Lions Team Notes

The long-reported hirings for the coordinator vacancies in Detroit are now official. On Thursday, the Lions organization hired Kelvin Sheppard as the new defensive coordinator and John Morton as the offensive coordinator.

Both moves have been known for some time, but the press release from the Lions indicates that the moves are now finalized.

Sheppard moves up from the LB coach position to the defensive coordinator role. He takes over for Aaron Glenn, who is now the head coach of the New York Jets.

Morton returns to the Lions, where he served as an offensive assistant in 2022, from the Denver Broncos. He served as the Broncos’ passing game coordinator.

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The Lions have added former Stanford head coach David Shaw as their new pass game coordinator, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Shaw, who spent last season as a senior personnel executive with the Denver Broncos, joins a new offensive staff that includes new offensive coordinator John Morton, who is also coming over from the Broncos, as he was previously their pass game coordinator.

Shaw was head coach of the Cardinal from 2011-2022, succeeding current Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Shaw compiled a 96-54 record at Stanford, winning the Pac-12 conference championship three and the Rose Bowl twice. His early years at Stanford included coaching 2012 No. 1 pick quarterback Andrew Luck.

Before becoming head coach, Shaw was offensive coordinator for the Cardinal for four seasons.

Shaw has coached quarterbacks and wide receivers in the NFL, with his last coaching stop in the league coming in 2005 as wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

Former pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is in play, and possibly considered the favorite, to be the new offensive coordinator for the New York Jets under new head coach and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

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Lions quarterback Jared Goff took full advantage of his opportunity to shine during the Pro Bowl Games Thursday.

The MVP finalist took part in the event called “Passing the Test”, in which a quarterback was paired with a wide receiver who answered trivia questions. Each correct answer added ten seconds to the quarterback’s base time of 40 seconds.

Goff’s partner was Packers running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs answered five questions correctly, adding 50 seconds to Goff’s base of 40, giving him 1:30 on the clock.

Goff then had to throw at numerous targets, ranging from 1-5 points. Goff hit all nine targets, allowing the targets to reset. He added 17 more won his second round of targets, giving him a total of 44 points, a score that held up and was the winning point total, beating out Sam Darnold’s 39 points and putting three team points on the board for the NFC.

Thanks to Josh Jacobs giving him some extra time, Jared Goff puts up 44 points for the NFC in Passing the Test
💪


📺
: #ProBowlGames on ESPN
📱
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Xuo3FGiD9B

— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2025
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With all the coaching carousel chaos over the last couple of weeks in Detroit, one name has been noticeably out of the spotlight. Assistant head coach and RB coach Scottie Montgomery, considered to be a prime candidate for Detroit’s coordinator vacancy and other outside roles, has not interviewed for any known role.

That has now changed. Montgomery has interviewed to become the offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.



Montgomery is one of several candidates interviewing for the role under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

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Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is heading to the New York Jets. Engstrand will follow new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, who has been Detroit’s defensive coordinator for the last four seasons.

The 42-year-old Engstrand has been with the Lions since 2020, first as an offensive assistant and then working his way up to passing game coordinator. He was the offensive coordinator of the DC Defenders of the XFL prior to joining the Lions.

Engstrand was speculated to be one of the top internal candidates to take over the offensive coordinator duties once Ben Johnson departed to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. The Lions opted to bring in John Morton instead.

Engstrand’s departure has been widely anticipated for several days, especially after Detroit hired David ShawDetroit hired David Shaw into Engstrand’s role.

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Fresh off my 16th Senior Bowl week trip, it’s time to look at some of the players I watched and talked with during the week with an eye for the Detroit Lions. The Lions were checking out players all week as well, conducting a 10-minute interview with every player in attendance (all teams do this), as well as extra time with some prospects and agents throughout the week.

Here are 12 players who stood out in practice and interview sessions as potential Lions targets in the 2025 NFL Draft. Also, three players I expected to catch the Lions eye but didn’t live up to the prism of Detroit expectations get included here as well. They are listed in alphabetical order, with a definite focus on the offensive and defensive lines.

