| March 2, 2021 LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL VIRTUAL COMBINE QUOTE SHEET Opening Statement: “Good morning, everybody. It’s been awhile since I’ve talked to all of you last and I know it was a little different last time that I had talked. So, I’m going to be on my P’s and Q’s here, but anyway, I would say that a lot has transpired just in the last month, particularly as it pertains to the coaching staff and then what Brad (Holmes) has done as well on his end with the additions that we’ve made. I would say, I’ll let Brad speak for himself, but I feel like we feel pretty good about where we’re at, we feel like we’re right on track with where we need to be. I know from my perspective I feel like we’ve added the right men to help coach these guys. I feel like these are men that are convicted in what they believe. They know how to coach. They know to communicate with these players. They’re obviously good human beings and they’re in the mold of what Sheila (Ford Hamp) was looking for. And the other thing that I would say is we said all along, we wanted this to be collaborative. We wanted a team effort starting at the top because when you do that then it’ll bleed down in the locker room. It’s been all of that and then some. So, with that I would lead now into any questions that you guys have.” On how building a staff with independent thoughts, ideas and input has come together over the last few weeks: “Well, look, I think it’s important because that’s how you come to the best decision for the team, for the Detroit Lions. I mean, debate is good. It’s a good thing. Now, I think that the people that have been added here, these gentlemen that Brad (Holmes) and I have made additions to the Lions organization, they’re all guys that see things the way we see them. It doesn’t mean they’re like us, but it means they see things very much the same and they’re team guys, man, and they’re all about – like, for me, when things don’t go well, I want to know what I can do. I would want to put it on my shoulders and these guys that I’ve added are all the same way. It’s like, what can I do. What do I need to do? I’m not looking for somebody else to blame, or it’s his fault. So, all of these men that are here right now, I really feel good about that. I don’t feel like these are guys that are C.Y.A. guys. These are guys that are like, ‘Man, let’s get in the foxhole and let’s go to work. How do we improve this thing?’ So, with that, knowing that that’s the type of men they are, then man, I want this debate. Give me your opinion on it and look, they’ll be the first ones to tell you, ‘Look, you’re asking me, I don’t like this. I don’t like the way we’re doing it. We should do it this way. If you’re asking, and my opinion, but yet Coach, if this is the consensus and this is the road we’re going down, I’m going right down that road with you, 100 miles (per) hour.’ My team, my players, will fall right in line with that. That’s all you can ask for because I want to take the input. I mean, I want to listen. If somebody’s got a better idea, or their viewpoint, they really have a conviction about it and they can change our minds, or they can make us see what they see, man, I’m all for it. Debate is good. That’s how you get the best conclusion to the answer.” On what he sees as the top priorities going into free agency: “I’ll say this first off. I don’t want to get too deep into this because I would rather Brad (Holmes) go more into that. But I would say this on my viewpoint, look, we understand kind of where we’re at with this. Look, you can go through the roster and it’s no secret that (wide) receiver is somewhat of a need, cornerback, we don’t have a lot of depth. And you’re always looking for competition in areas, your linebackers, your inside d-line, hell, we need o-line depth, right. So, there’s all kinds of holes that we have here, but no different than any other team. It’s funny because Brad and I were talking about this the other day. As good as where they’ve been at the (Los Angeles) Rams and where we were in New Orleans, you’re always talking about your holes, you know. You’ve got your own warts and it’s like, man, as good as you are you still have these blind spots that you’re trying to find a way for, ‘How do we cover this and how do we help ourselves here?’ So, look, I would say this man, for me, I know I sure don’t want Brad feeling like he’s got to chase positions in the Draft. I want him to be able to say, ‘Man, this is the guy. These are our guys that we love.’ And let’s feel like this is an outstanding player that we all love and let’s not feel like we have to, ‘Well, we don’t really love this guy, but man, we need a linebacker. We don’t really love this guy, but we sure do need an inside defensive lineman.’ So, to your point a little bit, we’ll find a way to address some of these spots and if it’s got to be some of these free agents that maybe aren’t quite as talented, but man, they are gritty, salty guys that know how to compete and they’ll hold their own in there, then we’ll find those guys. That’s who will help us in the meantime.” On how much he expects player familiarity to factor into free agency acquisitions: “Well, look, if I’m being completely transparent with you, I think, yeah, that’s a pretty accurate assessment or something I would say would be pretty much in line. But that doesn’t mean that we’re going to have all players from New Orleans here. Now, does that mean that if there’s some players from New Orleans, yeah, because I know who they are. And Brad (Holmes) and I talk about this all the time, it’s not even so much what you think they can do, it’s you know what their downside is. That’s different than anything else, in free agency you don’t always know what all the warts are. You do when you’ve been with these guys and sometimes, you’re harder on your own guys when you’re around them longer. But I’ve said this before and the staff knows this, man, Brad’s been at the Rams, so has Ray Agnew (Jr.), right? Duce (Staley) has been at Philly. Mark DeLeone has been at Chicago. I mean, so yes, but that doesn’t mean that they are all going to be from one team. So, if there’s some guys out there that are from other teams that we have history with, this coaching staff has history with, our personnel department, our GM, our assistant GM has history with that we know and we trust and are our type of guys, yeah, I would say that would be pretty intriguing.” On how offenses have evolved using tight end position: “Yeah, well look, the position has definitely changed throughout the years. I mean, when I played, I remember when I first came in the workout – I mean, about an hour in you might get to some ball drills. It was you line up, your stance and your hitting bags, and you’re hitting sleds, and they’re running you through, you’re going to find out if you’re going to quit or not. I mean, it’s just totally different now. You’re looking at the athlete. You want to see can this guy run. How does he move? How’s his reaction time? Just working ball drills, hand mechanics, all those things. So, look, it’s definitely changed and to me I don’t even want to use the word – it is tight end, but yet, man, I call it big skill. It’s a big skill position and so most of the time tight ends fall into that, but just because you’re a big skill that’s played tight end somewhere doesn’t mean that you’re going to be a traditional tight end. I mean, if you look at what we did with Jared Cook last year, he really didn’t have his hand in the ground very much at all. He was used more as a slot and then we’d split him out, getting him isolated, see if they’d play man-to-man. So, when you have a guy like that, or you have weapons like that, these guys can be used a little bit more like receivers if you will, but yet knowing that there’s going to be those times where they’re still going to need to be able to block and help you in the run game. So, look, it’s definitely changed, but I think big skill is hard to find if I’m being honest with you and I think it’s a hard matchup for defenses. When you have a guy that you feel like can win his one-on-ones, I don’t care what he plays, those guys are intriguing, man. When you have guys on your roster that you know the defense is like spending extra time on all week, that’s who they’re worried about, those guys, that’s kind of the type of guys you’re looking for.” On if the team has made a determination on whether CB Desmond Trufant and CB Justin Coleman will be back on the roster: “Well, I hate that I’m going to have to do this to you. Look, we’ve been talking. Brad (Holmes) and I have talked about all that and I would say there’s going to be some things that go down this week one way or another. When all that happens, you’ll know, but I don’t want to get too deep into all that. I know both of those players. I mean, Trufant, he was in the Division for years at New Orleans, so I know him well. I just know overall, we need competition in that area. We need depth in areas. We need competition. I mean just because for example, we’ve got two young cornerbacks, man, you still want competition. You want guys that they’re having to compete (with) that are able to push them, or they’re pushing for that starting position. I mean, it’s just healthy. It makes you better.” On the role of Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Duce Staley: “I told Duce when I was on the phone with him, when I thought that he was about to get out of Philly, or he was thinking about it – I told him, ‘Look, you’re not going to be a token assistant head coach.’ I’m going to use him, and I plan on using him for some media obligations. I plan on him being a part of –we had him in during our player evaluations on the whole offense and defense, though he wasn’t able to be in there very long because he had to go back with A-Lynn (Anthony Lynn) and work offensively, but I’m going to keep him abreast of the cap and things of that nature, what we’re trying to do with free agency, guys that I know, even if they’re on defense I want him to have a hand in. I already told him I want him to look over the fine schedule and (we) sit down together. So, I’m going to use this guy. I mean, he’s going to be primed and ready to be a head coach when it’s all said and done. Like, all his bases are going to be covered. He’s going to be able to check off every box and say, ‘All right, I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I