The Detroit Lions’ regular season is over and it’s on to the playoffs. While we had this bye week ahead of us, I started thinking about the past a little bit. In particular, I started wondering how things turned out for a lot of free agents that Lions fans really wanted, but that Detroit didn’t sign.
So went to social media and asked Lions fans to tell me which guys they really wanted in Detroit this season back in March. Here’s who they came up with and here’s how their 2024 season went:
L’Jarius Sneed
This was a popular one for sure. While not a free agent, the Lions were linked to a trade for the All-Pro corner for a couple of months. It made a lot of sense that the Lions would got this route since they needed the cornerback help. Ultimately it was the Titans that made the deal.
Sneed had a really bad season. The worst of his career actually. He struggled play-wise, but he also suffered a quad injury in Week 6 and never played another game in 2024.
Andrew Van Ginkel
I don’t personally remember a lot of Lions fans wanting Van Ginkel in March, but several fans responded with his name when I asked. We know how good of a season he had in Minnesota. A career year that got him a Pro Bowl spot. This would have been quite the move for the Lions.
Danielle Hunter
I definitely remember Lions fans wanting this guy. He was at the top of the list for a lot of people. I thought he’d be a great addition, but also knew he would come at a crazy price. The Texans paid that crazy price. It worked out for them. Hunter had a 12-sack season and has not missed a beat on his new team.
Arik Armstead
For a minute in March, it looked like this one was about to happen. There was serious interest from the Lions, but they went with DJ Reader instead. It was a good move since Reader has been good for the Lions.
Armstead went to the Jaguars and had an ok season. He’d been so good in San Francisco, but he did not look as good in Jacksonville this past year. 36 pressures and two sacks.
Denico Autry
This move made way too much sense and it’s still weird it didn’t happen. Autry was coming off the best year of his career with new Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams helping him. The Lions needed edge help, it all made sense.
Autry wound up in Houston and dealt with injuries all season. It wasn’t the best first year with the Texans.
Mike Danna
Another guy that just wasn’t on my radar, but was on Lions fan’s radar. Danna had a decent season with the Chiefs this year, but it definitely a step back from the 2023 season he had. Essentially all his stats were cut in half.
Jonathan Greenard
Another hot name like Hunter and another guy that got paid a ton of cash. Greenard flourished with the Vikings this year. 80 pressures and 11 sacks. That production would have been sweet in Detroit.
Honorable mentions
There were other names that Lions fans brought up like Stephon Gilmore or Josh Reynolds. You can see who got mentioned a little and who got mentioned the most in the comments of this tweet.