WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500 Bill, would you have liked to be a fly on the 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:08.619 wall during the Taylor Decker contract negotiations 00:00:08.619 --> 00:00:13.380 that just came to a close? Can we call it? Yes, 00:00:13.380 --> 00:00:14.980 I would love to be that fly on the wall chat. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:18.359 Can we call it a negotiation if there is no negotiating? 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:21.339 I don't think there was a negotiation. I don't 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:24.839 believe I believe a a situation was presented 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:27.800 and said players said, Nope, I'm going to free 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:39.460 agency and Please release me. Yeah. This is the 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.859 Litterbox, a Detroit Lions podcast with your 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:52.100 hosts, Chad West and Bill Patterson. Lions Litterbox 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:54.520 fans, welcome back. We're doing a little more 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:57.479 off season coverage here for you. We've got some 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:03.390 news. on a few players or former players. We're 00:01:03.390 --> 00:01:06.109 going to give you some of these updates, some 00:01:06.109 --> 00:01:08.290 restructuring of contracts that could potentially 00:01:08.290 --> 00:01:11.989 come down the pike here. Say goodbye to David 00:01:11.989 --> 00:01:14.829 Montgomery, Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow. Give 00:01:14.829 --> 00:01:17.170 our thoughts on that. And then a little free 00:01:17.170 --> 00:01:18.849 agent outlook. Who's our guy? Who do we want 00:01:18.849 --> 00:01:21.590 him to go after? And then we're going to give 00:01:21.590 --> 00:01:24.049 you our thoughts on Brad Holmes and how much 00:01:24.049 --> 00:01:27.819 we may trust him. and his ability to find and 00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:31.340 fill these gaps with the correct players. Phil, 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.599 we've had some news in Lion Land over the past 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:40.099 couple of weeks. It would be our job to update 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:43.299 our listeners on a few of these items. What sticks 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:45.599 out to you the most over the last couple of weeks 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.640 here with all the restructuring and the deals 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.879 and the cuts? We're still waiting on a lot of 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.859 restructuring, namely Jared Goff's, potentially 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:56.540 St. Brown and potentially Sewell's contracts 00:01:56.540 --> 00:01:59.560 being converted to more cash upfront, voidable 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:02.060 years, et cetera, which should free up a ton 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:03.939 of money for the Lions to be aggressive and free 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:06.200 agency. At the time of this recording, which 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.300 is Saturday, we still don't know anything about 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:11.039 that. There's been no news on that, but ahead 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:13.199 of the league year, I think we're all expecting 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:15.800 something like that to happen. So Mike Dissner 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.020 and Brad Holmes will sharpen the pencils and 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:20.699 get the Lions free and clear. With that being 00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:23.550 out, Chet. I am going to miss Montgomery as a 00:02:23.550 --> 00:02:25.830 player. I'm going to miss Decker as a player. 00:02:26.169 --> 00:02:29.509 I think Glasgow's time had come to an end. I 00:02:29.509 --> 00:02:32.349 think he maybe played one more year. I also think 00:02:32.349 --> 00:02:35.110 that what the Lions did was really unfair. He 00:02:35.110 --> 00:02:38.750 was a good left guard. He was never a great professional 00:02:38.750 --> 00:02:41.569 center. And what the Lions did last year was 00:02:41.569 --> 00:02:45.030 absolutely crazy trying to either slide him or 00:02:45.030 --> 00:02:48.979 Tate Ratledge over and not... trying to backfill 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:52.240 the huge void left by Frank Ragnow's retirement. 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:56.159 I mean, in defense of that, Ragnow did kind of 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:58.879 leave them a little high and dry in that situation. 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:01.219 I don't know all of the facts around how long 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:06.159 they knew he was going to retire or when the 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.300 actual decision was made, but they can't really 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:11.360 act until it is, right? So they're kind of left 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:15.490 a little hanging there. So part of that was the 00:03:15.490 --> 00:03:17.430 good faith. And that's one of the topics I want 00:03:17.430 --> 00:03:19.930 to talk about today is the Lions have always 00:03:19.930 --> 00:03:22.409 really under this current regime taking care 00:03:22.409 --> 00:03:24.750 of their own. They've extended guys, a lot of 00:03:24.750 --> 00:03:27.509 guys, probably prematurely. And some of those 00:03:27.509 --> 00:03:30.229 make sense. You know, with St. Brown, Sewell, 00:03:30.430 --> 00:03:33.530 and Jamo, they actually saved money against the 00:03:33.530 --> 00:03:37.159 market rate. I think Goff's getting pretty fair 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.539 market value on that. But again, they've tried 00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:42.479 to avoid like say what the Dallas Cowboys do 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.379 where they're paying an exorbitant amount for 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:47.879 CD -LAM, you know, top of the market for receivers. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.460 Same thing for Dak Prescott. And essentially 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:52.500 that's why the Cowboys probably moved on from 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:55.460 Micah Parsons. Bringing us back to the Detroit 00:03:55.460 --> 00:03:59.780 Honolulu Blue and Silver Lions check. My thoughts 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:03.979 are this. Having two running backs that are elite 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:07.180 was always a luxury that I don't think the Lions 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:10.500 Ever thought they'd find themselves in that situation 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:13.860 when they extended Montgomery after his initial 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:16.620 contract I thought it was one of the oddest things 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:19.519 they'd ever done It happened during the season 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.959 and it was not a matter of if but it was when 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.990 David Montgomery would get moved We joked in 00:04:25.990 --> 00:04:29.730 the intro about the Taylor -Decker no negotiation 00:04:29.730 --> 00:04:34.290 or very poor one -sided negotiation. Chet, the 00:04:34.290 --> 00:04:36.850 fact is all we hear about is culture, culture, 00:04:36.970 --> 00:04:39.250 culture, you know, the Lions culture. Guys want 00:04:39.250 --> 00:04:41.670 to be here. Well, isn't it weird that Montgomery, 00:04:41.990 --> 00:04:43.430 hey, I'm not getting enough carries. I don't 00:04:43.430 --> 00:04:46.189 want to be here. Get me out. Hey, Decker, we 00:04:46.189 --> 00:04:48.410 want you to take a reduced salary because we're 00:04:48.410 --> 00:04:50.750 not sure you're going to make it through 17 games. 00:04:51.709 --> 00:04:53.569 Nope. I'm not willing to do that. Release me. 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:58.459 And so What I'm curious to you and to the listeners 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:00.920 about is are we starting to see cracks in this 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:03.879 culture? Or are the Lions just doing what real 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:07.120 franchises do and that's moving off of guys before 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.899 they become like Graham Glasgow was last year? 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:12.579 I want you to stop right there because I think 00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:16.399 that's the best point in all of that is are they 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.720 just acting like a real organization right now 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:23.810 and not getting hung up? On their guys that is 00:05:23.810 --> 00:05:27.050 maybe this is the step forward that we're all 00:05:27.050 --> 00:05:29.870 looking for in the maturation of the detroit 00:05:29.870 --> 00:05:33.089 lions as a football club. That was really well 00:05:33.089 --> 00:05:34.949 stated. It would be great if you could do that 00:05:34.949 --> 00:05:36.930 again. That's like a quote we need on like a 00:05:36.930 --> 00:05:39.490 t -shirt or something. I don't want to wear that 00:05:39.490 --> 00:05:42.350 around town. The next step in the maturation 00:05:42.350 --> 00:05:45.050 of the Detroit line. I think it may be. Now, 00:05:45.050 --> 00:05:47.910 I agree. The other side of that is did we just 00:05:47.910 --> 00:05:49.649 let go of a guy who's going to be a Pro Bowl 00:05:49.649 --> 00:05:51.750 left tackle this year? No, I don't think we did. 00:05:51.810 --> 00:05:53.870 I think those days for Decker are over, right? 00:05:54.069 --> 00:05:56.389 I think those days for Glasgow are in the rear 00:05:56.389 --> 00:05:58.870 view mirror. I'm sad to see them go like you. 00:05:59.029 --> 00:06:01.250 David Montgomery, I still think has a lot of 00:06:01.230 --> 00:06:04.250 I don't think since his knee injury two seasons 00:06:04.250 --> 00:06:07.629 ago I don't think he showed quite the same grit 00:06:07.629 --> 00:06:10.709 and determination in his runs that he did two 00:06:10.709 --> 00:06:14.509 years ago now Running backs get beat up. They 00:06:14.509 --> 00:06:17.709 get injured Okay, I am I'm not gonna sit here 00:06:17.709 --> 00:06:19.449 and say that I expect David Montgomery, especially 00:06:19.449 --> 00:06:24.509 the way he runs to stay healthy 24 7 365 he is 00:06:24.509 --> 00:06:27.750 going to go to the Texans now and I believe get 00:06:27.750 --> 00:06:30.839 used in that same role Who knows if he stays 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.019 healthy all season long. They've been trading 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:35.220 away offensive line pieces left and right. Who's 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:37.339 going to block for him at this point? But best 00:06:37.339 --> 00:06:40.439 of luck to David Montgomery. I think it was probably 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:42.839 career wise, maybe the best move for him at this 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:44.980 moment. He was going to be behind Gibbs going 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:47.319 forward. What else? What do you think of some 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:49.699 potential cap conversions here, Bill? What do 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:51.680 you think we can do to restructure some contracts? 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.939 We look at golf, right? He's right off the bat. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:58.839 First and foremost. He is due, his cap number 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:03.360 rises 69 .6 million next season. A simple salary 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:08.279 conversion plus two void years can open up a 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:12.160 much needed 42 .9 million of space per spo track. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.339 So these conversions are basically, they're just 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:16.860 taking salary, turning it into a signing bonus, 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:20.120 restructuring a contract. The guy doesn't theoretically 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.100 lose money in the end. He's just getting more 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:24.360 of it up front. It comes off of our bottom line 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:27.060 towards the cap. We save space. And actually 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:30.399 it's a good thing for players for the fact that 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.259 you have the bird in hand is the signing bonus 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:36.160 and you're converting more of that to one time 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:38.920 lump sum payments opposed to having, you know, 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.639 in your game checks, which can also be null and 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:44.220 void, you know, when the team decides to release 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:46.699 you, et cetera. I read a really interesting article 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:51.459 today. A team that struggled mightily and refuses 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:54.709 to do this. happens to be the Las Vegas Raiders. 00:07:55.029 --> 00:07:58.470 They do not convert. It's like a philosophy within 00:07:58.470 --> 00:08:01.209 the Raiders. Really? Is it Al Davis philosophy? 00:08:01.430 --> 00:08:03.769 No conversions? No conversions. I don't know 00:08:03.769 --> 00:08:06.870 if it's passed on to him, to Mark, to whomever's 00:08:06.870 --> 00:08:09.310 running the Raiders at this point. They've cycled 00:08:09.310 --> 00:08:12.209 through, what, four general managers in the last... 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:14.740 And lo and behold, they're a terrible team and 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:16.980 have been for a while. Exactly, where you look 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:20.019 at the smartly run franchises, you know, the 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:22.959 Chiefs, Ravens, Broncos, you know, let's talk 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.879 about the Rams and 49ers. This is the secret 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.399 sauce. Well, you're taking unguaranteed money 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.199 and turning it into guaranteed money in a lot 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.360 of these situations, right? To some degree or 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.159 another. Which is how you play the cap game, 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:36.700 but also, Chet, you've got happy campers from 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:39.990 the fact you've never heard a player say... You 00:08:39.990 --> 00:08:42.490 see how often players are willing to restructure. 00:08:42.570 --> 00:08:44.450 You know it has to work well for them in the 00:08:44.450 --> 00:08:46.350 end. Plus, they're thinking, I'm going to get 00:08:46.350 --> 00:08:47.970 better players around me. We're going to be a 00:08:47.970 --> 00:08:50.049 better team. Anybody who's a winner wants that. 00:08:50.690 --> 00:08:54.110 So let's talk about this, Chet, because the key 00:08:54.110 --> 00:08:56.750 thing is, if this is done, and you and I are 00:08:56.750 --> 00:08:59.330 both in the belief, and so are others, that it's 00:08:59.330 --> 00:09:01.759 not an if. It's going to be a win. Let's talk 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.240 about who are your guys and who do we want if 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:08.019 the Lions are going to be splashing free agency? 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.919 Now, Chet, we are hearing mixed reports on this. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.539 Dave Burkett said that he talked to various agents. 00:09:15.070 --> 00:09:17.730 at the scouting combine in Indianapolis in that 00:09:17.730 --> 00:09:20.830 the Lions were not expected to be major players. 00:09:21.370 --> 00:09:24.090 Then you hear a totally different report from 00:09:24.090 --> 00:09:27.690 Colton Pouncy from the Athletic. He talked to 00:09:27.690 --> 00:09:30.370 people that said the Lions were going to be major 00:09:30.370 --> 00:09:32.850 players in this. Well, I would have thought that 00:09:32.850 --> 00:09:34.830 honestly, Bill, I would have thought the former 00:09:34.830 --> 00:09:36.409 I would have thought that we weren't going to 00:09:36.409 --> 00:09:39.149 be that big of a player here. But all of a sudden 00:09:39.149 --> 00:09:41.330 you hear all this cap space clearance and stuff 00:09:41.330 --> 00:09:43.730 like they're making room to go get guys. And 00:09:43.730 --> 00:09:45.669 I think their hand is being forced. I think they 00:09:45.669 --> 00:09:48.389 have to be a player now. They need a left tackle. 00:09:48.549 --> 00:09:50.990 They need a left guard. They need a center. I 00:09:50.990 --> 00:09:52.570 mean, we're going, you know, and if they don't 00:09:52.570 --> 00:09:54.509 need a center, they move ratlage over. They need 00:09:54.509 --> 00:09:56.690 a right guard. They need three offensive linemen 00:09:56.690 --> 00:09:59.210 who are starters. They don't have that on the 00:09:59.210 --> 00:10:03.970 roster. outside of Penne and Tate, okay? They 00:10:03.970 --> 00:10:06.129 gotta go get three offensive linemen. That's 00:10:06.129 --> 00:10:08.870 very expensive. Very expensive. One of those 00:10:08.870 --> 00:10:10.710 three is gonna be like Ju Scruggs or something. 00:10:10.769 --> 00:10:12.490 We're gonna try and get by with that, right? 00:10:12.830 --> 00:10:14.529 But you can't do that at two out of those three 00:10:14.529 --> 00:10:16.990 positions. It'll be a nightmare. Plus we've got 00:10:16.990 --> 00:10:19.549 defensive backfield issues. We gotta go get guys 00:10:19.549 --> 00:10:22.210 there. We got holes to fill there. The draft 00:10:22.210 --> 00:10:25.289 is only going to get you a guy or two that can 00:10:25.289 --> 00:10:29.120 start at day one at best. If that. And the Lions 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.759 are currently sitting at eight draft picks. Hopefully 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.039 a ninth will come as a compensatory pick for 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.700 Kevin Zeitler signing with the Titans. I agree. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:39.080 That's great, but I'm sorry. There's no way. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.639 How often does a draft pick start on opening 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.559 as a starter at any point in this first season? 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:46.720 I mean, it's just so unlikely. Not, I mean, you 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.440 have to hit like you did with. How often do they 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.639 start and perform well and help the team? So 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.440 free agency's got to be part of this. And this 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:00.159 leads to, you know, I think Montgomery was a 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:02.299 luxury that we couldn't afford. The Texans have 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:04.820 already released Joe Mixon, so they are planning 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:07.500 to utilize David Montgomery. We got a fourth 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:09.720 round pick, Chet, out of it, and a seventh. It 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:13.100 was a great move, plus the salary relief. Taylor 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:16.019 Decker is a bigger problem, Chet. And I wish 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:18.120 the negotiations had gone better, because here's 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:20.720 the fact. I don't know that there's any savings 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:23.700 unless you draft right tackle. And so here's 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:26.100 the expectation, Chet. Penne Sewell moves from 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:27.919 right tackle to left tackle. They're paying him 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.299 like a left tackle. And Chet, it's easier to 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:32.700 find a right tackle and it's cheaper to find 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:35.179 a right tackle. How depressed would you be? I'm 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:36.559 throwing this question at you while you're on 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.019 this roll here and Penne came up. How depressed 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:40.820 would you be if they moved Penne to left tackle 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:43.100 and he just wasn't that great? Very, very, very 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:45.860 depressed. Would you be shocked? Yeah, because 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:49.769 he's arguably the best athlete in that. One of 00:11:49.769 --> 00:11:51.269 the best athletes on the team and he can probably 00:11:51.269 --> 00:11:53.690 handle it. He's the best player on the Lions. 00:11:54.009 --> 00:11:56.769 It's whose jersey I rock. And you know from being 00:11:56.769 --> 00:11:59.110 like a perennial all -pro at right tackle, we 00:11:59.110 --> 00:12:00.990 put him in left tackle and he just struggles. 00:12:01.490 --> 00:12:02.990 In season one would just be a bad seal. I don't 00:12:02.990 --> 00:12:05.929 see it, but I would be really distraught to answer 00:12:05.929 --> 00:12:09.970 your question. So talking about guys, we've already 00:12:09.970 --> 00:12:12.610 seen some shakeup. at the center position, Chet. 00:12:12.889 --> 00:12:15.309 A gentleman by the name of Garrett Bradbury was 00:12:15.309 --> 00:12:18.649 traded from the Patriots to division rival Chicago 00:12:18.649 --> 00:12:21.730 Bears. So they filled that because their center 00:12:21.730 --> 00:12:23.809 that they signed last year in free agency, Drew 00:12:23.809 --> 00:12:28.330 Dahlman, retired at age 27. Wish, again, Chet, 00:12:29.230 --> 00:12:32.570 that we had known this about Frank Ragnow, and 00:12:32.570 --> 00:12:35.350 Frank Ragnow will always kind of, I don't want 00:12:35.350 --> 00:12:37.889 to say, time heals all wounds. He retired in 00:12:37.889 --> 00:12:40.960 June, Chet, and he really left the Lions in a 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:43.840 bad position for it. And then even worse, they 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:46.580 tried to bring him back. And I heard a rumor, 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:50.039 unconfirmed, but from a former teammate of his 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:52.960 that he was so excited when he got the call that 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.840 he sprinted off the couch and that's where he 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:59.620 tore his hammy. Come on. I know. That's incredible. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:02.980 So I... I'm in a situation now where I'm looking 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:05.460 at our own line and we are hurting and then you 00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:07.679 see the Bears just go flip a trade like that. 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:09.980 They lose their center, bam, they got a new center. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:15.100 A very good one at that. And the Chargers also, 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:17.960 the Reds, or excuse me, Commanders, that's one, 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:20.679 released their center and he was picked up like 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:23.659 that from the Chargers. And then also in the 00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:26.669 division, Ryan Kelly retired after 10 season 00:13:26.669 --> 00:13:28.929 the Viking Center. So now all of a sudden Chet. 00:13:29.110 --> 00:13:31.269 Everybody needs a center. Everybody needs a center 00:13:31.269 --> 00:13:34.490 and there's a couple guys in the draft like two 00:13:34.490 --> 00:13:37.049 or three but are they day one starters to your 00:13:37.049 --> 00:13:40.129 point and so now all of a sudden whatever cap 00:13:40.129 --> 00:13:43.049 savings we got with between Glasgow, Decker and 00:13:43.049 --> 00:13:45.190 Montgomery. I mean you're going to have to spend 00:13:45.190 --> 00:13:47.610 that on a center and then that still means drafting 00:13:47.610 --> 00:13:49.870 a right tackle. There's still the potential that 00:13:50.190 --> 00:13:53.230 are that new right tackle and ratledge an area 00:13:53.230 --> 00:13:56.710 of strength? How does Sewell do move into the 00:13:56.710 --> 00:13:58.370 other side? He's going to have a new partner 00:13:58.370 --> 00:14:00.929 next to him as a left guard unless it's mahogany. 