Will the Detroit Lions look to secure a top free agent this offseason?
Pulling out the checkbook isn’t always a recipe for success, but at least in the offseason it’s a conversation starter. Will the Detroit Lions be willing to pay for a big name in private hands?
A few weeks ago, I mentioned some potential free-agent targets for the Lions with various issues. Inexpensive Free Agents can become important components of a roster, either as Deep Pieces or Breakthrough Starters. The Lions have been fairly quiet over the past few offseasons, relying on buy-low candidates — also with great success. Of general manager Brad Holmes’ free-agent signings, perhaps only DJ Chark counts as a Splash signing. Depending on your take on Chark’s 2022 season, it may or may not be a flop of a signing.
With the Lions making strides this past season, it suddenly calls the competitive landscape into question. Are the Lions a few major additions from being playoff contenders? And if so, are the Lions willing to acquire those players through expensive free-agent contracts? The Lions have done well to build their talent via draft, but an extra star or two might be the boost they need. The news that the Lions are chasing cornerback Jalen Ramsey shows that Holmes and co. weren’t afraid to make a franchise-changing move.
Dreams come cheap, however, and reality often presents a more complicated situation. For one thing, there are 31 other teams potentially bidding for a player’s services – that alone can drive the price up. Also, many top players try to outdo players in the same position. If a top 10 wide receiver lands an $18 million annual contract, the next estimated wide receiver to reach free agency will be looking for a similar deal — or, more likely, an even higher amount. Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed contract with the Cleveland Browns, we know, threatens to shake up the quarterback market. One ridiculous contract can change the entire NFL for better or worse.
The Lions will be heavily involved this offseason. Whether that means spending big, spending sparingly, or a mix of both remains to be seen.
Today’s question of the day is:
Will the Detroit Lions make a splash with the free agency signing?
My Answer: I don’t think they will.
This of course depends on your definition of a “splash” signing, but to me it means signing someone who is a day 1 starter and an obvious upgrade over the previous starter. Two names that are high on my expensive wish list are Jamel Dean and Tremaine Edmunds. Dean would immediately become the Lions’ top corner, cementing a much-needed and critical position on defense. Not to be outdone, Edmunds would give the Lions a true star as a linebacker, something Detroit has long been lacking.
However, the salary cap always complicates things. While the idea of throwing a bunch of money at Dean or Edmunds (or both) sounds great on paper, it has to fit within the cap. That could be accomplished with a reloaded contract or invalid years (like Chark’s deal), but the Lions don’t have unlimited leeway to splurge on free agents. Read Erik Schlitt’s salary cap breakdown for a closer look at where the Lions stand, but the gist is that between signings and freshmen, the Lions may not be in the market for a high-profile free agent.
What I think is more likely is targeting several mid-range starters with high ceilings. DeShon Elliott and Mike Hughes last offseason were examples of this strategy, albeit with mixed results. Players like Drue Tranquill, Alex Singleton, Greg Gaines or Sean Murphy-Bunting might not break the bank, but such moves would add potential to the Lions’ starters.
With all the good that happened last season, I still think the Lions have too many holes to spend any meaningful amount on a Splash signing. However, if the Lions manage to make a team-friendly deal, I’m all for it.
The Lions need more top-end talent – I just hope they can work some salary magic to make that happen. Until then, I’ll keep an eye out for the smaller signings. In September or December, they could prove just as important.
It’s your turn.
Tweets from https://twitter.com/PrideOfDetroit/lists/lions-coverage
Continue reading