Ranking Detroit Lions' free agent needs: Help at CB tops the list
It’s your move, Kirk Cousins.
Cousins, the former Michigan State star who has spent the past six years with the Minnesota Vikings, is the biggest fish in free agency next week, and where he lands will help shape the rest of the quarterback market this offseason.
Cousins could return to Minnesota and keep the Vikings playoff contenders in what should be a strong NFC North, or head to another ready-to-win team like the Atlanta Falcons, who are believed to want a veteran quarterback for new coach Raheem Morris.
Once Cousins finds a home, the win-now teams left in the cold can turn their attention to Russell Wilson (and the veteran-minimum contract he’d be playing on that would afford them enough salary cap space to stock their roster elsewhere) or perhaps Justin Fields, who may or may not be on the trading block from the Chicago Bears.
The Bears, of course, have a decision to make with the No. 1 pick in the draft, and all those moves could affect the Detroit Lions and their path to a second straight division title.
The Lions are among the fortunate NFL teams that have their starting quarterback (Jared Goff) and top backup (Hendon Hooker) in place, but there are holes elsewhere on the roster they’ll be looking to fill when the new league year opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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Here’s a position-by-position ranking of the Lions’ biggest needs entering free agency. As a reminder, teams need only tender exclusive rights free agents to retain their rights for next season, while restricted free agents become unrestricted without a tender offer:
1. Defensive back
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: CB — Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, Steven Gilmore, Craig James. S — Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brian Branch, Brandon Joseph.
Pending Lions free agents: CB — Kindle Vildor, Jerry Jacobs (RFA), Will Harris, Khalil Dorsey, Chase Lucas (ERFA). S — C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Top free agents: CB — Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins; Kendall Fuller, Washington Commanders; Stephon Gilmore, Dallas Cowboys. S — Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos; Gardner-Johnson; Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks.
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Others who may interest the Lions: Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills; Kristian Fulton, Tennessee Titans; C.J. Henderson, Carolina Panthers.
Market watch: The Lions were reportedly one of seven teams who inquired about cornerback L’Jarius Sneed once the Kansas City Chiefs officially designated him their franchise player. Sneed is the best cornerback on the market with Jaylon Johnson tagged and expected to re-sign with the Chicago Bears, but he’d cost the Lions a high draft pick and lots of money on a new deal. He’s coming off an All-Pro-caliber season, so he may be worth it. But there are other cheaper options on the market, too.
Howard will be released by the Dolphins at the start of the league year, so he’s not technically a free agent, while Gilmore would be a fine stopgap option who might only command a one-year deal. The Lions do not plan to tender Jacobs, so he’ll be a free agent. And Gardner-Johnson is looking for the kind of multi-year deal the Lions may not be willing to offer given their youth at safety.
2. Defensive line
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: Edge — Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, Mathieu Betts, Mitchell Agude. IDL — Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Brodric Martin, Chris Smith.
Pending Lions free agents: Edge — Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, James Houston (ERFA). IDL — Tyson Alualu, Benito Jones (RFA).
Top free agents: Edge — Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings; Jonathan Greenard, Houston Texans; Bryce Huff, York Jets. IDL — Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins; D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals.
Others who may interest the Lions: Dorance Armstrong, Dallas Cowboys; Denico Autry, Tennessee Titans; Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts.
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Market watch: As usual, the top tier of free agents was decimated by the franchise tag, but there still are some tantalizing options available on the defensive line if the Lions want to invest in their pass rush. Jones is the best non-quarterback on the market, though he’s expected to re-sign with the Chiefs. Both Hunter and Greenard are proven edge rushers who would give the Lions an every-down weapon to deploy opposite Hutchinson. And Wilkins is a notch below Jones as a playmaker but coming off a career-high nine-sack season.
Armstrong doesn’t have the sack numbers of Hunter, Greenard or Huff, but he played well for the Cowboys last year. And Autry is one of a handful of options with a connection to the Lions’ coaching staff or front office, along with Marcus Davenport, DaQuan Jones, Leonard Floyd, Sheldon Rankins, Greg Gaines and Teair Tart.
3. Offensive line
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: OT — Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Connor Galvin. IOL — Frank Ragnow, Colby Sorsdal, Michael Niese, Matt Farniok, Netane Muti.
Pending Lions free agents: OT — Dan Skipper, Matt Nelson. IOL — Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Kayode Awosika (ERFA).
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Top free agents: OT — Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; Trent Brown, New England Patriots; Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals. IOL — Mike Onwenu, Patriots; Robert Hunt, Miami Dolphins; Connor Williams, Miami Dolphins.
Others who may interest the Lions: Evan Brown, Seattle Seahawks; Aaron Brewer, Tennessee Titans.
Market watch: Two of the top free agent guards came off the market Thursday when Ezra Cleveland and Kevin Dotson re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams, respectively, but there still are good options available on the interior line. Onwenu, a Michigan product who played right tackle and guard last season, could reunite with his old coach, Jim Harbaugh, with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Hunt quietly had an excellent season in Miami though injuries cost him the better part of seven games.
