Passing time: Lions Offseason Breakdown, Roster Moves & Brad Holmes Insights - S2E46 - 3/26/26

Episode 46, we break down one of the most revealing Detroit Lions offseasons yet.

From Brad Holmes’ rare interview to the team’s new free-agent additions, the Lions are clearly transitioning from building a contender to managing one.

We take a deep dive into:

🔎 Brad Holmes’ revealing interview and what it tells us about the Lions’ future
🧩 New roster additions and how they fit into the team’s plans
🕳️ Updated roster holes across offense and defense
📊 The financial reality of keeping a championship roster together
🧠 Holmes’ draft philosophy heading into the upcoming draft
💬 Bill’s Bullet Points: bold roster and draft predictions
🏈 Michigan sports updates: Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, Michigan & MSU basketball
🔥 Featured Topics

Free Agent Additions

Tyler Conklin
Roger McCreary
DJ Wonnum
Greg Dortch
Damone Clark
Payton Turner
Ben Bartch
Teddy Bridgewater
Myles Adams (re-signed)
Jake Bates

Key Storylines

Offensive line remains the foundation of the roster
Managing a top-heavy salary structure
Defensive depth still a major focus
Holmes continues to preach Best Player Available
🎯 Episode Tagline

“The Lions aren’t building anymore — they’re managing a contender.”

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

You're listening to Passing Time, a Detroit Lions podcast. We're one pride and all grit with a passion for Detroit Lions football. Whether you're between meetings, between classes, sitting in traffic, or just relaxing at home, if you have time to pass, pass it with Passing Time. Detroit Lions Talk.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Welcome back, everybody. Thanks for tuning in and making Passing Time one of your weekly listens. Brian? Rob? We're going to have a fun one today, man. We're on the clock in your passing time with us to a Twilight Lines Podcast. I'm Rob. I'm Brian. This is gonna be a fun one. Stay tuned. Go into this one. Confident that you're gonna come out of here with either I hate Rob or I Hate Brian because we are on two sides of the fence. It's like Tim Allen talking to Mr. Wilson. You know, we're gonna figure out if you're a Tim Allen guy. Uh Brian, what do we got on dock today?

SPEAKER_00 1:09

We got we got lots of stuff. We got free agent frenzies. Uh we have Max Crosby and his saga. We got lots of stuff on there.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Episode 45. New additions, potential holes, potential needs. Uh Brad Holmes, are you buying or selling him? And oh, that that's the part. We're gonna bury the lead there. That's the part you wanna you want to listen to. And then around the NFL, we're gonna talk about some really some game-changing moves that happen, either trade or or untrade, or free agent signings that really have shaken up the complexity of who is a contender and who's a pretender for next year. You gotta look into this, man.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

This is this is going to sway where we are in week the first week of free agency.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

So also, no bill this week. Sorry, bill. All thrill. All right. So before we get after it, check us out on all the social medias, uh, the LinkedIns, the what what do we have here? No LinkedIn. We don't have LinkedIn.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

We do have our, you know, the obviously the YouTubes, uh, anywhere on Spotify. Um look at where you find all your podcasts and such. We are also on TikTok, we're on Instagram, and so like and follow.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

All right. Uh segment one, we're getting right into it. Lions new additions. All right, what do we got? Uh Kate Mays. I love it. A need at center. We go out and sign a 27-year-old center for a three-year deal, $25 million, um, 8.33 APY home run. Um, my my take is uh game of musical chairs around the NFL. A lot of teams needed a center.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Yep, and we improved our situation. I I I want to say that. It wasn't my first pick. Linderbaum was obviously my first pick, but we uh definitely were gonna pay the price tag of a Tyler Linderbaum.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Yeah, I mean, you know, if you're if you're going to the car dealership, you're going to a Chevy dealership and and you're and your first pick is a Lamborghini, you're gonna be awfully disappointed that you're not rolling out there your Chevy Cobalt, right? Like we weren't in the market for a Lamborghini.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

We weren't. Uh we were in uh the market to improve, we improved, and uh we're we're rolling out with a Chevy.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

So um lots of teams had a need at center. The Buffalo Bills had a guy hit free agency, what would have been a great pickup. The Baltimore Ravens had a guy hitting free agency, would have been a good pickup, is now a raider. The Lions had a very big hole from last year, and we listened to the music play, and we sat down and and we got a chair, we got Cade Mays for a very, very fair contract.

SPEAKER_00 3:50

A fair contract, um, a younger center, somebody who I think has still got some upside, some growth to continue to happen. And with Hank Fraley, I think that that that growth is gonna continue to go. Uh, he is a good pickup. I think that he is a versatile um centerslash offensive lineman that we can we can plug and play right from day one, and I think he's gonna help our team.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

So uh five-star out of high school, came out of Knoxville, Tennessee, committed to Georgia, um, got bored at Georgia, uh, went back to Tennessee, um, actually came out of high school as an offensive tackle, um, third highest rated high school player in all the United States, um, and played tackle, guard, and center throughout his football career. Um, a guy that could move up and down the line, probably not expecting that guy to play tackle for the Lions, but could play either guard spot, played guard spots down in Carolina. Um, you know, a lot's been made that he was a one-year starter. I would call him a one and a half year starter, and I would say getting drafted as a sixth rounder, um, it's really difficult to break camp and make the team. Also, break camp and being the two deep is very difficult.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

And he he's done that. I mean, he has proven himself to be a viable uh starting offensive lineman um in the NFL, and uh the Lions brought him on because he's a schematic fit to what they want to do, and I I think he's gonna bring some intelligence, he's gonna bring some versatility. Um, like you said, he he can play tackle if we if we're in a pinch, he can play guard, um, and he can definitely play some center.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

So um I was I was holding my baby earlier watching uh a friend of the pod, Chris Lallone sends out a uh about a 30-minute um film breakdown on Cade Mays. And um, we could put that in the chat or something like that, you know, put on their LinkedIn profile.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

I can put the link in the uh description.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

LinkedIn. Okay, yeah, perfect. Yeah, um so one thing you notice about Cade Mays is you know he's not like the most athletic center of all time, but he's a he's a really decent athlete. Yeah, he's he's a guy that he knows his assignments, he has a lot of trust in his other offensive linemen. Guys will flash in front of his face, he'll ignore him, knowing that his guard's gonna pick that guy up. Uh, I would say he looked really, really good getting to the second level, understanding assignments, um, takes these really nimble short steps, making sure that he's dancing through traffic, always on balance. Um, it was a guy that wasn't getting pushed over a whole lot, um, plays with really good leverage, um, really, really good in zone zone fits. Like, I it really looks like a guy that is Taylor made to go in there and and you know be a plug-and-play guy that is not gonna disappoint, especially in passing down situations.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

So let me ask you, I'm gonna I'm gonna play the uh devil's advocate because PFF says that run blocking is his downfall. Um, he may be elite uh pass blocker, um, but he is a what bottom 33 when it comes to run blocking. What what are we gonna say about this?

