Roundtable: Do Lions Need Upgrade at Kicker?

Latest All Lions Roundtable examines whether the organization needs an upgrade at kicker.

1.) How concerned are you about Lions' kicking situation?

Christian Booher: I'm going to trust the judgement of Dan Campbell and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp here. Patterson has been leading the kicking competition by what seems to be a wide margin, so an off night is better in the preseason than when the games begin to matter.

With that said, there's plenty of history with the Lions and inconsistent kickers. In the Dan Campbell era, the team has employed seven kickers in the regular season, over two seasons.

Patterson may have earned the right to be the team's kicker when the season opens, but inconsistency cannot be tolerated with the team's high aspirations. He may have a short hook when the team breaks camp. 

Vito Chirco: I'm very concerned. Riley Patterson had a rough game Friday night, missing a 53-yard field goal and a PAT.  

The Lions' kicking game also produced mixed results a year ago. Michael Badgley, Austin Seibert and Dominik Eberle all got a chance to kick field goals in 2022, and none of them delivered overwhelmingly positive results. 

Now, entering the 2023 season, I'm worried that much will be the same, with either Patterson or Parker Romo handling the kicking duties. 

2.) What does Will Harris bring to Lions' defense that the coaching staff likes?

Booher: I believe Harris does bring a level of versatility and dependability that is valued by Campbell and Aaron Glenn. Over the last two seasons, he has been a bit of a surprise asset, with how well he has adapted to the different roles asked of him. 

However, the Lions have gotten much better through the offseason. With how well Brian Branch has played as a rookie and a deep rotation of safeties, the veteran may wind up being expendable as Detroit narrows down its roster. 

Chirco: I think the biggest thing that Harris brings to the table is versatility. The Lions' front office and coaching staff are big fans of players that are multi-dimensional, and Harris is just that, with the ability to play both corner and safety. 

I believe he was outperformed this preseason by the likes of Brian Branch, Steven Gilmore and Chase Lucas. However, I still wouldn't be surprised if Harris makes the Lions' 53-man roster out of camp, due to the versatility he provides to Detroit's secondary. 

3.) Who do you feel really earned a spot on Lions' roster?

Booher: I believe Steven Gilmore has been the best of the team's undrafted free agent crop. That's saying something, considering how good several members of this group have been. 

It's one thing to flash in camp practices and another to show it in a game setting, which Gilmore has done. The Marshall product picked off two passes, broke up multiple others and delivered some big hits. 

There's NFL pedigree already with Gilmore, as his brother is a starting corner with the Dallas Cowboys. If Steven can channel a bit of that magic and continue to develop, he will be a superb steal for Brad Holmes and company. 

Chirco: I believe that a few guys did: defensive backs Steven Gilmore and Chase Lucas, as well as wideout Dylan Drummond. Gilmore consistently impressed me throughout the exhibition season, and both he and Lucas delivered strong performances Friday. They each recorded an interception, and came up with multiple passes defensed in the preseason finale. 

Meanwhile, Drummond also showcased why he deserves a roster spot, with his strong showing in both training camp and Detroit's final preseason game. He came up with multiple impressive catches against the Panthers, and I believe secured a spot on the Lions' season-opening roster. 

4.) What was your biggest takeaway from Lions preseason?

Booher: With little-to-no action to speak of when it comes to the starters, I'll tip my cap to Brad Holmes for the work he's done adding depth to the roster. He and the rest of the Lions' brass compiled a strong class of UDFAs, to go along with other young players found on the free-agent market. 

In particular, the team was strong at the skill positions. Multiple undrafted wideouts showed skill, while the cornerback group also did an admirable job. Not all of the players are going to make the roster, but Holmes' ability to find apparent gems on the fringes of free agency is something worth applauding. 

Chirco: The Lions have some solid depth in the secondary. Without the likes of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley playing a single snap this preseason, Detroit's defensive backs still put together some solid reps. Notably, undrafted free agents Steven Gilmore, Starling Thomas V and Brandon Joseph impressed, while second-year pro Chase Lucas also delivered quality moments in coverage. 

5.) What is Lions' best position group?

Booher: I'm hard pressed to go anywhere outside of the offensive line when the group is fully healthy. This group has been assembled diligently over the last several years, culminating in the addition of cornerstone offensive tackle Penei Sewell in 2021. 

Everyone expected to contribute in this group has legitimate NFL experience, which can't be said about many of the team's other positions. Frank Ragnow and Sewell both could be All-Pro selections in 2023, with all five starters forming one of the league's best units. 

Graham Glasgow should be a reliable depth piece, too, should he lose out on the starting guard job to Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Meanwhile, Matt Nelson and Germain Ifedi both have experience that will benefit the team when it's in need. 

I'll also give an honorable mention to the new-look secondary, which will be the most exciting group to watch when the season opens on Sept. 7. 

Chirco: At this point, because of the depth that emerged in the preseason, I'm going to say the secondary.

As I said above, Detroit's group of undrafted free agent defensive backs really showed out during the exhibition season, and made a strong case for deserving a roster spot. 

Gilmore, Thomas and Joseph all produced some impressive moments, as did Lucas, the Lions' seventh-round selection a year ago.

And, after seeing Detroit's reserve offensive linemen struggle, I'm going with the secondary as the team's best position group.