After a wave of encouraging developments this offseason, the Detroit Lions now face a wave of scrutiny that casts some shadows over their momentum.
While the summer months bring warmth, beach days, and long evenings, they also come without the thrill of Detroit Lions football. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait much longer—Detroit opens their 2025-26 campaign with a road clash against the Green Bay Packers on September 7.
The offseason has offered mixed signals. On one hand, numerous Lions players have received recognition as top performers in their respective roles across the league. On the other, the team has experienced notable departures from their coaching staff, losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators. Head coach Dan Campbell now faces the challenge of maintaining the team’s upward trajectory with a reshuffled staff.
Adding to that uncertainty is fresh criticism surrounding Detroit’s offseason choices. Although it’s unclear whether these doubts will translate into on-field struggles, it’s sparked debate. So now seems like a fitting time to evaluate the team’s recent moves and how they stack up.
ESPN’s Review Raises Eyebrows About Detroit’s Offseason
Recently, ESPN’s Seth Walder analyzed every NFL team’s offseason strategy, and Detroit didn’t exactly ace the report card. He praised the team for signing cornerback D.J. Reed, viewing it as their best move. However, he criticized their draft decisions, particularly selecting defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and wideout Isaac TeSlaa—two picks he labeled as stretches.
The Lions earned a B- for their offseason performance, a score that’s respectable but far from elite. For perspective, the Chicago Bears also received a B-, so Detroit isn’t alone in that middling category.
Walder pointed out that Detroit’s recent success created new challenges—most notably, the loss of both coordinators to head coaching jobs. With John Morton taking over as offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard promoted to lead the defense, Campbell’s hires will likely play a pivotal role in how 2025 unfolds.
Roster Stability Offers a Silver Lining
Despite the coaching shuffle, the player roster remains largely intact, which could serve as a foundation for continued success. Walder acknowledged that the team’s personnel hasn’t seen much turnover—a potential advantage as they adapt to new coaching voices.
Still, Walder’s primary concern stemmed from the NFL Draft. He argued that Detroit overreached for Williams in Round 1 and traded up too aggressively for TeSlaa in Round 3, calling it a pattern of inefficient drafting by the current front office.
Whether those choices pay off will become clearer once the season begins. For now, while the Lions remain a promising team on paper, they have plenty to prove when the real action starts in September.