SPEAKER_01 7:06

We're gonna say that um that that's a tough, you know, we can use PFF as our go-to stat when it fits our narrative, and also we can we can say, hey, PFF, you don't know what you're talking about when it doesn't fit our narrative, right? Um in Carolina's offense, there wasn't a lot of weapons, yeah. Right? So um teams are gearing up to to get after the quarterback, maybe stop the run. Um 5'7, Bryce Young wasn't fitting a lot over the top of the defensive line. So um I'm not you know, I'm not an anti-hype warrior here, but like the Lions are gonna be a different offense, and he's gonna have a a chance to to feature a lot different game and a different system. And hopefully we have the the team to protect him.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Sure. And I think it it also has to do with the the guys around him, too. You know, you looked at um the injuries that Carolina dealt with at guard as well as set center the last couple years, and uh um when you have uh a Tate Ratledge, who I think is gonna be a a better um option at guard supporting you, um that's gonna make you a better run blocker, right? And when you can work with the guy next to you, um it's gonna make you better, right? I mean, we got a Panay Sewell, you know, future Hall of Famer that's it's on our old line. We have a Tate Ratledge, who is a young buck that's ready to continue to rise. We have some question marks though on the other side, and so we'll we'll see if a Christian mahogany or a miles frazer can fill that role, or if we if we fill a uh or go out and get get a rookie um at guard tackle or another free agent. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:41

Um and we'll probably circle back to Cade Mays because I'm uh frankly, I want to go on record saying like end of the season, we're gonna go back and be like, wow, we got this guy on a great contract, what a great fit. This was a Brad Holmes um Picasso. Oh, Picasso.

SPEAKER_00 8:56

And yeah, you mentioned something before the the pod started. It was maybe an underrated uh what what would you put this uh this signing for the Detroit Lions?

SPEAKER_01 9:05

Uh underrated. This is it, this is a straight up stand-up triple right here for Brad Holmes. Okay, he got decent term, low money, uh a young player, and I think it's at a position, um, I I would argue probably the position that was the most need on the whole team.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

And I guess my right now, my only worry is that because he's a versatile player and the the Lions seem to really pride themselves in versatility, um, I I struggle because I I don't want to see Tate Ratledge at center. Um, I think I want to stick to stick him at right guard, have him have an amazing career there. Um, but I I just don't want him to mess with him too much. And I and I I fear that with a uh a Cade Mays who has some versatility that they still might play with Tate Ratledge and where he might fit in this offensive line.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Well you gotta have somebody emergency center, right? Guys are gonna get hurt, guys are gonna need plays off, they're might need games off. So you gotta have some some and Cade's been proven that he can play other positions on the offensive line. Also, you know what? Going in this draft, if there's somebody sitting there, this is a very um we're gonna talk a lot about the draft in future episodes, but one thing this draft doesn't have is offensive tackle depth. One thing this draft does have is interior offensive line depth. It's got a lot of centers, it's got a lot of guards, and if uh you can take a stab in a round three, four guy, if if they're really good at center, and you can force Kate Mays to play left guard, like what a great problem you got there, right? Like and you're giving yourself versatility, flexibility, and also depth. And um, if you've watched the Lions the last couple years, you know that like depth is the most underrated thing when it comes to the Detroit Lions.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Well, let's we'll let's continue looking at that. Speaking of depth, uh Larry Borum is a as the next guy on our our list of uh free agent signings. Um, I'm hoping that uh as one of the tackle he fills a depth piece because I I don't see him as a skipper.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

It's a skipper, right? You know, it's a it's a guy go out there, maybe he's your sixth offensive lineman here and there. Um maybe he fills in a couple plays off, guy gets his helmet knocked off. We stay healthy. Yeah, he just comes out there, makes plays, has specific assignments, probably plays, you know, special teams both sides. Um, and you know, it's a one-year, five million dollar deal.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

And it's a a 27-year-old, you know, he's still looking at some youth in comparison to Dan Skipper, who is now on our coaching staff. Um, and uh he maybe he can teach him a thing or two. Whole life ahead of you, Larry.

SPEAKER_01 11:42

You're 27, man.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Congratulations. Uh Rock. Rock is back, 30-year-old Rock. I like this signing. I like bringing him back. He was um not just a depth piece, he turned himself into a necessity for our for our defense, being able to fill some roles, um, especially with the injury bug that has plagued the Detroit Lions.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

So especially the Detroit Lions secondary, right? To be more specific. Uh Rock knows the defense. Uh you know, second year of this defensive coordinator, I think that's really, really important. Um, not a lot of risk here. One year, a little over three million dollars. Um, I think you know, he earned every bit of that contract. He did.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

He got a little bit of a pay raise. Um he he fills a role, he's trusted by um, you know, Kelvin Shepherd and staff and the guys around him. So he's he's gonna be a guy that that I think is gonna continue to grow. Um, and I wouldn't I wouldn't put it past him that he probably is not gonna be a lion after this year because he's gonna get some money.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

So yeah, and maybe he'll get some money from the lions, right? That means he earned it, right? But um one thing noted by uh friend of the podcast, Chris Lone, second shout-out tonight, is the Lions seem to get guys on on pretty cheap deals with with very limited term to give themselves roster flexibility. And those guys are going out and they're getting paid. So to me, it's a compliment to the chef. If your guy signed for one year on a limited term deal, you're getting this guy in, and he goes out and gets term from another team and more money. That's a tip your cap to Brad Holmes.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

Okay, and that that's gonna be one of Rob's tip of cap. And we'll we'll get into this in more in depth as the podcast goes on because we have some arguments back and forth, disagreements, if you will, different takes along the line. Because, you know, we have I I want more. I want I want to see where we're at. I want to know a vision, and I want to, you know, my vision is is Super Bowl or bust, and I want to know if he's gonna head there.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Super Bowl or bust is a hard place to live, right? Like you're just gonna be setting yourself up for disappointment, right? Each and every year.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

31, 30, 30 other teams, yeah, are gonna be disappointed. But if I'm not striving to be the best, then what am I striving for? Be mediocre?

