ESPN Snubs Lions From NFL’s Top Tier Despite Bright Future
As the NFL offseason kicks off, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has ranked all 32 teams into different tiers, and the Detroit Lions find themselves just outside the top group. Fowler placed them in the second tier—“on the cusp”—alongside the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, while reserving the highest tier for Super Bowl teams like the Eagles and Chiefs.
Despite the snub, Fowler acknowledges that the Lions are built for long-term success, calling them one of the most complete rosters in football. He points out that Detroit has locked up key players with extensions, has plenty of salary cap space for 2025, and could still add another pass rusher to solidify their defense. The Lions’ average roster age is 26.5, making them one of the league’s younger teams.
Within the NFC North, the Packers and Vikings were ranked a tier below Detroit in the “need a postseason breakthrough” category, while the Bears landed much lower in the “this could go either way” group.
With free agency and the draft approaching, do you think the Lions deserve to be considered a true Super Bowl contender? Or do they still have more to prove in 2025?
ESPN Snubs Lions from NFL’s Elite Tier Heading into Offseason
