I really want to pick the brains of you guys as to who the Lions will add to the squad in FA. It starts March 10th. Link to spotrac for easy reference. There are a ton of quality players available this year. Especially on D. The cap is set to go up $21M as well. I think Brad needs to be active to bolster the D unit.
Let me know who you guys think the Lions will/should add…
I’m most interested in what happens with Levi and CD3
Zetiler should be back
Glasgow pay cut to be OL6
Barnes & Iffy cheap resigns
Zdarius option
Then it’s Davenport and AQM… I’m leaning/hoping we play the comp pick strategy and someone gives them qualifying contracts
I want a fresh start at edge
Go and get Maxx.
This was meant to be.
Paulson Adebo is my number 1 FA target if we lose Carlton. Press corner with plus length and athleticism who has been up and down but mostly up the last two years. Was PFF’s top ranked CB for an 8 game stretch in 2023. Comfortable playing the way we play. Coming off a broken femur so the price will be suppressed but there may be some extra risk as well.
ain’t taking those with prior injuries dog, 24 was a damn 100 car pile up of injuries–we don’t need any more.
I don’t feel that way and I don’t believe Brad does either.
I know it’s not a sexy name, but both Kacy Rodgers and Brad Holmes have a history with DT Greg Gaines.
He is really solid depth option, who would probably only get a 2 year 6-8mil deal.
I’d be cool with that. We need to be strategic about how to address the Alim return. Neither under-prepare nor over spend resources on a temporary void.
Are you suggesting letting Levi walk and replacing him with Gaines?
Love this post, and agree!!!
I don’t think Alim is the top 5-7 DE expand him to be, and thus it would be tough for him to live up to his AAV… like Goff in the eyes of many. Finding a better one for here at his price would have been impossible though… like Goff.
I have no confidence yet Wingo is anything beyond a DT 4/5 and that alone would be great at his cost basis. I have no confidence in Reader being here in 26’ or beyond, and I’m not even sure I expect 15 really good games next year from the big guy.
I think we get 8-11 games max from Alim so right now we aren’t starting next year with DT1 or DT3… and we don’t have a DT2 or DT3 in 2026 and beyond.
I’d do 2 yrs 16M for Levi and a pick in round 1 or 2….
If we love an edge in round 1… love-then I’d go that route. If not I’d take our pick of remaining DT flavors in a deep class
Princely
JT
L Jackson
Sawyer
Kennard
Tyleik Williams
K Grant
D Harmon
TJ Sanders
JJ Pegues
I’d like one from each group with Z and Levi back.
Then this D could be fun.
Reload secondary with Adebo and Hilton, let CD3 walk… let Iffy walk unless real cheap. Maybe land Honey Badger?
I think Levi will get more playing time and money with another team. I 100% would take Levi over Gaines.
Paulson is my #1 target as well. Younger than CD3 and perfect scheme fit. Plus he’s smart…dude went to Stanford.
And I think keeping DJ Reader in the Michael Brockers diminishing elder statesman role will happen because of Alim’s partial season absence. Without Alim’s injury, Reader might be a cap casualty. Perhaps Reader will bounce back with a full offseason to train.
I’d like to get comp picks back for the qualified players we lose. I’d like to bring back Barnes and Zeitler. There will be cap casualties we can sign or wait until after the draft to sign any of the UFAs so they don’t effect the comp picks. I’d like to get Davis back but I think he will be expensive.
IF:
I was being responsible in FA and not spending much in order to allow us to keep all the essential young stars
AND
I wasn’t pulling any trade down bullshit (which I would love of course)
then I think my logical, realistic path forward would be:
Renegotiate with Graham like we did with Romeo, Harris and others.
Sign Khalil Mack as your main move: 1/13m
Resign Zeitler same deal as '24
Resign Patrick 2/9m
Sign Adebo: 1/6m with incentives
Resign Davenport vet min+ with big incentives
Resign Dorsey for coverage units
Sign Ashtyn Davis (non qualifying) at his 2024 level (1/2.74m)
Sign some non-qualifying place holder depth DT
Qualifying free agents lost:
CD4th
Barnes 5th (AG outspends us)
Levi 5th
Iffy 6th
Muhammad 7th
Draft-
1:) Revel or Az Thomas - if we’re going to be legendary with this type of defense we need ass kickers on the outside.
2:) Horton-some are probably pulling out their hair now. You went perimeter, perimeter? Yup. Sue me.
3:) Elijah Robert’s - I think this will be close as to whether he is available. He’s going to be slow. But he’s supposed to be slow. Total ass kicker. He’ll lose quite a bit of chase scenarios. May not be a big finisher on the next level. But he’ll be a disruptor.
4:) Hollin Pierce - really liked this guy forever. Arrived as an obese teen. It’s an awesome story. And he’s turned himself into a pretty skilled pass protector. A little clumsy and not the run game dominator you might expect at that size but still nice player. This is probably stupid low for him but it’s my party and I’ll …
6:) RB - I really think this is the draft to upgrade from Netflix. And this is the draft to do it. Down here it might be Marcus Yarns or Tahj Brooks or Phil Mafa or Brashad Smith or whoever.
7:) a phone booth OG. Maybe a RT convert. According to QBHater they prefer QB on the Left. Am I remembering that right, @qbhater?
Jalen Rivers is probably gone. Maybe you take a shot at Anthony Belton making his body less sloppy. Garrett Dellinger. Not really sure who makes it this far.
7:) Brant Kuithe - TE/H-Back/FB - he’s such a good football player but is ALWAYS hurt. Why not. He can be a weapon for however long his body holds up.
So we’d have:
Goff, Hooker
Gibbs, Monty, Vaki, Rookie
St., Jamo, Tim, Horton, Leaf
LaPorta, Brock, Kuithe, ?
Penei, Decker, Manu, Pierce, Zeitler, Mahogany, GG, Rookie OG …
Hutch, Mack, Reader, Alim, Martin, Paschal, Davenport, Roberts, Wingo, ?
AA, Jack, Rodrigo, JRM, Nowaske (?)
TA, Amik, AZ Thomas or Revel, Adebo, Dorsey, ?, kerby, BB, Davis, ?
Extra 3,4, two 5ths in 2026. Get that comp pick train rolling down the tracks.
And with that Magnum Opus, you can take the rest of the FA and draft season off.
We have plenty of time to discuss the draft so I’ll focus on your Free agency agenda
Gotta keep CD3 in my opinion
Barnes getting a 5th would be big
Levi for a 5th sounds right
Iffy won’t get a contract like that. I expect him back for minimum deal.
Muhammad 7th
Davenport 7th
I’d rather let them walk and let Brad take a stab at other free agent try to find another Amik Robinson.
Let Davenport & Muhammad cancel out whoever we sign Low key
2026 we would have extra 3,5,5 would be tits
If we sign Khalil Mack Daddy we would lose one of those 5th rounders.
Renegotiate Glasgow
Keep Zeitler & Patrick
By having 3 extra picks in 2026…
We could trade a lot of beans for Max Crosby and still have a lot of picks next year still
Would you be concerned with my CB group. I thought it was pretty loaded tbh.
Basically you’re suggesting letting CD3 walk and signing Adebo to replace him?
I wouldn’t be concerned with that no.
I just think Carleton Davis was a #1 CB on our defense and we should run it back with him.
I’d be all over Adebo for a 6 mil per year …he’s gonna get paid tho.
No. Adebo + a badass first round press man CB.
So three big, long pain in the ass dudes plus Amik and Ennis. Good group.