Yesterday, I analyzed the need rankings of the defense. Today, let’s analyze the offense. To recap, the total need score is a combination of pure positional need plus medical concern level. The higher the total score, the greater the need heading into the draft.
(Age at the start of the 2025 season.) Starters in bold.
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OFFENSIVE GUARD / CENTER
∎Frank Ragnow (29) has had a chronic toe issue for years, but only missed one game last season due to a minor pec strain. He is signed through 2026.
∎Graham Glasgow (33) missed a game with an unspecified knee and was listed with a knee on another occasion during the season. He had a down year which possibly could be due to a chronic or recurrent knee issue. If it’s a healable injury, maybe he has a bounce-back year which would be valuable since he is signed through 2026.
∎Christian Mahogany (24) missed half of his rookie season due to mono but that is of no concern going forward. Of some concern is that he was wearing a right knee brace all last season and has a history of a 2022 right ACL. While he performed well in limited action, this 6th-rounder still needs to prove himself as he enters the 2nd year of his 4-year rookie deal.
∎Kayode Awosika (26) and Michael Niese (27) should serve as healthy reserves. Awosika has started multiple games the past two seasons. Both are on 1-year deals.
∎Giovanni Manu (24) could be in the mix at OG as he enters the 2nd year of his 4-year rookie contract.
∎Netane Muti (26) was signed this offseason to a 1-year contract but has a worrisome injury history (pec rupture, Lisfranc, Achilles).
Positional need 3/5
The big questions are if Glasgow can return to form and if Mahogany can become an effective, full-time starter. Even if both answers are yes, there may be a need for a young prospect, as Ragnow and Glasgow are advancing in age.
Medical concern 3/5
The health and reliability of Mahogany and Glasgow is a question mark going into next season. Ragnow is currently doing well but has had an accumulation of injuries over his career.
Total score 6/10
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OFFENSIVE TACKLE
∎Penei Sewell (24) is young, healthy, and elite. In the playoff game last season, his left knee was hyperflexed, but it seems he dodged any significant injury. Also last season, a couple minor ankle sprains were seen, but he has still played every game the past three seasons. He is signed through 2029.
∎Taylor Decker (32) is performing well but has had some health issues recently, including a toe sesamoidectomy last offseason. Last season, he missed time with a right MCL/ankle and a rotator cuff. He signed a 3-year extension in 2024 which ends after the 2027 season.
∎Dan Skipper (30) was available in every game last season, even as he played through a suspected rib injury. There are no health concerns going forward for him. He signed a 1-year deal this offseason.
∎Giovanni Manu (24) and Colby Sorsdal (25) are healthy but unproven backups. Sorsdal enters the 3rd year of his 4-year rookie contract.
Positional need 1/5
The starters are strong and Skipper performed admirably last year when Decker was out for three games. The group has a young, developmental prospect in Manu who they traded up in the draft for last year. Overall, the position seems to be well-rounded for the short and long-term especially if Manu gets anywhere close to his high ceiling.
Medical concern 2/5
Decker is getting up there in age and has a toe issue that could cause problems at any point. The rest of the players are healthy.
Total score 3/10
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WIDE RECEIVER
∎Amon-Ra St. Brown (25) has been a rock-solid, elite player in his career and is still very young. He played all games last season and has no health concerns. He is signed through the 2028 season.
∎Jameson Williams (24) has proven to be a dangerous big-play threat after fully recovering from his 2022 ACL. His 5th-year option will likely be picked up which keeps him with the team through 2026.
∎Tim Patrick (31) was reliable and productive last season after missing the prior two seasons with an ACL and Achilles injury. He is on a 1-year deal.
∎Kalif Raymond (31) missed five games last season with a foot injury but has been a reliable, effective #3/#4 WR. He is in the last year of his deal.
∎The back-end depth is shaky with Antoine Green (25) who missed all season with a concussion, Tom Kennedy (29) who has been minimally utilized, and recently signed Ronnie Bell (25) who was dumped by the 49ers.
Positional need 2/5
The Lions have a good mix of players for next season but could use more depth. Looking long-term, St. Brown and Williams are under team control for at least two more seasons, but there is a need for young #3-#5 WR’s who have the potential to elevate if Williams is not extended.
Medical concern 1/5
The top two guys are healthy and reliable. Tim Patrick is the only significant reliability concern going forward among the top four.
Total score 3/10
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QUARTERBACK
∎Jared Goff (30) played through a mild right low ankle sprain last season and has proven himself on the field both in performance and reliability. He is still young for a QB with a contract that extends through 2028.
∎Hendon Hooker (27) was drafted in the 2023 3rd-round to be an inexpensive, quality backup but has yet to fulfill that promise. He looked shaky last preseason when he suffered a concussion, and was demoted in the playoffs when the Lions resurrected Teddy Bridgewater. He’s entered the 3rd year of his 4-year rookie contract.
∎Jake Fromm (27) looked good in his tiny glimpse of preseason action last year.
∎Journeyman Kyle Allen (30) was signed this offseason to a “camp-arm” salary but has a chance to take over if Hooker falters.
Positional need 2/5
Goff has played every game the past three seasons, and the Lions are praying that streak continues. A trustworthy backup remains a need unless one of the current backups can take a big step up. Maybe the plan is to have Bridgewater again be the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency QB.
Medical concern 0/5
There are no health concerns for this group.
Total score 2/10
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RUNNING BACK
∎Jahmyr Gibbs (23) has had the occasional hamstring during his career but has otherwise been healthy and reliable playing in every game last season. He is entering the 3rd year of his rookie deal which includes a 5th year option.
∎David Montgomery (28) had a right MCL injury near the end of last season that was severe enough to have surgery considered. He did return for the playoff game but there are unanswered questions as far as the details and ramifications of the injury. A 2-year extension was signed recently that keeps him under contract through 2027.
∎Craig Reynolds (29) has been a healthy, reliable backup for years, and he re-upped for 1 year this offseason.
∎The Lions traded up into the 4th round to take Sione Vaki (24) last year implying optimism about his potential as a runner. He had a mild right knee injury last season that kept him out one game. He’s in the 2nd year of his 4-year rookie deal.
Positional need 0/5
This group is very strong at the top and has a nice mix of backups that are proven or promising. The top two players are under control through at least the 2027 season.
Medical concern 2/5
Montgomery carries some concerns going forward with his semi-mysterious knee injury. Hopefully, a full offseason of rest will have him back to his usual form. The rest of the crew has no health concerns.
Total score 2/10
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TIGHT END
∎Sam LaPorta (24) has scared us with some minor injuries the past couple years including a low ankle sprain and AC joint sprain last season, but there are no active concerns. He is signed through 2026 and could get an extension next offseason.
∎Brock Wright (26) had a forearm fracture and a hip issue two years ago but was healthy last year. He is signed through 2026.
∎Shane Zylstra (28) has had an MCL and patella fracture in the past but was healthy last season. He just re-signed to a 1-year deal.
∎New addition Kenny Yeboah (26) has a possible core muscle injury which is something to watch. He’s on a 1-year deal.
Positional need 0/5
The Lions have an elite player in LaPorta and solid backups. The top two are signed for the next two years so there isn’t much long-term need.
Medical concern 1/5
The top two have no health concerns going into next season. The backups have some minor concerns but nothing too worrisome.
Total score 1/10
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SUMMARY
The interior offensive line stands out among the Lions offensive needs heading into the draft. Trumping any of the offensive positions are the needs at defensive tackle and edge. My final scores of positional need + medical are:
10 Defensive tackle
9 Defensive edge
8
7
6 Offensive guard/center
5
4 Safety
3 Wide receiver, Linebacker, Offensive tackle
2 Running back, Quarterback
1 Cornerback, Tight end
Based on these rankings, I would expect defensive line to be targeted early and often. An offensive lineman taken in the first three rounds seems to be a good possibility also. Safety, wide receiver, and linebacker would make sense in rounds 4-7. Brad Holmes has shown the willingness and ability to move up in the draft to hit his targets, so it will be exciting to see what happens during the 2025 draft which starts Thursday night.