DFN Mailbag: Edge option, Wingo's usage, CB struggles and more

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Welcome to a pre-MNF mailbag. Let’s see what’s on your mind, Detroit Lions fans.

Who are the best available free agent pass rushers? — Julian Swearengin

Question: What options might be there at the edge for a trade before the deadline, once the Lions finally give up on Marcus Davenport staying healthy? — Edward Emery

Justin: Ah, the topic du jour.

In terms of edge defenders still available on the open market, it’s mostly guys well past their prime, or, with the ones who haven’t aged out, they’re a few years beyond peak production.

Some of the names you might see on lists include Shaquil Barrett, Carl Lawson, DeMarcus Walker and Yannick Ngakoue.

Barrett is on the cusp of his 33rd birthday and played just 17 snaps after coming out of a brief retirement in 2024. Ngakoue, 30, has been in decline since 2022 and, at 6-foot-2, 246 pounds, he’s a poor scheme fit.

Lawson and Walker are also 30, but at least they check a few boxes in terms of their frame and playing style. If the Lions signed someone with name recognition, those would be two candidates.

In terms of the trade market, it’s too early. No one is reasonably waving the white flag yet, regardless of how you feel about the floundering Dolphins. The deadline isn’t until after Week 9, so we probably won’t have a sense of who might be available for at least another month.

When it gets to that stage, look for non-foundationial players on bad rosters with expiring contracts who can bring back draft equity. Miami’s Jaelan Phillips will be a name that comes up a lot. He’s unquestionably talented, but oft-injured, which probably doesn’t seem like the best approach for the Lions if they’re trying to find stability at the position.

I’d guess Travon Walker, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jermaine Johnson would be off the table for Detroit, given each 2022 first-rounder had their costly fifth-year options picked up. That added year of team control also increases the price tag for an acquiring team.

Of course, the Lions are likely to take a look at who they already have in the building. That includes late-August waiver claim Tyrus Wheat and practice squader Andre Carter II, the former All-American out of Army. That's probably not the answer anyone wants to hear, but no one thought of the Al-Quadin Muhammad addition last year, either.

Question: Have you ever thought about writing a book, and if so, would it be Dave Fipp's biography? — Nick Olah

Justin: I’ve given passing thoughts to writing a book, but I already have major issues with free time. Plus, I don’t think pursuing the idea is congruent with giving this project the time and love it deserves.

Question: Why, in your opinion, are Terrion Arnold and DJ Reed struggling so much in coverage so far this year? — Shivang Shah

Justin: Because playing cornerback in the NFL is difficult, playing man coverage at the rate the Lions do is more difficult, and playing man coverage with an ineffective pass rush is the most difficult.

Yes, Detroit got some pressure and sacks last week. Still, most of that production came in the second half, when the offense built a three-score lead, allowing the defensive linemen to pin their ears back, knowing Chicago had to abandon the run. The rush still hasn’t been close to effective enough in the first half of games.

Yes, it’s incumbent upon the corners to play better, particularly in this matchup against Baltimore, but the front finding ways to affect the quarterback earlier in the game would be a big help.

Question: Do you think one of the biggest things the Lions are going to do is attack the center of the defensive line when running the ball? — Brandon Kerr

Justin: I’m sure they’d love to attack the heart of the defense every week with the ground game. However, that’s the area where the remade offensive line has lagged behind.

I’m not saying they won’t have success doing it against Baltimore, but nothing they’ve done through two weeks tells me they’re primed for a breakthrough with a north-south, ground-and-pound approach.

Question: Is Jahmyr Gibbs lining up outside a real thing? — Gavin Hanson

Justin: It’s real in the sense that they’ve done it once each of the first two games, plus lined him up outside a few other snaps before motioning him into a more familiar alignment.

If you can ensure that Gibbs will be covered by a linebacker when split wide, you maintain a mismatch. However, if that alignment puts a cornerback on the assignment, the mismatch flips in the defense’s favor. No matter how athletically gifted Gibbs might be, he doesn’t possess the route-running finesse to threaten a starting-caliber outside cornerback reliably.

Question: How is Gibbs at pass protection right now? — GRITPOOL

Justin: I’d be surprised if he’s ever dominant in that facet of the game, but he’s improved his effort and technique each season. He went toe-to-toe with Detroit’s linebacker during training camp and had some quality reps.

Is he still going to get run over on occasion? Yeah, probably. But I no longer view him as a liability when asked to stay home and protect.

Question: Are you prepared for the "this is finally our year" fervor after we beat the Ravens Monday night? — Mike Hodges

Justin: That’s the nature of the beast in the NFL. When there are only 17 games, there tend to be these wild, emotional swings after each win or loss.

After the Packers took the Lions’ lunch money in the opener, there was a lot of hyperbolic handwringing, with talk of Super Bowl windows being closed. After smashing the Bears in Week 2, the collective mood could be summed up as, “We’re so back!”

If the Lions beat Baltimore, it will be significant because it puts the team on track for a fast start with the Browns and banged-up Bengals up next on the docket. Nonetheless, it's still Week 3. While a win could play a role in the division race and playoff seeding, it will otherwise mean very little come January.

