Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions star Jared Goff feels "empowered" as he approaches his first season with his new team.

"I think that's been a healthy relationship and something that's been fun for me to experience and be a part of guys that are really wanting to hear from me and wanting to hear what I like," Goff told reporters Tuesday.

The 26-year-old added that while there were moments when he felt that way with the Los Angeles Rams there were also times where it wasn't like that: "It's a little bit of both."

"It's been really cool and I've had a lot of fun having that ownership and being able to really use my strengths and use my knowledge and use what I know and at the same time continue to learn from these guys," he said of his new team.

Goff alluded to his frustration in Los Angeles in February after the Rams agreed to trade him to Detroit. He told the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer he came to feel unwanted by the Rams, which led to him feel equally ambivalent toward the team.

ESPN's Lindsey Thiry detailed how the relationship between Rams head coach Sean McVay and Goff started to show cracks as Goff struggled in 2019 and steadily became more strained in 2020.

"Ultimately, the merger between the Type A, football-hyper personality of McVay and the laid-back Goff didn't work," Thiry wrote.

Naturally it makes sense for Goff to feel better on a new team. The question is how long the honeymoon period will last.

The Lions didn't draft a quarterback-in-waiting, so the two-time Pro Bowler is clearly the No. 1 guy.

But the Lions also didn't do a whole lot to improve their passing game. They signed Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams and selected USC wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round.

Goff threw for 3,952 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2020, and improving upon those numbers might be difficult with the weapons at his disposal right now.

While he's signed through 2024, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick might effectively be looking at a two-year window in which to prove himself in Detroit.

Come 2023, the Lions would absorb $10 million in dead money but save nearly $20.7 million by cutting Goff, per Spotrac. That $10 million dead cap hit could be spread equally across 2023 and 2024 if he were a post-June 1 cut.

Ryan Tannehill is the obvious model for Goff. Tannehill's value during the 2019 offseason was so low the Miami Dolphins paid a portion of his outstanding compensation to facilitate his trade to the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old has since enjoyed a renaissance.

Should Goff fail to improve in Detroit, though, the Lions might reach the same conclusion about his long-term outlook that the Rams did.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Thursday the team is in contract discussions with free-agent running back Todd Gurley.

"We have interest in Todd, we do. And we're talking with his agent," Campbell told reporters.

The Lions signed running back Jamaal Williams, who spent the past four years with the Green Bay Packers, in free agency to bolster their backfield depth behind projected starter D'Andre Swift. They also selected Jermar Jefferson out of Oregon State in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Gurley would likely be the most direct threat to Swift's playing time in a role similar to the one Adrian Peterson filled last season. Peterson finished as Detroit's leading rusher (604 yards).

Swift, a 2020 second-round pick, said he'd welcome the fellow University of Georgia product with open arms if he's signed.

"Knowledge. Experience. I'd be happy if he come here as well," Swift said. "I just want to compete with these guys. Just to have him in the building, that'd be good."

Gurley was among the NFL's most valuable playmakers during his time with the Los Angeles Rams. He led the league in yards from scrimmage (2,093) and touchdowns (19) in 2017, and he topped the NFL again with 21 scores in 2018.

The 26-year-old Maryland native's production dropped off over the past two years because of knee problems. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry between the 2019 campaign in L.A. and his one-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.

Swift looked like a potential breakout star for 2021 as the leader in the Detroit backfield, but signing Gurley would probably take away 10 to 12 touches per week. It could also impact Swift's usage rates in the red zone and other short-yardage situations.

Campbell didn't provide a timetable for when they'll make a final decision about the possible Gurley addition.

Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift says he would welcome free agent Todd Gurley if the team signs him.

"I'd be happy if he came here as well," Swift said Sunday, per Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire. "I just want to compete with these guys. Just to have him in the building, that'd be good."

Gurley visited the Lions last week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Swift said the veteran would bring "knowledge" and "experience" to the Lions.

Gurley is less than three years removed from being one of the top running backs in the NFL, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2018. He led the league with 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in 2017 and was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. 

The 26-year-old has slowed down over the past two years but contributed 678 rushing yards and nine touchdowns with the Falcons in 15 games last season.

He could help replace the production provided by Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson last season. Peterson led the Lions with 604 rushing yards in 2020.

However, he would likely take playing time away from Swift. The 2020 second-round draft pick came into last year with high expectations but struggled to get on the field, playing 38 percent of the offensive snaps.

The Lions have signed running back Jamaal Williams but seem to be looking for more help in the backfield.

Swift averaged 4.6 yards per carry and totaled 10 touchdowns as a rookie, but a breakout might not come if he has to share playing time.

Free-agent running back Todd Gurley II is reportedly meeting with the Detroit Lions. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the three-time Pro Bowler is visiting with Lions coaches Thursday. 

Gurley is familiar with Lions quarterback Jared Goff from their time as teammates with the Los Angeles Rams. 

