I don't know how they don't get in there and out-bid the Packers for Parsons. Just the idea of Parsons and Hutchinson coming off the edge... with that offense and their OL which IS still a very good unit. Mahogany was one of the steals IMO of the draft two years ago and was playing at a REALLY high level at the end of last year... when he came back from whatever illness he had. So he was going to be a starter. They used their 2nd rd pick on Ratledge who people thought was going to be a stud. And then you lose a guy like Ragnow in June... not a whole lot you can do there, but Glasnow is... a good player.
I said before, just Alim McNeil and 2 1sts is beating that deal. 25 year old DT... coming off injury, but still.
Or even without McNeil, they should have been able to add more. They used their 1st on Tyliek Williams, a 1st rd pick. He's a run stuffer.
So outside of DE... I didn't really think they had a weakness. They did add DJ Reed, but... I thought that was a REALLY good roster. I still do.
But... you need players who tilt the field and make the game easier for everyone else. Detroit has elite safeties, best safety duo in the NFL. Hutchinson will get better. DTs, Jack Campbell is a stud... but I thought when it game to Garrett, Crosby, Hendrickson...and then Parsons, they should be willing to give up a lot as they're so desperate... and they let the Packers get him.
Speaking of which, we had 3 guys with pass rush grades over 73.
I do think it's a little funny hearing Parsons talk about Van Ness and his speed, so he is going to keep working with him. I mean, it's great, don't get me wrong, but Parsons bends and moves just different. That speed Van Ness and Gary have is great... for big, physical DEs, but Parsons is so unique.
We used to play the Cowboys and whoever our Edge going up against Tyron Smith was, it was like they were running into a brick wall. He was just too big, too physical, too athletic. Clay struggled, Perry did nothing. Sewell is in that same class and Parsons, 1 week of practice and he made a big impact in the game(he also set the edge vs the run a couple times).
I wouldn't be surprised if he forces 10 sacks this year by OTHER players... who get a sack because the QB is rolling away from Parsons. LVN should be one as he's a high effort player, Gary is just a really good pass rusher, Wyatt is someone we're just waiting on and he looked good, best vs the run. Had a big sack wiped out due to a penalty, but I thought he got another.
-I also think Edgerrin Cooper will be an All Pro this year. If NOT, he'll have an AP caliber season. He was just flying around.
It's Week1 vs a team that is going to have a lot of adjustments and Detroit will be better, but as this team gets more confident... thought they played a bit tight at times, didn't really let Love finish a drive or series or the half, as @CheezWizHedsaid, they'll be getting Lloyd back(though Brooks pass pro was amazing today), Watson at some point...and if Tom is healthy, well, all those pre-season "Power Rankins," having the Packers in the top ~5, they seem very justified!