Let’s be honest. The first few days of NFL free agency has led to a ton of negativity from Detroit Lions fans. I’m not here to deny those feelings. It was certainly hard to watch the first few days of free agency go by, with the Lions mostly standing pat while we had to watch some of the most beloved players from this franchise—Alex Anzalone, Taylor Decker, Amik Robertson, David Montgomery—leave and likely never come back. For a team that finished the season a disappointing 9-8, it was hard to see a path where this team was going to perform any better after the first three or four days of free agency.
But Detroit has started to get more active, and you get the feeling they may just be getting started, too. With significant needs at EDGE, linebacker, safety, and even defensive tackle—and a ton of roster spots to fill—Detroit figures to be active in the second, third, and fourth waves of free agency.
For now, let’s focus on the moves they’ve made. As of publishing on Saturday morning, the Lions have added seven new players
- QB Teddy Bridgewater
- RB Isiah Pacheco
- TE Tyler Conklin
- C Cade Mays
- OT Larry Borom
- NB Roger McCreary
- DB Christian Izien
So let’s move past some of the negativity. today’s Question of the Day is:
What has been the Lions’ best free agency move so far?
My answer: I actually like a lot of these moves, to be honest. While we haven’t seen the full contract terms of any of those signings yet—making it hard to make a complete evaluation of these additions—we can still make a judgment on the player and fit. And I truly do like the fit of all these players.
But what I like the most so far are the additions in the secondary.
Admittedly, I was starting to get worried about their plan in the secondary. It was starting to look like the Lions were just going to rely on a completely unproven Ennis Rakestraw to man the nickel spot, and just cross their fingers that their beat-up safety room was going to persevere through the injuries.
However, Izien gives the Lions the flexibility to play both nickel and safety—making him an easy Brian Branch replacement early while the All-Pro recovers from his torn Achilles. McCreary brings a ton of experience to the nickel position, giving Rakestraw a strong challenger and setting up a great training camp battle. Combine those two moves with the re-signing of Rock Ya-Sin, and there’s a least a formidable depth chart emerging in the secondary. If the Lions can still manage to bring back Avonte Maddox and add more outside cornerback depth, I think they could go into the season somewhat comfortable there.
Best of all—and this certainly seems like a theme this offseason—that secondary is filled with youth and hunger. Izien, 25, has something to prove after losing his job to a rookie last year. McCreary, 26, was traded last year, then wasn’t re-signed by the team that for traded him. If that doesn’t provide a chip on his shoulder, I don’t know what will.
When Dan Campbell talked about getting back to where this franchise was a few years ago, I believe he was talking about filling the roster with youthful, petty energy—and I think both Izien and McCreary fit that bill.
What has been your favorite move from Lions free agency thus far? Scroll down to the comment section and share your answer.
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