SPEAKER_01 14:01

Well, you know, you could be like Chris and have a second team, Brian, if you want, you know, but on this podcast, there's only one team one pride, that's all we're talking about. So, next free agent signing, Isaiah Pacheco. Uh, this, you know, got some like some shock waves out there, right? Like a lot of opinions on here, like excited, and then we're looking at PFF, and we're like, oh, looks bad, you know. Like, don't let your eye test get confused with the metrics, though. The guy goes out there, he runs hard. I wouldn't call him a big sludge hammer, but solid rubber hammer runs hard, runs hard, indestructible, not easy.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

He's not indestructible, though. That's the problem, is the last couple years he's been banged up and he has been plagued by those willing to be destructed.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

All right, the dude plays with a reckless abandoned. He wants to go out there, he he runs hard in an offense that you have a guy that's a bona fide superstar now that really he only deserves to get spelled when he needs a little bit of a break. Otherwise, the offense is so much better with him out there. Um, having a guy that can go out there and run between the tackles, run hard is a great thing. And and Pacheco's gonna be asked to do something completely different than he's been asked to do in KC.

SPEAKER_00 15:21

Fair, he's gonna be fresh. I I I hope so, because you know, we've been pretty spoiled the last several years in our transitions to running backs, right? I mean, we we had a DeAndre Swift and we ended up replacing him with uh Jameer Gibbs, and so we were all very excited about the upgrade. Thanks, Brad. Thanks, thanks, Brad. Okay, and then we we brought in Jamal Williams, and the guy had uh uh record-breaking uh touchdown season, right? And we replaced him with uh David Montgomery. Thanks, Brad. Yeah, and now we um we've traded away David Montgomery, we've given him some better opportunities for for his career, but we replaced him with uh Isaiah Pacheco, who I right now don't see as an upgrade. I see as a yeah, I mean he's he's more cost effective for a running back two next to a a superstar, right? And so I I get the I get the mindset of it, I understand what we're doing, but because we've been so spoiled to have two just unbelievable backs, right? We have we have running back A and running back B, but really it was one A and one B, and now we we have a clear running back one and a running back two.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

No, it wasn't one A and one B last year, Brian. It was it was one and two, and there was no doubt about it, right? Otherwise, otherwise, they could have dished off Jameer Gibbs and probably gotten a lot more capital for him, but they covet Jameer Gibbs just like you do, just like everybody listening, you covet Jameer Gibbs, he is your bona fide superstar running back. It's not one A and one B. One guy's ascending and one guy's descending.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

So we're gonna go ahead and check on this. Is the first time that Rob and I disagree um in this particular podcast because I agree that Jameer Gibbs is a bona fide superstar, but I disagree that we had a clear cut running back one and running back two last year. I think it had everything to do with our offensive coordinator and how we utilize running back one and running back two this last year. But I do believe that David Montgomery was the straw that was stirring the drink, and we did stir the drink.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

Okay. Well, you know what? Uh Jameer Gibbs was twice as good at breaking tackles from a guy that is supposed to be not a tackle breaker, right? He's a he's a better receiver out of the backfield, probably not as good of a blocker out of the backfield. We'll get into that. You know what? Stay tuned. Segment two. I'm gonna get up in my soapbox, I'm gonna bury this guy. Uh we're gonna we're gonna get further into it. Malcolm Rodriguez is back. All right, Jake Bates is back.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

Jake Bates. Teddy Bridgewater is back. I love the Teddy Bridgewater. I do believe of anything that we've done this offseason thus far, Caden Mays might be my number one most exciting. Teddy Bridgewater is my number two. Well, you seem way more excited about Teddy Bridgewater than this the part five minutes back where we announced Cade Mays is I'm gonna say that like we've we've more than more than improved our our QB2 position uh with Teddy Bridgewater. Somebody who who knows like the system, knows the Dan Hard, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell knows what you know Jared Goff, he he he's a good guy. I love I love Teddy Bridgewater.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Ted Teddy, uh, you know, it's funny, uh, a couple years ago when he got brought back, and we had a backup quarterback all year, and he got brought back basically like midweek, and and they trotted him out there when when times mattered. The fact of the matter is, is if you're if you're watching this and you're like, well, Brett, you know, Teddy Bridgewater is underwhelming. Uh look around the NFL. Like, you're all the backup quarterbacks are pretty underwhelming. Like, you need a guy that's a good locker room guy, who's a good leader guy, that knows the offense, that can basically like the coaches put the bumpers on the on the lanes, and you just kind of figure out how to like get the ball to hit a couple pins down versus trying to shoot for strikes with your with your starting quarterback.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

Let me ask you another question, though. Okay, last time we brought in Teddy Bridgewater, we also brought in a Hendon Hooker. Okay, so are we used utilizing Teddy Bridgewater as somebody who is gonna be able to coddle and and uh develop a a rookie quarterback in in this process?

SPEAKER_01 19:38

I would say draft uh QB Teddy's track record of coddling those quarterbacks isn't very good because uh that hooker's on the corner right now looking for a job, right? Like so I don't know about that. Uh but I'm learning some tricks. I see your point, but I don't know if he delivered that. But it does give the Alliance the ability to take a stab out there at uh you know a late round. We got a ton of late round draft picks.

SPEAKER_00 20:03

I hope that's all it would be, but uh, I still wonder if if QB is on their bingo card when it comes to um draft day.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

That'll be interesting. This draft is not known again. Future pods, make sure you're watching because we're gonna get into this. This draft is not a quarterback rich draft. Next year's draft is got quarterback depth for the ages. Next year's draft offensively is gonna be one of the best drafts that we see come through since um was it the 2024 draft that featured um a ton of offensive playmakers.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Yeah, we say that, but now we've just extended uh Jared Goff, which or restructured Jared Goff, which tells me more that we have all of our trust right now in Jared Goff. So, I mean, we we could say that we are gonna develop a a QB in later rounds, but all that development would be for it would be a QB2.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

Yeah, so all right, Christian Izene. Uh latest signing, I think just signed today. We're recording this Thursday. Um, probably getting close to midnight. Yeah, is what we'd like to do. Um, game plan a little bit. Uh 26-year-old, one-year contract, sailor's not out. Um a nickel could probably bounce the outside a little bit, could probably play a little bit of safety.

