The Detroit Lions Podcast

Super Bowl Eve Spotlight: Why Max CrosbyOn Super Bowl eve, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Max Crosby as the most polarizing offseason swing. The chatter is not just in Detroit. The Bengals, Cowboys, Patriots, and Falcons have all been mentioned as alleged suitors. Crosby is 28, from Lapeer, Michigan, and came out of Eastern Michigan. He wins with power to speed, has some bend, and never stops. He is comfortable standing up, but he is better with his hand in the dirt.The case is rooted in run defense. The show framed Crosby as the best run-defending edge in football among the elite pass rushers. He owns two of the top ten seasons in NFL history for tackles for loss, in 2022 and 2023. That production sets an edge and closes lanes. It also travels to January.Sacks, TFLs, and Reality CheckCrosby’s sack totals do not always match his reputation. He had 10 this past season. He posted 7.5 in only 12 games in 2024. His peak was 14.5 in 2023, when he earned first-team All-Pro and piled up 23 tackles for loss. The Raiders have not consistently fielded another threatening rusher opposite him, which has amplified his workload and attention.That profile matters for the Detroit Lions. Pair Crosby with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. Add Tyreek Williams, who quietly played well down the stretch, with Jack Campbell behind them. That front four controls tempo. It lets a defense rush with four, squeeze gaps, and dictate drives. The show pointed to the Houston Texans as proof of concept, noting how they almost never blitzed and still dominated both of their playoff games. Turnovers, not defense, flipped those outcomes.The All-In Price TagThere is a catch. Acquisition cost and opportunity cost headline the downside. This is an all-in move. The hypothetical package discussed mirrored the price “Green Bay” paid to get Micah Parsons: two firsts and a third. In this scenario, the Lions send their first this year and next, plus next year’s third because they do not have a third this year. To balance that, the Raiders send back their pick at the top of the second round this year, sliding Detroit from pick 17 to around 33 or 34. The Lions would still keep their own second. A 2025 fourth this year may need to be added to make the math work.The upside is obvious. Crosby beside Hutchinson could make the Detroit Lions the NFC North favorite and a top seed contender. The risk is just as clear. Two firsts and more means fewer swings at premium talent, fewer cheap starters, and less flexibility if injuries hit. The debate is simple. How much is one of the NFL’s most complete edges worth to a roster already built to win? #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #maxcrosby #aidanhutchinson #alimmcneill #tyreekwilliams #jackcampbell #rundefendingedge #tacklesforloss #fourmanrush #almostneverblitz #twofirstroundpicksandathird Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions filled a key staff spot today. Steve Oliver moves from assistant offensive line coach to tight ends coach. The Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down what it means ahead of the NFL Combine at month’s end. Steve Oliver to Tight Ends Coach The Lions stayed in house. Oliver earns the promotion after five seasons in Detroit, heading into a sixth. He played at the University of San Diego. Inside Allen Park, he is known for hands-on work with the tackles. That includes Penei Sewell, Giovanni Manu, and Colby Sorsdal when Sorsdal repped at tackle. Continuity matters for this offense. Oliver knows the room. He knows Hank Fraley and the standards on that line. The move keeps the language and teaching aligned for a position group that touches the run game and pass protection on every snap. Assistant OL Opening and Dan Skipper Buzz One vacancy remains: assistant offensive line coach. Dan Skipper is the name to watch. He coached tight ends and offensive line at the Shrine Bowl the day after retiring from the Lions. He knows the scheme and knows Fraley well. That fit tracks with how Detroit builds staff. The goal is a full staff in place before the combine at the end of the month. Programming note from today’s update: there will be a daily show on Saturday, no show on Super Bowl Sunday, and then back on Monday. Stafford’s MVP and the Detroit Lens Matthew Stafford won MVP in a very close vote. One ballot for Justin Herbert factored into the margin. At 37, Stafford is the oldest first-time MVP. The award strengthens an already robust career case. Detroit fans remain split on Stafford’s legacy. Some still celebrate him. Others have moved on. Today’s tone was simple: appreciate the validation and the years of production. His