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Wide receiver Maurice Alexander signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears, per a report from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.

#Bears sign Maurice Alexander to reserve-future deal

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 31, 2025
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Alexander will join new Bears head coach and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as well as Antwaan Randle El, who coached wide receivers in Detroit and will do the same while also adding the title of assistant head coach in Chicago. Alexander spent three seasons with the Lions.

Alexander was on the practice squad for the Lions at the end of the season but was not signed to a futures deal by the team, allowing him to sign such a deal elsewhere, even before free agency officially started. He appeared in three games on special teams this season for the Lions, including filling in for an injured Kalif Raymond as a kick and punt returner.

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A Lions fan who recently sold his prized autographed jersey of former Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford got the gift of a lifetime from the Super Bowl champion.

Bryson Machonga, a 34-year-old Lions fan from Appleton, Wisconsin, wanted to bring his 9-year-old daughter Kinsley to her first Lions game. That game, as detailed in a story from the Detroit Free Press, happened to be the NFC Divisional against the Washington Commanders.

Tickets for the game were expectedly quite high. To pay for the tickets, Machonga sold some prized possessions, including an autographed Stafford jersey from his time in Detroit.

Stafford caught wind of Machonga’s action and made sure he to more than just a replacement jersey. Stafford gifted Machonga an autographed jersey. Not just any signed jersey, but one he wore in a game back in 2014. Stafford also wrote a personal message to Machonga.

“To Bryson, Thanks for all the support!” Stafford wrote in addition to signing the jersey.

“I was over the moon. … Disbelief at the start. But then it just turned into resounding joy, excitement,” Machonga said, via the Free Press (H/T Rams Wire).

“It just reconfirmed who Matthew Stafford is. He had no reason to go about doing this. He had no gain. He’s not our quarterback anymore … he went out of his way in a playoff week.”

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The Detroit Lions are getting involved in the possible return of WNBA basketball to the Motor City.
The Detroit Pistons PR team released details Friday of team owner Tom Gores’s bid for a new team along with a list of star-studded investors in the effort.
Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and quarterback Jared Goff are among the investors listed in the collection. Others involved include NBA Hall of Famers Grant Hill and Chris Webber and General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
On behalf of an exceptional ownership group, an expansive coalition of civic and business leaders and an excited fan base that embraced the WNBA for many years, @DetroitPistons Owner Tom Gores submitted on Thursday a formal bid to bring the league back to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/y1klJRmQ0t

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) January 31, 2025
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The Detroit Shock was a premiere franchise in the WNBA, winning three championships before moving to Tulsa in 2009. In 2015, the team moved again and became the Dallas Wings.
The WNBA submitted a trademark application on Thursday for “Detroit Shock,” according to Gerben IP trademark attorney Josh Gerben.
Detroit is one of a handful of cities bidding for a team following a boom in the league’s popularity. The WNBA is already welcoming a new team in Golden State in 2025 and plans to debut teams in Toronto and Portland in 2026.

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As the Detroit Lions look to fill some vacancies on the coaching staff, they have hit a snag in replacing tight ends coach Steve Heiden. The man the Lions wanted to at least interview for Heiden’s position is no longer available.

Per Ian Rapoport, the Lions asked the Jacksonville Jaguars for permission to interview their tight ends coach, Richard Angulo. However, the Jaguars rebuffed the advance and instead signed Angulo to a contract extension to stay in Jacksonville.

Angulo has been the Jaguars’ TE coach for the last three seasons, including the joint practices between the two teams in the 2023 training camp in Detroit. The 44-year-old Angulo was an NFL tight end for several years and has been coaching for the last decade.

The #Jaguars are keeping Richard Angulo as tight ends coach, source says. The #Lions inquired, but Jax locked him in to a new, multi-year deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2025
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The Lions will now move onto other candidates to replace Heiden, who left after one season to become the offensive line coach of the New York Jets under head coach Aaron Glenn.

Related​

Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand heading to the Jets with Aaron Glenn​



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Saturday’s Senior Bowl put a bow on the postseason all-star circuit, which makes it a good time to offer up another Detroit Lions draft projection.

As with all mock drafts before the NFL Scouting Combine and pro day tour, these projections are about finding players who appear to fit what the Lions look for in players and where the team might want to fill different holes on the roster. These are scenarios to think about more than predictions, though it wouldn’t surprise me if a couple of these actually happen come April’s draft.

The first mock draft scenario can be found here.

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“I want this job!” Those were the first words former Lions offensive coordinator and new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson told team chairman George McCaskey during his interview for the position, according to a story from Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

Cronin detailed the interview process for Johnson and for the Bears that led to Johnson taking over the lead role in Chicago, which was officially announced on January 21. Johnson was one of 17 candidates to interview for the job, including former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and two coaches that landed jobs in other places, Mike Vrabel (Patriots) and Pete Carroll (Raiders).

Chicago first interviewed Johnson on January 11, during Detroit’s bye week in the playoffs. That allowed the Bears to set up a second interview with Johnson after Detroit’s season ended in the Divisional Round. The Bears, however, waited a bit out of respect to Johnson, allowing him time to recover after the Lions’ 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders.

“The Bears’ contingent ultimately decided against making the trip, opting to let Johnson deal with the disappointment of losing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed,” wrote Cronin. “Johnson had spurned previous head coaching opportunities because he wanted to win a Super Bowl with Detroit, but now he knew he would be moving on.”
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Chicago couldn’t wait too long, however. The Las Vegas Raiders were reportedly lurking and ready to strike for Johnson with a group that included minority owner, 7-time Super Bowl winner and Fox’s No. 1 game analyst Tom Brady.

“Though the Bears wanted to respect Johnson’s time and space, there also was a sense of urgency,” wrote Cronin. “There was a feeling Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was making a push for Johnson, and even if the Bears didn’t believe that to be true, there were other openings Johnson might consider. The Bears emphasized ‘culture and the quarterback’ during the interviews, according to someone familiar with the process, and they were convinced Johnson would excel on both counts, including maximizing Caleb Williams’ potential.”

Not only did Johnson seem to have the support of the top brass in Chicago, but the fans were also showing their strong support in wanting Johnson to come coach quarterback Caleb Williams.

According to Cronin’s story, Bears president Kevin Warren went to dinner with his wife, Greta, at Old Pueblo Cantina. Cronin wrote, “With the (Commanders-Lions) game on the bar’s big screen, Bears fan Chris Stein sent two shots of tequila to the Warrens with a note written by Stein’s girlfriend, Ryanne Braun.

“‘Kevin,

Please, hire Ben!!’

Warren responded by sending back two shots. Message received.”

Johnson reportedly received a five-year contract worth $13 million per year, a very high number for a first-year coach, but as Cronin noted in her story, the Bears weren’t “cutting corners” when it came to paying Johnson. His annual salary is more than double what the Bears were paying former head coach Matt Eberflus ($6 million).

Johnson is now tasked with working with 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and an offense that ranked 26th in expected points added (EPA) per play, at -0.08. For reference, Johnson’s Lions ranked No. 3 in that category at 0.15. Only the Baltimore Ravens (0.21) and Buffalo Bills (0.18) fared better. Johnson had turned down head coaching positions in that, including the opening for the Carolina Panthers last offseason that ultimately went to Dave Canales. This is one he wanted and he’s eager and excited to get to work, especially with Williams.

“Having a quarterback helps,” Johnson said at his introductory press conference on January 22.

Johnson had blended youth and experience at the top of his coaching staff. Former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen will be Johnson’s defensive coordinator while 28-year-old Declan Doyle, who spent the last two seasons as tight ends coach for the Denver Broncos, will be his offensive coordinator. Make no mistake about it, this is Johnson’s offense, but Doyle is considered a rising star in the coaching community. Johnson retained special teams coordinator Richard Hightower from Eberflus’ staff.

Detroit will sorely miss Johnson, but deep down, they knew it was his time. The Lions hired Broncos’ passing game coordinator John Morton as their new offensive coordinator. For Johnson, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime at a place Johnson is already familiar with. Not just because of the Lions’ rivalry with the Bears, but as Johnson said in his introductory press conference, “For the last 10-plus years, my family and I have been coming up for a Cubs series every summer. And it doesn’t take long to realize this place is special. These people are special.” In case you’re wondering, the Cubs visit the Tigers June 6-8.

