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After a nice start to free agency, the Lions still have plenty of holes to fill

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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