He said, “I think they want me there. I want to be there. We’ll see how it all works out.” It’s different but also great when a player wants to stay in Detroit and be part of what they’re building.

Cons of Keeping Cominsky: 
  • Lost snaps for the younger players such as Paschal, Houston or a potential first-round edge rusher from the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • Cominsky was dirt cheap during the 2022 season, with a cap hit under $1 million dollars. The Lions will have to pay him much more than that to stay; I’ve seen some estimations of around $4 or $5 million dollars per season. That’s a significant increase for a team that has some key contract extensions (St. Brown, Sewell, Swift, McNeil) waiting in the shadows.
  • Health was a concern for 2022. Would be a shame to give him a contract and injuries start to pile up. We know that’s part of the process, though.
Does he end up staying in Detroit?

Obviously, this is the million dollar question and if you had to ask a Lions fans about who they’d rather keep between Cominsky or Jamaal Williams, they’d pick Williams. It makes sense to why anyone would say that but don’t discredit the success that Cominsky had during his time in Detroit.

It’ll be interesting to see what teams he potentially talks to and if the Lions would really bring him back or not. If the price is right, you can make the case for Detroit to bring him back. After all, he feels like one of the “glue guys” for the Lions defense. Not with just how he performed during key points of the season but with also how he coached up the young defensive lineman the Lions have selected over the last two years.

If I had to guess, John Cominsky will be retained by the Detroit Lions on a reasonable two or three-year deal that pays him around $3.5 or $4 million dollars per season. Don’t be surprised if there’s some incentives in there as well that can get him close to the $5 million dollar range.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

John Cominsky: ‘I want to be’ in Detroit but the Lions DE will test free agency

Free agent DE John Cominsky wants to return to Detroit but also stated he will test free agency next week

John Cominsky is perhaps the ultimate Lions success story from 2022. Dumped by the Falcons after three underwhelming seasons as a schematic misfit, Cominsky found his game in Detroit last season.

Now he’s a pending free agent. Cominsky doubled down on his stated desire to return to Detroit, but he’s not ready to commit before testing the open market, which begins on Monday.

[lawrence-related id=84828]

In an interview with Zac Jackson of The Athletic, the defensive end reiterated that he wants to remain in Detroit.

“I think they want me there. I want to be there. We’ll see how it all works out,” Cominsky told Jackson, via Jackson’s Twitter.

Cominsky also told Jackson that he plans on signing, “after a few days. There’s a business side to this. Maybe another team will bring some numbers and the Lions will have to see what they want to do. I hope it works out there, but I really don’t know.”

The Akron-area native notched four sacks and 30 tackles in 14 games in Detroit. He played most of the year with a thumb injury that required him to wear a club on the hand, too. His emergence as a versatile lineman helped key the rise of rookies Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston into the top two sack totals amongst rookies, and Cominsky’s run defense was quite impressive too.

 

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023

Each NFL team should prioritize re-signing these in-house free agents

We’re less than two weeks away from the start of NFL free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. But the legal tampering window opens two days before that on March 13, where teams will be able to negotiate with free agents before the official start of the 2023 season.

The 2023 salary cap has already been set at $224.8 million, and there are a number of teams who have some work to do when it comes to building their rosters. That includes potentially bringing back some impact players currently set to hit the open market.

Our NFL Wire editors identified one in-house free agent (at the time of publication) that each team should prioritize re-signing this offseason. 

4 Lions free agents the team must re-sign

4 Lions free agents the team must re-sign in 2023

There are 18 players who ended the 2022 season as Detroit Lions who will become unrestricted free agents once the league year ends. Many of them played key roles in the team’s 9-8 finish, the first winning season for the Lions since 2017.

Figuring out which ones to keep and how much to value them, both intrinsically and monetarily, is one of the many key decisions for Lions GM Brad Holmes and his staff.

Here are four pending free agents the Lions need to bring back at any (realistic) cost:

Lions offseason: Listing all of Detroit’s pending unrestricted free agents

Full list of pending unrestricted free agents for the Lions in 2023

The Detroit Lions have 18 players under contract who will become unrestricted free agents once the NFL season ends following the playoffs.

Aside from using the franchise or transition tags to secure a player’s services for one more season, all of these players are free to sign with any other team without any recourse or recompense for Detroit. None of the 18 pending free agents appear worthy of tagging, however.

This list only features unrestricted free agents. Detroit also has seven players who are exclusive rights free agents and three restricted free agents.

Players are listed in order of 2022 total snaps percentage played.

Editor’s note–the original list omitted DJ Chark, who has a void contract. Lions Wire regrets the error.