Detroit Lions Mailbag: The 2 most realistic free agents the Lions could sign
Answering all your Lions questions.
We’re getting closer to the NFL Combine and free agency for the Detroit Lions. So let’s answer some questions to pass the time.
What Lions free agent should be the priority to bring back?
I’m sorry. I won’t say Alex Anzalone. I don’t see a return happening there. The Lions appear to want to get younger at the position with Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez. I wouldn’t be shocked if they drafted a linebacker this year to join them.
The Lions don’t really have a star they need to make sure comes back, but I do believe they prioritize bringing back Al-Quadin Muhammad. I still think the Lions go out and find their next big thing on the edge, but having strong depth goes a long way. A guy who can get 11.5 sacks coming off the bench can only help.
4 options to replace David Montgomery
The addition of Drew Petzing really lends itself to Montgomery staying, but if he doesn’t, the draft is probably the way to go.
I like Penn State’s Kaytron Allen in the draft the most. His comp is David Montgomery. He plays a similar style of football, but he might be better at pass protection, and he might be better in the receiving game, too.
In terms of free agents, Brian Robinson Jr. and Tyler Allgeier are two guys who run the ball in similar ways to Montgomery. But I do see Montgomery staying at this point, and if he doesn’t, the draft is the way to go.
The most realistic free agents I see the Lions adding
I know Lions fans are kind of in this spot where they think Brad Holmes will never spend money, and to a point, they’re right. He probably won’t go out and sign the most expensive guy this year. But I think he gets more involved this year. I’ve got two guys I can see the Lions realistically going after.
The first is Colts edge Kwity Paye. Reuniting him with Aidan Hutchinson could be a big help for this defensive line. They won’t have to pay a crazy amount of money to get it done either. A three-year, $53 million deal is very doable for the Lions.
Another guy is Panthers center Cade Mays. I know Lions fans want Tyler Linderbaum or Connor McGovern, but neither guy is expected to actually reach the market. Mays should be there, and while he’s not an elite-level center right now, he’s a good level center and is still just 26. The Lions could get some years out of him. By the way, he hasn’t allowed a sack in two seasons.
Who’s going to be helped and who’s going to be hurt by Drew Petzing?
The easy answer here is Jahmyr Gibbs. Petzing is a run-first guy, and he will have some fun concepts that allow for Gibbs to get in space and do the most damage he can.
On the hurt side, I would say Isaac TeSlaa. I’m not saying he will be hurt necessarily, but theĀ Petzing-run system favors tight endsĀ a little more, so you can see the Lions adding tight ends this offseason and using those guys a little more than TeSlaa.
That is, unless Petzing works to carve out a spot for him in this offense, where he can do some damage, which would be in the red zone and on chunk plays.
When will Lions fans hear from Petzing?
The Lions don’t do the press conference thing that many other teams do for coordinators. We will get our first chance to talk to Petzing at the NFL Combine at the end of February.
He’ll sit down with us for about 20 minutes, and we’ll pick his brain. I wouldn’t be surprised if we sat down with Mike Kafka there as well. We’ll have full reports later that day on everything we learned.
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