A special place and a special opportunity for a special coach in Lions’ lore.

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Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade. Arguably the NFL’s best defensive player over the last few seasons, Garrett stated, “the goal has never been to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”

Of course the Detroit Lions will be interested in trading for Garrett. Every NFL team should be; Garrett is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who remains an athletic superfreak at 29 years old, is scheme-versatile and one of the most respected players off the field as well as in between the lines.

What could the Lions offer?​


It’s a little more complicated than offering potential draft pick compensation to acquire Garrett, who has bagged at least 14 sacks in each of the last four seasons. But in exchanges I had with a few Browns sources, the common denominator was a minimum of two first-round picks and at least one Day 2 pick. One longtime Cleveland media member put the starting point at “two firsts and Amon-Ra (St. Brown)”, which helps frame what the Browns are anticipating Garrett’s market value to look like.

Browns Wire’s Cory Kinnan referenced the Bears trade for Khalil Mack in 2018 as a baseline. Chicago sent two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a sixth-rounder to the Raiders for Mack and a second-round pick. However, Garrett has been more productive than Mack was at that point, and the Browns would need to make it worth their while to move on from Garrett.

The financials are an issue, both for the Browns and any team trading for him. Garrett will need a new contract. Any new deal projects in excess of $30 million per year, with a substantial portion (if not all of it) fully guaranteed at signing.

Cleveland, already saddled with the Deshaun Watson fully guaranteed deal, would have major cap issues in moving Garrett and his nearly $37 million in dead cap that doesn’t move with the player.

Just to run a quick scenario but prior to adjustments the Browns would need to restructure Watson and Ward to the fullest and cut Conklin to trade Garrett. Doing all of that would leave them with likely between $2M and 7M in cap space depending on where the cap winds up

— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) February 3, 2025
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Where there’s a will, there’s a way, but it would require some major will in wanting to dump Garrett to make that happen. Read as: the price tag for any team (including the Lions) is firmly in the sticker-shock realm and won’t be coming down. And that’s if the Browns opt to trade him, which is far from a given for this Cleveland regime.

My take​


Garrett is my favorite non-Lions player in the league. He’s the most impactful defensive player and still in his athletic prime. He’s a perfect fit with Aidan Hutchinson in whatever type of defense new Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard would want to run. Heck, Garrett is perhaps the only player where Hutchinson would not remain Detroit’s best defensive player. Garrett is absolutely cut from the Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes cloth on and off the field.

Yet acquiring him–if the Browns do indeed honor his trade request, which is not a given–would completely cripple the fundamental tenet of how the Holmes/Campbell regime has operated. They value draft capital as the way to keep the depth chart bolstered and cost-controlled. Hypothetically adding Garrett and also paying Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph and (in time) Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams would effectively end that strategy.

But a guy can dream…

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ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller released his two-round 2025 mock draft on Monday, after the conclusion of the recent Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl, which allowed some of this year’s prospects to wrap up their college careers.

Miller is a longtime scout and has been an analyst for ESPN since 2021.
The Lions have own picks No. 28 and No. 60 in the first two rounds after coming up short in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last season.

Round 1​

Miller has the Lions selecting Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 28.
“The Lions will have hard decisions to make in free agency with guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike both on expiring contracts,” Miller said. “But general manager Brad Holmes should beef up the interior defensive line whether Onwuzurike returns or not.”
Harmon had six sacks at Oregon, along with 35 pressures. He’s ranked fourth at his position in this year’s draft according to ESPN.
Miller is right to point out the need for defensive line help for the Lions. Alim McNeill’s injuries last year and the uncertainty around who will be returning next season put immediate pressure on finding viable, NFL-ready help like Harmon.

