Commanders vs. Lions stock report: 4 risers, 5 fallers from Divisional Round loss

Check out this week’s movers in your Detroit Lions stock report.

Before we dive into this week’s movers, I just want to thank you all for another wonderful season. I know we don’t always agree on who’s trending up or down, but I love the discourse and being able to hear what you think in the comments. Here’s to next year.

But for now, it’s the offseason. But before we start talking mock drafts and needs (which you can infer from some of the names on the lists below), let’s talk about what just happened. Here are your Detroit Lions movers for the week:

Stock up: Christian Mahogany, G

Christian Mahogany has emerged from the woodworks (pun intended) to have a compelling rookie season. He filled in for an injured Graham Glasgow late in the season and played some of the best left guard we’ve seen all year. Then, he stepped in late in Week 18 when Kevin Zeitler got hurt and took over in the Divisional Round. He finished the playoff game as Detroit’s highest-graded player on either side of the ball, per PFF. Mahogany has shown a lot of promise and done so on short notice and in big games. He’s firmly on a path to a starting job in 2025.

Stock up: David Montgomery, RB

Stats: 7 rushes, 28 yards

Montgomery saw very limited action, playing just a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps and touching the ball seven times on the day. Nonetheless, it was almost miraculous that he was even playing. The Lions thought they lost Montgomery for the season when he tore his MCL, but after seeking out several opinions, he was able to rehabilitate it in time to return for the playoffs.

When he did touch the ball, he was more effective than his stats would indicate. His longest run on the day of 11 yards was one where he broke a tackle in the backfield and had more yards after contact than the 11 yards he netted on the run. It wasn’t a signature game from Montgomery, but the fact that he was even active says a lot, and he always provides a valuable change of pace to supplement Jahmyr Gibbs.

Stock up: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB

Stats: 14 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD; 6 rec, 70 yards

Speaking of Gibbs, what a day from him. He finished the day averaging 7.5 yards per carry, which is nothing new at this point. What really impressed me was his patience. On several of his highlight runs, Gibbs had Commanders defenders in his face behind the line of scrimmage. He was able to recognize it, pivot, and get back to his intended rushing lane, like he did on his longest rush of the day:

Stock down: Jared Goff, QB

Stats: 23/40, 313 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 1 fumble; 1 carry, 7 yards

It was a rough night for Goff, both physically and statistically. He finished the night with four turnovers. That’s not a winning recipe for any game, but especially not a playoff game. Goff did have some very sharp throws, like his pass down the right sideline right into Amon-Ra’s breadbasket . However, Goff’s interceptions were head-scratching. He overshot Tim Patrick for a pick-six, got thumped on the return, and looked off the rest of the night, despite clearing concussion protocol.

Goff’s second interception, a deep end zone shot to Jameson Williams , was inexcusable. There’s no safety ahead of Jamo, and as such there’s no shortage of real estate for Goff to lead him across the field on the throw. To try and lead Jamo upfield was a strange decision, and one that allowed Mike Sainristil to undercut the pass for a pick in the end zone.

Stock up: Sam LaPorta, TE

Stats: 6 catches, 51 yards

Sam LaPorta has quietly re-emerged as Jared Goff’s favorite safety net down the home stretch of the season. He finished the night with six receptions, including a stellar one-handed (and left-handed, for that matter) diving touchdown catch. LaPorta finishes the season with just five games of six or more receptions, but with four of those games coming since mid-December.

Stock down: Trevor Nowaske, EDGE

Stats: 1 tackle

The Commanders had their way on the ground against the Lions, despite the Lions defense doing a decent job plugging the interior. The gaps were on the edges, and the Lions struggled to contain Jayden Daniels and Brian Robinson Jr. all day. Heck, we even saw Austin Ekeler get to the edge. That starts with Nowaske, who had done such a good job setting the edge all season. He was nowhere to be found in the Divisional Round game, and on the rare occasion he was near the ball carrier, he struggled to finish his tackles.

Quick hits

Stock neutral

Jameson Williams, WR: Jamo obviously had a phenomenal rushing touchdown. However, his decision to throw the trick play pass into tight coverage resulted in an interception. Also, I would’ve liked to see him come back to the ball more on Goff’s second interception. All things considered, he stays neutral on the day.

Stock down

Graham Glasgow, G: It was another rough outing for Glasgow to cap off a bumpy year. Between his struggles and the emergence of Christian Mahogany, this may be the last we see of Glasgow as a starter in Detroit.

Ifeatu Melifonwu, S: Iffy struggled while he was on the field, and to make matters worse, couldn’t stay on the field due to a hamstring injury. He caps off an injury-riddled season trying to tough it out from the sidelines and finishing the day as the Lions’ lowest-graded defender, per PFF.

Za’Darius Smith, EDGE: Similar to Nowaske, Smith struggled to set an edge in run defense. Sure he’s a pass rusher first, but the Lions simply needed more out of him in a game like this.