Notes: ESPN awards Dan Campbell hire an average grade

Some of the first grades are rolling in for the Detroit Lions’ head coach hire and so far... they’re about average.

Seven teams fired their head coaches this season and five have announced new hires. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Wednesday that the Lions have agreed to a 6-year deal with Dan Campbell, read more about him here.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano offer their thoughts and grades on each head coach hire. When it comes to Campbell, both writers believe the Detroit Lions hiring someone a little outside of the box is a good thing.

“The Lions needed to go left from the Patriots way, and I kept hearing through the process that they wanted a high-energy coach. Campbell appears to be a walking espresso,” Fowler wrote.

Graziano offered a thought that many, many Lions fans hold — if Campbell brings the right people with him, it could really work. They also touch on Matthew Stafford’s future of course, as well as the culture issue in Detroit. Their collective grade: B.

Read the full article and their explanations behind the grade here. (Subscription required.)

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash took a look at the teams entering the 2021 offseason with the worst quarterback situations, including the Washington Football Team. He suggests they make a blockbuster trade for Matthew Stafford.

• The Going Deep podcast virtually sat down with Barry Sanders, who offered his thoughts on whether or not they should or will strike a deal with Kenny Golladay.

• ESPN’s Kevin Seifert named three Detroit Lions to his list of top 50 potential free agents of the year, as heard through Lions Wire’s Erik Schlitt.

• PFF’s Sam Monson names the 2020 breakout candidate for all 32 teams, including this Detroit Lion receiver.

• The Lions offered some highlights from new GM Brad Holmes’ first day on the job at Allen Park.