It’s been a long championship drought for the Detroit Lions and that’s being kind. The franchise’s last NFL title came way back in 1957. The team’s last postseason win came back in 1991, a year in which they came within one victory of a Super Bowl appearance. These days, under head coach Jim Caldwell, the Lions have been a pretty steady ship. The Men from the Motor City have reached the postseason two of the past three years.

This has been despite the fact that the Lions saw the departures of standout players such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in 2015 and the retirement of wide receiver Calvin Johnson before the 2016 season.

Despite a late-season slump, Detroit reached the playoffs this past year. But earlier this month, the team got some bad news when 2016 first-round Left Tackle Taylor Decker had to undergo shoulder surgery.

The new additions

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday morning that the Detroit Lions acquired offensive lineman Greg Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams for a sixth-round pick in 2018. The former University of Auburn product was the second overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He began as the team’s starting left guard but quickly became the club’s tackle on the same side. His play was underwhelming, to say the least. This offseason, the Rams added veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth (Cincinnati Bengals) via free agency.

Robinson was going to compete for the right tackle job but is now off to the Motor City. But general manager Bob Quinn wasn’t done on Thursday. Via ESPN’s Field Yates, the team also added tackle Cyrus Kouandjio. He was released by the Buffalo Bills this offseason.

Instant improvement?

You will recall that this was already a busy offseason for the Detroit Lions in terms of the offensive line.

It was not an area that the team addressed in the draft because they had added a pair of quality blockers in free agency. The free-agent signings of guard T.J. Lang (Green Bay Packers) and tackle Ricky Wagner (Baltimore Ravens) fortified the right side of the front. Shortly after the news of Decker’s surgery, the Lions added journeyman tackle Tony Hills.

Keep in mind that Robinson, Kouandjio, Hills and 2015 seventh-round pick Corey Robinson are there to hold down the fort until the former Buckeyes’ standout is healthy. Regardless of how you spin it, the longer Decker is out the bigger the issue for the team – even with the new additions on the right side. And it’s hard to believe any of his replacements will have his impact.
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