Fraley has been a key part of the Lions’ offensive line success for quite a while now. He’s been so important that Lions’ linemen have been hoping that he doesn’t go. At this point, it seems hard to imagine that he would be back. Either he goes to the Seahawks or he could wind up in Chicago with Johnson.
So what do the Lions do to replace Fraley? Who could come in and take that job? Well, that guy might already be here. Assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver could step in and take the role. He’s been with the Lions for four seasons and has spent the last two as the Lions’ assistant.
In terms of outside help, there could be something of a trade in the works. The Lions could poach Seahwks assistant lineman coach Brendan Nugent away from Seattle.
Nugent spent five seasons with Campbell in New Orleans. Nugent was the Saints’ assistant offensive line coach there and had a big hand in helping the Saints run game flow. The same two-headed monster run game that Campbell has modeled the Lions run game after. Campbell even brought him up in his introductory speech in 2021.
“I drew the lucky straw. Dan Roushar, our O-line coach, Joel Thomas, running backs coach, Pete Carmichael, the OC (offensive coordinator), Joe Lombardi, quarterback coach, ‘RC’ (Ronald Curry), my receivers coach, D.J. (Williams, offensive assistant), he’s working with quarterbacks, Declan (Doyle, offensive assistant), he was kind of under me – so all these guys, man – Brendan Nugent, O-line – we put in the work. You talk about a compatible unit.”
Nugent joined Brandon Staley’s staff as the offensive line coach for the Chargers in 2022 but was let go along with the rest of Staley’s staff after the 2023 season. Nugent did have some success there as the Chargers did have a decent offense. Campbell could look at that familiarity and chose to bring Nugent in.
Another New Orleans guy to maybe keep an eye on Jahri Evans. Campbell played with Evans in New Orleans and then coached him in 2016. Evans just got into coaching in 2022 and is currently on the Saints staff as an offensive assistant. He could be brought to Detroit in some capacity. There’s a connection with Nugent there too.