moment on the NFL stage, with family in view, underscored the journey. None of it changes where the Lions are now, but it reframes what he did then. Penei Sewell Misses Protector of the Year The NFL rolled out its inaugural Protector of the Year. Penei Sewell was a finalist. He did not win. The award went to a Bear, a result that stung given Sewell’s dominance. By most views, he is the best run-blocking right tackle in football, and arguably the best run-blocking offensive lineman overall. Pass protection tilted the vote. There are tackles a tick better in pure pass pro, and that likely cost him. Sewell is steady about it. Use it as fuel or not, the standard remains high. Elsewhere, former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz resigned as the Browns defensive coordinator today. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #steveoliver #tightendscoach #assistantoffensivelinecoach #hankfraley #danskipper #shrinebowl #peneisewell #giovannimanu #colbysorsdal #matthewstafford #nflmvp #sammonson #justinherbert #protectoroftheyear #jimschwartz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contract structure takes center stageDetroit Lions fans got clarity on a headline decision. On today’s Daily Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon unpacked why Carlton Davis chose New England and how Detroit pivoted. Dave Burkett, reporting from the Super Bowl, relayed Davis’ words: he would have signed in Detroit, and it wasn’t about money. It was the structure.Davis, the former Lions starter now with the Patriots, signed a three-year, $54 million deal with $34.5 million guaranteed and a $16.5 million signing bonus. No void years. He started slowly but improved as the season went on, then played very well in the playoffs, especially when CJ Stroud threw him the ball a lot. Davis reiterated he liked Detroit’s process.DJ Reed’s deal shows Detroit’s approachAfter Davis moved on, the Detroit Lions signed DJ Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract with $32 million guaranteed and a $15.2 million signing bonus. Detroit’s wrinkle under Mike Disner stands out: three void years. The contract technically runs through 2031, which makes Reed easier to cut after the second year or to renegotiate.Reed was off to a very good start in Detroit before an injury. When he returned, he wasn’t the same player yet. Expectations remain that he will be a very good starter in 2026. Reed projects as part of a fine starting cornerback duo. Are there better ones in the NFL? Yes. Can you win with these guys in the style of defense the Lions play? Yes.Why void years matter for veteransDavis cited structure as the hang-up, and the void years are the obvious difference. For an older player seeking to cash in, void years can mean less immediate cash in year one. They can also reduce player leverage when a team wants to renegotiate or move on, since the organization carries obligations whether the player is there or not. Workout bonuses can factor in too, but the void years are the clear separator here.Davis emphasized there was no drama with Detroit or its leadership. “I love Detroit… I was rooting for those guys… It was a straight up process… Good communication… I got nothing bad to say about them.” The takeaway for the Detroit Lions and the NFL at large is simple: the Lions’ preferred tools work for the team, but certain veterans and their agents may push back. As Detroit keeps using void years on contracts and future extensions, this will be worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQXrzlQgZrM #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #carltondavis #djreed #voidyears #mikedisner #signingbonus #guaranteedmoney #basesalary #workoutbonuses #newenglandpatriots #detroitlionsdefense #freeagency #superbowl #cjstroud #three-yearcontract Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lions Flavor in a Point-Flooded Pro Bowl Episode 562 of the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with Detroit Lions talk pointed straight at Super Bowl week, but the NFL Pro Bowl stole the first segment. Jeff Risdon flipped over after basketball and landed on a perfect scene: Jared Goff dropping a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The scoreboard was already wild. More than 100 points lit up the broadcast. It felt like 56 to 50 at one point. The pace never slowed. This was not football as we know it. It was flag football. No tackling. No contact. No one even allowed to touch. Yet the hosts liked the energy. Jeff caught the last 35 to 40 minutes and agreed it beat the old 11-on-11 walk-through. Goff wore his hat and looked relaxed. He was clearly having fun. St. Brown moved like it mattered. For Lions fans, seeing