ESPN picks Detroit Lions move that will have biggest 2026 impact

[ASFN Admin]

As the Detroit Lions ready for the start of OTAs on Wednesday, ESPN took a lap around the NFC North to evaluate each team in the division's offseason.

ESPN shared its thoughts on the Lions' most underrated offseason move, choosing the Isiah Pacheco signing for that distinction. But, that Pacheco signing wasn't ESPN's choice for the move that will have the biggest impact on the Lions' 2026 season.

Instead, ESPN thinks that the Lions hiring offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will have the biggest impact on Detroit's 2026 campaign.

Hiring Petzing as offensive coordinator. Petzing is replacing John Morton, who was fired after one season in the role. So far, Petzing has earned the respect of Campbell and his players through his work ethic and résumé. He had been the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator for the previous three seasons.

In 2025, Detroit was still among the league leaders in total points per game (28.3) but struggled to find an offensive identity outside of home run plays. This was despite having Pro Bowlers Gibbs and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, among other playmakers. The team is hoping to change that under Petzing. - ESPN

Petzing, 38, led a Cardinals offense that ranked second in the NFL in rushing average (4.92) during his time in Arizona. The Cardinals finished second in yards per carry in both the 2023 (5.0) and 2024 (5.3) seasons.

Under Petzing's direction, the Cardinals also watched tight end Trey McBride garner back-to-back Pro Bowl selections (2024-25) and first-team All-Pro status this past season. In 2025, McBride led all NFL tight ends in receptions (126) and receiving yards (1,239), while tying for the most receiving touchdowns (11).

McBride's 126 receptions established a single-season NFL record among tight ends.

In Detroit, Petzing inherits an offense with a five-time Pro Bowl passer in Jared Goff, a star tight end in Sam LaPorta, one of the NFL's top wide receiver duos in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and a top tailback in Jahmyr Gibbs.

The pieces are in place for Petzing to orchestrate the NFL's top offense, and the Lions hope that he can help reestablish some of the organization's dominance up front.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN picks Detroit Lions move that will have biggest 2026 impact

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