SPEAKER_00 21:20

Play a little bit of safety here. Um, I I think it's a good versatility type pick. It's um I I hope they bring Avante Maddox back, but I I compare him a little bit to to that kind of role where it could be filling some some multi you know, multiple spaces. Um, and you know, we we lost Samek Robertson and somebody that we know we depended on last year. So so somebody that like like Lone mentioned number three uh had mentioned before. Just getting a pod kid. Let's go. You know, like he mentioned, you know, it's it's one of those guys that we are able to bring in for a year or two, develop and or re research, and then and he can. Move on and get paid.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

So undrafted free agent, just chip on the shoulder, playing year to year for a contract, laying it all on the line. Like I kind of like that makeup. Um, seems like it's gonna he's got he's you know a kneecap biter kind of guy, and he's gonna fit right in.

SPEAKER_00 22:15

And and you're hoping what the guys that they're also bringing in are hungry, yeah. You know, so we we've we've talked a little bit about some of the guys that we're we're bringing in. Um, Drew Scruggs, another one of those guys that we was part of the David Montgomery trade that we're bringing in. We're hoping that these guys are hungry, but we're also losing several guys, right? We're losing um, you know, guys like David Montgomery, we're losing guys like Alex Anzaloni, Amique Robertson, yeah. Um, you know, these these guys that may have passed their their 30 mark and they're moving on to get paid for maybe the one of their last contracts, but also maybe some of these guys that lost a little bit of their hunger along the way, too.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

So absolutely. We all know the guy that you know stayed in good shape, finally got the really beautiful woman, and then all of a sudden, you know, you see him a couple years later, and he doesn't look like the prom king anymore, you know. And like we don't want those guys on the team, we want the guys that are still working the six pack to get the girl, right? To get the Super Bowl, to get the ring. And I'm the analogy we were all waiting for. Thank you, Rob. More to come, all right. So uh Juice, former second-round draft pick out of Penn State, wasn't working out tremendously down in Houston. This is a bit of a lotto ticket. Hopefully, uh, you know, stays on the team, makes a team.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

Um but we're really looking at this guy. He, in my opinion, he is a replacement for like a Tristan Cologne. And you know, if we can improve on that, then we're okay. And which is a uh a guy that did contribute last year that we wish wouldn't have, um, but but had to. So, you know, when you look at uh uh a team, you need depth, and he is just we're gonna fill some of that depth.

SPEAKER_01 23:54

Yep. So Monty gone. Obviously, that saves nine million in the cap uh 2026. Uh Anzlone gone, he signed two years, 17 million with the Bucks. Uh Meek's gone, two years, 16 with the Commanders. Khalif just signed one year, five. Bears.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

What a sorry.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

I love Khalif, but a turncoat. Is that what you want to say?

SPEAKER_00 24:16

Yeah, I want to say something, but um, you know, got paid though.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

One year, five, like good for the good for him, right? Like you gotta big up and go Indiana Bears. So yeah, the Gary Bears. Um, Taylor Decker. Um he's out there.

SPEAKER_00 24:30

Taylor Decker. So so I don't believe we even talked about this last pod, but Taylor Decker announced his return, and then not too far after, the Lions decided that um he wasn't gonna fit, right? So Taylor decided, like, hey, I'm not willing to take a pay cut, I would prefer a release, and he's gonna test the market.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

So yeah, I mean it just sounds alright. This this is controversial because I know that the Lions have a have a good culture, and we take care of our guys, and we want to be a homegrown organization, but also this is a big boy football now. We we're shooting for a Super Bowl here, and we're not gonna take care of our guys at the expense of our future, right? And it sounds like the Lions were like, alright, man, we'll take you back. But it's gonna have to look a little different here. Um you're not gonna be paid like a superstar, you're gonna be paid more like a 32-year-old production level that's been average at best. Indicates, yeah. And he was like, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like, what are you talking about? Like then I'm out, and then the lines were like deuces, right? And like that's a you know, that's a that's a sign of a winning organization. It does suck. It does suck, but like if you win, it's all forgotten. Culture stays, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:00

Sure, and and Taylor Decker is one of the guys that we all love, and he you can you can uh you can look back and say, hey, he's gone through the rough times, he's gone through the hard times, but he's also helped transition us into the good times. But as a a winning organization, you have to make some of those hard business decisions, and when it's good for your your team and when it's bad for your team, you have to make those those tough, whether it's emotional or not. And they made the decision in order to say, hey, Taylor, you've you've you've done all these great things for us. We appreciate you, we want you back, but we can't afford you at this this at this contract. Right? We have to pay you at what you're worth, and you are getting paid above what of above that worth.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

So sad to see you go. Thanks for the the years, man. And and you know, maybe there's an outside chance that like he says, All right, like I tested the waters, wasn't really working. This price sounds good, you know. I got my lines tattooed on my arm already. Like I was just let's run it back.

SPEAKER_00 27:06

You know, maybe it's it's it's all possible right now. He hasn't been re signed yet. Um, but um we'll we'll see what comes here. I mean, the the free agency is still long, right?

SPEAKER_01 27:18

So so what next we're gonna do, Brian, if we can do this, because yeah, uh we're gonna get long.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

Speed through it, right?

SPEAKER_01 27:27

Let's speed through it. Okay, so right, holes Detroit line holes right now, right? So I'm gonna I'm gonna go through a depth chart, okay? And I want you to I want you to tell me where you start seeing some holes or some possibilities for some upgrades. Okay, got it. And if you don't see anything, just let me keep rambling on. Okay, keep going. All right, don't interrupt me. That's important, Brian. Okay. All right. So quarterback one, Jared Goff. Quarterback two, Teddy Bridgewater, running back one, Jameer Gibbs, running back two, Isaiah Pacheco.

SPEAKER_00 28:00

Okay. I mean, for the value, let's let's keep rolling.

