The Detroit Lions made it a primary goal this offseason to keep the majority of their significant players from last season. The general agreement among fans and the front office was that injuries plagued the team throughout the last season and that if they stayed healthy next season, they could finally overcome their challenges.
As a result, GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell opted against major changes, particularly on the offensive side. Lions supporters can anticipate a continuation of the previous strategy with a few minor adjustments. The most notable alteration is the departure of offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, who left during free agency. However, additional exits may occur soon with the NFL Draft on the horizon. One position where an improvement could be seen is the tight end group.
The Lions have already enhanced their tight end roster by signing Kenny Yeboah from the New York Jets last month. Additionally, the team re-signed veteran TE Shane Zylstra. This indicates that the Lions will probably have competition for the TE2 position behind Sam LaPorta, putting current backup Brock Wright at risk.
Brock Wright is a potential Cut Candidate for the Lions Before Next Season. When Wright was a restricted free agent in the 2024 offseason, the Lions unexpectedly chose to match the three-year, $12 million offer sheet he received from the San Francisco 49ers. Wright held the TE2 position all season, participating in over 50% of the team’s offensive snaps while also being a contributor on special teams. Wright’s role on offense was primarily that of a blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, Wright was utilized as a run blocker in 336 of 581 offensive snaps. Despite this, he received a disappointing 50. 7 run block grade. Overall, he achieved a 52. 0 offensive grade, ranking as the 66th best tight end out of 74 eligible players. He concluded the season with 13 receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
The signing of Yeboah and the re-signing of Zylstra imply that the Lions may not fully trust Wright’s position going forward. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Detroit expend one of their seven draft picks (likely one of their two Round 7 picks) on a tight end. Attempting to find a more promising option as a blocking tight end makes more sense than retaining Wright for another season.
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