Dan Campbell's 2026 Strategy: Revamping the Lions' Player Acquisition Process
Dan Campbell will need to make some changes in 2026, particularly in the player acquisition process. The Lions have focused on retaining their own talent in recent years, leaving little room for external additions. Campbell should aim to create space for active spending in free agency to complement the core players they have drafted.
To address the offensive line issues, the Lions should evaluate veteran talent in free agency and be willing to spend. They have promising young talent but may need to upgrade at center or bring in competition on the interior line. Targeting a lineman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could help address the glaring need on the offensive line.
The Bears may try to run up the score against the Lions, especially after the Week 2 defeat. However, with the game being in Week 18, the Bears may not gain much by playing starters late in a blowout. The absence of key players like Penei Sewell and Alex Anzalone could potentially lead to the game getting away from the Lions.
In the College Football Playoff, draft prospects like Trinidad Chambliss and David Bailey have shown promise. Chambliss, transitioning from Ferris State to Ole Miss, displayed impressive playmaking skills, while Bailey had a solid performance for Texas Tech. These prospects could be worth keeping an eye on for the Lions.
Brad Holmes should address what went wrong this season, whether it be depth and injury issues or schematic failures. Transparency from Holmes about the team's regression and his plans to fix it would be valuable. Revamping the offensive and defensive lines should be a top priority for Holmes in the offseason to address the team's shortcomings.