00:14:00.929 --> 00:14:03.450 So you're piling them all on here. They're all 00:14:03.450 --> 00:14:06.509 stacking up. And this leads to a question. Yeah. 00:14:06.870 --> 00:14:09.370 How much do you trust Brad Holmes to get this 00:14:09.370 --> 00:14:12.809 thing done? Yeah, we put this in our notes today. 00:14:13.289 --> 00:14:16.299 So I'm going to answer it. Immediately. And then 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.340 I'm going to give you my reasons why. Okay. He 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:21.100 is still at a nine out of 10 for me and hear 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:25.820 me out. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I know that DJ Reed 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:29.799 was not the cornerback that we hoped. He was 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:32.519 injured last year, but before that he signed 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:36.200 Carlton Davis, the third who was excellent. And 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.419 hindsight being 20, 20, who knew that Carlton 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:40.539 Davis would be a key contributor to the Patriots 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:43.169 Superbowl run. Yep. In addition to that, Chet, 00:14:43.309 --> 00:14:45.710 Kevin Zeitler was nothing short of a master stroke. 00:14:46.110 --> 00:14:49.649 You know, in 2025, the Lions had the best offensive 00:14:49.649 --> 00:14:53.809 line in football. And he was the only non -homegrown 00:14:53.809 --> 00:14:56.809 guy, and he was awesome. So I'm going to give 00:14:56.809 --> 00:14:59.330 him credit on those two. He also signed Tim Patrick 00:14:59.330 --> 00:15:02.129 that was really, really good as, you know, the 00:15:02.129 --> 00:15:06.309 third wide out. So I do think there's value there. 00:15:06.690 --> 00:15:09.129 Rakyasin is another guy that he just picked up 00:15:09.129 --> 00:15:12.190 off the scrap heap. So I believe in Brad Holmes. 00:15:12.529 --> 00:15:16.330 The drafts have not been as great as we've wanted. 00:15:16.570 --> 00:15:19.090 And here's where I think Brad needs to get back 00:15:19.090 --> 00:15:22.389 to his core beliefs. Draft best player available, 00:15:23.129 --> 00:15:26.210 don't draft for need, and quit with the projects. 00:15:26.669 --> 00:15:29.789 The Giovanni Manus, the Broderick Martins, the 00:15:29.789 --> 00:15:33.029 Hendon Hookers are the blemishes on Brad's resume. 00:15:33.309 --> 00:15:36.649 The Sioni Vachis, you know, drafting guys that 00:15:36.649 --> 00:15:39.090 are the best available athlete. potentially, 00:15:39.149 --> 00:15:42.710 but but also huge projects. Stop with that. And 00:15:42.710 --> 00:15:45.769 in just get back to drafting Brian branches, 00:15:46.049 --> 00:15:50.029 Laporte's, Eileen McNeils, and and we'll let 00:15:50.029 --> 00:15:53.250 it handle itself. But yeah, Chad, I counted today. 00:15:54.029 --> 00:15:56.090 There are eight holes on this roster that need 00:15:56.090 --> 00:15:59.169 to be filled immediately. Eight, potentially 00:15:59.169 --> 00:16:02.690 nine draft picks. So the Lions need to be active 00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:04.809 and free agency to the tune of three to five 00:16:04.809 --> 00:16:07.600 players. I think the draft is a tough one to 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.200 judge a GM on in a lot of ways because outside 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.679 of your first round pick and maybe your second 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.440 round pick, the rest are kind of a dice roll 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.940 to one degree or the other. But you're right. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.360 He does seem to move up to get these guys that 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:23.299 he has his heart set on and they don't really 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:26.480 come out on top in the end. I mean, Manu was 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:31.230 a fourth, Vahki a fourth, Hooker a third. but 00:16:31.230 --> 00:16:33.830 he traded additional capital on all three examples. 00:16:34.309 --> 00:16:36.850 I get where you're going. I get where you're 00:16:36.850 --> 00:16:40.269 going, but I don't want to pick on his drafting 00:16:40.269 --> 00:16:42.730 as much as I would like to pick on his free agent 00:16:42.730 --> 00:16:46.309 signings. Okay, so let's talk. I think it's less 00:16:46.309 --> 00:16:49.929 so who they've signed and more so who they haven't 00:16:49.929 --> 00:16:52.129 signed or how they haven't gone out and filled 00:16:52.129 --> 00:16:55.289 voids with experienced veterans who were out 00:16:55.289 --> 00:16:58.009 there to get. I think they are allergic to trading 00:16:58.009 --> 00:16:59.909 draft picks, period. I don't think they like 00:16:59.909 --> 00:17:02.129 to trade a draft pick for a free agent. I just 00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:05.269 don't think they like doing it. That's that's 00:17:05.269 --> 00:17:07.609 fair. It's opposite of less need. You know, his 00:17:07.609 --> 00:17:11.849 mentor, you know, Los Angeles. Sure. So really 00:17:11.849 --> 00:17:14.309 quick, Chad, let's talk about the misses. DJ 00:17:14.309 --> 00:17:17.109 Reed would a reader. Excuse me. The defensive 00:17:17.109 --> 00:17:20.069 tackle would be one. However, I would argue that 00:17:20.069 --> 00:17:22.990 Roy Lopez was Scrapheap and was arguably one 00:17:22.990 --> 00:17:24.509 of our best defensive linemen. Does he seem to 00:17:24.509 --> 00:17:26.970 do better off the Scrapheap than he does off 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:28.829 of the big signing? Is this where we're going 00:17:28.829 --> 00:17:31.930 with this? I would agree with that. I mean, he 00:17:31.930 --> 00:17:34.589 finds the Carlton Davis, he finds the Roccasini, 00:17:34.589 --> 00:17:38.690 he finds, you know, the... Alex Zaloni was a 00:17:38.690 --> 00:17:42.250 great sign. Sure, I think he came with some understanding. 