This is the second in a two-part series assessing the Detroit Lions’ position-by-position situation heading into free agency. After looking at the offense, today we’ll take a look at the defense. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on March 13. The signing period opens March 15 at 4 p.m.
Edge defender
▶ Under contract: Aidan Hutchinson, Romeo Okwara, Charles Harris, Josh Paschal, James Houston, Julian Okwara
▶ Lions free agents: John Cominsky, Austin Bryant
▶ Best available: Marcus Davenport, Jadeveon Clowney, Arden Key, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Charles Omenihu
Despite veterans (and 2020 and 2021 team sack leaders) Harris and Romeo Okwara missing most of the season with injuries, the Lions made notable strides along the defensive front last season. Led by rookies Hutchinson and Houston, the team experienced a 30% increase in sacks and leaped from 29th to ninth in pressure rate from the previous year.
Of course, there’s still room for improvement. Even with the production increase, Detroit ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks, while only the Chargers allowed more yards per carry. Much of those struggles can be directed at the interior, but the edge defenders played a role in the shortcomings, as well.
Admittedly, the entire unit is still young and improving. But losing Cominsky would be a blow. Only Hutchinson generated more pressure than the versatile lineman who was claimed off waivers from Atlanta last offseason. More impressively, Cominsky played at that high level despite having a club on his hand most of the season after breaking his thumb in Week 2.
The fate of Harris and Romeo Okwara is still to be determined. Both have shown the ability to be highly productive when healthy, but each offer the Lions an opportunity to free up significant cap space to address other areas of the roster, or to simply to reinvest in the line via a new deal for Cominsky.
Adding an outside veteran to this group seems unlikely, particularly with the depth of the draft lining up for the Lions to potentially add an edge with one of their two first-round selections.
Defensive tackle
▶ Under contract: Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Benito Jones, Demetrius Taylor
▶ Lions free agents: Isaiah Buggs
▶ Best available: Javon Hargrave, Dalvin Tomlinson, David Onyemata, Zach Allen
Detroit got improved play from the interior last season, with McNeill nearly tripling his pressure total and Buggs chipping in another 20 hits and hurries, but there’s arguably not a defensive position in greater need of an impact player.
One possibility, Washington’s Daron Payne, received the franchise tag prior to hitting the market. Meanwhile, Hargrave, who turned 30 last month, carries less appeal because of his age, but there’s no denying his ability to disrupt. He’s tallied more than 60 pressures each of the past two seasons, including a combined 18.5 sacks.
Of course, that kind of resume carries a hefty price tag. Estimates for Hargrave’s next contract range between $17-20 million per season. That type of offer would seem to run counter to the way general manager Brad Holmes has preferred to construct the roster.
Someone like Onyemata likely would cost half as much. The longtime Saints defender, who overlapped with Lions coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in New Orleans, has averaged 37 pressures and more than four sacks the past five seasons.
Beyond any potential outside pursuits, Buggs seems likely to be back. He proved to be a workhorse after signing days before training camp, and both sides seemed happy with the results of the late pairing.
Linebacker
▶ Under contract: Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes
▶ Lions free agents: Alex Anzalone, Chris Board, Josh Woods, Anthony Pittman (ERFA)
▶ Best available: Lavonte David, T.J. Edwards, David Long, Tremaine Edmunds, Bobby Okereke
Detroit faces two big questions with their own free agents. First, do they want to extend the partnership with Anzalone? The middle linebacker, who has quarterbacked the defense the past two seasons, is coming off a career year as a 17-game starter, racking up 125 tackles and showing adequate ability in coverage and as a situational pass rusher. He’s shown he’s worthy of a multi-year deal, whether here or elsewhere, as well as a raise from $2.25 million he earned last season.
Second, how much is the team willing to invest in its core special teams group, led by Woods and Board? It might come down to picking one or the other, and given Woods doesn’t command a defensive role in addition to his special teams contributions, that could be a deciding factor.
But back to Anzalone, there’s the potential for the Lions to upgrade. There’s some excellent talent set to hit the market, including Davis, Edwards and Edmonds. Bobby Wagner is also available after the Rams recently let the nine-time All-Pro go after one season in L.A.. Each of those players likely will command at least $10 million per year. It’s certainly an interesting debate, but we’d bet on the Lions sticking with the popular locker room leader who has been a key piece implementing the culture.
Cornerback
▶ Under contract: Jeff Okudah, Jerry Jacobs, Chase Lucas, Mac McCain III, Khalil Dorsey, Jarren Williams
▶ Lions free agents: Will Harris, Mike Hughes, Amani Oruwariye, Bobby Price (RFA)
▶ Best available: James Bradberry, Jamel Dean, Cameron Sutton, Patrick Peterson, Jonathan Jones
The Lions already added some depth to the room with the recent signing of McCain, but there’s still plenty of work to do at a position that’s seemingly in flux.
Detroit is set to return its two starters on the outside from last season, but Okudah doesn’t have the firm grasp on that role he once did, ending the year in a timeshare with Hughes. Additionally, Okudah is entering the final year of his contract, assuming the team doesn’t exercise the costly fifth-year option.
In terms of their own free agents, it’s easy to see the Lions bringing back Hughes or Harris, if the price is right. Hughes is a solid depth piece on the outside and can contribute on special teams, while Harris is a Swiss army knife, who made steady progress after moving into the nickel role in the second half of last season.
Like edge rusher, the Lions appear to be in better position to address cornerback through the draft, giving new position coach Dre Bly a piece to mentor and mold. If the Lions are going to bring in a veteran to round out the room, it’s far more likely to be someone like Hughes last year than a top-of-the-market option like Dean or Bradberry, who figure to net offers that will pay them upwards of $14 million per season. Former Central Michigan standout Sean Murphy-Bunting, with his ability to play outside or in the slot, would make some sense.
Safety
▶ Under contract: Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brady Breeze
▶ Lions free agents: DeShon Elliott, C.J. Moore
▶ Best available: Jessie Bates III, Jordan Poyer, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Von Bell, Taylor Rapp
After a brief benching, Elliott was a rock-solid piece for the Lions, but don’t expect him back. He wants to start and that wouldn’t be the projected path if Walker’s recovery from last year’s Achilles injury continues to go smoothly. The veteran leader is set to be paired up with Joseph, who proved to be every bit the playmaker he was at Illinois during his rookie season.
The Lions are far more likely to retain Moore, who can step in in a pinch when there’s an injury situation, all while providing high-level contributions on special teams.
Depending on how willing the Lions are trust Melifonwu after two seasons of durability issues, there could be room for some veteran depth. Maybe, at 35 years old, Kareem Jackson can still find a team that wants him to start. But if not, his ability to line up all over the secondary is the type of skill set that would carry appeal.
It is worth noting that two of the top safeties on the market, Gardner-Johnson and John Johnson, have connections to Detroit’s leadership. Holmes was heading up the college scouting department in Los Angeles when the Rams drafted Johnson out of Boston College in 2017, while Glenn served as Gardner-Johnson’s position coach for three years in New Orleans.
It’s tough to see how either fits with Detroit’s current roster construction, unless the team has a vision for a three-safety setup. Glenn did recently note Gardner-Johnson’s ability to defend the slot.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers