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10 do-or-die decisions NFL teams must make this offseason

By Sayre Bedinger

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Detroit Lions using a top-10 pick on the QB position?

How fun are the Detroit Lions? Dan Campbell has done such a tremendous job with the Lions since taking over that team. His initial press conference where he talked about biting knees and things of that nature felt borderline cheesy, but Campbell has made good on his promise. The Lions have been more than just scrappy, too.

They’ve been flat-out good.

The Detroit Lions’ offense took such a massive leap forward in 2022 and in the second half of the season, the defense did, too. They didn’t end the year with a playoff appearance, but they finished with a winning record and a big-time win in Green Bay to eliminate the Packers from playoff contention.

As impressive as the Detroit Lions were last year, and as much as it feels like they’re playing with house money in terms of our expectations for them, they find themselves now in a do-or-die situation with one of the picks they received in the Matthew Stafford trade a couple of years ago. The Rams are just about all paid up on that trade, but not before they send the Lions the 6th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Lions are in prime NFL Draft real estate to get a quarterback they like, but the issue there is that Jared Goff has played quite well for them. If they draft someone, it would obviously get the clock ticking on Goff and you might risk messing with a good thing. But is that what’s best for the franchise? Meaning, getting a QB with that pick?

If you’re the Lions, you obviously hope you’re not picking near the top five in the near future. You’re also probably not going to be in a huge hurry to throw all your NFL Draft assets at a QB of the future if Goff is just “okay” in 2023 but doesn’t look like a viable option beyond this year.

Whether your brand is CJ Stroud, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions had a shot at one of those guys. If they fall in love with one, they have the ammo to spend way less than they otherwise would have to in order to move up to get one. Heck, they are even in a great position to make the blockbuster deal with the Bears for the no. 1 overall pick.

How badly does Ryan Poles want a hoard of picks? Would he trade in the division? Brad Holmes and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have done it…

The do-or-die situation for the Lions in the 2023 offseason is whether or not they’re willing to go after a long-term solution at the QB position when they have the draft capital and real estate to make it happen.

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