that connection on a national stage was the hook that kept the channel right there. What the Hosts Teed Up Next After the quick Pro Bowl review, the rundown hit Detroit-centered questions. Levi Onwuzurike and Paschal came up under the banner of paying the toll. Is the player paying it, or are the Lions paying it? The conversation promised to sort through that. Salary cap talk is coming, and it sounds crazy. The Vikings got a mention as a punchline. Super Bowl choices were on deck, teased as a segment still to come. The aim is clear. Keep the focus on how Detroit Lions decisions intersect with an NFL offseason that is already moving. Tie the Pro Bowl flashes from Goff and St. Brown back into what matters next. Keep the Detroit Lions Podcast locked on the things fans actually need to think about this week. Behind the Mics The show remains the official Detroit Lions podcast for Reddit. Studio upgrades are on the way. Better lights. A new space. A former Cleveland Browns scout is lined up for Monday to talk prospects. The cadence of content is increasing, and the boys are clearly having fun building it. Detroit is front and center this week. The Lions have stars who just showed out in the NFL’s showcase, even with flags at their hips. The next steps on cap, depth, and health are the real story. Episode 562 keeps those steps in focus. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jaredgoff #amon-rast.brown #probowl #flagfootball #nfl #episode562 #jeffrisdon #levionwuzurike #paschal #salarycap #vikings #superbowl #reddit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contracts Tolled: What It Means for 2026The Detroit Lions tolled the contracts of Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal after both spent the entire 2025 season on the NFI list. The practical outcome is simple. What was slated for 2025 now applies to 2026. Neither player hits free agency. Both remain Detroit Lions into the new league year.Onwuzurike’s 2025 deal carries forward. Paschal moves into the final year of his rookie contract. The distinction matters inside the NFL calendar and for how the Lions plan the defensive line room into training camp.Cap Mechanics and Roster StakesOnwuzurike has a one year, $4,000,000 deal with $3,500,000 guaranteed. The contract included a $2,000,000 signing bonus, which is typically paid at signing, so the cash outlay this year is lighter. He had a likely to be earned playing time incentive of $250,000. He did not reach it. That amount credits back to the Detroit Lions cap, a small but welcome bump.Paschal sits in the final season of his rookie deal. One key difference with the NFI list compared to IR is that teams are not obligated to pay base salaries on NFI. Beyond signing bonuses, it is unknown what either player received while sidelined.Expectations must be measured. Neither should be penciled in for significant snaps. Both must prove they can make the team. Prior second round draft status should not influence the competition. If healthy, their presence adds depth and pushes the group in camp.The medical histories frame the caution. Onwuzurike played well in 2024 before his knee gave out. He later needed knee surgery. A torn ACL was discovered after he signed, and it was not related to his longstanding back issues. He is playing after a spinal fusion surgery, which remains remarkable. Paschal had back surgery last offseason. His prior issues included melanoma that metastasized in his foot, knee problems, and a hamstring issue. He missed last season for a back problem. Availability will decide their paths.Pro Bowl Note: Goff Finds St. BrownThe Pro Bowl shifted to flag football and still offered a Detroit moment. A switch of the channel landed on Jared Goff delivering a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. It is not tackle football. Accept that and the pace can be enjoyable. The connection was a quick reminder of timing and touch, even in an all star setting.The Detroit Lions Podcast goes live tonight at 8 PM with Chris to dig deeper into the cap ripple and the defensive line outlook. