Kuehn Observations: 2024 Draft Grades

The NFL Draft has long been a disappointing affair for Lions fans. Many spent the months leading up to the draft determining their favorite fits for the Lions only to have the team go in a different direction that didn’t work out more often than not. 2024 promised to be different. The Lions unveiled new uniforms, fresh off their most successful season in 60 years and Detroit played host to the NFL world. The event, from a macro view, was a huge success, but how about the micro view of the players added to a young and exciting roster?

Kuehn Observations: Pre-Draft Observations

Photo courtesy Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

The NFL Draft is nearly upon us and the mock drafts and hypotheticals will soon give way to actual results. Before the clock starts ticking tomorrow, I wanted to point out a few observations.

Kuehn Observations: Uniform Reveal

The Lions made significant changes to their uniforms for the first time in seven years. They announced the changes last spring and finally revealed them…no thanks to Fanatics…this evening.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Secondary

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the secondary.

Players Currently on the Roster:

Cornerbacks: Cam Sutton, Brian Branch, Emmanuel Moseley, Steven Gilmore and Craig James

Safeties: Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brandon Joseph

The Lions secondary has been a work in progress for years and the 2024 offseason is no different. The Lions only have seven players under contract heading into free agency and they have a desperate need for both starting caliber players and depth.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Linebackers

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This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the linebackers.

Players Currently on the Roster: Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Mathieu Betts, Jack Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Malcolm Rodriguez

The Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn Era featured some dark days for the linebacking corps, coming off some of the best linebacker play since the Chris Spielman days. DeAndre Levy, Stephen Tulloch and Tahir Whitehead gave way to Jaime Collins, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Defensive Front

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the defensive front.

Players Currently on the Roster

Edge: Aidan Hutchinson, John Cominsky, James Houston, Josh Paschal

Interior Defensive Line: Alim McNeill, Brodric Martin, Levi Onwuzurike, Chris Smith

The 2023 season was an illustration of extremes for the defensive front. On one side, Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill had breakout campaigns that placed them as two of the top young players at their respective positions. On the other, nobody else in the group did much to stand out.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Offensive Line

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)AP

This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the offensive line.

Players Currently on the Roster

Tackles: Taylor Decker, Connor Galvin, Penei Sewell

Guards: Colby Sorsdal, Netane Muti, Kayode Awosika, Matt Farniok and Michael Niese

Centers: Frank Ragnow

The Lions made a point to build around the limited strengths available when Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell arrived. The biggest strength was an offensive line that featured Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson.

Penei Sewell became Holmes’ first draft pick and the Lions appeared to have the makings of an elite offensive line. The projected starting five wouldn’t play a snap together until 2023 and even then, it was short lived. However, Decker, Jackson, Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Sewell would play the majority of the 2023 season and by most metrics formed a top three grouping in the league.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Receivers and Tight Ends

This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the receiver and tight end positions.

Players Currently on the Roster

Receivers: Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green, Maurice Alexander, Daurice Fountain, Tom Kennedy and Tre’Quan Smith

Tight Ends: Sam LaPorta, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra

When Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over, they basically had to start building the receiving corps from scratch. Every receiver, except Quintez Cephus, was a free agent and they retained none of them. TJ Hockenson was the only holdover at tight end as well. The Lions slowly rebuilt each position group piece by piece using every method possible.

Draft picks, bargain free agents, trades, pricier free agents, trading up in the draft and trading established players. There was progress in fits and starts and after several setbacks, the vision for the receiving corps finally came together in 2023.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Running Backs

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This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. Next up, the running back and fullback positions.

Players Currently on the Roster

David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jermar Jefferson and Jake Funk

Lions fans are accustomed to hearing about the team’s futile rushing attack ever since Barry Sanders retired. This year definitely offered a reprieve from that narrative. The Lions backfield nearly had two thousand yard rushers, accumulated 2,300+ rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. They added nearly another 500 yards receiving and an additional touchdown through the air as well.

Kuehn Observations 2024 Plan: Quarterbacks

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 28: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after David Montgomery #5 scored a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on September 28, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

This off season I’m going to review the Lions position by position and offer my approach to the moves they should, or should not, make. I’ll start this series with the quarterback position.

Players Currently on the Roster:

Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker

2023 was a big year for Jared Goff to prove many doubters wrong, myself included. While Goff clearly benefits from an elite offensive line and diverse array of weapons, he really showed improvement in his off schedule play and functioning outside of structure.