After the opening frenzy of free agency, the Lions came away with a very nice haul of talent. They still have plenty of holes to fill, including their punter and kicker (assuming Jason Hanson doesn’t want to come back), which is a very important part of a complete team. Below is a list of transactions and needs. Along with the teams needs, there is a list of suggestions to fill those needs.
Off-Season Moves:
|
Move |
Player |
Position |
Years |
Total Money |
| Re-Signed | Louis Delmas | Safety | 2 | $9,500,000 |
| Re-Signed | Dylan Gandy | Offensive Line | 1 | Undisclosed |
| Re-Signed | Chris Houston | Cornerback | 5 | $25,000,000 |
| Re-Signed | Amari Spievey | Safety | 1 | $1,300,000 |
| Re-Signed | Kassim Osgood | Wide Receiver | 1 | Undisclosed |
| Re-Signed | Corey Hilliard | Offensive Tackle | 2 | $2,000,000 |
| Re-Signed | DeAndre Levy | Outside Linebacker | 3 | $9,750,000 |
| Signed | Glover Quin | Safety | 5 | $23,500,000 |
| Signed | Reggie Bush | Runningback | 4 | $16,000,000 |
| Signed | Jason Jones | Defensive Line | 3 | $9,500,000 |
| Tendered | Willie Young | Defensive End | 1 | 2nd Round Tender |
| Tendered | Jason Fox | Offensive Tackle | 1 | 4th Round Tender |
Needs that Still Need to be Met:
Left Tackle
- Free Agent Options
- Dolphin’s Jake Long – 10+ Million Per Season
- Raven’s Bryant McKinnie – 6+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 1: Eric Fisher – Central Michigan
- Round 1: Lane Johnson – Oklahoma
- Round 3: Kyle Long – Oregon
I am a big fan of taking a young left tackle, and keeping last year’s first round pick, Riley Rieff, on the right side, where I think he will be more successful. What concerns me is that beyond Jake Long, who wants top tackle money, the market is bare. Ravens Tackle Bryant McKinnie is old and always hurt, but still is a viable option if healthy. I personally want the Lions to draft Fisher with the fifth pick.
Defensive End
- Free Agent Options
- Bronco’s Elvis Dumervil – 8+ Million Per Season
- Colt’s Dwight Freeney – 7+ Million Per Season
- Re-Sign Lawrence Jackson – 3+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 1: Dion Jordon – Oregon
- Round 1: Ezekiel Ansah – BYU
- Round 2: Alex Okafor – Texas
- Round 4: Devin Taylor – South Carolina
There is a lot of risk with the top two prospects, and hearing all the hype associated with each of them. (See: Maybin, Aaron and Gholston, Vernon) therefore I don’t want anything to do with them. The free agent market is also very thin, with veteran re-treads being about the only thing still available. Willie Young and Jason Jones might be your defense ends in 2013.
Cornerback
- Free Agency Options
- Redskin’s DeAngelo Hall – 5+ Million Per Season
- Falcon’s Brent Grimes – 3+ Million Per Season
- Cowboy’s Mike Jenkins – 2+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 1: Dee Millner – Alabama
- Round 2: David Amerson – N.C. State
- Round 3: Logan Ryan – Rutgers
There are plenty of viable and affordable free agent options and a very deep draft class. I hope to god that the Lions don’t stand pat with the three draftees from 2012 and Chris Houston, because if so, it will be a long year.
Outside Linebacker
- Free Agency Options
- Re-Sign Justin Durant – 4+ Million Per Season
- Bronco’s D.J. Williams – 3+ Million Per Season
- Eagles Akeem Jordon – 1+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 1: Jarvis Jones – Georgia
- Round 3: Jamie Collins – Southern Mississippi
- Round 5: Jelani Jenkins – Florida
Justin Durant is a OK option to bring back, because he knows the system and has been healthy for the most part for the last two seasons. However, he is the best remaining OLB on the market in my estimation, and he will command over value money because the draft class is pretty weak.
Wide Receiver
- Free Agency Options
- Patriot’s Julian Edelman – 3+ Million Per Season
- Cardinal’s Early Doucet – 1+ Million Per Season
- Giant’s Domenik Hixon – 1+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 3: Ryan Swope – Texas A&M
- Round 4: Stedman Bailey – West Virginia
- Round 5: Josh Boyce – TCU
Edelman’s value just went way up, being one of the two top free agents remaining after Greg Jennings just signed with Minnesota. The Lions don’t need a number 1, or even a number 2. But a little guy that can wiggle a bit would be a dangerous weapon. Stedman Bailey is a personal favorite. Overshadowed by Tavon Austin at West Virginia, he can be just as dangerous in the same sort of speed slot receiver way.
Guard
- Free Agency Options
- Jaguar’s Eben Britton – 2+ Million Per Season
- Jet’s Matt Slauson – 2+ Million Per Season
- Draft Options
- Round 2: Justin Pugh – Syracuse
- Round 3: Dallas Thomas – Tennessee
No eye popping free agents left and and a very top heavy draft class, the Lions will most likely be stuck with what they have.
I’m not going to make some “dream draft list” because about a million things can change on draft day alone. I will be cheering for them to select Eric Fisher from Central Michigan and for them to stay away from Ezekiel Ansah from BYU. He just screams Vernon Gholston to me. I wouldn’t mind Jarvis Jones or Dee Milliner either.
-Dorf