The Detroit Lions are riding high this offseason. After going to the NFC Championship Game in 2023, the Lions responded by paying Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown massive new deals.
However, while the quarterback and wide receiver have seen the spotlight perhaps more than the vast majority of Lions stars in the last 30 years, one analyst turned the spotlight on one key foundational player group.
Writing for The 33rd Team, NFL analyst Ross Tucker named the Lions as the only team with an elite-level lineman group. He also claimed that the Lions have the best group in the league by default.
“Only one team made the top tier this year. Elite offensive lines have no major question marks and have at least a few difference-makers. Only the Lions check those boxes for me this year,” he wrote.
The big uglies, as some have called offensive linemen in the past, are the unsung heroes of any team. They are the blue-collar workers. They are the unthanked, unappreciated foundation of most football teams. When they do their job correctly, people forget that they are there. However, when defensive lineman spend more time in the backfield than the line of scrimmage, everyone is aware of their position.
Lions’ offensive line gives position group rare moment in the sun
When offensive linemen get drafted early in the NFL Draft, fans often groan, hoping for a receiver, quarterback or running back. However, in 11-on-11 football, offensive linemen make up more than half of the team. That is, assuming the tight end stays in to block.
Linemen buy time for quarterbacks like Goff to read a defense effectively. They also open holes up for the running backs. While fans celebrate the deep catch along the sideline, the 50-yard gash, or the quarterback sneak to win the game, the offensive linemen are key in providing for those opportunities.
The Lions’ linemen fought tooth and nail to help their team succeed last season, but few have acknowledged it. If the Lions take off again, it appears that the odds of shining a spotlight on the unit will be few and far between.
However, they will continue to be there to protect Goff and open up holes for David Montgomery and Jamyr Gibbs.
Will Goff and his running backs and wide receivers manage to cash in on the offensive line’s contributions?