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #levionwuzurike #joshpaschal #non-footballinjurylist #contractstolled #teamcontrolinto2026 #playingtimeincentive #$2millionsigningbonus #likely-to-be-earnedincentive #rookiecontractfinalyear #tornacl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior Bowl standouts for DetroitRussell Brown and Jeff Risdon turned Senior Bowl week into an NFL reality check on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Mobile is hard to reach. This year it was worse. Flights through Atlanta and Charlotte snarled schedules. Players spent extra hours in airports, then dove straight into meetings and practices. Every prospect met with all 32 teams. Some chats lasted five minutes. Others stretched to forty five. Minds raced. Bodies adjusted to new time zones.Then came the field work. Wide receivers faced corners they had never seen. Quarterbacks threw to targets they had never met. Timing lagged. Some passes sailed high. The context mattered. It was not a polished team practice. It was a showcase under unfamiliar circumstances, with coaches installing concepts on the fly and players trying to absorb it all.Practice winners with a Detroit lensOne offensive winner stood out. Wyoming tight end John Michael Gillenborg flashed real juice. He is a former basketball player who played only three high school football games after COVID wiped out his senior year. Athlete first, growing football player second. In one on one drills he was a problem. He separated cleanly. He was uncoverable for stretches. Safeties and linebackers struggled to mirror him in space.His game performance did not match the practices. The hosts said it plainly. The week still helped him. Movement skills at that size are hard to teach. A slot tight end who wins on timing and leverage translates. One linebacker did hold up well in coverage during those periods, a note that sharpened the evaluation of the tight end work. Even with the natural advantage for tight ends in those drills, Gillenborg’s get off and pace changes carried weight.Installs and scheme shifts test prospectsThe install meetings mattered as much as the reps. Players jumped into systems that did not mirror their college playbooks. Think of a running back used to inside and outside zone suddenly asked to run duo. That changes everything. An offensive lineman who rarely worked a deuce block now has to climb to a linebacker on a different track. In zone you lean on the drag hand and cross the face of the nearest defender to pin and create a lane. Duo shifts the aiming points and the communication. Those are real stressors on short notice.What it means for DetroitThe Detroit Lions value how players handle chaos. One bad Tuesday does not define a prospect in the NFL. Meetings, installs, and adaptability do. Gillenborg’s week offered a profile worth tracking for a Detroit offense that prizes matchups in the middle of the field. The linebacker who showed coverage chops added another data point on the defensive side. For the Lions, the smart move is weighing practice tape, mental processing, and the ability to translate coaching quickly. Senior Bowl week delivered all three. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvW-U57A_nc #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seniorbowl #johnmichaelgyllenborg #one-on-onedrills #linebackercoverage #safetiesandlinebackers #insidezone #outsidezone #duoblocking #interviewswithall32teams #timezoneadjustment #flightdelaysinatlantaandcharlotte Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NFL salary cap is set to clear $301 million. That surge changes the Detroit Lions math. Default figures still place the Lions a few million over, as with the rest of the NFC North, but routine moves and rollover can flip the ledger fast. The Detroit Lions Podcast drills into who and what unlocks space, and how it shapes spring decisions.Cap Surge Reshapes Detroit’s OptionsLeague guidance pegs the 2026 cap north of $301 million, with projections ranging from about $301.2 million to $305.7 million. Five seasons ago it sat near $208 million. Revenue is up. So are choices.On default calculations, the Lions sit roughly $7.65 million over. There is a straightforward release or restructure lever at guard. Moving on from Graham Glasgow would free about $5.56 million. If he returns, it should be in a supporting role, not at a starter’s rate. Restructure pathways also exist, including converting portions of Jared Goff’s money into guarantees to smooth the hit. The menu is familiar. The new cap ceiling makes each option more palatable.David Montgomery remains a core piece. The expectation here is that he stays. The bigger picture is flexibility. Detroit can clear room without gutting its identity.Roster Decisions: Glasgow, Anzalone, RaymondThe higher cap improves odds for continuity on defense. Bringing back linebacker Alex Anzalone is more feasible now. He handled the defensive calls, played well last season, and stayed on the field. Keeping the ringleader in the middle adds stability as the Lions push for more in the NFL postseason.Kalif Raymond is a pending free agent. He has been the No. 4 wide receiver and a trusted returner. Detroit drafted Dominic Lovett as a projected successor, but Lovett did not see the field on offense. If Raymond is open to returning as a primary