Detroit Lions Podcast: Senior Bowl kickoff show
The Detroit Lions Podcast is live on radio row at the Senior Bowl in Mobile all week. We kicked off the week with a live show on Monday morning.
This episode starts off discussing the recent Lins coaching moves. Kelvin Sheppard has earned the promotion to defensive coordinator, and new DL coach Kacy Rodgers figures to have a big role as the run game coordinator as well.
On the offensive side, the Lions still haven't hired a replacement for Ben Johnson yet, but former Lions assistant John Morton appears to be the choice. What does Morton offer? We go over his history and background.
Then, it's on to the prospects we're watching during the week. There are several strong candidates for Detroit's draft picks here, from the first round down to the seventh.
2025 Senior Bowl: Five prospects I'm most excited about watching
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions Podcast: Senior Bowl kickoff show
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season No. 8: Christian Mahogany's delayed debut
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season No. 8: Christian Mahogany's delayed debut Mahogany had mononucleosis that wiped out over half his rookie season Christian Mahogany among guards in Week 16: 🦁 76.2 PFF grade (T-9th) 🦁 82.5 pass-blocking grade (9th) 🦁 33 pass-blocking snaps 🦁 1 pressure allowed — PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) December 24, 2024 Christian Mahogany was drafted in the 6th-round of the 2024 draft with the hopes he would challenge for a backup role at offensive guard behind the two entrenched starters Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler. However, an unexpected illness delayed his debut in the NFL. Medical history Immediately before training camp started, Mahogany was diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis (aka mono). While mono is rarely a serious issue, it can keep a player out of action for a while due to splenomegaly. See my full article detailing the infection here. Impact on season The mono kept him out all of training camp and landed him on the NFI (non football injury) list to start the season. His practice window did not open until October 8 (week 5). His first appearance in a game wasn't until November 24 (week 12) when he played four special teams snaps. For a rookie to miss all of camp and a large portion of the early season, it seemed a long-shot for him to find an impactful role on the team due to both physical and mental preparedness. Thus, it was surprising that he made an appearance as the primary OG backup on December 5 (week 14) when starting RG Kevin Zeitler left briefly for a suspected eye issue. Two games later on December 22 (week 16) vs the Bears, Mahogany made his big debut when he started and played 100% of offensive snaps due to a Graham Glasgow injury. His performance was impressive - especially since he had missed so much time earlier in the year. Here he is at LG showing nimble feet in that game against the Bears... Very impressed from what I've seen from Lions LG 73 Christian Mahogany. Watch him on this zone run as he gets to the play side LB. Very good quickness and pad level to the second level. I believe he's supposed to block the backside LB but either way, he's impressive! #OnePride — Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 23, 2024 Mahogany followed up his regular season performance with another good starting performance in the playoffs when he played the entire game due to a Zeitler hamstring injury. Salary cap implications Going into the 2025 season, there are high hopes that Mahogany can take over a starting OG position. From a financial perspective, a 6th-round starter on the offensive line would be a huge benefit to the Lions salary cap. For comparison: Graham Glasgow signed a 3-year, $20 million contract to start at LG last offseason. Kevin Zeitler signed a 1-year, $6 million contract to start at RG last offseason. This offseason as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a 1-year, $9 million contract with the Titans. Trey Smith, OG of the Kansas City Chiefs, was recently franchise tagged at $23.4 million. Meanwhile, the 2025 cap hit for Mahogany will be less than $1 million as he enters the second year of his 4-year, $4.2 million rookie deal. With players like Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta worthy of big extensions, every saved dollar matters. Outlook While the rookie debut was a good beginning, there are some question marks for Mahogany going forward. He only started two games all year so is far from proven yet. Medically, he has a history of a right ACL tear in 2022 and was playing with a right knee brace all last season for unknown reasons. The knee brace raises concerns there is a chronic knee issue that could cause problems over a long 17+ game season. Despite the concerns, there is plenty of optimism for Mahogany going into the next season. He was able to overcome an infection that sidelined him for months to become a quality, fill-in starter down the stretch. Last year's starting RG, Kevin Zeitler, left for the Titans in free agency this offseason opening the door for Mahogany to step through. This door was blown off the hinges when Frank Ragnow retired. During OTA two weeks ago, Mahogany was starting at the LG position with 2nd-round rookie Tate Ratledge at center and Glasgow at RG. Early indications are that Mahogany is in pole position to become a starter in 2025.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Why Chicago?': Lions GM Brad Holmes hoped Ben Johnson wouldn't choose Bears
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said he was at least hopeful that former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson wouldn't leave for the Chicago Bears job. "Why Chicago?" were among the thoughts Holmes shared with "Green Light" podcast host Chris Long in an interview posted Thursday. "I knew he had interviewed for Chicago but he interviewed for a lot of the other positions too so I really didn't know which way he was going to go." Advertisement Johnson had the opportunity to land with several teams including the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots. Holmes said he didn't know Johnson was going to land in Chicago until he'd accepted the job. "I was thinking Chicago probably would've been the last destination, or I was probably hoping that," Holmes said. "I was happy for him. He's a hell of a coach..." Johnson had been with the Lions since 2019, including the last three seasons as offensive coordinator of one of the more dynamic units in the NFL. Long asked Holmes if the team is having to "change the locks" and rebuild the offense with new OC John Morton in a way to make it different enough from what they were running under Johnson.] "That really comes from Dan [Campbell], he's looking to evolve it regardless," Holmes said. "I don't see a lot of wholesale change, but there's going to be some evolution there just because that's how Dan is regardless." Advertisement The Lions host the Bears in Week 2 and will travel to Chicago in the season finale on Jan. 4. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: 'Why Chicago?': Lions GM hoped Ben Johnson wouldn't choose Bears
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Lions GM Brad Holmes couldn't believe Ben Johnson went to the Bears
Lions GM Brad Holmes couldn't believe Ben Johnson went to the Bears Add Brad Holmes to the list of people who were shocked to see Ben Johnson head to the Chicago Bears. The Detroit Lions general manager echoed some of his players in voicing his surprise when Johnson, the team's former offensive coordinator, took the head coaching job in Chicago back in January. Holmes was a guest on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long this week and discussed the move that he claims he didn't see coming. "Obviously there were multiple jobs that were open that cycle, and so I knew that he had an interview for Chicago, but he interviewed for a lot of the other positions, too," Holmes said. "I really didn't know which way it was going to go. I was thinking Chicago would have probably been the last destination. Or I was probably hoping that, probably." Johnson was the hottest coaching candidate this past cycle and appeared to be the top choice for multiple teams. The Las Vegas Raiders specifically pursued him heavily and, at one point, were the favorites to land Johnson before he signed with the Bears. Seeing as the Lions are a division rival of the Bears, Holmes may not have thought Johnson would stay within the NFC North for his head coaching gig. He, like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, was bummed that he ended up with a team Detroit will have to go up against twice a year. But obviously, Holmes was happy for his former offensive coordinator and thinks Chicago has a bright mind leading the team. "I was happy for him. He's a hell of a coach, and they have a really good one up there." However, Holmes may still be working through processing the whole ordeal. "It's just a little like, 'Why Chicago?'" he said with a chuckle. Holmes won't have to wait long to see Johnson on the opposing sideline. The Bears are set to square off against the Lions in Detroit in Week 2. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
