Free agency begins on March 17th, the first time the new Detroit Lions management regime, headed by GM Brad Holmes, will have a chance to add significant pieces to the roster (outside of the Goff-Stafford trade, which also becomes official that day). We don’t yet know how Holmes, assistant GM Ray Agnew and senior executive John Dorsey will handle free agency acquisitions, but one way they can help the team is to find value without overpaying.
The theme here is to find lower-budget free agents who have a chance to contribute right away, but also with an eye toward perhaps being part of the longer-term success of the Lions.
None of the 12 players listed here should command more than $5 million per year on average. If that threshold isn’t met, the Lions probably need to pass on the players here. Also, none will be more than 31 years old at the start of the 2021 regular season.