2024 NFC North Preview, Superlatives, Predictions

My thoughts on each team in the NFC North, including a likely breakout player, best rookie, pivotal unknown, under-the-radar and make-it-or-break-it player for each squad.

1. Detroit Lions

It’s uncharted waters for the Lions in 2024, as they enter the season one of the clear-cut favorites in the NFC, rather than the little rebuilding engine that could. Detroit returns basically everyone, including offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. That’s a coup they could not have seen coming after both men garnered plenty of head coach attention this past offseason.

Offensively, Detroit should be every bit as good as they were last season, especially if Jameson Williams breaks out. Instead of returning from suspension like in 2023, this season Williams opens Week 1 as the clear cut starter opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’s way more talented than former no. 2 Josh Reynolds, and flashed a lot last season, but Reynolds was extremely reliable and well-rounded. It’ll be tough for the Lions to replace that unless a no. 3 receiver emerges from Kalif Raymond, Isaiah Williams and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

At the other skill spots, I’d expect TE Sam LaPorta and RB Jahmyr Gibbs to push firmly into the conversation for best player at their positions across the league. Both are special talents. The Detroit offensive line could be even better this year, as four starters return, and Kevin Zeitler is an upgrade on Jonah Jackson/whoever was filling in when Jackson was hurt. Jared Goff should be extremely well-protected. When that has been the case in his career, he’s been one of the better quarterbacks in the league.

The biggest hole on the Lions entire roster heading into the offseason was cornerback, and I’m not sure they could have attacked it more aggressively. By trading a third round pick for Carlton Davis and drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw with their first two picks, the Lions essentially used their first three draft selections on cornerbacks, and signed Amik Robertson in free agency. Cam Sutton and Jerry Jacobs, last year’s starters, are gone, and Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey are back in depth roles where they belong. It’s a much more talented room this year, but Davis’ injury history is reason for pause, as well as the presence of two rookies. Although I love Arnold and Rakestraw, growing pains are real at this position.

The second-biggest hole for the Lions was getting another threat or two up front to accompany Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil. Glenn doesn’t blitz a ton, but he was forced to last year in response to not having enough effective pass rushers when he sent four. Adding Marcus Davenport and DJ Reader should help on all three downs, if the injury-prone defenders can stay on the field.

Outside of these question marks, two other concerns I have for Detroit. Health is a big one. They’ve already lost John Cominsky to a torn MCL, and have had a ton of other starters miss time due to injury in the preseason. It remains to be seen how healthy they’ll even be for Week 1.

The other concern is that Brian Branch is maybe the best nickel cornerback in the NFL, and the team is moving him to safety, based on practice reports. Branch has pretty limited experience at safety, and you’re taking him out of his best spot and putting Robertson there. Robertson is a decent player, but his limitations in run defense and tackling at his size (5-8, 183) are not going to fit well in the slot. I’m worried the Lions are making themselves worse at two positions, although their safety options are limited until Ifeatu Melifonwu gets healthy.

Still, this team is loaded. For the first time in a long time, the Lions have extremely high expectations going into a season. The NFC is probably even more wide open than last year, and some of the top competition (49ers, Cowboys, Eagles) have navigated much more tumultuous situations than the Lions have over the past year. With Green Bay and Chicago improving quickly, the time is now for Detroit to make a Super Bowl run.

Breakout Player: WR Jameson Williams. I don’t know that it will be a massive breakout season, but for a first round pick with 395 career yards in two seasons, a big bump will count. Williams is the Lions clear cut no. 2 wide receiver and should generate a healthy number of targets.

Rookie To Watch: CB Terrion Arnold. Not only do the Lions need Arnold to start, but they need him to be pretty good pretty quickly. Glenn would love to run more man coverage than he did last season, and having cornerbacks he trusts would be a great start. With how often Davis is banged up, you could easily put Rakestraw down here as well.