Top 5 centers for the Detroit Lions in free agency

The Lions’ next center might be on this list

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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NFL Free Agency starts next week and the number one positon the Lions need to fill more than anything else is the center position.

I’m not going to lie to you, the cupboard is not full of high end centers this year, but there are some guys who the Lions could bring in to at the very least bridge the gap. Here are the top five centers to keep an eye on:

Tyler Biadasz

If I had to guess, this is the most logical choice for the Lions when you consider what they’ve done in free agency in the past. Biadasz has been a starting center for six years for both the Cowboys and the Commanders. It’s actually surprising that Washington let him go. He’s still a strong run blocker and pass blocker. He’s also not going to cost a ton. The problem is he’s 28 and this isn’t going to be a long term thing.

Cade Mays

Mays is the young guy in the group at 26. He’s played really well for the Panthers in the last two years. He hasn’t allowed a sack since 2023. The pass blocking is strong, but the run blocking could be better. The problem is that while Mays was a starter this year, he wasn’t the Panthers’ original starter. He came in after Austin Corbett got hurt. Are the Lions getting a starting center, or are they getting a guy who overachieved? It’s a fair question.

Connor McGovern

McGovern’s last two seasons in Buffalo were very good. he didn’t allow a sack in either one of them. he can pass block and he can run block. He’s theoretically everything the Lions want in a center right now. The problem is will he even make it the market? Or will the Bills give him a nice pay day to stay in Buffalo?

Luke Fortner

Fortner is another guy who became a starter out of neccesity and he did it pretty well. A strong pass blocker and a decent run blocker for the Saints. He would be a guy that the Lions would be wise to have off the bench, Im just not sure he’s the guy who you put this big of thing in the hands of.

Austin Schlottmann

Schlottmann plays pretty well when he’s on the field. He can pass block well, he didn’t allow a sack this year. He can run block well too. The problem is that Schlottmann has never really been a full time starter in the six years he’s been in the NFL. He’s primarily been an off the bench guy. This is the last resort if you’re the Lions.

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