Lions News: ESPN grades Detroit’s offseason as top-10 in NFL
From left, Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58), guard Tate Ratledge (69), center Cade Mays (64) and offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (73) before OTAs at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesDid the Detroit Lions get better this offseason?
It's a question that we won't know the answer to until after the 2026 season is over. There were certainly a lot of notable losses this offseason, including Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and David Montgomery, among others. But the Lions also did add Cade Mays, DJ Wonnum, Roger McCreary, Christian Izien, and Chuck Clark. Additionally, they are hoping the development of players like Tyleik Williams, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, and Isaac TeSlaa helps improve the core of the team.
This week, ESPN's Seth Walder took a crack at grading every team's offseason. This is not a measure of talent gained vs. talent lost, but rather every decision each team had to make.
Walder's opinion of the Lions' offseason was pretty average. He gave Detroit a B grade, which is tied for ninth best in the NFL-six other teams also graded out with a B.
Interestingly, Walder's favorite move was trading David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.
Perhaps Detroit's best move of the offseason wasdealing Montgomeryfor a fourth-round pick, seventh-round pick and OLJuice Scruggs," Walder wrote. Any time a team can get that type of draft capital for a 29-year-old backup running back, it has to jump at the chance. The Lions were right to do so even thoughIsiah Pacheco, who theysigned in free agency, will likely be a downgrade."
Even more shocking was Walder's least-favorite move: giving All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell an extension. But he didn't offer much negativity on the move.
The Lions also locked up Campbell to afour-year, $81 million extension, securing the linebacker for years to come. That strikes me as a little rich for Campbell, but not wildly out of line," Walder said.
Walder was apparently a pretty big fan of the entire NFC North's offseason. The Bears and Packers both got a B+, while the Vikings were just behind the group with a B- grade.
Check out the whole article here.
- In The Feed a nice reminder of the humanity regarding the Terrion Arnold situation from 1951LION:
- Interesting column here from Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com: Five stats that stand out heading into the 2025 season.
- For the David Montgomery fans, he joined the Deebo & Joe podcast and shared some inspirational poetry (entire show is here):
David Montgomery came through and showed us one of his hidden talents, poetry. Enjoy the poem Fear" by D-Mo @jharrison9292 | @joehaden23 | @MontgomerDavid | #DeeboAndJoepic.twitter.com/gjXgv5XX9K
- Deebo & Joe (@deeboandjoe) June 30, 2026
- Another 53-man Detroit Lions roster prediction. This one courtesy of Detroit Football Network's Justin Rogers.