SPEAKER_01 28:04

Vaki, Sailors, running back three, running back, uh, wide receiver one, I'm on Ross St. Brown, wide receiver two, J Mo. Wide receiver three, Isaac Tesla. Uh Kennedy was just re signed. Wide receiver four, love it, is there. Um, tight end one, Sam Laporta.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

Is he gonna be healthy? That's the question mark right now, right?

SPEAKER_01 28:24

Seems like so. But uh Brock Wright, I wouldn't.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

I'm not gonna lie, I would love to see an upgrade right now at Broderick uh Brock Wright.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

I would love to see um you know some guy out of Cleveland that uh worked with sure.

SPEAKER_00 28:38

Yeah, uh Joku would be an amazing fit uh in the uh Detroit Lions uniform with uh Drew Petsing, who he has history with, somebody who has been taught the the ability to block as well as receive. Um I think that would be a good fit. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:52

That that would that would move the needle, you know. That's a that's a second day garage sale kind of guy, you know.

SPEAKER_00 28:58

Like not the first day, but like hey, he's he's still sitting on the table right now, okay? He's still you know you go into that garage sale day one, he's been there. You go in there day two, he's still sitting. He's still sitting day four, he's still sitting.

SPEAKER_01 29:11

You know, when you go to a garage, all right. We gotta give the whole analogy real quick. All right. Brian and I grew up different, okay? He he grew up with his family. We go out, we we both were in poor enough families, we go to garage sales, right? And if you didn't go to a garage sale, they're kind of fun. You know, you get to look at other people's stuff and and and value it, right? So Brian's family go to the garage sale and they had the ability to buy on the first day, okay? All right. My family go to the garage sale, my dad'd be like, We're not buying anything, we're just looking around to see what's gonna be left when they say you get whatever you can put in the box for two bucks, you know, and like and we would ask him, like, hey, when are you closing this thing down? You know, like, well, if we get a rainstorm, so if the rainstorm happened, my dad and I were running back to that garage and I'd be like, What can we get? Or like you know, Sunday at four o'clock, we're gonna do like last call, and that's we're we're big on that last call. Okay, I know you know you're like that first day. Um, we dreamed about that first day, you know, but that second day, and joke, he's he's sitting there, right? Y'all didn't pick him up on the first day. I'm not gonna get him on the fourth day, somewhere in the middle. So I think that's a guy that could sign the next couple days here with a team, and the lines could be could be a taker on that team. Let's get rolling back. Uh left tackle. I don't know who to name here, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 30:26

Well, right now we have uh Manu, we have a brossum, we have not a left tackle right now. We need a left tackle. So I'm imagining a first, maybe second round draft pick right now that would fill that role.

SPEAKER_01 30:40

Left guard, Christian Mahogany, center, Caden Mays, right guard, Tate Ratlinch.

SPEAKER_00 30:45

Can I push pause on that left guard right now?

SPEAKER_01 30:47

Well, you are two positions too late, but yeah, you go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Um I still would love to see a free agent veteran left guard that would come in and at least compete for that position. Uh if if Christian Mahogany wins that that spot or Miles Frazier wins that spot, awesome. That that puts us in a really good position. But I want somebody who can compete for that spot. And this is gonna be, like you said, maybe day and Sunday at four where you're you're pulling up that that box, right?

SPEAKER_01 31:17

So yeah, I hope some of you guys on the pod can relate to that. Uh if you got YouTube already loaded on your phone, chances are probably not. Um also, as I mentioned, the interior offensive line in the draft is loaded this year. So there is potential that the Lions are seeing that, being like, you know what? We have a couple guys that can compete at left guard, and maybe we'll introduce a guy on day two, day three of the draft that can go in there and plug a hole.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Well, it better be four or five because we do not have a round three.

SPEAKER_01 31:50

Excuse me, round round two, round two. You're right, you're right, you're right. But the lions can easily create a round three draft pick, right? With all their definitions, all right. So uh backup, Frasier, Borum, Manu, Scruggs, um Michael Needs. A bunch of guys, right? Like that. Um let's get back into on the defensive side. Aiden.

SPEAKER_00 32:11

And then who?

SPEAKER_01 32:12

Then there's a lot of holes, right? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 32:16

Uh we have a ton of holes at the end, and they have gotta be filled. Um, some of which I think may be happening in free agency again. Um, I would love to see a more of that day one of the garage sale, but we're already past that. Um, it's gonna be like middle of that garage sale. I'd love to see a fill um in that DN spot, and then in addition to that, somewhere in the draft.

SPEAKER_01 32:40

And a defensive tackle, McNeil, Williams, pretty set there, right?

SPEAKER_00 32:46

Like yeah, I would say that we are reliant on a resurgent of Ali McNeil uh year after his injury, uh year two of Tyleek Williams, who I think you know carved out a role for himself. I think he knows who he is and what he can continue to grow into.

SPEAKER_01 33:01

I would say the expectation there is like he's gonna have a solid year, he he's gonna build on his his rookie year where he wasn't asked to do much with you know you had uh DJ Reeder, you had other guy, Roy Lopez. Like you had a lot of depth there, and you you let him grow at at a really decent pace.

SPEAKER_00 33:18

I'd be intrigued to see what he is because reality is he's still a a round one, though it's the end of that first round draft pick. Um, but you would want him to contribute like a round one draft pick. So we'll see what that is.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

He's gonna be given that chance, right? So wingo, Anzrique, Lacey, um, and maybe there's a slight hold, though. There's a lot of depth in the interior defensive line around.

SPEAKER_00 33:42

I mean, it depends on what your thoughts are on Levi Anzarique and what he is gonna be able to contribute. Um, we we released Josh Pascal over the week. Um, and uh, you know, we still have a wingo who we don't know of is is he a schematic fit um or not, and Tyler Lacey, who played sparingly, but uh enough to be that depth role.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

So I I think you know, in the scheme of things, we're probably most comfortable at interior defensive line than almost any other position, right? Like so we go to linebacker, we got Campbell, Barnes, and Malcolm. Uh obviously, there's there's a hole there.

SPEAKER_00 34:21

There's a hole there, you know, and again, it's gonna be schematic depending on what Kelvin Shepard wants to do. I mean, last year he played a ton of his base package with three linebackers on the field. Um, is that gonna shift to more of a nickelback more primarily, or is he gonna find his Nowski that can fill full in for uh for a Alex Anzalone who is now left and gone to the Buccaneers?