00:17:42.269 --> 00:17:44.190 They had some knowledge of him. You know, Campbell 00:17:44.190 --> 00:17:45.690 had a lot of knowledge of him from the Saints. 00:17:45.950 --> 00:17:47.849 It worked in that example. It did not work with 00:17:47.849 --> 00:17:49.750 Marcus Davenport. But when we go to sign the 00:17:49.750 --> 00:17:52.930 big guy, you know, I start thinking about the 00:17:52.930 --> 00:17:57.269 defensive end and he slipped my mind and I can't 00:17:57.269 --> 00:17:59.289 believe he even slipped my mind because what's 00:17:59.289 --> 00:18:02.109 his name? Trey Hendrickson. No, the defensive 00:18:02.109 --> 00:18:04.289 end we signed and sat injured for two straight 00:18:04.289 --> 00:18:07.190 years. Davenport Davenport Marcus Davenport. 00:18:07.329 --> 00:18:09.730 We were just talking about Marcus Davenport was 00:18:09.730 --> 00:18:12.750 a good disaster. Okay. Well, he's never healthy. 00:18:12.950 --> 00:18:14.930 I look at him and it's just like, why are we 00:18:14.930 --> 00:18:16.630 signing? Like these are terrible signs. These 00:18:16.630 --> 00:18:20.690 are their big ticket signings. And I can't I 00:18:20.690 --> 00:18:22.430 can't wrap my head around that. But then we can 00:18:22.430 --> 00:18:24.829 go grab stuff off. It's like he's a good scout. 00:18:25.650 --> 00:18:27.630 But when it comes to making the big deal, it 00:18:27.630 --> 00:18:29.589 never seems to work out or they're trying to 00:18:29.589 --> 00:18:31.829 get a certain type of player with that money, 00:18:32.029 --> 00:18:35.650 like from a personality or a known quantity standpoint 00:18:35.650 --> 00:18:37.430 in there. I don't know. I can't figure it out, 00:18:37.430 --> 00:18:39.670 but he can't seem to hit a big signing. So what 00:18:39.670 --> 00:18:42.529 is your belief? Where are you on the one through 00:18:42.529 --> 00:18:44.609 10 scale on Brad? And then let's get back to 00:18:44.609 --> 00:18:47.789 our wish list. I give him this point right now 00:18:47.789 --> 00:18:50.069 due to the fact that he, in my opinion, he has 00:18:50.069 --> 00:18:52.710 had successful drafts. He has brought quite a 00:18:52.710 --> 00:18:55.049 few talented players to the team. I give him 00:18:55.049 --> 00:18:58.089 an eight, but in free agency, I just haven't 00:18:58.089 --> 00:19:00.710 seen anything. And then on top of that, it's 00:19:00.710 --> 00:19:04.190 the lack thereof. the lack of activity in free 00:19:04.190 --> 00:19:07.049 agency. I think he needs to do more and he needs 00:19:07.049 --> 00:19:09.049 to gamble a little more. I would like to see 00:19:09.049 --> 00:19:11.470 him gamble a little more. I would like to see, 00:19:11.509 --> 00:19:14.480 look. Nobody in the world wants to trade two 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.160 firsts for Max Crosby. And we may say the Ravens 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:20.119 were an air of doing that, but we have somebody 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:22.619 to pair Max Crosby with that would make our defensive 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:24.980 line dominant. And Max Crosby wanted to come 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:27.039 here. I feel like that would have been a good 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.920 signing. I would have given two firsts for that 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:31.599 just to see him play great one year like that. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:34.750 But I like to gamble. I would have given two 00:19:34.750 --> 00:19:36.329 firsts for that as well. There's some people 00:19:36.329 --> 00:19:38.230 that say you're crazy. I just don't know that 00:19:38.230 --> 00:19:40.029 the, what do we have the ninth pick? What do 00:19:40.029 --> 00:19:41.809 we have in this year's draft? The seventh pick? 00:19:42.109 --> 00:19:44.230 Seventeenth pick. Is the seventeenth pick worth 00:19:44.230 --> 00:19:46.609 that much? And maybe they offered it and the, 00:19:46.609 --> 00:19:48.289 and you know, the Raiders were like, we don't 00:19:48.289 --> 00:19:50.109 want the seventeenth pick. We need a top 10. 00:19:50.490 --> 00:19:52.569 Maybe that was their deal. I don't know. I don't 00:19:52.569 --> 00:19:54.529 know what they were going for. They got 14 from 00:19:54.529 --> 00:19:57.130 the Ravens. So I feel like our seventeenth probably 00:19:57.130 --> 00:19:58.930 would have worked if we had thrown in, you know, 00:19:59.049 --> 00:20:02.049 next year's first, which hopefully it'll be below 00:20:02.049 --> 00:20:05.480 20. And then maybe a sixth or something down 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:07.440 the road to cap it all off and get it done. I 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.059 don't know what we had to compete with. Maybe 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:12.039 we were in on it, but you go get a Max Crosby. 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:14.460 That would be a really, that would inject a lot 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:17.000 of energy into this team. Now, does it solve 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.539 our offensive line woes? No, it does not. So 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:21.539 we have a bunch of woes there too, that we have 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.940 to figure out. Here's my wish list and I see 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:26.519 the Lions doing one of two things. Either this 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:29.180 year is a gap year. They don't restructure all 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:31.700 the deals that we talked about. They focus heavily 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:34.119 on the draft and Brad goes back to the free agent 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.900 scrap heap or they do what I would like to see 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:41.380 them do, which is sign Connor McGovern. Center 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:44.240 from the Buffalo Bills. Sure. Dan Campbell said 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.559 at his presser he wants a veteran center, someone 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.859 to make that go. And then you sign a right tackle 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:52.319 free agent. I've got a name for you that I don't 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.500 think was on your bingo card, but I'm real high 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:57.799 on this guy. Trey Pipkins from the Chargers. 