The Detroit Lions have arrived. Just three years into the Dan Campbell + Brad Holmes rebuild, the Lions came one quarter of football away from the their first Super Bowl berth in franchise history. It's safe to say that the Lions finally have a solid front office and coaching staff.
Now the pressure is on Detroit. They met expectations last year by winning the NFC North and winning a home playoff game. Detroit will now be expected to be a Super Bowl contender in the NFC.
It's easy to understand why. Jared Goff has resurrected his career in Detroit, earning himself a massive contract extension. The offense boasts probably the best offensive line in the game and several top-end weapons. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs are a deadly trio who are backed up by guys like David Montgomery and Jameson Williams. The defense has a budding superstar in Aidan Hutchinson and a handful of other solid players.
Brad Holmes is probably the single most important person in the Lions' organization. His vision for rebuilding the team has been inspired, highlighted by three impressive draft classes in a row. It looks like Holmes did it again with the 2024 draft class.
The Lions' biggest weakness in 2023 was their poor secondary, specifically outside cornerbacks. Detroit started Cameron Sutton and Kindle Vildor at outside corner in the NFC Championship game and they simply couldn't stop the 49ers pass catchers.
However, the Lions aggressively addressed this need this offseason. They signed Amik Robertson in free agency and traded for Carlton Davis III from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brad Holmes also drafted two cornerbacks in the draft — Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The Detroit Lions are now one or two players away from having a “perfect” roster with practically zero holes.
Depth at wide receiver, edge rusher, and safety are their biggest concerns.
Quandre Diggs would be the perfect veteran to add to Lions' safety room
Quandre Diggs would be the perfect training camp addition for the Lions.
The Detroit Lions drafted Quandre Diggs in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played four complete seasons in Detroit and was traded in the middle of the 2019 season to the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks cut Diggs earlier this offseason to clear cap space.
Diggs is an impressive free safety. He boasts strong coverage skills and is also a solid tackler. Now that he is a nine-year NFL vet, he has a complete vision of the game and can be a mentor to younger players. He also seems to check all of the “grit” boxes that Campbell and Holmes look for in new players.
Detroit current has Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and C.J. Moore in their safety room. Word out of Allen Park is that Brian Branch may play a lot more safety in 2024, leaving the slot cornerback spot open for Robertson and Rakestraw. This gives the Lions a little more depth than they had in 2023, but they still lack a veteran presence like Diggs.
Diggs would bring the Lions a mentor who could act as an extra coach in team meetings and on the sideline. This could be very beneficial for Joseph, Melifonwu, and Branch, all of whom are young players with room to grow. Diggs would also add a competent backup and rotational option behind Kerby Joseph at free safety. As the roster is currently constructed, Joseph is one Jenga piece whose absence would be a huge problem for the Lions.
If there is mutual interest, this move could get done in a hurry. Diggs is currently a free agent and there hasn't been any news about teams inviting him in for workouts. The Lions have over $30 million in cap space, so adding Diggs would be no problem at all.
The Detroit Lions need to seriously consider bringing Quandre Diggs home, even if he has to battle his way onto the roster in training camp.
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