Detroit Lions mailbag: Will a roster full of chip-on-the-shoulder mentality work?

This offseason the Detroit Lions went out and got themselves people that had something to prove. Chief among them, quarterback Jared Goff, but if you go up and down this roster, you’ll find players with high ceilings that haven’t been reached for a myriad of reasons. Tyrell Williams has had to battle injuries in his young career. Breshad Perriman has elite-level skills but hasn’t been able to consistently put it together. Quinton Dunbar is trying to reach shutdown corner level that he’s only achieved in 2019. And the list goes on and on.

But will this strategy for the Lions work? In theory, bringing in a bunch of players with the proverbial chip on their shoulder should create a hungry, motivated locker room, and therefore fierce competition in both training camp and through the regular season. Of course, each one of these players comes with a significant risk. There’s a reason they’ve been passed over by other teams, be it injury or scheme fit or personality clashing.

Is it even fair to say this was an intentional goal from Lions general manager Brad Holmes? Did he want a roster full of “hungry” players, or was this simply all that was available to a team with limited cap space and a roster not likely to compete in 2021?

That’s the main topic on this week’s Detroit Lions mailbag, recorded live on the Spotify Greenroom app on Saturday morning. If you’d like to join us next time, you can download the app here, and make sure you follow @PrideOfDetroit (search: “Jeremy Reisman”).

Other topics this week include:

• What will be the carry split between Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift?
• Why was Jonathan Adams already waived?
• Will any Lions WR reach 1,000 receiving yards? Will any RB reach 1,000 rushing yards?
• Which player can the Lions least afford to lose to injury?
• Does Jahlani Tavai make the final 53-man roster?

Listen here:

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