3 Bold Predictions for the Lions Offseason

The 2021 NFL season began as a struggle for the Detroit Lions. The Lions went 0-10-1 in their first 11 games, however, a 3-3 stretch to close out the year had fans feeling optimistic about the future.

Now, the Lions have 10 2022 NFL Draft picks — including five in the first three rounds — and over $21 million to work with in free agency to help them field a better team next season. The offseason can be unpredictable, so only time will tell what Detroit does with its resources.

Until then, here are three bold predictions about how the Lions' offseason will unfold.

Lions Offseason Predictions

1. Lions Sign Big-Name Wide Receiver

While Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quintez Cephus are promising young wideouts, the Lions don't have a true No. 1 wide receiver to help take the offense to the next level. The coaching staff has made it clear that they'll be looking to add to the position via free agency, so why not go big? Even though it could take up a big chunk of cap space, Detroit should pursue a big-name WR like Mike Williams or even Chris Godwin. Both are young enough to stick around for a few years and are clear-cut top pass-catching options after their respective 1,000-plus-yard campaigns. St. Brown and Cephus could be No. 1 wideouts one day, but nobody's development is a guarantee. That's why it's time for the Lions to splurge on a game-changing wide receiver.

2. Lions Trade Up From No. 32

Thanks to last year's Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford swap, the Lions have a second first-round draft pick — No. 32 — to make in April. Even though Detroit could wait and easily pick whichever NFL-ready talent is available at the last selection of Day 1, they have to tools to move up. In addition to their first-round picks, the Lions also have one selection to make in the second round No. 34, as well as a duo of third-round picks (No. 66 and 97). Detroit could easily package Picks No. 32 and 34 to move up a considerable amount, especially with that basically being two first-rounders. Even if they don't want to trade the second-round pick, the Lions can still trade No. 32 and one or both of the thirds to move up a few spots if there's someone they really like. At the end of the day, Detroit has the quality and quantity of draft capital to leapfrog over a handful of teams.

3. Lions Draft Goff's Successor

Jared Goff will be Detroit's starting quarterback in 2022, but his future beyond that is anybody's guess. He isn't a franchise-changing quarterback at this stage of his career and the Lions can get out of his contract after the upcoming season for an affordable price. With that being said, the Lions will find Goff's successor somewhere in the 2022 NFL Draft. If Detroit has the opportunity to draft a QB like North Carolina's Sam Howell or Ole Miss' Matt Corral at No. 32 or later, management needs to pounce at the opportunity. Or, as mentioned in the above point, the Lions could move some of their draft picks to jump into the top-20 if they feel like their preferred option won't be available later. Regardless, the Lions must start thinking of their future under center and there are suitable options to eventually replace Goff in this year's draft class.

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Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.