Open Rants by kirmie

I'm going to use this post to ramble about my thoughts on the positional needs for the Lions in the coming offseason. For the TL;DR version skip to the bottom.

QB:

This position is fine. Stafford is still under a heavy contract with talent that shows when the OL gets the job done. Orlovsky could be replaced with somebody in the draft so a high QB choice wouldn't exactly shock me. I think it is more likely that Orlovsky stays and a FA or late draft pick is brought in to compete with him.

RB:

Ameer Abdullah has talent as a runner, but likely won't be given full reign so he needs a running mate. Bell has had issues, but has improved as the season has gone on. Possibly due to multiple surgeries in the offseason. Theo Riddick has the pass catching role down pat as he improves his pass blocking. Zach Zenner was intriguing before his injury and will be in the mix next year as his injury shouldn't have any long term effects (ribs and lung). I think the Lions ignore this position unless they can get a power back they really like to complement Abdullah. This could be early in the draft for a guy like Ezekiel Elliot, but the position could be ignored entirely.

Abdullah and Riddick are the only ones guaranteed to have a job next year with Riddick likely being extended. Bell, Zenner, George Winn, and any draftee will compete for the power back role to supplement them. Unless Bell improves my guess is Zenner wins the job and Winn is the backup thanks to being cheap and his special teams play.

WR:

Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate have the top two positions locked up. Lance Moore and TJ Jones look to have the role of slot receiver down when Tate isn't there. Tate excels in the slot, but the Lions issue is that Corey Fuller hasn't progressed enough as an outside deep threat to have on the field often enough. A high pick could be used on a deep threat outside receiver to allow Tate to do his thing more often and give Stafford a better downfield target opposite of CJ. Though the team can get by without upgrading here.

I think that the Lions will attempt to do with CJ what was done with Larry Fitzgerald.  A new contract with guaranteed money that reduces his pay. Lance Moore should be back at the vet minimum again.

TE:

Eric Ebron has talent with drops while Brandon Pettigrew tore his ACL and Tim Wright blocks worse than a speed bump since a speed bump at least won't jump out of the way. Tim Wright should be considered a possession WR so he won't have to practice lining up as a blocker anymore. This position could be addressed in the draft. Most likely a blocking TE would be picked up. Bear Pascoe will likely stay with the team to compete for the blocking TE role.

OT:

Riley Reiff is the only "sure" thing at this position, though Michael Ola has been a decent find at RT. The Lions look like they want to get a better LT and move Reiff to the right side. Look for an OT to be picked up in free agency with the Lions looking for an OT early.

Last year's 7th round pick Corey Robinson was a project and still seems to be stuck behind Cornelius Lucas. Neither of which the Lions seem to have much faith in. Lucas seemed to regress compared to last year, but then again so did LaAdrian Waddle. Waddle regressed enough after his injury that the Lions cut him rather than having him play a backup role which surprised quite a few people. It is possible that Lombardi and the OL coaches who were fired really messed up the Lions OL this year so there may be improvement for 2016. It is also possible that the OL failed because the defenses in the first half of 2015 were better than the ones face in the second half so improvement isn't something anybody will be banking on. The number of mental mistakes early this year that seem to have really tapered off since the firings is a good sign though.

OG:

Larry Warford is still the RG for the future, though he has had a down year. First round pick Laken Tomlinson has improved, but hasn't played great. I still expect Tomlinson to be the LG next year. The Lions will be looking for another OG as a backup. Michael Ola could be that backup if the Lions find another OT, but I at least expect a veteran free agent to be signed. Possibly re-signing  Manny Ramirez if he is willing to come cheap enough.

C:

Travis Swanson has been mediocre this year and it seems like more of the line calls have moved to Stafford of late. The Lions could address this position early in the draft or free agency similar to OT. In that case Swanson would likely revert to a OG/C backup role and the Lions would be set at OG.

Summary:

The Lions have a few specific needs on offense for free agency and the draft.

1. At least one OL. Either a OT or OC. How this is address depends on free agency and who is available when the Lions pick.
   
2. A blocking/all round TE to replace the injured and overpaid Pettigrew.
3. A deep threat WR to compliment CJ and Tate.
4. A power RB.

TE is a bigger need than WR, but it should be easier to address cheaply in free agency so WR will be the more pressing need when it comes to the draft. I highly doubt that TE is address any earlier than the 4th round.