The Lions need to re-sign at least one of Jackson and Glasgow, their starting guards most of last season. Jackson, who had his own injury problems last year, projects to land a deal north of $7 million annually by Pro Football Focus, while Glasgow has said both he and the Lions are optimistic about a reunion.
4. Wide receiver/tight end
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: WR — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green. Tre’Quan Smith, Tom Kennedy, Maurice Alexander, Daurice Fountain. TE — Sam LaPorta, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra.
Pending Lions free agents: WR — Josh Reynolds, Donovan Peoples-Jones. TE — Anthony Firkser, Brock Wright (RFA).
Top free agents: WR — Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars; Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears; Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals. TE — Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks; Hunter Henry, New England Patriots; Gerald Everett, Chargers.
Others who may interest the Lions: WR — Ray Ray McCloud, San Francisco 49ers. TE — Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals
Market watch: Reynolds had a disappointing end to the season with two drops in the Lions’ NFC championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but he was a solid contributor all year who the team thought enough of to ensure he reached contract incentives in Week 18. If the Lions don’t re-sign Reynolds, they’ll need a No. 3 receiver and veteran insurance for Williams.
There aren’t many great options available at receiver or tight end for teams needing help in the pass game. Ridley topped 1,000 yards in his return from a yearlong gambling suspension, Curtis Samuel should generate some interest on the market and Gabe Davis has the deep speed some teams will desire. Ultimately, teams may avoid spending big on receivers in free agency and wait till April to address the position in the draft.
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5. Special teams
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: K — Michael Badgley; P — Jack Fox.
Pending Lions free agents: LS Jake McQuaid; LS Scott Daly (RFA).
Top free agents: K — Greg Zuerlein, New York Jets; Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Will Lutz, Broncos.
Market watch: The Lions signed Badgley to a one-year extension in February, though Holmes said in a radio interview before the combine there will be competition for the job. That’s likely to come through the draft, where there should be multiple kickers with draftable grades, or in the second wave of free agency. The Houston Texans re-signed Ka’imi Fairbairn, who would have been the top kicker on the market, and while Zuerlein is coming off an impressive season, he’s 36 years old. Daly missed the second half of last season with a torn ACL but is expected to re-sign this spring.
6. Quarterback
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker.
Pending Lions free agents: Teddy Bridgewater, Nate Sudfeld.
Top free agents: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings; Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos.
Market watch: The Lions would like to sign Goff to a long-term extension this offseason, and appear comfortable with Hooker as his primary backup. Asked about Hooker at the combine, Lions coach Dan Campbell said, “I don’t think we entirely know what he is yet. There’s not enough evidence. But I know this, we saw progress and that’s what we’re looking for.”
The Lions could re-sign Sudfeld as they still need a No. 3 quarterback. Outside of Cousins, Mayfield and Wilson, who will not officially be released till the new year, most of the other quarterbacks on the market will be placeholders or backups, with Jacoby Brissett the best of the bunch.
7. Linebacker
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez.
Pending Lions free agents: Anthony Pittman (RFA).
Top free agents: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens; Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers; Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Others who may interest the Lions: Eric Wilson, Green Bay Packers.
Market watch: The Lions return their top five linebackers from last season and won’t be in the market for much help at the position beyond adding depth this spring. They do not plan to tender an restricted free agent contract to Pittman, a core special teams player last year, but would like to bring him back on a lesser deal. If he doesn’t return, the Lions could target a player like Wilson or Matthew Adams of the Cleveland Browns as a replacement.
Queen had a career year with 133 tackles and a Pro Bowl berth, but there might not be enough money to keep him in Baltimore. The Chiefs’ Willie Gay and Drue Tranquill, the Texans’ Blake Cashman and the Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are among other starting-caliber options available in what appears to be a crowded off-ball linebacker market.
8. Running back
On the Lions’ roster for 2024: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jermar Jefferson, Jake Funk.
Pending Lions free agents: Jason Cabinda, Craig Reynolds (RFA), Zonovan Knight (RFA)
Top free agents: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants; Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans.
Market watch: Like quarterback and linebacker, the Lions don’t have much of a need at the running back position beyond adding depth. They’ll need a fullback to replace Cabinda if he leaves in free agency, and they’ll re-sign or add another back to compete for the No. 3 job, but Montgomery and Gibbs got 469 of the Lions’ 525 running back touches last year (89%).
Running backs don’t make much in free agency these days, but this is a deep class. Barkley, Jacobs and Henry should all be primary backs with some team this fall, as should Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard. Former Lions running back D’Andre Swift will get his first taste of free agency, too, coming off a career-high 1,049-yard season.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ranking Detroit Lions' free agent needs: Help at CB tops the list