know I’ve been trained for this,’ just like Sean (Payton) did for me. He’s going to be a true assistant head coach and if it something goes down and he needs to step into my seat, he’s ready to roll. So, that’s how I view it. I’ve got a lot of respect for Duce and I think he’s a hell of a man. I think he’s a hell of a coach, and I really do, I believe he’s going to be a head coach in this league sooner than later. Now, hopefully later than sooner, but I know it’s going to happen.” On the evaluation of college prospects in comparison to previous years: “Certainly it’s a little bit tricky and there again, Brad (Holmes) can speak more on that than I can. I’ve looked at some of those guys with Brad, if I’m being honest with you, he’s been able to dive into that a lot more than I have to this point. But certainly, there’s a little bit of a leap of faith and some of these guys you have to go off old film, or then these guys, man, it looked pretty good, but they only played five games or four games. So, it is a little bit tricky, but listen, that’s the hand we’re dealt, right. Those are the cards that were given, so we’re going to make the most of it one way or another and whoever we bring in here, here’s the beauty of this, man, Brad and I have talked about this – whoever we bring in here, when it comes to you’re talking about the Draft, or even free agency, it needs to be somebody we love, you know. Somebody that we all feel like there’s almost a unanimous decision that we love this guy. This guy can help us. We know who this guy is. We know what he’s about. We know what his fit is. We know what his role is because that’s just as important. What is the fit? This guy, he can be one of the greatest players you’ve ever seen, but if he doesn’t fit us, we don’t know what to do with him. We don’t know where to put him. It does us no good. That’s where we’re at right now. Those are the rules and so we’ll make a go of it.” On how he sees free agency playing a role this year and moving forward in what he hopes to build: “I think anybody that we bring in right now is going to need to be able to set a tone for us here. I would say this, if you look at just what is here now when we walked in the door, it really is a good group of guys. It’s not like we have some bad guys, anything like that. It’s a good group of guys. So, as far as, ‘Well, you know we’ve got to get some bad guys out of here and you’ve got to bring some good,’ it’s nothing like that. It’s really not, I mean, everything has been really positive in that regard. That’s a plus. Most of the time you come into a place and it’s not that way, so that’s a positive here. But I think that look, certainly, you’re looking to guys to bring in that either can compete to start, even if it’s for a year, or they’re going to push the guy that’s behind them and make them have to earn that spot, they’re a young player and make them have to earn that spot, and get better and work on their craft. So, I just think that philosophy wise those are the types of guys that we want to add, certainly, and wherever that is. If it makes sense that, ‘Hey, this is the position that we do it at, it’s (wide) receiver, then we get a receiver. If it’s tight end, it’s tight end. If it’s running back, then it’s running back.’ Somebody that can complement (D’Andre) Swift, somebody that helps push him, but that doesn’t mean that it’s over. That doesn’t mean that we’re not drafting somebody as well. So, we’re going to have a lot of flexibility in what we do here. We’re not going to be in this mad rush or panic to get into the game with everybody else. We’ll find a way to make this work. It might not always be pretty, but we’ll find guys that know how to compete and that can hold their own for a little bit here, one way or another while we get up on our feet.” On who has final say when he and Executive Vice President & General Manager Brad Holmes may disagree on a player acquisition: “Brad and I do. Well, here’s what I would say, I kind of brought this up, this is weeks ago. But here’s what I would say about a true alpha. A true alpha knows when it’s time to conceded for the betterment of the team. And so, I would tell you one way or another, there’s already been a couple things where it’s like, ‘Maybe we don’t. You see it more a little this way. I see it.’ We haven’t had one problem and we’re not going to have a problem because if we feel like it’s the betterment for the team, and ultimately, Brad feels one way, what does the pack feel like. How does everybody feel. How do all the coaches feel? How does Ray Agnew feel? And if I’m the odd man out, I’ve got zero problem being like – so, listen, I’m just telling you, I know where you’re going with it, it won’t be a problem. I know it won’t and we will come to the best agreement. I’m not going to wallow in my own pride and worry about, ‘But I really want this guy and I can’t believe that he doesn’t see it my way.’ One of the reasons that I feel like I’m here is because believe it or not, I’m a good listener, too, and I can hear all sides. There’s been things that people have been able to change my mind because I’m able to look at it, and I’m able to see it, and I can digest it. It may take a day, but you come back, and you know what, I see what you see. I get it. I understand where you’re going with it. So, to answer your question, Brad and I have the final say on these things and we’ll be just fine. We’ll be just fine. We’ll get this thing worked out one way or another.” On the plans for WR Kenny Golladay: “Well, I would love to be franchised. That would be nice because that’s a pretty good, little chunk right now. I don’t want to get that far into it. I really don’t. I’m sorry. Look, all these things will be coming down the road before March 17, obviously. Look, we’ve had dialogue. We’ve talked back and forth. Brad (Holmes) and I have talked about this. I mean, we’ve gone every scenario you could go down, believe it or not, on everybody. How does this move here affect this move? And so, I don’t want to go that far into that. Let me say this because I thought this is where you were headed, and I hate to change the subject. In regard to Sheila (Ford Hamp) (INAUDIBLE) because I know there’s been something put out there. Let me say this, I want you just to imagine that your boss tells you, ‘Hey, listen, I would love for us to be a team here at the top. Like, a legit team when you were in freaking high school type team, where we’re all in the same boat. We’re all going the same direction. We all believe the same things and yet at the end of the day though, because I know who I am as your boss, I’m going to give you every resource to do your job and it’s your decision. But yeah, just let me know what’s going on. Do you mind if I’m involved in just listening?’ Be like, no, not one bit, not one bit and actually, it’s strongly encouraged. She has been outstanding. And yes, she’s been in personnel meetings, she’s not in there – when she’s been in the room, she’s on the Zoom. We’ve asked her input because I mean, she’s the owner. I want her input. I’d love to know what she says, but every time it’s like, ‘Listen, I’m not making this decision. I want you guys, what you feel is best. That’s why I hired you guys, for what is best for the Lions organization.’ So, she’s been nothing but outstanding. I want all our coaches, I want our personnel department, I want our players to know, man, she cares. Like, she wants to be around. She wants to be part of this because when you have an owner that wants to be involved in that, but yet, she’s just like Sheila (Ford Hamp) is where, ‘Listen, you guys do what you need to do. I’m here. I’m your resource,’ but yet she’s hearing all the information. She’s finding out all the things about these players that we all know. I mean, you can’t ask for anything better. So, she’s been outstanding, that’s the truth and I wanted to make sure I got that across.” LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRAD HOLMES VIRTUAL COMBINE QUOTE SHEET March 2, 2021 Opening Statement: “Good morning, good to see everybody. Good to see everybody again, obviously in a different stage of where we’re at with the process. It’s been very, very enjoyable, the process up to this point. I couldn’t have asked for a better time, a better fit. “Obviously, Dan (Campbell) has compiled an excellent staff. Getting to know the staff and know the coaches, they’re great coaches, there’s no doubt, but I’d say even better human beings and better people. It’s all about being around the right people, so that’s just been an excellent fit, getting to know them. It’s been a very smooth, smooth process up to this point. “From a personnel standpoint, we’ve added, obviously (Assistant General Manager) Ray Agnew, who I worked with for the whole time I was with the Rams, for over 18 years. He’s just been an amazing, valuable asset. He’s been able to – probably to sum it up – he’s been able to make an even (more) accelerated process in terms of laying out what our vision is and what I’ve wanted to be the vision from a personnel standpoint. He’s been excellent in that regard and it’s been in line with what the culture is going to be in terms of what Dan and I vowed to fulfill with Sheila’s (Ford Hamp) vision for what the culture is. He’s been an excellent fit from a culture standpoint. Obviously, with entering free agency preparation and his experience on the pro personnel side of things, he’s been (a) tremendous value for someone as myself. So, that’s been awesome. “We’ve added (Senior Personnel Executive) John Dorsey. He’s been an amazing asset as well. Obviously, for someone like myself as a first-year GM, and what John’s experience has been as a GM and his experience in team building and incredible ability to evaluate, he’s been tremendous. All the way from a big-picture standpoint and allowing himself to be a resource that I can lean on, all the way to the kind of more minute details of things that probably, I didn’t even realize at first. I would even say what’s been even more cool with John is that he’s actually been able to share some experiences of what may have not worked for him. For him to share those things with me has been awesome. But I can’t speak enough to how great of a value and asset that those two men have been on top of what the coaching staff has brought. “It’s been awesome working with Dan in this journey, in this process. I was really