The Detroit Lions have had a busy offseason ahead of a campaign in which the team has legit Super Bowl aspirations after being just 30 minutes away from making it to the Big Game last season.
The Lions moved quickly in free agency to shore up their holes on both sides of the ball, and then they continued that process during the 2024 NFL Draft, where they addressed arguably their biggest remaining need in the secondary.
On top of signings and re-signings, the Lions also took care of some of their franchise cornerstones, with extensions for quarterback Jared Goff, top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell.
With Lions organized team activities kicking off this week, we thought it would be a good time to rank the Lions' biggest moves, from least to most impactful.
We decided to leave out the aforementioned extensions and just stick to signings and re-signings. Here's what we came up with.
Ranking Lions' most impactful moves
6. Signing Marcus Davenport
The Lions were in need of a rotational pass-rusher and more help for Aidan Hutchinson entering the offseason, so the deal with Davenport is certainly significant.
In what is a passing league dominated by quarterbacks, you can never have enough pass-rush help. Granted, Davenport has injury concerns, but he won't be needed to carry the load upfront. The veteran isn't an elite player by any stretch, but he has proven he can make an impact when healthy, and he offers a much-needed experienced voice upfront for Detroit.
5. Signing Kevin Zeitler
With Jonah Jackson moving on in free agency after signing a big deal with the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions had a hole to fill at guard. Granted, the rest of the O-line is so good that the Lions probably could've plugged anyone in there and been fine, but Zeitler has the potential to be an upgrade over Jackson and comes much cheaper.
The only problems are Zeitler's age (34) and the fact that he's on a one-year deal, so the Lions might be looking for a guard once again in 2025. However, none of that matters if Zeitler can help Detroit win a Super Bowl in 2024.
4. Signing D.J. Reader
The Lions sported an elite run defense in 2023, so signing a top run defender like Reader will help keep that intact. The defensive lineman is also a plus in the pass-rush department, and he'll be a great sounding board for younger players in the defensive line room, including Alim McNeill.
Reader does comes with injury concerns, though, but if he can stay healthy, he and McNeill will be an elite duo up the middle and a major problem for opposing offenses.
3. Re-signing Graham Glasgow
The Lions made sure they weren't going to lose more than one member of their elite offensive line when they re-signed Glasgow to a three-year deal. He isn't just a great guard who can play either spot, he's also an insurance policy at center for Frank Ragnow just in case he has to miss time due to injury.
2. Trading up for Terrion Arnold
The biggest issue for the Lions' defense in 2023 was defending the pass, as Detroit ranked as the sixth-worst unit in the NFL. That's simply not going to cut it for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations in a passing league.
There's no telling how a rookie will transition to the NFL, but Arnold has the tools to make a big impact in his first season, and he has the potential to develop into a lockdown corner down the road. For now, the Lions just need him to fill the No. 2 cornerback role in his first season.
1. Trading for Carlton Davis
Even before Cameron Sutton's legal issues that led to his release, the Lions were in need of a veteran addition at cornerback. Davis is just what the doctor ordered, and he should be an upgrade over Sutton and brings a Super Bowl ring with him.
Davis' presence will also take some pressure off Arnold, who otherwise may have been needed to step in as the No. 1 guy right away, which would have been a lot to ask of a rookie. At the very least, Davis provides a very good stopgap until Arnold is ready to be the top dog, but at 27 years old, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be around for longer than that if the Lions choose to extend him.
