By Adeniyi Precious 
The Detroit Lions have one of the best starting safety duos in the league with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. These two are great at shutting down big plays and keeping opposing offenses in check. But beyond them? Things get a little shaky.
With Ifeatu Melifonwu heading to the Dolphins and Brandon Joseph being unexpectedly cut last season, Detroit is left with a thin bench. Right now, their backup safeties—Loren Strickland, Morice Norris Jr., and Erick Hallett—have barely any NFL experience between them.
So, what’s the plan? The Lions could experiment with their new cornerback, Rock Ya-Sin, at safety during offseason workouts. They could also look to the draft, where players like Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) and Malaki Starks (Georgia) are solid options.
If Detroit wants to go the free agency route, veteran safeties like Quandre Diggs and Justin Simmons are still available. General manager Brad Holmes has some decisions to make, but if he wants to keep the defense strong, adding some depth at safety is a must.
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MSU’s Tom Izzo Still Has a Soft Spot for the Packers
Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo may be a Michigan sports icon, but when it comes to the NFL, his loyalty is a little… complicated.
During an appearance on The Kay Adams Show ahead of MSU’s NCAA Tournament opener, Izzo admitted he still roots for the Green Bay Packers—despite the Lions being the home team.
According to Sports Illustrated, Izzo supports both teams, even though they’ve been division rivals for nearly a century. His friendship with former Lions coach Steve Mariucci plays a role, as Mariucci has been a big supporter of MSU basketball over the years.
“I’m trying to keep up with the times,” Izzo said. “I gotta tweak it a little bit. Doesn’t mean I’ve lost my loyalty. When in Rome, do like the Romans. I’m in Michigan, but I still got my cheesehead—I just keep it on bait.”
Sounds like Izzo might be warming up to the Lions, but that Packers love runs deep!