excited from when Dan and I first spoke, and it’s always exceeded every expectation that I’ve had going forward. Without anything else being said, I’ll hand it over to you guys.” On where the team stands with the franchise tag and if the team is considering using it on either WR Kenny Golladay or DE Romeo Okwara: “Well, we want to make the best decision for the Lions, and sometimes those decisions take a little bit longer. The great thing is that we have a process in place that we believe in, that we’ve been firm in. When you really start the planning stages of the process, that process can go all the way up to when you have to make the decision. The great thing, and Dan (Campbell) kind of mentioned earlier, is that we’re not going to rush it. Whether it is the franchise tag on a Romeo or a Kenny or whoever it is, we definitely have a process in place that we believe in, that we’re trusting. That’s probably the best thing about it, is that we have a process that we’re trusting and we’re sticking to it. It makes sure that it meets the Detroit Lions’ timeline, and that’s really the thing that matters the most.” On how he’s assessed the team’s salary cap situation: “Well, obviously there’s some uncertainty in terms of what that will be. From our planning standpoint, we’ve actually been weighing every single scenario from the most optimistic scenario, what it would be, to the worst-case scenario. So, it goes back to the process and the planning stages in terms of how it works. I will say that (Senior Vice President of Football & Business Administration) Mike Disner has been excellent in terms of his expertise in the salary cap and working with Dan (Campbell) and myself and working through those areas. He’s made the process probably as seamless as it could have been in terms of his utilization and how he sees it and it fitting to how we are planning on building the team. A lot of credit goes to Mike Disner with the cap situation.” On his evaluation of the Draft’s strengths and weaknesses: “That’s a good question. First of all, I think that this draft class is a good class overall. There are some positions of strength. I was just looking the other day – I think that the safety class is deep and there’s a lot of value to be found at that position at really all levels throughout the process. I think that the quarterback class is good this year. I like the crop of quarterbacks that are coming out in this year’s draft. That’s obviously always a very, very important position. When you’re picking inside the top 10, I don’t think that there’s a position that you really can look past at any level and say, ‘Oh, well, that’s not a very, very deep position.’ When you pick inside the top 10, you better know every single position regardless of the circumstances currently on your roster. There’s really not a position that I can sit here and say that I see as thin right now just because in relevance of where we’re picking at, we have to be prepared to know all positions and that’s part of the process that we’re doing now.” On how much the fluctuation of the salary cap might be delaying the franchise tag decision: “That is a good question. That hasn’t been a deterrent in terms of us trying to make that decision in terms of the utilization of the tag. Again, like I was saying earlier, we are making plans and using our process in terms of going through every single scenario from what would be, like you said, the floor to what the highest probably could be. So, it’s just making sure that we’re prepared that anything that might come about. But it hasn’t really affected (us) in terms of what our utilization will be on it.” On where he thinks the roster is in terms of the number of players needed to make the team competitive: “Going through the roster with Dan (Campbell), it kind of goes on top of what Dan’s been saying, what I’ve been saying from the get-go; I’ve been very fortunate to be in a position to work with a head coach that sees things eye-to-eye. That’s been the case from the very get-go to the point where I think to myself, ‘Is this how it normally is?’ But it is. It’s truly been like a dream just in terms of being able to work with a guy like Dan. But going through the roster in general and us going through it and us seeing so many things eye-to-eye in terms of where our starters were in terms of where we need depth, I would say that there are some pieces that we definitely need to add. We can start with the defensive side of the ball. We definitely need some more depth. We will need starters at certain places. Those are things that we’re going through. We’ve identified those spots that we need to add more depth, even if we feel like we need a starter. It’s even – when I say like if we need a starter somewhere – there’s still some young guys that still hadn’t played as much that I’m very familiar with coming out of the draft process and watching the film from the previous year that we feel good about. There’s optimism in some players that have not been as, let’s say, as well known that we have a lot of hope for. As what Dan was saying earlier, to add competition, I think that that will fuel any spot anywhere across the whole defense. From an offensive standpoint, it’s kind of the same thing. Do we feel pretty good about where we are from an offensive line standpoint? Yeah. I mean we’re returning starters back that have played at a high level. But we also need depth. We’ve got to deal with the reality that, forbid anything happens, but we’ve got to be prepared that not even from a development standpoint, but it’s a long season. You need depth at all areas. Obviously, from a receiver standpoint, there’s some decisions that still have to be made in regard to how we’ll approach it with Kenny (Golladay), and obviously just adding more pieces there and more depth there. I know that you probably look at the roster now and say, ‘Well, who are you going to add? It looks thin at that position.’ I will say through my experience, even back with the Rams, I want to say it was probably 2017 that our receiver room flipped pretty quickly within a year. The Rams were able to add some quality pieces pretty quickly. To be able to follow a similar kind of a blueprint or path or having the experience of seeing how that works and being involved in that process, it’s something that I feel confident, Dan and I feel confident about us being able to take a similar process.” On the decision he’s mulling with WR Kenny Golladay: “Good question. Obviously, I don’t think there’s any debate that Kenny has shown the ability to be a No. 1 receiver in this league. With that skillset that everybody knows that he has, we all know that he has, and being where we’re at from a roster standpoint, there’s also been no debate that Kenny has been at the forefront of our minds in terms of making sure that we make the best possible decision for not only the Lions, but for Kenny. I wish I had a more direct answer to you to tell you exactly what we’re going to do, but out of respect for the process, I’ll keep that in-house.” On if he’s trying to actively sign WR Kenny Golladay to a long-term contract: “That’s another decision that we’re keeping in-house just out of respect for the process. I’m sure that you’ll hear about what we’ll be doing shortly.” On how having a veteran quarterback in place can impact the offseason planning and roster-building going forward: “That’s a great question. To have a veteran QB who’s won a lot of games – I don’t want to say any specific names, I’m assuming we all know who we’re talking about – but obviously that player’s not on our roster right now. Obviously, I have a lot of knowledge. I know Jared (Goff) very, very well. But having a veteran quarterback, obviously, it can shape some decisions in terms of my familiarity with him, knowing kind of what works best for him, what kind of the likes, what he kind of strives for. It does help shape things from a team-building standpoint in terms of adding tools, adding pieces that will fit his skillset.” On what types of pro experience he’s had with the Rams and what he’s learned about that side of scouting in Detroit: “Obviously, back when I was with the Rams, I was involved with free agency meetings. I was involved with discussions in terms of we made a good amount of trades that I was able to be involved in those discussions, and even during the season – weekly events, meetings – was good experience to have from a pro standpoint. So, the cool thing about it is at the end of the day, you’re trying to add football players and you’re trying to add good football players and good football players that fit what we’re trying to do and the best football players for the Lions. Whether it’s pro or college, if that’s the goal in mind, then that’s actually been a relatively seamless process for me. It was funny – Ray (Agnew) was joking with me the other day in terms of the amount of detail that we put into the free agency process. He even has alluded to that’s been a little bit different. That’s just the only way that I know in terms of how to go about player acquisition, is to not leave any stone unturned. Whether it’s been with how it’s going to work with the salary cap and cash-spending, that’s all been actually a fun part of it in terms of the player acquisition process and the evaluation process and seeing what players really, really fit and what players fit within the salary cap structure. (That has) been a fun part of the free agency process.” On if the team is going to replace standard 40-yard dash results with a GPS-tracker to evaluate college prospects: “Well, that’s a good question. I do think that there’s one thing about the 40-yard dash time versus what we like to evaluate in terms of play speed. I think that when you talk about GPS timing, can that replicate actual play speed in terms of some guy that’s playing football? So, when you look at the 40-yard dash time, you really have to equate it to, like we always say, is it relatable and does it transfer to actually playing football? Running in a straight line without anybody around you and preparing to run in a straight line in spandex and a t-shirt, how much is that relatable to football? So, I’m not sure about actually removing the 40-yard dash time because I truly believe that it can confirm things that you may think from a play speed standpoint. If you think that a player is fast on film and then if he runs a fast 40, then obviously you can lean on that and say, ‘OK, alright, that actually lines up to what I was thinking.’ When it’s the opposite, when you don’t think that a player is that fast on film and then you see him running a fast 40-yard dash time, you shouldn’t ignore that. You actually should use that to go back and look at and be sure like, ‘I wasn’t really expecting that, but let’s just be sure.’ From an analytical standpoint, that’s how I’ve always viewed the analytic game period, is that the analytics can really be a piece to hold you accountable. If the data is telling you something that your eyes aren’t seeing, you shouldn’t be stubborn and say, ‘Well, let’s ignore that because my eyes are correct.’ Let’s actually look and see why the data is actually saying that versus what your eyes are seeing. I think the more that you dive into that, I think you’ll actually come up with the answer in terms of exactly what you’re asking for about speed, whether it be 40-yard dashes or GPS timing. At the end of the day, we’re looking at play speed and reliability to how fast a guy’s playing football.” On how he expects players and agents to react to a smaller salary cap this year: “That’s a great question and that’s something that, it’s funny – even coming up on the college side, they’d always talk about we’d have to predict the future and try to find out what’s going to happen. We’d love to have a crystal ball. It’s been the same thing from a free agency standpoint in regards to the salary cap because you would think that you’re going through the process like, ‘Well, maybe at this stage in his career, maybe he’s only looking for a one-year, prove-it kind of deal, or maybe not.’ You just kind of weigh all those different scenarios and you’re trying to come up with what makes the most sense. Obviously, we’re trying to look for what makes the most sense from a team standpoint or what makes the most sense for the Lions. But at the same time, you’re trying to predict where that player’s at and what the player is and what his agent is really thinking because he gets a lot of guidance from that standpoint. When you really delve into those discussions, you have some surprises. It might be the opposite of what we were thinking. But that is a good question and it’s an ongoing thing that I think at this stage, that some players will look for shorter deals because maybe that will set them up for something a little further down the line. We’ve had a lot of surprises already to this point, so I would expect even more surprises there.” On if he can elaborate on what he likes about this Draft’s crop of quarterbacks and his reaction to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper saying the Lions shouldn’t draft a quarterback at No. 7 overall: “Well, I think Kiper, he’s been doing it for a long time and he has his own opinion of where we should go. I think the quarterback position in general – what’s cool about this year is that they’re in all different flavors. You have the guy who can actually do it all, can do it from the pocket, do it with his legs. You have another guy that’s probably a little bit more (the type who) does it with his legs, a little bit more being creative. There’s another guy that actually probably does it more from the pocket. So, all the different flavors make it very, very intriguing in terms of when you’re looking across the whole scope of the class of these quarterbacks. I do think, again, when you’re picking in the top 10, I don’t think you can ignore – and I think it’s just smart drafting business anyways – is that when you’re picking in the top 10, that you make sure that you know that quarterback class very thoroughly. I do think that to be elaborate, I definitely think that the intriguing part is that they’re all different genres and flavors. What’s been great for the Lions is that Dan (Campbell) and Coach (Anthony) Lynn, they’ve been in lockstep. The vision’s been clear in terms of when you look at scheme and this and that and all those minute details, it’s, ‘OK, what do our players do best?’ And being (sure) that our players are going to be put in the best position to succeed. You kind of take the same approach with quarterbacks and see what their superpower is and is that superpower the best thing that’s going to fit for the Lions?” On how he evaluates college opt-outs: “I don’t want to say that you punish a player for doing an opt-out. At the end of the day, there’s some very good football players that have chosen to opt out. It just makes sure that it actually holds you more accountable from an evaluation standpoint and a process standpoint, which is that’s what we’re doing. It hasn’t deterred us in any part of the process in terms of he’s going to get punished or he’s going to get pushed down the line because he has been an opt-out. It’s no different than, let’s say there’s a unique case where a player could not be eligible to play this season. It’s just that when you look at it in the opt-out bucket, then it’s actually – but it’s definitely more unique than what we’ve experienced. But again, I think it’s going to hold you accountable to make sure you have a very, very dialed in process from an evaluation process, which is what we’re doing right now.” |
