Page Updated 3-13-2013
2012 Record: 4-12, 4th in NFC North
Head Coach: Jim Schwartz, 4 years, 22-42 record with Detroit (22-42 overall)
Current Depth Chart (Updated 3-13-2013)
QB - Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill, Kellen Moore
RB - Reggie Bush, Mikel LeShoure, Devin Moore, Jahvid Best
FB -
WR1 - Calvin Johnson, Kris Durham, Kassim Osgood, Devin Thomas, Dominique Curry, Chastin West, Mike Thomas
WR2 - Nate Burleson, Ryan Broyles, Lance Long, Terrence Austin, Brian Robiskie, Troy Burrell
TE - Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, Nathan Overbay
LT - Jeff Backus
LG - Rob Sims
C - Dominic Raiola
RG -
RT - Riley Reiff
K -
LDE - Jason Jones
LDT - Nick Fairley, Ogemdi Nwagbuo
RDT - Ndumakong Suh, Jimmy Saddler-McQueen
RDE - Ronnell Lewis
SLB - Ashlee Palmer, Tahir Whitehead
MLB - Stephen Tulloch
WLB - Travis Lewis
LCB - Chris Houston, Chris Greenwood, DJ Johnson, Lionel Smith
RCB - Jonte Green, Bill Bentley, Ron Bartell, Conroy Black
SS - Glover Quin, John Wendling, Tyrell Johnson
FS - Don Carey, Ross Weaver
P -
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Unrestricted Free Agents
Offense: RB Jerome Harrison. RB Stefan Logan. RB Kevin Smith. FB Shaun Chapas. WR Kassim Osgood (resigned with Lions). WR Titus Young (claimed by Rams). TE Will Heller. OT Gosder Cherilus (signed with Colts). OT Corey Hilliard. OG Stephen Peterman. C Dylan Gandy. C Don Muhlbach. K Jason Hanson
Defense: DT Andre Fluellen. DT Sammie Hill (signed with Titans). DT Corey Williams. DE Lawrence Jackson. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. DE Cliff Avril (signed with Seahawks). LB Justin Durant. LB DeAndre Levy. CB Drayton Florence. CB Chris Houston (resigned with Lions). CB Jacob Lacey. CB Patrick Lee. S Louis Delmas. P Nick Harris.
Restricted Free Agents
Offense: RB Joique Bell. WR Patrick Edwards. OT Jason Fox. C Rodney Austin
Defense: DE Willie Young. LB Carmen Messina. S Ricardo Silva. S Amari Spievey.
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Transactions
3-13-13: Signed former Houston Texans SS Glover Quin to 5 year, $25 million contract
3-13-13: Signed former Miami Dolphins RB Reggie Bush to 4 year, $16 million contract
3-13-13: Signed former Seattle Seahawks DT Jason Jones to 3 year, $9.5 million contract
3-13-13: Resigned CB Chris Houston to 5 year, $25 million contract
3-12-13: Resigned WR Kassim Osgood to 1 year contract
2-6-13: Signed former Washington Redskins CB DJ Johnson
2-5-13: Waived DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
2-5-13: Waived WR Titus Young
2-5-13: Waived OG Stephen Peterman
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Offensive Needs
Running Back: Unfortunately concussions have robbed Jahvid Best of his career. Mikel LeShoure has proven he is nothing more then a plodding, slow option and Joique Bell is a change of pace back only. Detroit has spent several second and third round picks on the position and may be scared to go that route again.
Offensive Guard: Stephen Peterman was cut but he was a weak starting guard anyway. Rob Sims is the only guard on the roster. There are several middle round guard prospects who could be developed into a starter.
Wide Receiver: The Lions offense was supposed to be one of the best in the NFL, but the entire offense was basically Calvin Johnson. Titus Young sabotaged his way out of town and Ryan Broyles suffered another serious injury. So other then Megatron it is Nate Burleson and a bunch of former busts (Mike Thomas, Devin Thomas, Brian Robiskie). With so many needs on defense the Lions will not be able to spend draft picks here, so they have to hope one of their young guys can step up.
Center: Dominic Raiola is 34 years old and will make over 4 million in the last year of his deal. Detroit probably cannot afford to cut him with so few lineman on the roster, but they could try to find a successor.
Offensive Tackle: Jeff Backus is still going strong at age 35 and Detroit has 2012 first round pick Riley Reiff waiting in the wings. He could start at right tackle if Goster Cherilus, one of the better RT's in football, moves on as a free agent.
Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew hasn't quite lived up to his first round billing, but he is solid. As is Tony Scheffler. Neither players will be mistaken for Pro Bowlers, but both are solid pass catchers.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford regressed somewhat in 2012, throwing some puzzling interceptions and only tossing 20 touchdowns despite an NFL record 727 passing attempts. Still, he is only 24 and his best days are clearly ahead of him. He is a guy the Lions can build around. Shaun Hill is one of the best backups in the business and has shown he can be a capable starter if (when) Stafford goes down.
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Defensive Needs
Defensive End: You name it, Detroit could use it. At the top of the list sits a pass rusher. Virtually all of Detroit's ends are free agents, and none, with the possible exception of backup Lawrence Jackson, are expected to return. Fortunately the draft is very deep with pass rushers, and the Lions could select someone like Damontre Moore or Bjoern Werner with the fifth pick.
Cornerback: Secondary has been a massive need in Detroit for years, and that is no exception this year. The Lions top four cornerbacks are all free agents, though you could say none of the four were very good to begin with. Detroit needs to stop the pass defense bleeding with whatever band aid they can come up with.
Safety: Safety is almost as big of a need as cornerback. It is a shame Louis Delmas cannot stay healthy, because he is one of the better safeties in football when healthy.
Outside Linebacker: Justin Durant and DeAndre Levy are both talented, young outside linebackers. If Detroit can resign both, they will have one of the better linebacking trios in the NFL. Stephen Tulloch was a nice find by the Lions after signing a one year deal before the 2011 season. He led Detroit in tackles in 2012 with 112 while playing all 16 games.
Defensive Tackle: Ndumakong Suh looked much closer to the 2010 version then the stomping 2011 guy. He was dominant down the stretch and has many Pro Bowl's in his future. Nick Fairley justified his draft status and was nearly as good. There might not be a better tackle duo in the NFL.
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Special Teams Needs
Kick Returner: Stefan Logan was a mediocre option all season before finally being benched late in the year. If Mike Thomas sticks around (unlikely) he could handle duties unless someone better is brought in.
Punter: Nick Harris took over for Ben Graham a few weeks into the season and was one of the NFL's worst punters.
Kicker: Jason Hanson is a free agent and will be 43 years old by the time the season rolls around, but he has been Detroit's kicker since Barry Sanders was running wild, and he had a tremendous season. He will be back.
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Related Posts
1-28-13: 2013 NFL Mock Draft v 6.0
Lions Draft Picks
Round 1, #5: DE Damontre Moore, Jr, Texas A&M
Round 2, #36: CB Jamar Taylor, Sr, Boise State
Round 3, #65: S Tony Jefferson, Jr, Oklahoma
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