Question: Do you work more hours now that you are on your own than when you were with MLive or the Detroit News? — Paul G. Kushiner

Justin: It’s about the same. Regardless of my employer, it’s always been a seven-day-per-week job during the season. MLive had crazy quantity expectations, so I would often take a break from 7-11 p.m. to spend time with my wife before going back to work, after she went to bed. Kyle Meinke and I felt compelled to have four stories every morning, scheduled every other hour between 5-11 a.m.

Also, at MLive, we had no copy editors. In many ways, that prepared me for what I’m doing now. When the audience is your editor, eager to jump on your mistakes, you're forced to hold yourself to a higher standard.

With the Detroit News, I consolidated some of that workload, trimming the fat with stuff I thought was content for the sake of content. Still, for most of my tenure with the company, I didn’t have the benefit of a supporting reporter on the beat. There’s a lot of strain to being a one-person band, producing enough to fill a newspaper’s demands daily. Even when I was blessed with the addition of Nolan Bianchi in 2023, I ended up writing more that year to meet the demands attached to the team's success.

Now, my big time drain is finding ways to differentiate from the competition. In the past, I could write something simple off a press conference to fill a hole in the paper. For this, I don't want to waste time penning the same story five other outlets are posting, unless it’s critical news or I can put a meaningful analytical spin on it.

It’s still seven days each week, but there’s a lot more mental strain to continually develop and deliver unique content. You remember that Dan Campbell clip from "Hard Knocks," where he tells the roster, "All I think about is you guys." Often, my life feels like that.

Also, no more paid vacation. I’m still able to work ahead and create windows of free time for myself during the summer. Still, I’ve lost the five consecutive weeks I’d take off at the News to recharge my batteries.

Question: I always wondered if Dave Fipp schemes for punt blocking, or if he’s just content in setting up the return. I haven’t seen the Lions block a punt in I don’t know how long. — Cory Spencer

Justin: Blocked punts are rare at this level. This season, there have been two in 33 games. That's actually a breakneck pace. In 2024, it was 11 and in 2023, just four. In each of the past two seasons, no team blocked more than one. So, it’s within reason that the Lions haven’t got their hands on one since 2020.

To answer more specifically, Fipp certainly schemes to create those opportunities, but he’s not going to sell out. I correlate this with his answer this week about kickoff returns and the importance of getting vertical on them. Fipp would prefer to start at the 30-yard line every time instead of the 20 five times and the 50 once because the return went horizontal, hunting for a lane.

Using the same thought process, Fipp is not going to have the entire unit sell out for the long shot of blocking a punt when there’s a much higher chance of setting up a quality return, particularly with a player as dangerous as Kalif Raymond fielding the kicks.

Question: How does our offense match up with the Baltimore defense? Do they run something closer to our defense, or do they do more zone? — Luke Nykamp

On paper, it’s a relatively good matchup, assuming you can answer their physicality in the trenches. Remember, this was the best run defense in football a year ago.

In terms of coverage, it’s similar to what Detroit runs. The Ravens mix it up, but play a heavy dose of Cover-1. Then, when they shift to zone looks, the preference is Cover-3. For both teams, the key piece in the back end is a versatile safety.

One notable difference is that Baltimore relies far less on the blitz. They trust their front four to generate pressure, although they might have to change things up a little this week, with Nnamdi Madubuike ruled out with an injury.

Question: Have we heard anything about Ahmed Hassanein? — Stefan Spurlock

Justin: No, and that’s not surprising. When a team and player reach an injury settlement, it’s for the expected length of recovery. Once that agreement was formalized, Hassanein became free to sign with another team immediately. He can’t sign back with Detroit until three weeks after the expiration of the settlement.

Now, we don’t know how long the settlement was. It wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a non-disclosure attached to it. Regardless, GM Brad Holmes has made it clear that the team plans to re-sign Hassanein when eligible.

That said, no one should be banking on meaningful contributions from the rookie this season.

Question: How did the Browns do such a good job at containing Henry? — Matthew Singer

Justin: The formula is simple: Seven or more defenders in the box, one or more defenders win their one-on-ones during those snaps, there's population to the ball (two or more defenders hitting him on each carry) and solid tackling.

It also means they sold out aggressively in the second level, making them susceptible to play-action. Lamar Jackson was 8-of-9 after faking a handoff, including three touchdown tosses.

It’s truly pick your poison against the Ravens.

Question: Mekhi Wingo saw a lot of snaps against Chicago. Do you have a sense of the team’s usage plan for him? Is he tracking for an interior-only future, or is he going to see snaps at defensive end like Pat O’Connor and Levi Onwuzurike? — Jason

Justin: Thankfully, ProFootballFocus tracks alignments. With Wingo, he logged 37 defensive snaps, and they were all over the line. Most of his work is going to come on the inside, but he did log nine snaps between the right and left edges.

With a young player, coming off an injury that sidelined him most of the offseason program, there’s an ongoing evaluation to determine what he does best. So don’t be surprised to see his role continue to evolve, particularly if there are injury concerns along the front, causing the team to adapt.