00:20:58.029 --> 00:21:01.390 It wasn't on my bingo card. Here's why he's a 00:21:01.390 --> 00:21:03.690 free agent. He played both right and left tackle 00:21:03.690 --> 00:21:06.130 last year, so he's got good versatility. The 00:21:06.130 --> 00:21:08.450 reason he played is because both of their tackles, 00:21:08.630 --> 00:21:11.730 Rashaun Slater and Joe Ault got hurt early. Those 00:21:11.730 --> 00:21:13.490 are their starting tackles. They're both former 00:21:13.490 --> 00:21:15.289 first round picks. There's not a place for them. 00:21:15.289 --> 00:21:17.970 They can't pay three tackles. And I think if 00:21:17.970 --> 00:21:20.329 you got those two moves and then I've got a name 00:21:20.329 --> 00:21:24.160 for you on defense, two names actually. One is 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.380 going to be more expensive, but he's a free agent 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:29.839 because he plays for a team nicknamed The Bungles, 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:32.539 or formerly played, and that is Trey Hendrickson. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.380 He is Max Crosby Light. I would take him in a 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:38.460 heartbeat. No, I agree. But you don't have to 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:40.119 give up draft capital because he's a free agent. 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:43.339 The problem is he's from the Tampa area and apparently 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:47.140 that's where he might be headed. And then the 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:51.759 other one... It's not quite as exciting. He would 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.940 be like a Kevin Zeitler one -year rental And 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:58.519 that would be Khalil Mac again from the Chargers 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:01.819 to pair opposite hutch And then therefore you 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:04.359 have a real pass rush unlike anything Davenport 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:07.680 he who she'll be nameless Shows, what are your 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.420 thoughts on what I just shared like I like the 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:12.799 Trey Anderson I think he's the next best option 00:22:12.990 --> 00:22:15.230 on the list. I just don't know if we're going 00:22:15.230 --> 00:22:16.789 to get him because of what you said. I think 00:22:16.789 --> 00:22:19.250 he does want to be down south somewhere in Florida 00:22:19.250 --> 00:22:23.490 in your home, whatever. I would rather. I like 00:22:23.490 --> 00:22:25.809 the offensive line selections that you made there. 00:22:25.809 --> 00:22:29.430 I have no issues there. Do you think that center? 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:33.059 Is a more important selection right now for the 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:35.779 team as composed in a left tackle though? Again, 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:38.660 I don't go after a left tackle. I'm going after 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:40.819 a right. You're going after a right. You want 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:43.799 to move Sewell that bad, okay. So you're moving 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.160 Sewell. You're paying him and the only reason 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.519 that he didn't move there initially, I mean he 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.460 played left tackle. Then I'm going to say a center 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.740 is more important personally. Yes. So I'd like 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:56.420 to see them go after a center in free agency 00:22:56.420 --> 00:23:00.460 and I would like to see probably We probably 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:06.420 need a guard too though. You could find a swing 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:09.599 tackle and a guard in the draft and you can find 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:13.680 a backup running back in the draft or you traded 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:16.720 all this draft capital to get Sion Vachy. He's 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.559 clearly not playing safety for the Lions. Chet, 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.720 you got to give him a go at some point. Again, 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:24.339 this is another one of these things that's like... 00:23:24.329 --> 00:23:26.730 You see, you look at CEO Mvaki and how high he 00:23:26.730 --> 00:23:28.730 was drafted. You want to get something out of 00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:31.970 him more than a specialty. Exactly. I feel like 00:23:31.970 --> 00:23:35.089 he would have been the guy instead of Craig Reynolds, 00:23:35.150 --> 00:23:38.710 if that was the case, when Monty went down and 00:23:38.710 --> 00:23:41.990 he's never really filled that role. So I'm I 00:23:41.990 --> 00:23:45.619 just don't know what to. what to make of that 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:49.039 situation. And that leads back to, is it a gap 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.299 year? Like, do the Lions trot out Manu at one 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:55.240 of the tackle spots? You know, do they trot out 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:59.720 Vahki as the backup or RB2? And, you know, is 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:02.500 Coleslaw kind of... He's not a tight end chap, 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.819 but do they line them up closer to the line of 