The Detroit Lions' offseason plans start a little earlier than expected. With a 17-point halftime lead in the NFC Championship Game, the Lions looked poised to play in their first Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the upstart Lions couldn't finish the game against the more experienced 49ers team that had been there before. The good news is that the 2023 season could be just the beginning of a glorious era in Detroit.
Bright future for the Lions after losing the NFC Championship game
If we take a closer look at the 2023 Lions season review, we will find one of the most impressive seasons in the NFL. Even if the Lions are the favorite to win the NFC North, it's important to remember that Detroit is just two years away from going 3-13-1. Dan Campbell transformed the franchise and changed the culture in an almost miraculous way.
Although making progress in the NFC Championship Game will be a bitter pill to swallow, the Lions still come out of it with one of the strongest foundations of any team in the NFL to build on for 2024 and beyond.
Jared Goff is the man
The 2023 season may have started with lingering questions about Jared Goff. But he leaves no doubt that he is Detroit's starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Goff finished second in the NFL in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns during the regular season. Not only is he a viable quarterback, he's a top-10 quarterback and is 4-4 in the playoffs. Goff has proven to be the answer to Detroit's quarterback questions, and at the age of 29, he could continue to be the answer for many years to come.
Toy makers
Part of Goff's success must be attributed to the offensive playmakers the Lions put around him. Prior to the 2023 season, the Lions had a proven performer in David Montgomery and a wide receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown who was coming off his first Pro Bowl selection in 2022. Montgomery rushed for over 1,000 yards during his first season in Detroit while St. Brown made a move Another forward and proven wide receiver.
However, lions have much more than that. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is already top-10, maybe even better. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs has also emerged as a dangerous, multi-dimensional weapon for Detroit's offense. Speedster Jameson Williams also made big strides during the second half of the season and can still fulfill his potential as a former first-round pick. This gives the Lions a quintet of playmakers around Goff that compares favorably to any group in the league.
Youth defense
It's no secret that Detroit's defense hasn't exactly been one of the team's strengths in 2023. But that unit had some shining moments during the season. He was also among the smallest defensive backs in the NFL.
Of the 11 starters in the NFC Championship Game, seven have three or fewer years of experience. It's a young unit that Campbell will be able to mold, especially with eight duo-deep players selected during the first three rounds of the NFL Draft in the last three years. In other words, the Lions have a young defense full of talent.
Fill the holes
After being one of the better teams during the 2023 season, the Lions now have a chance to win the 2024 season. Detroit will have more than $55 million in cap space at the start of the season. The Lions also have a limited number of key players set to become free agents. Offensive linemen Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow and Halapulivati Vaitai are headed to free agency while only one defensive player will be a free agent in 2024.
In other words, the Lions have a limited number of pressing needs compared to other NFL teams. They also have a lot more money to spend than most teams. This will allow Detroit to be aggressive in free agency while also picking and choosing their biggest roster needs. With a young defense, a reliable quarterback, and a group of dynamic offensive playmakers already in place, the building blocks are in place for the Lions to be better in 2024 and beyond. While the collapse to the 49ers hurt, we haven't seen the last of the Lions as a Super Bowl contender.
