Top five most valuable people for Detroit Lions in 2024

Fresh off a division title and appearance in the NFC Championship game, the Detroit Lions have everyone’s attention. Is Detroit’s success sustainable, or was last season just a one-off?

Here are the franchise’s five most valuable people in 2024:

5. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs

The Lions had the fifth-best rushing offense in the NFL last year (135.9 yards per game), and Gibbs was a big reason why. He gave way to David Montgomery early last season as the Lions eased him into the offense, but by playoff time, it felt like Gibbs had eclipsed the veteran as Detroit’s featured back.

The Lions presumably plan to use the RB duo in similar fashion to last year — Montgomery had 43.8% of the team’s carries, Gibbs had 36.4% — but the roles might be switched with the 22-year-old Gibbs getting more carries and more goal-line opportunities. Either way, the Lions offense isn’t as dangerous when Gibbs isn’t involved.

4. Cornerback Terrion Arnold

Carlton Davis will be Detroit’s No. 1 cornerback heading into Week 1, but there’s some solid competition for the other starting spot between Arnold, fellow rookie Ennis Rakestraw and Amik Robertson. The Lions thought highly enough of Arnold, who was one of the top cover corners in the NCAA in 2023, to trade up to ensure they got him, so it’s tough to see them wanting to hold him back.

Detroit’s pass defense ranked 27th in the league a season ago (247.4 yards per game allowed) and the unit surrendered the sixth-most passing touchdowns (29). Having Arnold, who allowed a completion percentage of just 51.9 and only two touchdowns in coverage at Alabama, will be a big boost for the Lions secondary.

3. Wide receiver Jameson Williams

Detroit has been waiting for two years to see Williams break out, and this could be the year. For the first time since getting drafted, the 23-year-old doesn’t have any major injuries or any looming suspensions, and head coach Dan Campbell can turn Williams loose.

After parting ways with Josh Reynolds, who was second among Lions WRs last year with 40 receptions, 608 yards and five touchdowns, the team needs Williams to step up and be the No. 2 complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Detroit’s offense is already one of the best in the league, but imagine how much more difficult it’d be for opposing defenses to stop Jared Goff, Gibbs, St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and the 2021 Alabama version of Williams.

2. Quarterback Jared Goff

Goff got his big payday, and he came one win shy of making it to his second Super Bowl last year, so he’s expected to be highly motivated heading into 2024. He’s surrounded by weapons, has arguably the best offensive line in football blocking for him and the Lions are projected to repeat as NFC North champions, so there’s plenty at stake for him.

In ways, Goff is Detroit’s most important player. The offense doesn’t run as smoothly without him under center, and his decision-making and winner’s mentality is part of what makes things work so well in Detroit. Teams that win Super Bowls usually do so because of their QB, and if the Lions are to take that next step, it has to be Goff that gets them there.

1. Head coach Dan Campbell

It’s safe to say that Campbell has exceeded everyone’s expectations three years into his head-coaching tenure. He’s led one of the worst-to-first turnarounds in NFL history, and he has analysts and experts picking the Lions as Super Bowl contenders for perhaps the first time in the franchise’s history.

But as he proved in Detroit’s 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game, he’s still learning as a head coach, and to be blunt, he got out-coached by Kyle Shanahan in that game. Campbell is a sharp guy and an excellent coach; his only flaw seems to be getting in his own way and overthinking seemingly simply decisions at times. If he can fix that, the Lions will be dangerous.