Lions mailbag: Contracts, cap space, uniforms, and fiery press conferences

It's the offseason, you've got questions about the Detroit Lions and I don't like to waste words on intros, so let's get to the mailbag.

▶ Question: If the 49ers win the Super Bowl, can we count on a second straight year of the Lions opening their season visiting the defending champs? — @Grade_A_Moron

▶ Answer: I hadn't really considered the possibility until you brought it up, but it's certainly a compelling option for the league. Of course, there are other interesting choices available for a potential 49ers' banner raising, including a rematch with the Chiefs, the ever-popular Cowboys, or a returning Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.

I have little doubt the Lions would love the opportunity. For one, it gets their lone west coast trip out of the way immediately, with an extended break on the back end. Secondly, they're clearly comfortable in prime time, and the revenge game — a label they might reject — would offer a measuring stick for how their retooled roster stacks up against the defending champs.

Sign me up.

▶ Q: After doing the necessary extensions, how much cap space would you estimate the Lions to have for free agency? — @MINorthWoods

▶ A: That's a complicated question because we're not only having to project extensions, but also their structure. Unlike some other pro sports leagues, the NFL offers a lot of flexibility with how teams spread out the money within a multi-year deal, including the increasingly popular usage of void years at the end of contracts.

Additionally, in the case of quarterback Jared Goff, a new deal could lower his cap hit for 2024. I'd go as far as to say I'd expect that. So while I can't give you a dollar amount, or even a comfortable estimate, I would anticipate the Lions leaving something in the budget to add a quality piece or two from outside the organization. I wouldn't expect a home-run swing, because that hasn't been this front office's approach, but a couple of guys in the realm of David Montgomery and Cam Sutton last year, absolutely.

▶ Q: Between edge rusher, cornerback and interior offensive line, which position would you prefer be drafted at 29, and which position group might have better value in free agency? — @mrussi

▶ A: For the sake of transparency, I haven't shifted from my season wrap-up content to looking ahead at the upcoming free-agency period or the draft. I think it's important to finish up what's relevant today before focusing on tomorrow.

I would say this, it's probably easier to find a reasonably priced guard in free agency. Case in point, look what the Lions got in Graham Glasgow last year. If you try to go bargain hunting for a corner or edge, you'll usually be disappointed with the results. NFL teams are desperate for talent at both positions and don't typically let it go when they find it. It's better to target those spots in the draft, with an eye on development.

In terms of what I'd prefer the Lions to draft, as a journalist, my desire is always a good player who is a good talker, regardless of position. But if you're asking me to put my GM hat on, I'd say a lesson that's been hammered home by multiple evaluators over the years is to select best talent/fit over a position of need. The latter can be a tie-breaker between two closely ranked prospects, and it's always great when those two things overlap on your board, but don't reach for a lesser talent just because you have perceived, short-term hole. That strategy will slowly erode at the overall strength of your roster, both starting talent and depth.

▶ Q: Will Cam Sutton be able to bounce back next year? — @TrebmalTtam

▶ A: Can he? Absolutely. Will he? No one can really say.

It was an unquestionably difficult debut season in Detroit for the veteran corner. When you include the playoffs, he finished the year allowing a passer rating of 122.0 when targeted. Despite a decent start to the campaign, it felt like the demand of defending the opponent's best receiver each week was too tall of an ask for his skill set. But it's not like the combination of football IQ and physical ability he demonstrated throughout his six seasons in Pittsburgh suddenly evaporated.

It may be presumptive to say this, but I think he's going to need his confidence built back up next season. Or maybe the mental reset provided by the offseason will accomplish the same purpose. Just as importantly, he would benefit from an injection of talent in the secondary to help ease his burden of having to shadow superstar receivers.

▶ Q: Will Penei Sewell switch back to left tackle when Decker retires/moves on? — @trumanfrancis

▶ A: Taylor Decker will enter the final year of his contract next season and it's difficult to say what the future holds, but he's long expressed a desire to play his entire career in Detroit. It shouldn't surprise anyone to see the two sides come together on a new deal. Sure, he'll be 32 when the 2025 season starts, but offensive linemen have a longer shelf life and he's been rock solid for the duration of his eight seasons with the Lions.

That said, if for some reason an extension isn't reached, yeah, I'd anticipate Sewell going to the left side. But the value differentiation between left and right tackle has significantly narrowed as plenty of elite edge rushers either align across the right tackle or move between sides.

▶ Q: What would the pre-draft scouting report or analysis be on yourself, Wojo, Niyo, and Bianchi be as far as coworkers? — @Tim1213

▶ A: I'm going to refrain from the self-scout, but I'll gladly offer up some quick thoughts on my colleagues:

Nolan Bianchi is a quick study, offers impressive versatility and has a high ceiling. John Niyo is as cerebral as they come with an unparalleled attention to detail. And Bob Wojnowski is a total locker-room guy. He's selfless, self-deprecating and always capable of lightening the mood.

▶ Q: What's your gut feeling on Frank Ragnow? — @gavin3000

▶ A: I was chatting with Ragnow one-on-one before a gaggle of media interrupted the conversation, but listening back to our chat, as well as what he said to the group after I excused myself, my initial read wasn't that retirement was the lean. It was a reflective moment of how beat up he was physically, and the mental toll of not being at your best takes on you. It's a conversation we've had before and one I wasn't surprised to have again, given what he went through this season.

