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Notes: Detroit Lions ranked ‘average’ in ESPN’s NFL future power rankings

ESPN analysts don’t see the Lions turning around anytime soon.

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NFL Combine - Day 2

A team of ESPN analysts are offering projections for each NFL team for the next three years, deciding it fares pretty average for the Lions.

ESPN experts Jeremy Fowler, Louis Riddick, Seth Walder, and Field Yates teamed up for an article on ESPN.com to rate each team’s coaching, quarterback, front office, draft, and overall roster (minus the quarterback). The results are averaged from each panelist, then each category is weighted to create the final, overall score: roster at 30 percent, quarterback at 20 percent, draft at 15 percent, front office at 15 percent and coaching at 20 percent.

It’s an ESPN+ article, which requires a subscription, so I won’t give away too much but the Lions walk away with a 71.3 overall score. The article’s grading scale has determined that’s “average.”

Ranking coaching near dead last, the panel seems to agree the low score is due to the defense, noting Detroit ranked 29th in defensive efficiency in 2019. They mention head coach Matt Patricia is fighting for his job this season. Looking ahead: “Adding more pass-rush help will strengthen the Lions’ defensive identity,” Fowler recommends.

Positives worth noting — Stafford does land in the top 10 in the quarterback category, and Yates expects improvement these next few seasons: “This is a team that plays in a very tough division but shouldn’t surprise if they play much better football this season and beyond.”

Read the whole thing here.

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