WEST PALM BEACH, Fla -- The football world has gathered in Florida for the annual NFL owners meetings.
In this post, we’ll preview five questions we’re hoping to learn about the Detroit Lions at this stage of the offseason:
**What will Brad Holmes have to say after free agency with the draft approaching?**
Brad Holmes will meet with reporters for the first time since free agency came and went. The Lions general manager stuck to his guns, with a selective approach to free agency spent retaining their own, adding a couple of glue pieces and a potential home-run starter at cornerback in DJ Reed.
How does Holmes feel about the defensive line? Why didn’t the Lions bring Za’Darius Smith back, and are there any chances there could still be a reunion with the veteran pass rusher? Or do they feel good about running it back and banking on better injury luck in 2025?
With the NFL draft fast approaching, does Holmes still feel highly about the defensive line class. And did that play into his thinking at edge rusher on the open market? We’ll speak with the general manager to start the week in Florida.
**Now that more time has passed, how does Dan Campbell feel about his new-look staff?**
The last time we spoke with head coach Dan Campbell, it was fresh off the hiring of the team’s new coordinators and a ton of staffers.
Campbell spoke highly of his new coaching staff and how they fit into the team’s established ways. How is the operation evolving now that offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard have had more time on the job?
The Lions head coach isn’t likely to expose state secrets. But it will be interesting to see what changes might be coming on both sides of the ball with the roster coming into shape for next season.
**The Lions’ thoughts on their three rule change proposals?**
Detroit, as always, used the opportunity to propose some rule changes for the new year.
They want to do away with the automatic first downs for defensive holding or illegal contact.
The Lions proposed to change the playoff seeding, opening the door for wild-card teams with better records to have higher seeds than division winners. Also, they pitched for more flexibility coming out of training camp when it comes to injuries and who counts against the roster or not.
For any rule change to become reality, they need at least 75% (or 24 votes) from the ownership groups.
**What other NFL rule changes might be coming?**
There are also more talks about changing the kickoff rule. There is a chance the league moves the touchback to the 35-yard line on the quest to encourage more return chances under the new format.
They are also debating on whether or not to allow onside kicks throughout the game, instead of just the fourth quarter. Teams would still have to declare ahead of time that they are kicking an onside kick, but this would open the door for more.
**Are there any changes coming to the business-side of things for the Lions?**
Team president Rod Wood will also meet with reporters before leaving for the week. Last year, most of the focus was on the team’s jerseys and the situation with former cornerback Cam Sutton.
What changes might be coming to Ford Field, the team’s operations, performance center or anything else? This is one of the few chances local beat writers get to speak with Wood throughout the offseason, and there is always something to learn about the business side of things from these sit-down sessions.