But Brad Holmes' comments earlier this week made me reconsider Ragnow's comments. I still can't imagine him shutting it down after finally tasting some team success, but those decisions are personal, and he has a young family that's going to factor into the equation.

Ultimately, with some time off to get his body and head right, I expect him to be back next season. He turns 28 in May, and even with his body not holding up as well as he would like, there are a few good years of tread left on those tires. I just wouldn't expect him to keep playing until the wheels fall off.

▶ Q: Which Lions player would have the best chance to win the Royal Rumble? — @BSzachta

▶ A: It's got to be Sewell, right?

First of all, Samoans and professional wrestling go together like peanut butter and jelly, even if we're talking about an American Samoan, in this instance. The big man is extraordinarily athletic, has a great motor, and it's going to take more than one man to dump him over the top rope.

▶ Q: What’s up with the new uniforms? Are they for sure happening and when should we expect an announcement? — @TheExtraPointFF

▶ A: Everything I've been told is that new uniforms are still in the cards this offseason. Previously, those reveals have occurred in June, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team utilize the draft being in town this April as an opportunity to launch their new look.

▶ Q: Should the Lions invest in a kicker? At least get someone who they pay more than a league minimum? — @IgorPetrinovic

▶ A: It feels complicated, Igor. While a quality kicker seems like a critically important asset in a league where so many games are decided by a single score, I'm not entirely convinced the Lions value a player who is a threat from 55 yards and beyond because it would be in direct conflict with their desire to put pressure on opponents through fourth-down aggressiveness.

Maybe that's a cynical viewpoint. But there's a reason we all use the phrase "settle for a field goal." There's nothing about Dan Campbell's coaching style that aligns with settling. So while it feels like an upgrade would be beneficial, don't be surprised to see the team continue to put a premium on reliability inside 50 yards over the upside of a big-legged kicker.

▶ Q: Your thoughts on Brodric Martin entering year 2? — @Rejuvenation

▶ A: For all the complaints I heard about Martin's usage this year, it was exactly what the Lions told us they planned to do. It's not their fault we didn't listen. He was always going to be a developmental prospect and the real evaluation starts next season. Now, if we're still looking at a bunch of healthy scratches, or even overall ineffectiveness in limited snaps, I'll be more open to listening to criticism of the selection.

That said, we have to remember, draft picks are made with a four-year vision, and development isn't the same for all prospects. While you'd love to see that big jump between a player's first and second season, it's not always that simple. It took Derrick Barnes until his third year to really click, and it was beyond the halfway point of Ifeatu Melifonwu's third season before he found his groove.

▶ Q: What was the biggest surprise you personally learned from finally covering a playoff team? — @evanderjoseph

▶ A: The biggest thing was how much extra work goes into meeting the demand. I produced something close to twice as many headlines and struggled to find much time for myself, or my family, during the month of January.

And the interview requests! Not just locally, but around the country and world, requests for phone and TV interviews never stopped. I didn't count them all, but it was easily more than a hundred. Heck, I got 17 in one day ahead of the wild-card matchup with the Rams.

Some of that was the novelty of the Lions making a run. But if they make the Super Bowl in the next couple of years, it's only going to get crazier. If that happens, tell my wife and kids I love them.

▶ Q: Did Holmes bully his way into A+ 2024 draft grades based on his recent press conference? — @WayneOW66L67

▶ Q: Did you go back through your articles after Brad Holmes’ presser to see if he was talking about you? — @goin2werk

▶ Q: How many people attended Brad’s fire-breathing presser yesterday, and which two media members walked away with their eyebrows still intact? — @rcblue3

▶ A: We got several jokes about Holmes' intense, receipt-cashing press conference for the mailbag. Honestly, I didn't mind it. The guy is feeling good about the job he's done and deservedly so. And while a portion of the fan base is going to get fired up by any hint of team vs. the media, I don't take that stuff personally because I'm confident in the quality of the work I produce. I don't do immediate draft grades and I don't have a history of hot takes. I've long been motivated to provide accurate and timely reporting, and in the rare instances I delve into opinion or analysis, I aim to be measured and logical.

Does that mean I have a 100% hit rate? Nope. Want an example? From my post-draft thoughts, I speculated Brian Branch wouldn't offer much more than special teams contributions as a rookie because of the stacked depth chart ahead of him. Obviously, I couldn't have been more wrong, but, again, that was a thought rooted in logic. Branch just performed better than almost anyone could have imagined. It happens.

I'd hope, after 19 years in the business and a dozen covering the Lions, people who follow the reporting of this team closely know what I'm about. But for those who don't effort to separate what I do compared to the talking heads on 97.1, or even national programs like "First Take," those who want to lump us together as a singular entity know as the "The Media," that's a fight I can't win.

▶ Q: Will we extend Alim McNeill this offseason? If he keeps up his play he will only get more expensive. — @tigers4prez

▶ A: We don't talk enough about a potential McNeill extension, so I'm glad you brought it up. It's easy to focus on Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sewell, even if that last one is probably another year away, but McNeill is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has established himself as one of the better players on Detroit's defense.

With the way McNeill played last year, he's probably working his way toward a pact that could pay him double-digit millions per season. If you want to go by Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the sixth-best player at his position among guys who played 50% or more of their team's defensive snaps in 2023.

McNeill doesn't have the same track record, but he played at a comparable level to Carolina's Derrick Brown last season. The Panthers lineman will play on a fifth-year option that will pay him more than $11 million in 2024.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers