Which offseason acquisition has been the best addition to the Detroit Lions roster?

The Detroit Lions had a roster capable of reaching the NFC Championship last season. In 2024, the goal is simple: the Super Bowl.

To reach those heights, the Lions had to make improvements. Through free agency, trades, and the draft, the Lions replaced old starters with fresh faces, both young and old. With these acquisitions, the Lions hope to break through to the top. While some of their decisions could be seen as depth moves, the real topic of discussion is how they upgraded the potential starting positions.

Overall, here are the moves I would consider an improvement:

• G Kevin Zeitler replaces Jonah Jackson. INWhile Jackson offers more to the Los Angeles Rams from a long-term perspective, Zeitler has been one of the most stable cornerbacks in the NFL over the past decade and should be an immediate short-term boost. At 34, he may not have more than a few years left in him, but Detroit will be happy with at least one productive season.
• DE Marcus Davenport replaces John Cominsky and Josh Paschal. The Lions like to rotate defensive linemen, so it’s a bit of a stretch to say Davenport has taken over from Cominsky and Paschal, but as a proven, starting-caliber defensive end, he was expected to be the guy opposite Aidan Hutchinson before training camp. Cominsky and Paschal have been decent, but the Lions are hoping Davenport can take the line to the next level.
• DT DJ Reader replaces Benito Jones and Tyson Alualu. The Lions had Alim McNeill at defensive end, but they tried — and largely failed — to pair him with another reliable linebacker. From Isaiah Buggs to Benito Jones to Tyson Alualu, the Lions have dealt with the fallout, but it’s time for some serious improvement. Enter DJ Reader. The veteran may be coming off an injury, but there’s no doubt he offers much-needed improvement on offense.
• CB Carlton Davis, Amik Robertson, Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw replaced most of the CB lineup. I had to put these additions together, and for good reason: what a rebuild it was. Despite a poor 2023 season, the Lions likely weren’t planning on replacing Cameron Sutton, but a legal mess meant his time in Detroit ended. That meant replacing more than 2,000 snaps between Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, Kindle Vildor and Will Harris. Vildor remains with the team, but he’s far down the depth chart thanks to an influx of new talent this offseason.

There may be other changes in the future that could be considered upgrades (e.g. Sione Vaki for Craig Reynolds, Jake Bates for Michael Badgley at kicker, or Hogan Hatten for Scott Daly at long snapper), but given that those roles will be determined during training camp, I won’t count them as upgrades just yet.

The Lions have made a number of moves to improve an already solid roster, but which one will prove to be the best addition?

Today’s question of the day is:

Which offseason acquisitions have been the best additions for the Lions?

My answer: DJ Reader.

The Lions significantly improved their defense by acquiring Davis and Arnold, but the difference between Reader and his 2023 counterparts is night and day. The Lions got over 600 defensive snaps from Benito Jones at nose tackle. That’s impressive for a player widely considered a bottom-of-the-line talent. But I see it as an example of a terrible depth chart. Signing Reader is by far the biggest commitment the Lions have made to the interior defensive line since acquiring McNeill (and Levi Onwuzurike) in 2021.

With Reader in the lineup, he and McNeill could form a fearsome duo. The Lions desperately needed help for McNeill and Hutchinson up front, and signing Reader was a great way to start.

Is there another offseason move that deserves the title of best upgrade? Let us know in the comments below.