The Detroit Lions came into the 2020 NFL Draft without a starting offensive guard or cornerback across from newcomer Desmond Trufant and question marks up and down the roster. But the team used their nine draft picks (and small undrafted free agent class) to plug many of those holes.
As a result, the Lions leave draft weekend with a pretty full roster without any glaring needs. But if the Lions were to spend some of their over $20 million in cap space (after the draft class is figured in) on some of the remaining free agents roaming the streets, here are a list of available free agents and three positions the Lions may target.
Updated free agency cheatsheet (including more potential trade/cut candidates): pic.twitter.com/xuKenIRcr1
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) April 20, 2020
Interior pass rusher
By selecting a running back in the second round, and taking offensive linemen in rounds three and four, the Lions passed on tacking a defensive tackle until selecting Utah’s John Penisini in round six. And while Penisini is going to be an anchor at nose tackle and stout against the run, you aren’t counting on him to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. The Lions seventh-round pick, Jashon Cornell has the upside to contribute but is still very raw.
That means that the Lions most important remaining need is undoubtedly an interior defensive lineman who knows how to get pressure from the interior. Luckily the Lions defense doesn’t ask their defensive tackles to rush the QB that often, but the team needs someone with that club in his bag.
Free agency is a bit picked over, but one of the top remaining options is a familiar name: Mike Daniels.
When the Lions signed Daniels late during the 2019 off-season, he seemed like just what the doctor ordered: an interior disruptor who could sack the quarterback. Unfortunately, the Lions $9 million investment was a bust. Daniels struggled through injuries, played just nine games, and notched a single, lonely sack.
But on an incentive-laden contract that would be low-risk for team while rewarding Daniels’ for a bounce-back year, a reunion would make a lot of sense. And earlier in the off-season, Daniels said he was open to such a return.
Mike Daniels 'definitely, definitely wants to be back' with the Lions in 2020 https://t.co/LdGFB1gluj
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) January 2, 2020
The Lions should see if Daniels is still interested in coming back to town.
Third tight end
The Lions lost last season’s third tight end, Logan Thomas, in free agency, and the team wisely passed over a weak tight end class in the 2020 Draft and decided not to find his replacement there.
That makes Isaac Nauta, last season’s seventh-round draft pick, the leader in the clubhouse to take Thomas’ place. And while the team has agreed to terms with tight end Hunter Bryant, one of the top undrafted free agents in the 2020 class, the Lions could stand to add another veteran at the position.
Charles Clay, Delanie Walker, and Ed Dickson (who seems to slay the Lions every year in different uniforms) are all still available on the open market.
Reserve offensive tackle
The Lions came into the NFL Draft with an immediate need at offensive guard, but after drafting Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg, suddenly the interior offensive line room is quite full. Jackson and Stenberg join returning starters Frank Ragnow and Joe Dahl and reserves Kenny Wiggins, Oday Aboushi, Beau Benzschawel, Jousha Garnett, Caleb Benenoch, Russell Bodine, and Casey Tucker.
The tackle room looks much thinner (in depth if not in actual weight, though, probably in weight too now that I think about it). The team has just starters Taylor Decker and Halapoulivaati Vaitai, with backups Tyrell Crosby, Matt Nelson, and Dan Skipper under contract.
The Lions will almost certainly keep four offensive tackles on the final roster. And while Skipper has hung around for the better part of two years, and Nelson remains a worthwhile project to keep developing, bringing in another veteran who could step up in case of an injury would be the smart move.
Veteran Cordy Glenn was cut loose by the Cincinnati Bengals last month, and while Glenn is not the player he used to be, and has battled injuries over the past several years, as a veteran backup, the Lions could do worse.