The Detroit Lions were a team that many people thought could make a jump in the 2023 season. But, even the most optimistic of people likely didn’t see this coming. Detroit is currently 4-1, running away with the NFC North as the only team with a winning record.
The Lions got off to a hot start, pulling off a major upset in Week 1 on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs when they did their Super Bowl ceremony. A slip-up in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks in overtime is their only blemish thus far as they have been rolling.
Through the first five weeks of the season, this is an offense that remains one of the most efficient in the NFL. Their defense has made strides as well, which was imperative if they wanted to be competitive this season.
Finding a weakness on their roster is tough. While they aren’t at the same level as top-tier teams in the NFC such as the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, they are likely the closest.
Arguably their biggest weaknesses are on the defensive side of the ball, which is understandable. Turning around what was a historically poor unit in 2022 will take more than one offseason as positive strides have been made.
Instead, what the Lions should focus on is upgrading the depth of their offensive line. That is what Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has identified as the area they should upgrade right away. He has even suggested a target for the team in veteran free agent offensive guard, Marcus Cannon.
“The Lions don’t need much as they’ve been really sharp this season. But they could afford to add some depth/an insurance policy at offensive tackle as Taylor Decker missed Weeks 2 and 3 and reportedly aggravated his injured ankle during his return in Week 4.
Bringing in Cannon would give Detroit someone who has 11 years of experience to turn to in case of an emergency. It helps that he has played both left and right tackle as well.”
The quickest way for a team’s offensive production to go sideways is offensive line injuries. If a team cannot get the job done in the trenches, even the most talented of offenses will see their performance suffer as a result.
The Lions have one of the strongest offensive lines in the NFL when healthy. Bringing in someone of Cannon’s caliber would provide the team with an excellent insurance policy on the interior of their line that could step into the starting lineup in a pinch.
