Daily DLP: On Germany and UDFA chances past and present – Detroit Lions Podcast

On Wednesday, May 13, Jeff Risdon sharpened three headlines. Jared Goff’s window. A Munich matchup vs the Patriots on Nov. 15. Every Detroit Lions rookie signed.

Goff’s Window, Built by the Line

Jared Goff will be the Detroit Lions quarterback for at least the next two seasons. That was clear and direct. The question is not if the Lions can win with Goff. The question is what kind of cast he gets. With this roster, the arrow points up.

The offensive line drives that optimism. A new center who can actually run block changes the interior. Tate Ratledge is growing into his second season at guard. Christian Mahogany being healthy matters if he grabs the left guard job, and that competition is real. A better line makes Goff better, and he was already good enough last year despite an OC who worked against the flow.

Goff’s mobility will never be a feature, and his big-game record has mixed chapters. He also played very well in a Super Bowl loss. In the current NFL, the Detroit Lions can win with him when the front five sets the tone. He is low on the list of things keeping this team from a Lombardi.

Schedule Drop and a Munich Showdown

The NFL schedule release lands tonight. Travel planners care. So do fans circling one date in bold. On November 15 in Munich, the Lions will host the New England Patriots, the reigning AFC champs, per the league’s decree. That is a marquee lift for an international stage where the Patriots brand still looms from the Brady and Belichick era.

There is noise around New England. Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini headlines. Wide receiver questions. AJ Brown trade talk. An offensive line that looked bad and did not get the help some expected. The Patriots move from a last play schedule to a first play schedule. The Lions draw a fourth play schedule. Advantage Detroit.

Matchup-wise, Detroit must run the ball. That fits the Lions’ identity and their improved front. Pencil it in as a likely win when we play the schedule game. And ignore the leak season chatter. Even a Thanksgiving rumor linking the Patriots to Detroit fizzled by nightfall.

Contracts: Entire Rookie Class Locked In

Right after yesterday’s show, the Lions made it official. Every rookie is signed. Blake Miller, Derek Moore, Keith Abney, Jimmy Rolder, the whole draft class. The undrafted free agents are now official as well. The paperwork is done. Camp battles can start where they matter most, in the trenches and on special teams.

This Detroit Lions Podcast kept it simple. Goff has a runway. The line is stronger. Munich awaits. The roster is signed and ready.

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Chris
Chris is the founder of everything you see here. A former radio presenter and Detroit native, he now resides in sunny California – and like so many of us, he found himself marooned on an island devoid of other Lions fans. After spending a few years in the Detroit Lions Reddit community he decided to start the Detroit Lions Podcast. Its become the #1 Detroit Lions podcast, and regularly ranks with the top podcasts in Detroit. With a mixture of pre-recorded shows, live & recorded phone-ins, and live post-game broadcasts - this is his slice of Honolulu Blue heaven.