return specialist, that path aligns with an offense that leans into two wide receivers and two tight ends.Glasgow remains the cleanest cap lever. If not released, a pay cut or restructure fits. Either way, the cap jump gives Detroit Lions decision-makers a buffer to keep preferred pieces together.QB2 and Coaching NotesThe cap rise also eases a practical question at quarterback. Retaining Kyle Allen as the backup in the $3 million range makes sense. He was solid last summer and looked better than his prior tape suggested.Coaching movement around the NFL has settled at the top, but Detroit still needs a tight ends coach. Dan Skipper is a sensible in-house option. He logged more than 400 snaps as an extra offensive lineman in heavy packages and knows the operation. He could also slot as an offensive assistant if that’s the better fit.There is talk out of Chicago that JT Barrett could become offensive coordinator under Ben Johnson. Chicago moved on from its OC and is surveying options. For the Lions, the immediate task is simple. Leverage the cap windfall, lock in key voices, and keep the program’s rhythm intact. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #detroitlionssalarycap #nflcap301million #grahamglasgowsalary #zionyoung #danskipper #jtbarrett #tannerengstrand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit locks in OT at 17Mock Draft 1.0 on the Detroit Lions Podcast set the board with a clear priority. Offensive tackle at No. 17. The choice is Utah’s Caleb Lomu. The approach mirrors the current reality. Taylor Decker played through a shoulder injury and a potential retirement hovers. Operate as if Decker will not be back. If he returns, that is preferred. A rookie develops behind veterans and the line stays stout. This is about protecting Jared Goff and sustaining a top NFL front five.Caleb Lomu scouting snapshotLomu brings outstanding athleticism and smooth movement in space. His footwork on the edge is clean. He rarely opens the gate and gives up the corner to bend rushers. He uses length well. If he is beaten initially, he shows quick reaction and recovers. That recovery mirrors what the Lions need on the left side. It also covers for breakdowns that happen on long downs. The cons are real. He will be 24 as a rookie, almost as old as Penei Sewell. He does not move people in the run game. Power rushers can get into his pads and walk him back. Functional strength must improve. Add eight to ten pounds and those issues tighten up. Among the two Utah tackles, Spencer Fano looks better right now. In two years, Lomu’s ceiling could be higher. Less mileage. More room to grow. The fit in Detroit works. The profile matches the offense and the locker room.Derek Moore's Senior Bowl surgeDay two brings a Senior Bowl riser. Michigan edge Derek Moore flashed an upper tier week. His Michigan tape had peaks and long quiet stretches. Splash or invisible. In Mobile he stacked more consistent reps. One stood out. Aligned on the edge, he collapsed the blocker inside and forced the run into the A gap. That is assignment sound football. That translates to the Lions front. It shows he can anchor, set an edge, and still chase. He is a little smaller for the role, but the technique win matters. The arrow is up.What changes before the draftThis is an early guess. Only one mock each year reflects personal board. The rest project what the Detroit Lions will do. The NFL combine hits at the end of the month. Pro days follow. Those trips produce fresh data from scouts and coaches. Notes from the road sharpen the board and the next iteration gets tighter. For now, tackle at 17 with Lomu, then Moore as the front seven boost. Needs met. Upside secured. The plan holds until new information moves it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #caleblomu #utahutestackle #taylordeckershoulder #taylordeckerpotentialretirement #peneisewell #detroitlionsoffensiveline #lefttacklerecovery #bullrushpower #rungamemovement #spencerfano #derekmoore #michiganpassrusher #seniorbowlweek #agapspill #combineatendofmonth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Tackle Tops the Lions’ Offseason ListSenior Bowl week set the tone in Mobile. The Shrine Bowl wrapped the other night. Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown are deep in practice tape on the Detroit Lions Podcast. The conversation zeroed in on offensive tackle and how it drives every Detroit Lions decision.Offensive tackle is the biggest need for this roster. Outside of Penei Sewell, the future at left or right tackle is unclear. Decker’s status is not defined. That uncertainty elevates tackle above every other position.You can patch the interior with a veteran and a younger center. Graham Glasgow remains in place. That worst case is manageable. The priority is tackle.Sewell at Left or Right: Where the Value LivesIn a perfect world, you would not move what might be the best right tackle in football. Sewell fits that bill. Disrupting that matters.Yet it is easier to find a right tackle than a premium left tackle in the NFL. Sewell can be a strong left tackle. The best team-first move could be shifting him left if the rookie fits better on the right.Conversely, if pick 17 yields a true college left tackle, keep Sewell at right tackle. Let the rookie learn and possibly sit behind Decker for a half season. The player dictates the plan. The larger question remains whether you should move a foundational piece at all.Draft Board at 17 and BeyondAt pick 17, a few intriguing tackles could reach Detroit. One or two at the very top likely will not. The board will decide how aggressive the Lions must be.This offensive line class looks deeper than expected. There may be fewer elite names at the top, but there is quality through the first two rounds. Options exist at 17 and again around pick 50. The further down the list you go, the more developmental tackles you can target.Interior paths also exist. The mix could include Chris Mahogany, Kate Ratlitsch, and Mills Frazier, with Graham Glasgow in the room. That flexibility allows a rookie tackle to grow while the line holds together opposite Sewell.Senior Bowl practices are on day three, technically day four of the week. Shrine Bowl work is in the books. Those sessions shape the board and the fit at tackle. A fuller recap of both events comes next week. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #seniorbowl #shrinebowl #pick17 #peneisewell #decker #righttackle #lefttackle #interioroffensiveline #grahamglasgow #offensivelineclass #offensivetackle #practicetape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Risdon welcomed Tyler Brown of Best Available after a long, weather-chopped week inside The Star in Frisco. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on access, evaluation, and Detroit Lions offensive line priorities. All 32 NFL teams showed up. The vantage points were elite. The stories were close to the grass.The Star Delivers Rare Access and AnglesBrown’s first trip to the facility impressed him. He called The Star absurd in the best way. The complex felt brand new. Frisco is its own scene, and it shows. He understood why they host state championships there.Weather shut down much of what surrounded the event, but the on-field work kept rolling. Media access stood out. Credentialed reporters could walk up and talk to people without stigma. Brown even spent about twenty minutes chatting with Dante Corleone during practice while the defensive tackle was hurt. The week ended with a brutal exit from Dallas for Brown. Two days. Twenty-seven hours. One flight day. He still called it worth it.Scouts Pack the Sideline as All 32 EvaluateScouts were everywhere. The setup allowed personnel and media to stand right on the sideline, only a couple feet from one-on-one drills. You could slide into the stands and jump to the end zone for a different look in seconds. That flexibility mattered when team periods started.Both Brown and Risdon prefer the end zone view for team work. Risdon even noted he leaves the press box at Western Michigan to watch from the end zone front row. The Star let them simulate that angle for NFL-caliber talent. It felt like the same sightline scouts used.Lions Notes: OL Search and Dan Skipper’s Next StepThe Detroit Lions need offensive line help. Everyone does, but this roster needs both tackles and guards. The conversation was set to start inside. Interior linemen drew attention during the week. The proximity to drills made it simple to focus on hand placement, anchor, and recovery in live reps.One Detroit note stood out. Dan Skipper was on the field as one of the Lions coaches just days after he retired. Brown caught up with him on the sideline. Skipper sounded energized about coaching and eager to get started. That is a notable development for a locker room that values continuity and voice in the trenches.The week at The Star offered uncommon clarity. Sideline access. End zone angles. Scouts elbow to elbow. A quick chat with Dante Corleone. And a sharpened picture of the Detroit Lions’ offensive line priorities as the NFL calendar turns to team-building. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #thestarinfrisco #all32teams #sidelineaccess #one-on-onedrills #endzoneview #offensivelinehelp #interioroffensiveline #danskipper #dantecorleone #credentialedmedia #westernmichiganendzone #scoutseverywhere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices