The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s talk about the Detroit Lions.
Detroit Lions
Key acquisitions: WR D.J. Chark, S DeShon Elliott, LB Jarrad Davis, CB Mike Hughes, LB Chris Board, TE Garrett Griffin
Re-signed: S Tracy Walker, DE Charles Harris, LB Alex Anzalone, WR Kalif Raymond, WR Josh Reynolds, QB Tim Boyle, LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Departures: DE Trey Flowers, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Texans), S Dean Marlowe (Falcons)
Remaining free agents: OT Tyrell Crosby
Analysis: After a rough 2021 season, the Lions are looking for improvement in 2022 and made some solid moves to get things going. While there weren’t any big multi-year deals for new players, they worked to extend their own.
One of their best players on defense is free safety Tracy Walker, a former third-round pick who signed a three-year extension. A starter the last three years, Walker is the veteran leader is this very young secondary, and is joined by former Raven DeShon Elliott. A starter in Baltimore the last two seasons figures to compete with fourth-year safety Will Harris, who led the defense in snaps last year.
Also brought in to the secondary is former first-round cornerback Mike Hughes on a one-year deal. Riddled with injuries his first three years in Minnesota, he was traded to the Chiefs and started a handful of games for them. He gets to compete for a starting job with former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah alongside breakout starter Amani Oruwariye.
A guy who signed a one-year deal last year returns on another one-year deal in Alex Anzalone. The former Saint started 14 games last year and will lead the middle of that defense alongside an old friend of Detroit. Former first-round pick Jarrad Davis returns after a year with the Jets on a one-year deal. They also re-signed Charles Harris, a former first-round pick of the Dolphins, led the Lions in sacks with 7.5, and is the team’s best pass rusher following the release of Trey Flowers.
The big, and really only, notable signing on offense was former Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Chark on a one-year deal. After a 1,000-yard season in 2019, he had a rough 2020 season in Jacksonville and an injury-shortened 2021 season. He’s looking to bounce back with the Lions and gives Jared Goff a true WR1 alongside rookie breakout star Amon-Ra St. Brown. The team also re-signed Josh Reynolds, who was signed midseason and was pretty productive, and Kalif Raymond to round out the depth chart. This isn’t a great receiving core, but it’s not the worst. If Quintez Cephus is back and healthy, and Goff and Chark develop a connection, this could sneaky be a decent offense, all depends on if Goff can play, which he needs to prove this year. Two good running backs with a good offensive line with T.J. Hockenson at tight end, this team could be fun.
Conclusion: I really don’t know how to feel about these Detroit Lions. I think they’re starting to build something, but aren’t quite there yet. The vision I’m seeing is they’re starting with smaller signings, a couple names here and there, then next year, they’re gonna make a big, franchise-altering move. I don’t know what it’s going to be, it could be a quarterback or superstar defender I don’t know, but something is brewing in Detroit.
Football Nerds 