Roundtable: Who Is Lions' Best Player?

Latest All Lions Roundtable examines who is the Detroit Lions' best player headed into the 2023 season.

1.) Do you have any concern that the Lions will take a step back in 2023?

Vito Chirco: I honestly do not. Based on the Lions' schedule and the strength of their division (or lack thereof), Detroit is basically set up to win 10 games this upcoming season. And, in my estimation, that should be enough to capture the NFC North division crown. 

Sure, I still have questions about the Lions at receiver (especially during Jameson Williams' six-game suspension) and on defense in multiple spots (at linebacker and along the interior of the defensive line). 

However, I believe the rest of the Lions' roster is talented enough to make up for those areas of deficiency. 

Thus, I'm of the mindset that Detroit will avoid taking a step back in 2023. 

Christian Booher: Yes. There's always the fear that the Lions will take a step back in 2023, especially after the offense was one of the best in the league last season. 

Jared Goff was lights out in the second half of the season, so his performance will likely be the key to the team's success. If he takes another step forward, the team should be rolling. 

2.) Who is the Lions' best player? 

Chirco: I'm going to go with Amon-Ra St. Brown. He's the Lions' best offensive weapon, and in my opinion, he enters the 2023 campaign as the team's most consistently productive player. 

He's caught at least 90 balls, and has accumulated north of 900 receiving yards each of his first two seasons in the league. And, at this juncture, he's easily one of the NFL's best wideouts.

Detroit is lucky to have him, and he'll play a key role in any success that the team has this upcoming season. 

Booher: I'm going to agree with Vito. St. Brown is undoubtedly the Lions' best player. 

His consistency and reliability are what stand out. Rarely does he drop a pass he gets his hands on, and over 50 percent of his catches went for first downs. 

With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the new defensive additions takes over that mantle with a strong 2023. 

3.) Which Lions player is most on the hot seat heading into 2023?

Chirco: I believe that Romeo Okwara certainly is. He's failed to stay healthy the past two seasons, and has suited up for just nine total games. And remember, the best ability as a pro athlete is availability, and it's a trait he hasn't possessed for a couple of seasons now. 

His base salary for the upcoming season was already reduced from $11 million to $2M, and he's entering the final year of the three-year deal he signed after the 2021 season. 

So, to me, it's put-up-or-shut-up time for the 28-year-old EDGE rusher. 

Booher: I'm looking at Levi Onwuzurike. In two seasons, his career has been marred by injuries. As a second-round pick in 2021, the Lions were hoping for much more from him at this point in his career. 

With the Lions addressing the defensive interior throughout the offseason, the pressure is on the Washington product to produce once healthy.

4.) Which NFC North team poses the biggest threat to the Lions? 

Chirco: I'm going to go with the reigning NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings. Sure, they proved to be a fraudulent 13-4 team a season ago, and you can easily make the argument that the Lions should've beaten them twice. 

However, Minnesota still returns a ton of talent, including a pair of prolific pass-catchers (Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson). The Vikings also possess multiple defensive playmakers, including safety Harrison Smith and EDGE Danielle Hunter.

So, as much as fans and pundits want to discount what Minnesota accomplished last season, I'm not going to. I, in fact, believe the Vikings pose the biggest threat to Detroit in the NFC North. 

Booher: I'll go with the Packers. The Vikings have lost plenty of talent, and flamed out last season. 

For Green Bay, it's the fact that there's plenty of young talent that isn't going away for the upcoming few seasons. If Jordan Love proves to be a hit, he's got plenty of weapons around him on that offense. 

5.) Which Lions player would you most want to spend a day with?

Chirco: Aidan Hutchinson. The second-year pro emerged on to the scene in a big fashion in 2022, recording 9.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. And, there's still room for growth with the Michigan product.

He exudes passion for the game of football whenever he steps on the playing field, and is absolutely the definition of a high-motor guy. 

He also seemingly always has something interesting to say, and just seems like a ball of energy both on and off the field. 

With all that said, he gives off the vibe that he'd be fun to hang out with, and I'd love to just pick his brain on the sport and the art of pass-rushing. I think it'd make for an interesting day.

Booher: I'd like to go fishing for a day with Frank Ragnow. I enjoy getting out on the boat and casting a line, and his time on "Hard Knocks" shows he's the same way. 

Now, I've never caught anything remotely close to what he's reeled in. That said, fishing is one of the best ways to spend a weekend during the summer.