SPEAKER_01 34:46

Yeah, yeah. So cornerback, uh, you know, this is an interesting area. You got DJ Reed, you got Terry and Arnold who's you know dealing with you know, he's on the outside looking in right now, which is a good place to be on an investigation down there in Florida. Um, you got Rockback. Uh so frankly, that's a pretty good one, two, three. If they if they stay healthy, you're like, all right, all right, I love I like our guys.

SPEAKER_00 35:13

But the last several years we haven't stayed healthy.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

So you're right, you're right. And and you know what, like, does everything get to the means, you know? Like, you know, do we finally catch a break on health, playing a fourth place schedule? Do we not get beat up so much? I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 35:29

I hope so.

SPEAKER_01 35:30

Uh you got Dorsey, Whiteside, you got Rake Straw, right? Like, this is a make or break year for Rake Straw that like you know last year we're we're on this podcast, we're talking about like rich man problems, and and Rake Straw was a guy that we're like, man, you got this long, rangey cornerback that can match up with you, he can be a he can be a weapon. Obviously, just not stayed healthy, which is very disappointing. But this is a make or break year. We can write him off after this year if it doesn't work. Um, but he's on the roster.

SPEAKER_00 36:01

He he's on the roster.

SPEAKER_01 36:03

And we mentioned free agent sign in there and Aizen. Um safety.

SPEAKER_00 36:08

Big old question marks.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Yeah, Joseph and Branch when healthy, best tame him in the NFL, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

But currently we have an Achilles, which brings Branch back in what, like October, uh, maybe maybe that's fine for a Super Bowl contender, Brian. Sure, if if you make it there, right? And uh Kirby, who we question right now, how many, how many games is he gonna play? How many um is he gonna make it through training camp? You know, there's lots of question marks on that knee right now for Kirby. Um, and we're you know, what is he gonna be able to give to this?

SPEAKER_01 36:42

We got some Legion of Whom holdouts there, you know. Uh Harper's sitting back there, like he's uh solid player.

SPEAKER_00 36:49

Uh Dan Jackson, you know, like I'm I'm last year's rookie who went directly onto IR because my opinion is you his body was not ready for the NFL. Um hopefully an off-season worth of workouts and training it allows him to be helpful, you know, to be able to be a contributor. I still don't see that guy more than a special teamer, um, but we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 37:12

Well, this year, your body's not ready for the summertime, so maybe we should go on some GLP ones. Let's get that segment two. Brad Holmes.

SPEAKER_02 37:27

All right.

SPEAKER_01 37:28

Brad Holmes is playing some 3D chess. Don't dare think differently, Brian I have big question marks, man. Don't dare think differently.

SPEAKER_00 37:35

I have big question marks.

SPEAKER_01 37:36

How are you feeling on Brad?

SPEAKER_00 37:38

I question what is the what is the route, what is the vision of this Detroit Lions? Are we retooling right now? Are we restructuring right now? Are we rebuilding right now? Or are we putting our chips all in and going for it?

SPEAKER_01 37:55

We are trying to to paint this window that's elongated, right? And anything can happen during an elongated window, right? Like you hit gold with a couple rookies, you hit gold with a free agent, you you make a trade in the middle of the year that during your elongated window allows you to go out there and compete, right? Like uh most GMs play the market, right? They're they're playing, they're looking, they're going out, they're going to the the uh garage sale on the first day, right? And they're looking for that splashy hire. Brad Holmes is neutralizing the market, right? He's looking at his homegrown talent, he's signing them early, he's getting them contracts, he's essentially buying high-end talent for a discounted price. So he's like, hey, before you put all that shit out there in your garage on sale, I'll give you 20 bucks for that piano. You know, and I don't know, like that piano could go for 50 out there, but like he's looking at a couple pieces that he has, you know, J-Mo, one one noteworthy. We're gonna talk about that. So um 40 years, Brian. We we've both been around being fans for 40 years. This is the golden era of the Lions, right? Um, the vision, right? The credit to Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. This is their absolute vision, right? Um, and we'll just look at like the controversial J Mo signing, right? I agree with you, like, okay, you're giving this guy a lot of money, you're paying them big wide receiver to money. Then all of a sudden you look at Alex Pierce getting paid. You look at Romeo Dobbs getting paid, and you're like this guy, like I those guys are both older, they're they're both not more productive than J Mo. Um, and they're getting more money than J Mo, right? Like that that's a huge, huge play, and that that doesn't show up yesterday, that shows up tomorrow, right? It doesn't maybe even show up today, but it shows up tomorrow when you're essentially looking at the inflation in the market and you're cutting it down because you're getting out in front of the inflationary environment, and that really that elongates the window for the lions that go out there and make maneuvers that they typically wouldn't be able to make with this with the homegrown talent and the guys that they already have.

SPEAKER_00 40:33

Okay, so they they've done the J Mo signing, they've done the Amin Ra signing, they they did the Hutch signing, they do these the the Panay signing, you know, they've done all these these signings of their guys, which they believe in, and I I still believe in. Um and I would say that they've done them early, right, in order to try to save a buck in the future. And I and I can appreciate that. Um, but what have they done with that capital that they saved in order to push them to the next step? Well, beyond like their guys and their draft guys, because I felt like last year they almost hamstrung themselves because they were waiting to sign the next the next group of guys, right? And this year they haven't yet signed them. Yeah. They still are are, you know, the Jack Campbells are still all pro, gonna demand some cash, right? The Jameer Gibbs, who are running backs who are gonna going to demand some cash. Um, the the Sam Laportas who are injured and going to demand some cash. The the Brian Branches who are injured but still gonna demand some like what what is your vision? What are you are you gonna sign those guys to early contracts in order to try to save a buck in the future, but then in turn not be able to make that splashy play to push us over the edge?

SPEAKER_01 41:57

I think you answered your own question there, right? So, like by by signing Amon Ra early and really letting them set the tone at the wide receiver position, only to like nine months later, he's looking at the market being like, Man, he's extremely underpaid. By signing JMO early, by by by doing some of those moves early, you're allowing yourself to make sure it's not don't take it for granted that the Lions get Jameer Gibbs back and they get Jack Campbell back and they can afford those guys. Like they're this is a cap league. So by doing that early, it affords you the the ability to have those conversations and hopefully get those guys back. That's not a foregone conclusion, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

No, and but uh it I agree. Those are splashy, those are splashy signings, but uh and it allows you to be good right now, it allows you to be good for a pretty long time. But I don't want to be good anymore. I'm gonna be great.

SPEAKER_01 42:56

Brian, take a look around the league, like the Lions are an envious position.

SPEAKER_00 43:04

They are a nine and eight coming off a nine and eight season, they missed the playoffs, they were fourth in the NFC North. I would not consider that an envious position.

SPEAKER_01 43:14

It smells like recency bias around here, alright? So the Lions are coming in the NFL.

SPEAKER_00 43:20

Is there anything else but recency bias? Well, I don't know. Like, we we can go from from the Chicago Bears from worst to first. How old are you? But now where are we at?

SPEAKER_01 43:33

How old are you?

SPEAKER_00 43:34

I'm 45 years, almost 45 years old.

SPEAKER_01 43:36

You're almost 45 years old. Your birthday's coming right up.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:40

What's the best five year window that you've had in your life with the Detroit Lions? Don't don't don't even think twice.

SPEAKER_00 43:48

Okay, right now? Right now, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:50

So in the last five years, the Detroit Lions are third in the NFL in victories.

SPEAKER_00 43:55

So let me ask you this. Should we be just like, alright, let's let's just Everybody calm down and enjoy the the the ride that we're on right now. That's that's what you're saying, right? We should all just calm down, enjoy the fact that we're better than crap.

SPEAKER_01 44:12

Alright, so that's that's a straw man argument, what you just did to me. Should I say everybody hit the panic button? We've we've won the third most games in the NFL, and we haven't done anything like this in the last 45 years. Hit the panic button.

SPEAKER_00 44:26

I I want to be able to say that I don't want to hit the panic button, but I want to do more than just what we haven't done in the last 45 years. I want to be better than what we've like if you compare us to us, it's not that hard of a comparison to be better.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

It's the whole problem with you kids these days, man. Y'all want more all the time.

SPEAKER_00 44:46

Like I would hold on, guys. Okay, everybody, stop. We we're not gonna win a Super Bowl. We're just gonna live in this enjoyment of winning more games than we lose. It's better than misery, right?

SPEAKER_01 45:00

Like, it's better than misery.

SPEAKER_00 45:01

Welcome to Pittsburgh! Everybody enjoy the ride. We're we're all gonna have winning seasons from here moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 45:09

Brian, this is not this is this is not Pittsburgh. We're in a we're in a we're in the golden era of Detroit Lions football right here.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

And in comparison, that sucks. Like, like the reality is the golden era is there's not, unless you're comparing us to the 1956, 57, you know, that's that's what we have.

SPEAKER_01 45:30

You were in your grandpa's balls in 1956, but there's not much there. Maybe your grandpa was happy, but I'm telling you right now, if I would have told you 10 years ago we'd be sitting in this era, you would have you would have sold your soul to be in this era. This is a good era, and they have an opportunity, not this year, not next year, not the following year, but all those years to be a Super Bowl contender, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 45:54

Sure, but like Kevin Costner said in in Draft Day, we don't live in the same world we lived in two minutes ago. We we live in the the now right now. We we want more, we expect more. We we don't want to just make the playoffs, we want to win in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_01 46:13

Some terrible writer wrote that script for one of his shitty movies. And we're not quoting that we're not quoting that as like what's going on here. We don't live in the same movie. As the kids say in real life. It's we we live in a world where we want to be competitive.

SPEAKER_00 46:28

This is in real life.

SPEAKER_01 46:29

We live in a world where we want to win. We are competitive. We missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker.

SPEAKER_00 46:37

So we should that that's okay?

SPEAKER_01 46:39

No, it's not okay. What oh two years ago, did Seattle make the playoffs, Brian? They did not. Okay, this is gonna be fun. The following year, what happened?

SPEAKER_00 46:52

They won us a Super Bowl.

SPEAKER_01 46:54

And we did the research. Did they go shopping at that garage sale on the first day and get all those shiny objects? Or did they wait till my dad said it's okay to go on the fourth day? They don't don't even.

SPEAKER_00 47:08

They made a they made a Sam Darnold move, which is which was kind of that right now. He didn't win 14 games the year before.

SPEAKER_01 47:21

It was released by the Panthers and the Jets. Like that, like he would, he was at four garage sales for you know four years, right? Like you could have got yourself a Sam Darnold. Like, people were putting him on the front lawn. I mean, like, if anybody wants it, free, and you didn't have the room in your car, and you didn't want to go back and borrow your friend's truck for Sam Darnold. It worked out for them. It did, it worked out for them, right? And it's gonna work out for the Lions in the same in the same way. So getting back on script. I hope you enjoyed that. Getting back on script. It's it's tough to lose a high character vet like David Montgomery. Um, but we're saving 9 million against the cap. We just got Caden Mays and Isaiah Pacheco for 8 million against the cap. Those are small moves that winning organizations are gonna make to help them elongate that window to beat inflation, beat the cap, allow you to go out and and have the ability to sign. And we're not done yet, Brian. We're not done. There could be one or two or five or seven signings that like are really solid signings, and we're not day four of the garage sale, man. We're we're like day one just closed, you know, and we're in day two. We're looking around, everything's still kind of full pricey. And uh the lions might go out and get some of those guys, all right? They better, all right. So it's a cold business, but the lions are winning by making franchise moves, they're swapping expensive vets for production and low-cost pieces, and they're giving themselves the ability to make a tactical decision later on to go out there and get the guy, right? Because the trade deadline is becoming more and more, it's a bigger deal in the NFL. Didn't used to be a big deal. Teams weren't trading. Now the lines have the ability to take on Cap. That's a deadline. If if they want to, and take that guy that you know is is you know, one man's junk, another man's treasure. So um anything you want to you want to talk more about that.

SPEAKER_00 49:29

Uh I just I'm I'm ready. I'm I'm ready for us to take the next step. I'm ready for for Brad to to take his swing and uh um you know push the Lions into a position where they're they're the the favorites, the the contender, the the the the guy that's gonna put the rest of the NFC North in his rear view.

