As if the news couldn’t get any more exciting for Los Angeles Rams fans right now, right off the heels of their trade for Myles Garrett, there are now rumors that three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald is at least considering retirement. Donald reportedly told NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.” Donald’s wife may have some different thoughts.
Regardless, Donald’s consideration of coming out of retirement has likely got some fans around the NFL thinking
about their recently-retired players and whether there’s any chance to coax them out of retirement.
So for today’s Question of the Day, let’s play that thought experiment.
Which Lions player do you wish came out of retirement?
My answer: For maximum fun of this question, let’s assume the player you’re pulling out of retirement is playing at the level they performed at upon retirement. For example, you’d be getting 1999 Barry Sanders, not 57-year-old Barry Sanders.
Now, the most obvious answer here is Frank Ragnow. The Lions’ former All-Pro center flirted with an unretirement around Thanksgiving last year, and you probably remember the jubilation from fans hoping that he would help save a drowning season. He remains a solid pick for this answer, even though the Lions have clearly moved on by signing Cade Mays to a two-year deal.
However, I’m looking towards players who would help the positions of biggest need. Right now, there’s so much uncertainty with injuries and up-and-down play that the Lions could just use a stabilizing force amongst their defensive backs. Darius Slay at his peak would be an amazing add right now. But given the questionable availability of Kerby Joseph and the likelihood of Brian Branch missing time, give me Glover Quin.
Quin was not only a ballhawk—leading the league in interceptions in 2014—but he was a tremendous leader by example. For a Lions secondary still trying to figure things out, Detroit could benefit from his presence. And while Joseph figures things out with his knee, Quin could help add some of that game-changing plays. At the end of his 10-year career, I always wondered if he would’ve continued to play had Detroit not been such a mess under Matt Patricia.
Players I also considered: Chris Spielman, Robert Porcher, Alex Karras.
Who would you like to see come back and don the Honolulu Blue? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
