NFL Offseason Roadmap: Detroit Lions

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

1. Offensive Tackle. A disaster zone. Forget the 54 sacks Jon Kitna took last year. As terrible and incriminating as it is, it doesn't even come close to scratching the surface of all the crimes against football the Lions' tackles have committed. Running backs dream of rushing for 2,000 yards; I don't think any offensive line wants 2,000 yards of penalties in a season, but the Lions looked like they were trying hard, particularly the tackles. Jeff Backus was terrible and, when George Foster wasn't riding pine, he was worse. Damien Woody did pretty well stepping in at right tackle towards the end of the year, but he looks likely to sign somewhere else this summer. So that leaves zero NFL-caliber tackles on this squad. As for answers, well, teams don't let starting quality tackles hit free agency, so they're kinda screwed if they want experience. While their 15th pick puts them out of the running for Jake Long, they could decide to go with Ryan Clady or Jeff Otah, the next tier in this class.

2. Defensive Tackle. Shaun Rogers is not long for the Lions, and Cory Redding is adequate but unspectacular. The team was 23rd in rush yards allowed and 31st in allowing touchdowns on the ground. Football Outsiders agrees -- this line is bad. The Lions have decent talent at linebacker, and although they don't have a good secondary (see below), getting a defensive tackle or two to get a push up the middle would do wonders for the back seven. They've seen a good amount of division rival Corey Williams, who will be available in free agency, but Williams is a 3-tech and the Lions really need a nose tackle more than anything. Kentwan Balmer is rising up draft boards and might seem like good value at 15, but while he has room to bulk up, his effort is questionable (meaning, he could just be another Shaun Rogers, albeit 100 lbs. lighter). Dre Moore and Frank Okam might be available when the Lions pick in the second round.

3. Cornerback. For the first half of the season, when the Lions started 6-2 and it seemed a shockingly foregone conclusion that they'd reach their 10-win prediction, they were typically leading the league in interceptions. By the end of the season, that stat fell back to earth with the rest of the team -- they dipped to 14th in the league, and, even worse, finished 32nd in touchdown passes allowed. It's actually depressing to look at the team's depth chart at corner. The Lions basically play a nickel defense, in that their starting corners are actually glorified nickels. The team needs a pretty major infusion of talent that can't be covered in free agency or the draft alone. There are a few corners in free agency, and a couple of talented guys who might be around in the first -- Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib, Leodis McKelvin, and, maybe the best option, Reggie Smith.

4. Safety. Smith might be the best non-offensive-tackle selection for the Lions in the first because he can play corner or safety, another need for the Lions. When discussing the aforementioned plague in the Lions secondary, you can't leave out the safeties, another unit that is simply devoid of starting talent. In all fairness, the Lions do look like they have one certifiable player in rookie Gerald Alexander, but they need a starter at strong safety and depth. Another option in the draft is Kenny Phillips, whose stock is dropping.