The Lions have two starting-caliber running backs. D'Andre Swift is poised to take over as the No. 1 guy after splitting carries with Adrian Peterson last season. 

Detroit also signed Jamaal Williams to a two-year contract when free agency began in March. The 26-year-old had 2,946 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Behind Swift and Williams, the rest of Detroit's backfield depth chart features rookies. Jermar Jefferson was a seventh-round draft pick out of Oregon State. They also signed Rakeem Boyd and Dedrick Mills as undrafted free agents. 

Gurley spent the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons. He finished the year with 842 yards from scrimmage and nine rushing touchdowns on 220 touches in 15 games. 

Matt Campbell apparently could have been the head coach of the Detroit Lions.

According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports (h/t Garrett Stepien of 247Sports), the Iowa State head coach turned down an eight-year, $68.5 million contract offer from the NFC North team. Instead, he chose to remain at the collegiate level with the Cyclones, and the Lions hired Dan Campbell.

The Lions weren't the only NFL team reportedly interested in Campbell, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported in January that the New York Jets were "very high" on the 41-year-old.

However, Iowa State announced in February that it signed the coach to a three-year extension. His deal now runs through the 2028 campaign and features "a total of $3 million for staff salary enhancements over the next three years."

That Campbell stayed is welcome news for Iowa State, as the program has improved from its 3-9 mark in his first season in 2016.

The Cyclones went 9-3 during the 2020 campaign and defeated Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. They also figure to challenge in the Big 12 again in 2021 thanks to the return of quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall.

Iowa State checked in at No. 6 in Bleacher Report's January "super-early" rankings.

As for Detroit, it missed the playoffs in each of the last four years and finished in last place in the NFC North in each of the last three. While taking the Lions job would have given Campbell an opportunity to move to the NFL level, the team isn't exactly built for immediate success.

That stands in contrast to the Cyclones at this point.

Matthew Stafford called his decision to request a trade from the Detroit Lions "the most difficult thing I’ve ever done" in an interview with Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

"I have so much respect for that organization, the Ford family, the guys who had played in that uniform before me," Stafford said. "There was a lot that went into that that I had to think about.

"I told them, 'I’m not going to say a word to anybody that’s going to say a word. Not until you guys are ready.' It was vice versa. In this day of social media and everybody trying to get the scoop, that’s not something that happens very often. I’m obviously excited about the new opportunity and happy it shook out the way it did. I feel like both teams got a fair shake out of this thing, and we can move on with everybody feeling good about it."

Stafford sought a trade to a contending team this offseason after spending his first 13 seasons in Detroit, setting nearly every Lions passing record. The Lions, in the midst of a rebuild, sent Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange or two first-round picks (2022, 2023), a 2021 third-round pick and Jared Goff.

The deal united Stafford with Rams coach Sean McVay, a pre-existing connection foraged by Stafford's wife, Kelly. McVay and Kelly Stafford's brother, Buffalo Bills receivers coach Chad Hall, are friends.

Matthew Stafford said Kelly played a large part in helping him make the decision to leave Detroit.

"It started casually probably with just my wife and I," he said. "She saw everything I put into this game and that team and that city, everything I had given. She had a front-row seat for that. She would talk to me about it, we would talk to each other."

The Rams are hoping McVay can make Stafford the type of consistent star-level performer he never was with Detroit. For as much handwringing as there was the last two years about Goff's performance in Los Angles, he actually has two Pro Bowl selections to Stafford's one.

The Lions also made the playoffs only three times in Stafford's tenure and went 0-3. Goff spearheaded a Super Bowl appearance just three years ago. 

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell reportedly signed his rookie contract with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday after the Lions selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Sewell and the Lions agreed to a four-year, $24.1 million deal that is fully guaranteed. The contract also includes a $14.88 million signing bonus.

Sewell was the first non-skill position player to come off the board in the 2021 NFL draft, as three quarterbacks, one tight end and two wide receivers went before him.

As one of the most highly touted offensive linemen to enter the pro ranks in years, Sewell did not disappoint during his time at Oregon.

Sewell started all seven games he played in as a freshman and then reached elite status as a sophomore in 2019, earning unanimous All-American honors. He also won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the country.

The American Samoa native did not get the opportunity to build on his success in 2020, as he opted out of last season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was some question regarding whether he or Northwestern's Rashawn Slater would be the first offensive lineman off the board in the 2021 NFL draft, but Sewell ultimately went six picks higher.

Sewell is expected to step in and start right away as a rookie at one of the tackle positions, with 2016 first-round pick Taylor Decker occupying the other spot.

There isn't much expected out from the Lions in 2021 after they traded longtime starting quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, but Sewell could be one of their biggest keys to success.

If Sewell is able to protect newly acquired quarterback Jared Goff and pave the way for running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, the Lions could potentially be a tougher challenge than anticipated this season.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is ready to risk just about anything for a Super Bowl title. 

