Notes: Detroit Lions roster ranked 31st in NFL

While most don’t expect the Detroit Lions to compete for the postseason in 2021, it’s not clear how low the team will fall this year. Some believe they could surprise and play close to .500 ball, while others think Detroit could be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

It’s fair to say that PFF falls into that latter category. On Wednesday, PFF’s Ben Linsey penned an article for ESPN ranking the rosters of all 32 teams. Using PFF’s database of grades and statistics, Linsey listed grades for each team’s projected lineup, then ranked the roster based on those grades.

The Lions came in 31st in PFF rankings, ahead of only the Houston Texans. Linsey points out that Detroit’s offensive line could be very good this year—they ranked 10th in PFF preseason ranking—but concerns about the team’s lack of wide receivers may overshadow that.

“While the offensive line is in good shape for new starting quarterback Jared Goff, his pass-catching options leave a lot to be desired,” Linsey wrote. “Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman are the top two wide receivers on Detroit’s depth chart. Both entered the league in 2015, but they’ve combined for just one season with at least 750 receiving yards (Williams in 2016) in the six years since.”

But here’s the good news: PFF ranked NFL rosters prior to the draft back in April and the Lions were dead last. MOVING ON UP, BABY!

You can check out all of the rankings here, but you’ll have to have an ESPN Insider account.

• Former Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh had an interesting Twitter thread about how he grew as a person during his time with the Miami Dolphins, specifically the improvement of his EQ (emotional quotient/emotional intelligence). Click through to read the entire thing.

• Feels like we’ve heard this before, but Barry Sanders says Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions new regime “feels different.”

• Big shoutout to Lions safety C.J. Moore made an appearance at a Zoom meeting with Haven Oakland, a group that seeks to empower sexual assault survivors and prevent partner violence. Moore had a strong message below about masculinity and leadership:

• With help from a PFF study, Jeff Risdon took a closer look at Detroit’s struggling secondary and how no coverage scheme seemed to work in 2020.

• If you try to bullrush Taylor Decker, you’re going to lose:

• Appropriately, Penei Sewell’s favorite movie is “The Blind Side.” DetroitLions.com has more quirky facts about Sewell in their “Get to know” series.