Lions miss out on highly decorated free agent
The Detroit Lions missed out on one of the NFL's last remaining top-tier free agents. The Lions have turned a major weakness from 2022 into a major strength on its roster by adding S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, CB Cameron Sutton and CB Emmanuel Mosely to bolster its pass defense. The backend of Detroit’s defense has been […]
The Detroit Lions missed out on one of the NFL's last remaining top-tier free agents.
The Lions have turned a major weakness from 2022 into a major strength on its roster by adding S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, CB Cameron Sutton and CB Emmanuel Mosely to bolster its pass defense.
The backend of Detroit’s defense has been solidified, but head coach Dan Campbell recently raved about a highly decorated free agent who would strengthen the Lions’ defensive front.
That player is DT Calais Campbell. A 15-year veteran, Campbell has been named to six Pro Bowls to his name as well as a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. He has spent his last three seasons anchoring the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive line as one of the most feared run-stoppers in the league.
The Lions head coach raved about what adding Campbell would mean.
“Look, we can turn the tape on, man, and I’ll tell you what, you talk about a lot of respect for a big man,” Campbell said. “Oh, my gosh. I just keep watching it and I’m like, there’s no way he can feel god, that body cannot feel good. But it looks like it feels good because he’s just a force to be reckoned with. You put him in a closed end, you’re not running over there. He can rush as a 3-technique, still, on third down. Man, he’s got length, he’s got size, he’s still quick. We’ll see. We’re not the only one who is on him.”
Unfortunately, the six-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.
Despite missing out on Campbell, the Lions still have plenty of opportunities to strengthen the middle of its defense through the draft. The Lions have already scheduled to meet with the top interior prospect in 2023 in DT Jalen Carter out of Georgia.
Not only would Carter serve as a much younger option than Campbell, but his ceiling is as high, if not higher than the 15-year veteran. Detroit has been one of the NFL's biggest winners of the offseason and will have 10 draft picks to add to a masterful free agency period put together by general manager Brad Holmes.