In an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, the incoming first-year head coach said he would give up an arm if it meant bringing a championship to Detroit (at the 1:20 mark). 

Dan Campbell wants to have a actual pet lion who follows him around this year at the team facilty, and he would feed him arm to it for a superbowl. Football guy @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/6bPjVzdvXG

— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) May 17, 2021

Campbell also said he wants to have a live lion with him as a pet at the team facility. 

There's certainly some interesting tactics at play here for Campbell, a former Lions tight end who is in his first stint as full-time head coach after serving as an assistant on the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins staffs. 

New Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford commented Wednesday on facing the Detroit Lions during the 2021 season.

As part of NFL Network's 2021 NFL schedule reveal, Stafford was asked about going up against his former team for the first time (beginning at the 2:20 mark):

On the schedule for Matthew Stafford and the @RamsNFL in 2021...

Some familiar faces from the NFC North. (via @nflnetwork)

📺: #NFLScheduleRelease live on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/zjU3vLjNzQ

— NFL (@NFL) May 13, 2021

Stafford said: "It'll be different. It's something I've never obviously experienced since I've played for the same franchise for 12 years, so this will be a new one for me. Obviously, a bunch of great friends on the other side of the ball and an organization I care a lot about, but that weekend I'll be doing everything I can to make sure that we come out on top."

The Rams will host the Lions at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Oct. 24 in a Week 7 clash that will represent Stafford's first time facing the team he spent the first 12 years of his career with.

While Stafford is the greatest quarterback in Lions history from a statistical standpoint, the 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick only led Detroit to the playoffs three times in 12 seasons and never won a postseason game.

Despite that, the Rams view Stafford as the key to getting back to the Super Bowl, as they dealt 2022 and 2023 first-round picks and a 2021 third-rounder and quarterback Jared Goff to Detroit in exchange for the veteran signal-caller.

It was just three years ago that Goff, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, led the Rams to the Super Bowl where they lost to the New England Patriots.

Goff was a Pro Bowler that season with 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns that season, but his production dropped off the past two years, combining for just 42 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 2019 and 2020.

While Goff did lead L.A. to the postseason and a playoff win last season, he seemed to be among the weakest links on a team with an elite defense and talented playmakers on offense.

The hope in Los Angeles is that head coach Sean McVay will be able to get the most out of the 33-year-old Stafford and guide him to one of the most productive seasons of his career.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Goff will look to prove in Detroit that he is still a capable starting quarterback in the NFL who could be the long-term answer under center for the Lions.

With both Stafford and Goff likely to face their former teams in Week 7 barring injury, there promises to be a ton of interest in that game among NFL fans.

A new era for the Detroit Lions will try to yield different results after four straight years without a playoff berth.

Dan Campbell has taken over at head coach after three disappointing seasons under Matt Patricia, and he will bring an intense personality to get the most out of his players.

There is also a notable change at quarterback after 12 years with Matthew Stafford under center. Jared Goff is looking to turn things around after coming over in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams, giving the squad a fresh start at the position.

There will be high expectations around running back D'Andre Swift after he displayed plenty of upside as a rookie last season. 

It could be enough to compete for a postseason spot if the team can navigate the upcoming schedule, courtesy of the Lions official Twitter account.        

Here's how it lines up for the 2021 season 🗓 pic.twitter.com/jRRgaHDblH

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 12, 2021

     

Analysis

While much of the focus this offseason was on an offense that lost Stafford, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, the defense is a greater concern after finishing dead last in the NFL in both points and yards allowed.

Keeping Romeo Okwara was a good move, but there were few notable additions in free agency to make this unit stronger in 2021.

That could be an issue in games against explosive offenses belonging to teams like the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. These teams can pick up yards through the air or on the ground, and the Lions will have a difficult time stopping any of them.

Detroit will need young players such as Jeffrey Okudah and Jahlani Tavai to take major leaps this offseason to keep the squad in games, while rookies Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill could have big roles early.

With strong defensive squads like the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers also on the schedule, there will be few opportunities for easy wins throughout the year.

       

Pivotal Matchups

Divisional battles always get attention, but the biggest highlight on the schedule is on Oct. 24 when the Lions travel to face the Rams.

The two teams were part of one of the most notable moves of the offseason with L.A. getting Stafford in exchange for Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and two future first-round picks.

Goff will hope to show Los Angeles it made a mistake by giving up on him too soon. Despite criticism in recent years, he has been selected to two Pro Bowls and is averaging 4,271 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns over the past four years.

If the 26-year-old plays to his potential, he could be a difference-maker in Detroit.

The strengthened offensive line will certainly help with Penei Sewell likely immediately entering the starting lineup.

Another important pair of matchups will come against the Minnesota Vikings, which have won seven straight games against the Lions dating back to 2017.

The Vikings haven't been world-beaters in this stretch, but Detroit has been unable to solve them. Finding success against these divisional rivals will go a long way toward the Lions getting back on track overall.