SPEAKER_01 49:53

Brian, I mean you you kind of sound like the guy that like had a bunch of terrible dates, you know. And and and you go out with a girl that's like you've outkicked your coverage, and she she maybe did you you a favor. Like your buddy Rob set you up on this date. I'm like, just go out with Brian, I'll give you 20 bucks, you know. And and and you're at Dairy Queen have a you know a slushie at the end of the night, and you're like, I'm ready to take the next steps. And she's like, Whoa, dude, like like this is this is a process here. You can't just be ready, right? Like everybody's ready to to marry that girl, you know. Like you you have a bad history of a 45 years of bad dates. You're not jumping on that train because you're you're ready, like everybody's ready to do that, right? Like, so just be patient. Give yourself the window, get yourself a second date, get yourself a third date, and that's all we're trying to get here is a shot at the Super Bowl.

SPEAKER_00 50:51

So and when when does that shot? When do you foresee that that shot being taken?

SPEAKER_01 50:57

That shot's this year. This year, and it's next year, and it's the following year. The fact is the Lions are in a very, very good situation, and I would say 28 other teams would would trade places right now with the Detroit Lions.

SPEAKER_00 51:14

20 28.

SPEAKER_01 51:16

28.

SPEAKER_00 51:16

We'll do the math next one. We'll do the math. We'll come back to you later to determine if 28 is an accurate number.

SPEAKER_01 51:24

Um we're going long here. I know. And and it, you know, potentially it's either terrible or entertaining, um, depending on your your type of personality. Sure. Um, I I'd say let's let's put out some of the free agent talk and some of the recap for next podcast because those guys are already there, they're not going anywhere, and let's put some color on that as we talk about the draft in future podcasts.

SPEAKER_00 51:52

Okay. The only other thing that I we have to talk about right now is the Max Crosby saga, and other than that, um we we can move on. But right now, recency shows us that Max is not going to what was can what was considered a massive trade to the Baltimore Ravens only to fail a physical and then return to the Raiders. What happens after um Max uh you know is is leaving Baltimore and his family's still hanging out? Trey Hendrickson walks through those doors and signs to the dotted line.

SPEAKER_01 52:31

It it it there's so many ways you can take this, right? Like, um, you know, as some of my friends would say, like, lost or stolen. Like, uh, are you gonna put your tinfoil hat on here and really think like something's crazy going on? Like, did they know they didn't want Max the whole time? But they would have taken them if they couldn't get Trey, so they put a placeholder in, knowing that they can get out of that contract. Or they mad about Linderbaum getting overbid? And they're like, you know what? We're gonna put a put a hold in this, right? And like we're gonna rescind it later on? Like, do they really want both?

SPEAKER_00 53:14

Like, do you or does this backfire on them and does this like put the Raiders in a position where they normally wouldn't have spent, like they spent, and then they spent in free agency like they had they had no worries, no cares, no cap space whatsoever. And then they also bring back one of the top five defensive ends in the league. So the Raiders have a window. Okay, how big is is there a sliding glass door?

SPEAKER_01 53:48

Is there is there a small little with Max Crosby? It's one of those six sliding glass doors, you're gonna be according them all down, right? Because the Raiders go out there and they lose their first three games, but Max Crosby has four sacks, five sacks. He's a game wrecker and he's proven that he's in physically really good shape. You want to know the Raiders can do? Then go to the Lions, they can go to a contender and say, Do you want this guy for two first round picks? You can put him on your team right now.

SPEAKER_00 54:20

I would and I would I would love that that Brad Holmes would make that trade, and I have no trust that he would. That's that's the concern I have.

SPEAKER_01 54:27

But you want to know why he has the ability to make that trade, Brad?

SPEAKER_00 54:31

He still has his first round picks?

SPEAKER_01 54:33

He has his first round picks, and he went to the day two and a half. You know, like he's not like going out there and getting splashy, shiny objects. Um my you know, Max Crosby to the Ravens would have been he'd have been a game wrecker over there, right? And and Trey Hendrickson, I'm just glad to put the talk to rest on the Detroit Lions podcast about Trey Hendrickson. Um, he he will not be a lion, at least for the next couple years. Um, Max Crosby potentially gets re-dealt, which would be really weird because he put out another thing out there, like essentially a Taylor Decker. Like, yeah, so like it tells me it could happen, but like, hey, I'm glad to be a raider, I'm a raider for life, or whatever. And until the next time they trade me, or I want to leave. So yeah, and that potentially, you know, it could happen. The Raiders go out there and they lose their first three, four games. Culture erodes. He says, get rid of me. Maybe a team gets a similar deal, or maybe it's a little bit of a you know, dented can type deal.

SPEAKER_00 55:37

Right? It's just an interesting saga that has been going on, and you know, you don't see this very often in the NFL, especially with the the type of player like a Max Crosby. I mean, he is he is one of your top-tier players. Um, you know, a two uh first round type picks that has really just set ripples throughout the NFL when it comes to free agency, when it comes to trade markets, when it comes to to all this stuff, it just happens to be lucky that the Raiders still had cap space in order to bring him back, um, even though that they made all of these moves along the way.

SPEAKER_01 56:14

So it was wild, and I don't know what your your take is, you know, like if you got something hot, you know, send it in, we'll talk about it. But um it was it's wild, and I I don't think it's over, you know, and and maybe over isn't like in the next day or two. We we even talked about like delaying this podcast until now Thursday night, because maybe we'd have some more details on the Max Crosby deal. And you're like, as long as he doesn't go to the bears, you know.

SPEAKER_00 56:41

They just didn't want him going to the bears, you know. That's that's it. Like I don't care if he comes to the Lions at this point as long as he does not go to the Bears.

SPEAKER_01 56:49

Yeah, so uh off seasons obviously heating up. Brian and I we're fired up. Fired up. Um, we got the draft talk. We're gonna put some more color on the game-changing signings of free agency, how it affects the North, how it affects the NFC, contenders in the AFC. Um, we got a lot to talk about. We think that we're the greatest podcast for the Detroit Lions if you want to talk off season football. And we're in the top, you know, 100 if you want to talk during the season as well. Anything else you want to put on this pod, bro? That's it. No, that's it. So please like, follow, subscribe, interact. Um, it's the off season. We're trying to keep you entertained. This was a fun one. We appreciate you. Stay gritty, go lions.

SPEAKER_00 57:34

Go Lions.