We are just days away from the Detroit Lions reporting to training camp. Rookies will show up on Saturday and then the vets will join them next Tuesday. Then we’re on our way to preseason football before you know it.
Each team brings 90 players into training camp. Right now the Lions are sitting at 89 players after waiving kicker James Turner in June. The Lions will more than likely look to fill this spot either ahead of training camp or early on during training camp.
We have eight players that are currently on the open market that would be worth taking a look at in the final spot. Here they are:
WR Hakeem Butler
What happened? The NFL is being so weird about signing UFL players. Somehow all of the award winners that put up the best seasons are still unsigned. That includes Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler.
The Lions could use some receiver help still and Butler is a guy that should absolutely be in the NFL right now. He probably will be soon enough, Detroit would be a very good spot for him with his size and contested catch ability.
Edge Breeland Speaks
Another UFL guy. Speaks was the Defensive Player of the Year last year and he did all his work right here in town at Ford Field with the Michigan Panthers. If there’s any team that got the best look at him, it was the Lions.
There’s still an open spot on the edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Speaks, who has NFL experience, is someone that could come in and put up a strong challenge for that spot. Even if he didn’t get it, he’d still make the roster. The Titans and Panthers have recently shown interest.
S Tracy Walker
Walker is still out there and it seems crazy that no team has picked him up yet. Then again, with the way safeties have been undervalued this offseason, it shouldn’t be that big of a surprise.
We’re not saying that Walker could come back and make the 53-man roster without a fight, but he’s a guy that knows the playbook and knows what’s expected already. Why not give him another shot at a reduced rate?
OL Connor Williams
Williams is still getting over a season ending injury from last season, but once he’s healthy, he should be one of the more sought after free agents out there.
The Lions offensive line depth is strong when it comes to the tackles and guards, but here’s a guy that can fill in at center or guard when you need him to. The center part is the most important part considering Frank Ragnow had missed some games in the last couple seasons and the line has dropped off a bit in those games.
Edge Carl Lawson
Lawson was a super popular trade candidate for the Jets last season, but no teams came calling. He’s shown some promise, but he was buried on a very talented defense in New York.
No team has signed him yet and if one does, it’s going to be a prove it at camp type situation for him. The Lions could use some edge help like we mentioned, this could be a spot for Lawson to try and prove it.
WR Russell Gage
Speaking of proving it, Gage is a guy that could use a chance to prove that he’s over his injuries. He hasn’t played since the 2022 season after suffering a season ending knee injury in camp last year. But he was a very serviceable receiver before then.
The Saints recently had him in for workout during rookie minicamp, but chose not to sign him. It’s a long shot, but maybe the Lions should give him a shot next and see if there’s anything left there.
QB Ryan Tannehill
The Lions have an interesting situation at quarterback right now. They have Hendon Hooker, who has never taken a snap in the NFL and Nate Sudfeld who hasn’t played in a year and struggled when he did.
Tannehill represents the chance to have a sure thing at the number two spot while Hooker gets his game going. He wouldn’t be a long term answer or anything like that, just a one year deal that allows the Lions to have a backup that’s played in big games if they need him. Plus he’s already been with Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson in Miami.
WR Chris Rowland
One more UFL guy. With the NFL switching their kickoff format to the format that’s been used by the UFL, XFL and USFL in recent years, it just makes sense to try to grab a return man that’s been in that situation and done really well. Nobody did better than Rowland did last season. He led the league in return yards with 1,218.
The Lions have been trying to figure out their kick returner spot for a while now and here’s a guy that you can plug right into it. Plus you get some receiver depth out of it too.