The Lions have already made enough splashes in free agency to get you excited about next season. Trading for cornerback Carlton Davis and a pair of 6th-round picks was impressive work by Brad Holmes and the Lions. Additionally, the Lions did a great job with a pair of moves to add potential starters to their defense by signing cornerback Amik Robertson and defensive end Marcus Davenport.
To top off the free agency frenzy for the Lions up to this point is their addition of defensive tackle DJ Reader. He’s expected to contribute right away, and he should have a significant role next to Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson.
It opens up the question of what the Lions might do with the 29th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Do they trade up for a receiver or pass rusher? Do they trade back for a team searching for a quarterback? Do they stand pat and take an offensive lineman? Personally, I think they go with an offensive lineman, and I’ve thought that since the second day of practice at the Senior Bowl. We’ll save that conversation for a later date.
What else could the Lions do in free agency? They could use a player or two at any of the positions I just listed for their potential draft plans in the first round. Certainly, they could be done with free agency, but if they’re not, I could see them considering one of these four players.
OL Dalton RIsner
Jan 1, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos guard Dalton Risner (66) on field against the Kansas City Chiefs during a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Lions are going to need interior offensive line help. They could look to the draft but adding a veteran could make a lot of sense for them. One player that could step in and help immediately is Dalton Risner.
He’s 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds but with 34″ arms, he had guard/tackle flexibility coming out of Kansas State. Since being selected in the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he’s started 73 games with the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings.
Risner has hit free agency for the last two off-seasons and he’s never really had a market but he started 11 games for the Vikings last season. While he only earned a 57.1 overall grade from PFF in 2023 but he only committed 3 penalties and he played over 740 snaps. He signed a one-year deal for $3 million dollars last September so he could be a cheaper but viable option for the Lions at left guard.
OL Andrus Peat
November 27, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Andrus Peat (75) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve seen the Lions take a swing on players who were with the Saints when Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn were there. Offensive lineman Andrus Peat is one of those players.
At 30 years old, his play is somewhat on the decline, but the 3-time Pro Bowler (2018-2020) should have enough in the tank for a season or two in Detroit. Last year, he moved to guard for the Saints and played 809 snaps (per PFF). He did allow two sacks and six penalties but keep in mind, he’s shuffled from left guard to left tackle because players such as James Hurst and Trevor Penning haven’t been all that great in New Orleans.
It’ll be interesting to see what type of market Peat has in free agency. Maybe he reunites with Sean Payton in Denver, or maybe it’s here in Detroit. Time will tell, but I could see him getting a one-year deal to prove himself to another organization.
WR K.J. Osborn
Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
It’ll be interesting to see if the Lions bring back wide receiver Josh Reynolds or not. Even if they do, I’d have to think it would be a cheap deal for one or two years. With that, they should still be in the market for another receiver.
One receiver who could have an interest in Detroit is K.J. Osborn. He’s a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan and a return home could certainly be on the table. Over the last three seasons, he’s compiled 158 receptions for 1,845 yards and 15 touchdowns. Oh and he’s sure-handed too. He’s only got 9 career drops (3.6% drop rate).
With his market value projected to be $7.5 million (per Spotrac), he’d be a cheaper and safer option than a player such as Mike Williams. You could make a case that he’d be a great compliment to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta.
S Jordan Fuller
East Rutherford, NJ – December 31, 2023 — Former Old Tappan player Jordan Fuller of the Rams on the field during pre game warm ups. The New York Giants host the Los Angeles Rams on December 31, 2023 at at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Going back to the Lions finding a familiar face, they could look at Rams safety Jordan Fuller. Hitting the market for the first time in his career, the former 6th-round pick could be looking to cash in on a big contract. However, it’s hard to say what type of market will be there for him.
Last season, he had 94 tackles with three interceptions, 8 pass deflections and three forced fumbles. It was a great bounce-back season for him after a hamstring injury in 2022 limited him to only three games.
The Lions have shown in the past that they want to create competition at every position. Additionally, they surprised everyone last year when they added safety help with Gardner-Johnson on a one-year deal. The same thing could happen here with Jordan Fuller.