Round 2​

Barring any movement between now and the draft, Miller has the Lions selecting Georgia center Jared Wilson with pick No. 60.
“Wilson has been battle tested in the SEC and would be ready to step in immediately as a starter if needed,” Miller said.
Wilson is ranked third at his position in this year’s draft according to ESPN.
Miller cited the future of Lions center Frank Ragnow as the driver behind going for a center this early in the draft. Ragnow will be 28 at the start of the 2025-26 season and reiterated before last season that he had no plans on retiring despite often dealing with nagging injuries.
This Lions era has been built on the strength of its offensive line, so investing early in a starting-level talent wouldn’t be the wrong line of thinking. Though this team has several needs on defense, this draft is loaded with potential talent at EDGE and this front office has not shown itself to be afraid of picking the players they want regardless of what round they’re operating in.
The Lions regained some draft capital following the exit of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, opening the door to reload with some of the young talent that could help them bounce back next season.
The 2025 NFL Draft begins April 24.

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With NFL draft season now in full swing following the end of the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl, it’s time to fire up the prospect profiles for players the Lions figure to have at least some interest in during the 2025 NFL Draft.

First up is a pass rusher who may or may not be available to Detroit with their first pick at No. 28 overall.

Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M​

  • Listed by the Aggies at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds
  • 14.5 TFLs, 5 sacks in 2024 and was voted Texas A&M’s defensive MVP
  • Transferred from Purdue after two seasons, where he led the Big Ten in sacks in 2023 with 10
  • 20 years old (turns 21 in August)

Scourton went back home to Texas A&M (he’s from neighboring Bryan, TX) after two productive years in the Big Ten at Purdue. He’s a large defensive end who played a fair amount at both schools from a stand-up OLB role as well as with a hand in the turf. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft.

Games watched: Texas, Arkansas, Notre Dame, LSU, South Carolina, Missouri, Michigan 2023 (in person), Iowa 2023

Positives​

  • Definite “crush the can” pass rush style, power-to-speed off an impressive bull rush
  • Good use of his length and a violent initial jab on the pass rush
  • Has a nasty inside rip move and a quick (for his size) spin that can go inside or outside
  • Finishes with power and uses his length to corral well
  • Backside chase-down and contain effort is strong and kept improving
  • Gets good depth on his initial coverage drops from a stand-up start
  • Motor runs hot all the time

Negatives​

  • Stiffer-than-expected lower body with poor bend around the edge
  • Consistently plays too high and narrow in the run game, especially from a 2-pt stance
  • Frequently the last lineman moving off the snap, even if it’s a half-count; the opposite of a snap-jumper
  • Chases the cheese on play-fakes and screens/swings too often
  • Will miss tackle opportunities by approaching too high

Overall​


Scourton is a size/strength defensive end prospect who definitely fits the profile the Lions have looked for at EDGE. He’s a power-to-speed line anchor with pretty impressive power and a couple of nice pass-rush moves. Scourton plays hard and exudes energy, and he’s capable of playing on either side of the formation.

I have some concerns about his overall athleticism. Scourton is fast for his size but didn’t show a lot of flexibility or suddenness as a pass rusher, especially when starting from a 2-point stance. He’s going to need to play with better pad level more consistently and innately; Scourton flashed the ability to get low and anchor on the edge, but it wasn’t consistent. Other than a couple of splashy exceptions, Scourton was largely ineffective against top-50 offensive tackles like Armand Membou, Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks.

The upshot is that he doesn’t turn 21 until August and appeared to shed some bulk as his Aggies season progressed. That’s good, because at his listed 285 pounds he’s almost too big/sluggish for the position. The technical prowess of his game showed progress, but still needs more variety and a better sense of setting up moves.

I’ll be very interested in his official weight and his NFL Scouting Combine agility testing and the 10-yard split on his 40-yard dash. Scourton is currently my No. 44 overall player, but you’ll find many draft analysts have him as a top-20 prospect.

Related​

Lions mock draft v2.0: The post-Senior Bowl edition​



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The Detroit Lions aren’t the most likely destination for superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett, according to the latest betting odds.

DraftKings Sportsbook released odds Tuesday for Garrett’s next team following his request to the Cleveland Browns to be traded. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is currently under contract until 2027.

The odds favored the Browns to retain Garrett (+300), followed by the Commanders (+450), Raiders (+650) and the Lions (+750).

🚨
MYLES GARRETT NEXT TEAM ODDS ARE LIVE
🚨
pic.twitter.com/o7LCUKNun8

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) February 4, 2025
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While the Lions desperately need help on their defensive line and have the cap space and draft capital to make a trade happen, trading the farm to get Garrett doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime.

Related​

Myles Garrett trade request: Walking through any Lions potential to get involved​



The Browns also don’t have to be in any kind of hurry to trade Garrett. His current contract carries a $37 million cap hit should they ship him off. Given Cleveland’s cap situation in the Deshaun Watson realm, it makes sense that they would be the most likely place for Garrett to play for at least next season.

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Myles Garrett wasn’t the only surprising trade news to come down on the start of Super Bowl week. Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp took to social media to essentially say goodbye to Los Angeles and the fans, as he shared the team is looking to trade the former All-Pro receiver.

While it remains to be seen if the Lions would have interest in trading for Kupp, it is interesting to note that there are some ties between Kupp and the Lions’ front office. Current Lions general manager Brad Holmes was director of college scouting for the Rams when Kupp was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft.

Assistant general manager Ray Agnew was also part of that Rams front office that drafted Kupp. Agnew was in his first season as director of pro personnel for the Rams.

Current Rams general manager Les Snead was the spearhead that helped build the Rams and was key in the team winning Super Bowl 56. But make no mistake, Holmes and Agnew were also very important in the decision-making. If, by some chance, the Lions do swing a deal for Kupp — a deal that is far from a guarantee at this point — the two men leading the charge will know exactly what they’re getting in Kupp and know a thing or two about giving him an opportunity.

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It’s Super Bowl week! The nation will be treated to what looks like a great matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. For most, it’s one of the most compelling Super Bowl setups in years.

Sigh.

I’m unfortunately not one of the excited ones. It’s just hard to get enthused about the Super Bowl as a Detroit Lions fan this year. Not with our beloved Lions coming up two steps short of the championship game.

Yawn.

This was supposed to be our year. NFC North champs with a 15-2 record. No. 1 seed in the playoffs and every game set for inside Ford Field, leading to our destined trip to New Orleans and the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance.

Pfft.

The divisional round home loss to the Commanders exploded all those dreams in a Hindenburg of false hope and hot air. For many of us, it sucked all the oxygen out of football. Many of us, myself included, still have a hard time generating any enthusiasm for the game.

I didn’t watch one play of the Eagles-Commanders matchup in the NFC Championship game. The pain was still too raw, the wound too open to relive the idea that “it should be Detroit,” as it seemed so fated to be. For the second year in a row, a great season ended abruptly short of the goal. Canceling a long-planned trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl week and turning down a media credential for the big game poured more salt into the festering sore in my soul.

Aagh.

It’s been difficult to find any Lions fans who have sincere enthusiasm for Sunday’s game. And that’s sad, because I really do believe this is going to be a great game. It’s also the last time we see a meaningful football game for almost seven months. To quote the Philadelphia band Cinderella, “it’s a long cold winter,” indeed.

I’m planning on watching Super Bowl LIX. This week-long buildup, however — not a chance. I completely ignored media day on Tuesday. Don’t care. Opportunities for promotional interviews and radio interview requests, I’m not even responding to them. I’m not going to fake the interest.

I sense that’s something we Lions fans are discovering the hard way. When there are quite realistic expectations for your team to be in the game and then they’re not, it’s different. Back in the myriad years when Detroit’s season was over around Thanksgiving (or earlier in many cases), it was a lot easier to get pumped up about watching the playoffs and especially the Super Bowl. Now that the Lions are legit contenders but came up short, something just feels wrong about Detroit not being in the game.

Deep sigh.

Enjoy the game as best as you can, as I will try to do as well. And know that the painful hole and combination of frustrated apathy you feel is significantly worse for the Lions themselves. Good. Beware the angry, hungry Lion in 2025!

