Detroit Lions Mailbag: Did Jameson Williams pose with the Lions' quarterback of the future last weekend?
Welcome to the dead zone, Detroit Lions fans. We've got a few weeks before anything is going to happen with the NFL. Now is a good time to sit down and answer some questions. Here's what we got: I think it really just comes down to dollars and cents, and that's it. The Lions are […]
Welcome to the dead zone, Detroit Lions fans. We've got a few weeks before anything is going to happen with the NFL. Now is a good time to sit down and answer some questions. Here's what we got:
I think it really just comes down to dollars and cents, and that's it. The Lions are likely trying to get Smith back on a short-term deal that isn't going to break the bank, and Smith, while he probably isn't looking for anything massive, would like to make a certain amount of money that is closer to what he's accustomed to.
This is the last we've heard about it from the Lions' side of things, and it theoretically seems to imply that discussions about a deal have gone on, but right now, the Lions are in a holding pattern.
“No, we haven’t had any discussions since then. I think we kind of left it as that his agent would let us know if something was going on, or if anything has changed, or if we have any updates. Lions GM Brad Holmes said ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. But no, we haven’t had any discussions since Annual Meetings.”
No, the Lions are pretty set at cornerback right now, and for a team that wasn't willing to pay Za'Darius Smith not a ton of money, Ramsey just doesn't fit.
As for Aelxander, he's just dealt with so many injuries in the last four seasons and while he'd come cheaper than Ramsey, it just doesn't make sense for Detroit to go that way when they have three solid starters and and a guy they're trying to develop into a starter in Ennis Rakestraw.
I think there's certainly a possibility they could do that if he's still balling at 35 years old. He has a void year in 2029, and the Lions could use that to help aid a shorter extension.
If I had to guess, I would speculate that by the time Goff's deal is done, the Lions will already have their future guy in place and ready to go.
Is Jamo posing with the Lions’ next quarterback here?
— jimmyjackfunk.bsky.social (@jimmyjackfunk.bsky.social) June 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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That seems pretty unlikely, but you never know. Manning is expected to come out in the 2026 NFL Draft and is expected to be the first overall pick in the draft. I can't see the Lions moving up from 32 to one in the draft. But with Brad Holmes, you can't 100% rule out anything under the sun. It certainly would be interesting, though, wouldn't it?
I loved Aaron Glenn as a DC and as a leader of men. I've long said that if I were hiring a head coach in this past cycle, I'd be going with Glenn over Ben Johnson.
With that said, I think Kelvin Sheppard was made for this moment, and he's already shown how smart he is and how much players respect him. At minimum, he can be as good as Glenn. I do think he can surpass him, though.
As for John Morton, I think he'll be good, but I don't know if he can surpass Johnson.
I think nine is the magic number here. Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Tate Ratledge, Miles Fraizer, Graham Glasgow, and Giovanni Manu are all virtual locks to make this roster. That's six guys right there.
Then you add Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika, and Kingsley Eguagun, and that's a pretty solid starting group with a nice deep bench. I can't really think of a guy that could push them to 10 unless Colby Sorsdal balls out.
If this is the group they roll into the season with, then yeah, I think it's comfortable. At the end of the day, you're not going to find too many elite pairings on the edges in the NFL.
I do think that people are overlooking what Levi Onwuzurike can do, and they're doing the same with Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo, too. I think Ahmed Hassanein is a future star on this team, and I know that if Marcus Davenport can stay healthy, he can be really good. That is a big if, though.
I think Goff plays out his entire contract until 2028, and then from there, they move on. He's very much at the top of his career at the moment, and we haven't seen any reason to think that will go away.
With that said, the Lions did build in an emergency exit into his contract after the 2027 season. If he goes downhill, they could make a move without a lot of consequences deade money-wise.
The first two guys are expected to be out till about November. That's going to change the way the 53-man roster is established at both positions and it should have some effect in how they draw up some certain things. As of right now, Derrick Barnes and Mekhi Wingo were on the list of guys who didn't practice at OTAs. We'll find out soon enough.
I would be shocked if Anzalone doesn't get an extension. It doesn't even have to be a big one or a long term one. Just something that can help him get a little security with some guaranteed money. He doesn't have any of that. We projected $9 million with $7.5 of that guaranteed. That's not a big move.
