2007 Results: 7-9
2008 Projected Cap Status: $3,390,400 over the projected cap of $116,729,000
2007 Season Recap:
The Lions started the season with back-to-back wins at Oakland and against Minnesota, by the half way point they were 6-2, but went 1-7 down the stretch largely because of a defense that allowed almost 28 points and more than 375 yards per game. The Lions running game average less than 81 yards per game so Detroit’s struggling didn’t get much time to catch their breath.
Team Needs:
1. Defensive Line – The Lions don’t have an elite pass rusher, Dewayne White a decent left defensive end but is currently the starting right end. Tackle Shaun Rogers was traded to Cleveland and end Kalimba Edwards is post-June 1 designation. White and Jared DeVries both finished the 2007 season with six and a half sacks apiece, but if Derrick Harvey slips to No. 15, the Lions will grab him. More than likely they will find someone later in the draft.
2. Offensive Line: – The Lions lost guard Damien Woody to the NY Jets during free agency and were almost forced to re-sign right tackle George Foster who had lost his starting job to Woody after the eighth week of the season and numerous nagging injuries.
3. Middle linebacker – With Boss Bailey joining his brother in Denver the Lions need to find a player to patrol the middle and capable of tracking down the ball. Ernie Sims holds down the weak-side and Paris Lenon could once again play his natural position of outside linebacker
2008 Draft Picks:
1st Round – 15th overall
2nd Round – 45th overall
3rd Round – 76th overall
3rd Round – 87th overall (from CLE)
4th Round – 111th overall
5th Round – 145th overall
6th Round – 179th overall
7th Round – 219th overall
Free agency status:
UFA:
S Idrees Bashir
OT Barry Stokes
WR Troy Walters
DB LaMarcus Hicks
RFA:
DL Langston
QB Dan Orlovsky
G Stephen Peterman
CB Stanley
ERFA:
WR Devale Ellis.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED:
TE Sean McHugh: ERFA
DB Greg Blue: ERFA
DE Corey Smith: UFA
RB Tatum Bell: UFA
RB Aveion Cason: UFA
CB Travis Fisher: UFA
OT George Foster: UFA
CB Keith Smith: UFA
TE John Owens: UFA
PLAYERS LOST
DT Shaun Rogers traded to the Browns
RB T.J. Duckett: Seahawks
LB Boss Bailey: Broncos
QB J.T. O’Sullivan: 49ers
T/G Damien Woody: Jets
LB Teddy Lehman: Buccaneers
PLAYERS RELEASED:
CB Fernando Bryant
S Kenoy Kennedy
C/G Blaine Saipaia
DE Kalimba Edwards
RB Kevin Jones
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
CB Leigh Bodden trade with Browns
DT Chuck Darby: Seahawks
TE Michael Gaines: Bills
S Kalvin Pearson: Buccaneers
S Dwight Smith: Vikings
LB Gilbert Gardner: Titans
OG Corey Hulsey:
CB Brian Kelly: Buccaneers
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Bernie Marshall