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Every year, there are a handful of players who really stand out during Senior Bowl week. That is certainly true of Toldeo defensive lineman Darius Alexander.

The underexposed Rockets DT emphatically outperformed several more heralded prospects from bigger conferences in Mobile. It left many of us scrambling back to watch more tape of Alexander.

It turns out, we probably should have seen the rising draft stock coming, though not necessarily to the level of potential first-rounder that is being touted in the wake of a truly majestic week for Alexander in Mobile.

Games watched: Mississippi State, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Ohio (2024 and 2023), Pittsburgh (bowl game at Ford Field), Illinois (2023), Senior Bowl practices (in person)

Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo​

  • Measured in at 6-foot-3 ¾ and 304 pounds at the Senior Bowl
  • Full-time player for the final three of his five seasons at Toledo
  • 9.5 sacks and 21 TFLs in those final three seasons, though PFF grading has him for significantly higher unofficial totals
  • Made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” with a 400 lb bench press and a GPS-timed 20 MPH at over 310 pounds
  • Age is unknown, but he was high school class of 2019 and redshirted his freshman season before playing five years for the Rockets

Positives​

  • Very athletic and twitchy for his size, and it looked even quicker after dropping around 10 pounds from his Toledo playing weight to the Senior Bowl
  • Both weight-room strong and country strong in his lower body, core, and shoulders
  • Good length and coordination
  • Has proven success as a pass rusher in both the A and B gaps
  • Very good eyes for the ball and quick-twitch reactions
  • Can overpower blockers in the run game and steer the action into the hole
  • Consistent gap and backside contain duties, and he can chase down and clean up away from the tackle box
  • Played two of his best career games against Power 4 foes (Pittsburgh and Mississippi State)

Negatives​

  • Doesn’t have a developed countermove as a pass rusher if the initial plan doesn’t work
  • Arms get too high when tackling, especially inside
  • Doesn’t protect his chest consistently; quicker punches can rock him upright
  • Did not consistently dominate against lower-level competition as would be expected for his athletic profile
  • Inconsistent anchor in short-yardage situations; would rather shoot the gap

Overall​


Alexander drew some preseason attention thanks to the presence of CB Quinyon Mitchell at Toledo in the last draft. Big No. 9 on the inside popped with his explosive athleticism and length. Toiling in the MAC, Alexander fell off the radar a bit before a spectacular pick-6 in Toledo’s bowl game against Pittsburgh in Ford Field set the table for a Senior Bowl appearance.

In Mobile, he and Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen were the most disruptive interior linemen throughout the week. Alexander’s burst off the snap, which was come-and-go at Toledo, clicked all week. He even showed enough athleticism to line up outside and win against tackles in 1-on-1 reps.

That’s the upside with Alexander: he’s got dominant athletic traits and can string together great, impactful plays in multiple gaps. Insanely few guys his size can move the way Alexander does and also play with the strength he can The drawback is that it didn’t always translate into dominance on the field, especially when facing craftier linemen whose technique doesn’t break down when stressed by Alexander’s ability.

He’s an older prospect, a six-year collegian, and his hand usage and inconsistent pad level haven’t really changed much since I saw Toledo play at Central Michigan in 2021. It’s hard to expect much more development, though there should still be some juice left to squeeze out of Alexander. His propensity for playing up to the level of competition is encouraging. It’s not that there was a lack of effort or will, not at all. But the fire did seem to burn a little hotter when bigger eyes were on Alexander.

As a Lions prospect, he’s a very easy fit into the Levi Onwuzurike (a pending free agent) role as a DT who slides between the 2i and 5-technique. Alexander is both bigger and faster than Onwuzurike, and he comes with a clean bill of health. Coming out of the Senior Bowl, Alexander is my No. 32 overall prospect.

If his athletic freakery shows at the NFL Scouting Combine, expect to see him being projected to go ahead of where the Lions pick at No. 28, though that’s far from a given. Hard to see him still being on the board beyond about pick No. 50 overall, however, and the Lions don’t pick until No. 60 in the second round. Very good player, good culture fit and (anticipated) scheme fit but in an awkward draft range (right now) for Detroit.

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