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| The release of Damon Harrison leaves a massive hole on the Lions' roster (Ron Chenoy) |
Free agency is now officially less than two weeks away, and the Detroit Lions need to make significant headway in roster-building if they want to be competitive in the NFC North and make the playoffs. If they aren't, the team's front office and coaching staff will be looking significantly different this time next year.
The team has quite a few significant holes to fill, though it does have plenty of money to pick up free agents along with seven picks in the 2020 Draft. Let's take a look at the team's biggest holes.
1. Defensive Tackle
The Lions just released nose tackle Damon Harrison after an underwhelming 2019 season. That already creates a massive hole in a Lions defense that focuses on stopping the run. Meanwhile, Mike Daniels and A'Shawn Robinson are due to become free agents.
Daniels struggled to get on the field during an injury-plagued campaign, while Robinson's play fell off from a very solid 2018. The Lions could bring back one or both of them, potentially on cheaper, incentive-laden deals. It would be just as understandable to let them walk.
That makes John Atkins and Kevin Strong the two primary defensive tackles on the team currently. Those are two guys Detroit clearly likes as rotational players, but they probably shouldn't be getting starter-quality snaps. Da'Shawn Hand and Trey Flowers can be and have been moved to the inside depending on package, but this team still needs all the help it can get up the middle.
I'm expecting the Lions to make at least one big splash on this front in free agency (I imagine they'll be one of the bigger teams trying to get in on D.J. Reader) and use at least one draft pick on defensive tackle, even if it's not one of their first picks.
It would be very nice if one of those tackles they do get can rush the passer, since the Lions have been absolutely dreadful at doing that.
2. Guard
With T.J. Lang's retirement last offseason, many people were expecting the Lions to make a move for a starter. The Lions' response was to extend primary interior backup Joe Dahl's contract. The Lions experimented at the guard position all preseason with Dahl, Lang's 2018 season backup Kenny Wiggins, and newly-signed journeyman guard Oday Aboushi.
Dahl was named starter and mostly performed well before a late-season injury. He wasn't spectacular, but he did the job. I still have reservations about Dahl's ability as a long-term starter, but he was far from the team's biggest issue.
Now the Lions need to figure out to do with their other guard position. Graham Glasgow is an impending free agent, and he didn't seem thrilled with the Lions not extending him last offseason. He's likely gone. That's unfortunate. Glasgow's been the Lions' most reliable lineman since joining the team and can play anywhere on the interior. Them letting him walk away is unfortunate. The team also has to find depth as both Wiggins and Aboushi are free agents this offseason.
If the Lions don't want to spend on a high quality starter already on the team, that makes them unlikely to want to pay top guards on the market like Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney. The team does have former Wisconsin guard Beau Benzschawel, but Benzschawel didn't show much last offseason to give fans much hope.
I hope the team doesn't continue to spin its wheels on getting a guard. They really seem to like Wiggins, so I wouldn't be surprised if they brought him or Aboushi back on relatively cheap deals and called it good. But neither of those players inspires a ton of confidence as a starter. If they don't grab even a mid-level starter in free agency, hopefully they use an early-round pick on an interior lineman of the future.
3. Cornerback
The Lions have some interesting decisions to make at cornerback. Pro Bowler Darius Slay wants to get paid like one of the top corners in the league, and the Lions have been hesitant to make that happen. Slay held out for a good chunk of the offseason last year, but ended up playing the full season even though he didn't get a contract extension.
The Lions are currently figuring out what to do with Slay this year. If they trade him, it'll have to be to a team that's willing to give him that extension. If they don't trade him and don't extend him, he's probably not playing.
This isn't a situation where the Lions seem like they'll skimp for money. If they trade Slay, they're probably signing someone like Byron Jones to a similar deal. But the Slay breakup might be about more than money, considering Slay's been vocal when teammates of his have been traded, leading to speculation that he might be clashing with Patricia's regime.
Even if they did keep and extend Slay, the team needs somebody on the opposite side. Rashaan Melvin is a free agent, and I don't see the team bringing him back after a rough 2019. Amani Oruwariye showed flashes as a rookie, but still probably needs a little bit of time before he can become a starter. Justin Coleman and Jamal Agnew are probably better suited in the slot than outside.
If they keep Slay, they likely draft somebody in the first or second round to fill that second cornerback position. If they don't, they've gotta spend big on somebody and draft somebody. That's one of the reason Jeffrey Okudah's a likely target no matter what happens with Slay. They're going to need somebody young at the position soon.
4. Wide Receiver
This is a big need for the Lions going into the season, but it's also probably the least immediate one. The team still has its top four options from last season on contract through 2020. The only person really leaving the team this offseason might be Jermaine Kearse, who didn't even play last year due to injury.
But even though Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Marvin Hall are still on the roster, the team needs to look to the future very quickly. Golladay will likely get a big extension after becoming a true WR1 over the past two seasons. That means the Lions might have to walk away from Marvin Jones, who has played well as a Lion and is also likely due to a pay raise. It's hard to see the organization pay both top receivers big money. Amendola could potentially keep coming back, but he's not getting any younger, and despite good play he's always seemed like a stopgap in the slot.
So the Lions probably want to draft somebody here, because they want talent that can play for a long time at the position for relatively cheap. This is a good draft to be in that position. It's a loaded wide receiver class, and there will be value to be found even on day three, especially because whoever they pick will have the opportunity to learn from established veterans and build rapport with Stafford for a full year before they really need him.
5. Safety
Safety wouldn't be as big of a need for the Lions going into this season had they not traded away Quandre Diggs halfway through last season. Diggs, who was a starter and a captain, would still be under contract. Welp!
I don't think it would be surprising if the Lions re-signed Tavon Wilson to another deal. He performed pretty well last year all things considered, and he actually took a pay cut to be on the team. The staff clearly likes him, and he seems to like Patricia. That's good, because Will Harris might need a little more time to develop into an increased role after struggling a bit his rookie season.
Even if Wilson walks I don't see the team spending a lot in free agency on a safety, probably aiming for a capable-enough veteran starter while putting more money into other places. There will likely be some very talented safeties available on day two of the draft. Quinn has drafted a safety in the third round in back-to-back years, so making it a three-peat wouldn't be surprising.
Quick Hits for Other Needs
6. Edge Rusher - The Lions like having Trey Flowers, Romeo Okwara and Da'Shawn Hand on the defensive end, as well as Devon Kennard as a pass-rushing linebacker. that's still not enough. The team struggled with health/depth, and was one of the worst pass rushes in the league. They need to upgrade soon.
7. Linebacker - Detroit seems set at the linebacker position this year. The only impending free agent at the position is Miles Killebrew, who's more of a special teams-exclusive player unless injuries really get bad. Still, the Lions' linebackers have sucked for several years. Patricia and Quinn might really like the guys they have, but it could be drastically improved.
8. Offensive Tackle - Rick Wagner and Taylor Decker are still signed, but Decker is in a contract year. He will likely want a relatively big extension. He played well down the stretch last season, but consistency and durability are concerns. Meanwhile, Wagner has been underwhelming since signing with Detroit. The team might be looking to the future here sooner than a lot of people think.
9. Running Back - Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough look like a very threatening running back combination, if healthy. Unfortunately "if healthy" carries a lot of weight. Both players have struggled to stay on the field since college. The Lions also have Ty Johnson and could likely bring JD McKissic back on a cheap deal, but I wouldn't be surprised if they grab a veteran or a later-round draft pick to round out the group.
10. Punter - All reports are saying the Lions are likely letting Sam Martin walk in free agency. They will likely address that need by drafting a punter in the late rounds or making it a priority when signing UDFAs.