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:08.420 scrimmage and use him more like you'd use like 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:11.420 an Isaiah likely, you know, like a tight end 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:13.440 that's not putting his hand on the ground blocking, 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:17.460 you know. So there's all sorts of possibilities 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:20.259 with it, but I'm leaning more to the lions treating 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:23.829 this as a gap year. And then believing so going 00:24:23.829 --> 00:24:26.930 all going all in in twenty seven. There you have 00:24:26.930 --> 00:24:29.930 it, fans. This is a gap year. Enjoy the twenty 00:24:29.930 --> 00:24:33.150 twenty six Detroit line. Bill has declared it. 00:24:33.470 --> 00:24:35.369 We're going nowhere this season. There are too 00:24:35.369 --> 00:24:37.690 many holes to fill. I still think they can win 00:24:37.690 --> 00:24:40.630 10 games in a gap year chat. Maybe maybe they 00:24:40.630 --> 00:24:42.210 could still go to the playoffs. They just got 00:24:42.210 --> 00:24:44.690 to take care of their division. Right. But they're 00:24:44.690 --> 00:24:46.630 going to have a weaker schedule. All right. Let 00:24:46.630 --> 00:24:49.490 me ask you an honest question. Yeah. Yeah. Is 00:24:49.490 --> 00:24:53.940 this team? On as it's constructed today. No a 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:57.720 Super Bowl team. No, okay Not a chance 10 wins 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:00.279 is probably so many ways as constructed at the 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:02.279 moment not taking into consideration any free 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.640 agent studies I think that's the point of our 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:08.299 whole show here. We we do not have key like in 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:12.259 10 integral pieces needed To get to the Super 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.539 Bowl or even the playoffs right now. We are missing 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:16.720 offensive linemen We are missing defensive backs. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:19.500 You know, they're gonna sign like a a Jaquan 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:22.140 brisker or a Kobe Bryant, somebody to play in 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:24.119 the defensive backfield somewhere. They need 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:26.539 a safety. They probably need a corner. Who knows 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:28.660 what's going to happen now with Terry and Arnold. 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:31.690 Have we heard anything on that? That could go 00:25:31.690 --> 00:25:35.170 up in smoke, too. So Tariq Wolin, Naishan Wright, 00:25:36.130 --> 00:25:38.470 Jalen Watson, somebody like that, we're going 00:25:38.470 --> 00:25:40.609 to end up landing one of those guys in our defensive 00:25:40.609 --> 00:25:42.390 backfield, if not two of them, because he likes 00:25:42.390 --> 00:25:44.630 signing free agent corners and safeties. And 00:25:44.630 --> 00:25:46.490 then we're going to have to go out and find offensive 00:25:46.490 --> 00:25:48.049 linemen, too. We're going to have it. I think 00:25:48.049 --> 00:25:50.410 we're going to have a ton of signings. So key 00:25:50.410 --> 00:25:54.829 dates, right? Monday. Monday is the illegal tampering 00:25:54.829 --> 00:25:57.970 or the legal, excuse me, legal tampering period 00:25:57.970 --> 00:26:01.430 can start this Monday. Two days from now. That's 00:26:01.430 --> 00:26:04.009 what the NFL calls it, the legal tampering period, 00:26:04.170 --> 00:26:06.460 which is hilarious. It's tampering, but it's 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:09.900 legal. And then Wednesday is when the free agency 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.980 officially starts, league calendar year turns 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:14.220 over, signings can begin. We're going to start 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:16.359 hearing stuff on Monday. Monday's usually a big 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:18.680 day. I always go back to the Kyle Vanden Bosch 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:20.680 deal when the Lions were sitting on his front 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.819 doorstep waiting for him that morning to wake 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.380 up, basically, and they were like, you're coming 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:26.900 with us. Love that. So maybe we'll get one of 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:28.880 those here on Monday or Tuesday. We'll hear some 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:31.890 news. But I have a feeling over the next... starting 00:26:31.890 --> 00:26:34.089 Monday, that three day period's gonna be busy 00:26:34.089 --> 00:26:36.849 for the Lions, or it should be. Or my grade for 00:26:36.849 --> 00:26:39.089 Brad Holmes is going down to a six, right off 00:26:39.089 --> 00:26:41.269 the bat, if we don't get something done. But 00:26:41.269 --> 00:26:43.849 I believe we will. Final thoughts, Bill. Get 00:26:43.849 --> 00:26:46.190 her done, Brad. Go Lions. Get her done, that's 00:26:46.190 --> 00:26:48.369 it. Just get her done, Brad. Or it's a gap year, 00:26:48.529 --> 00:26:51.200 one or the other. All right, Lions fans, that's 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.339 a little update. We'll be back more towards the 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:56.079 draft probably in about a week or two after free 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.880 agency settles down. We figure out what's going 00:26:57.880 --> 00:27:00.819 on. Maybe if there's some really big news, we'll 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:03.240 hit you back on Wednesday. We'll see what happens 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:05.900 there. I'm taking off for a little while. Bill 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:09.140 has other things. We'll get back with some updates 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:11.339 as they come. Go Lions.