Play along, it very well could happen.
Let’s say Iffy, Barnes AND Levi all have great seasons. Great meaning all 3 are in probowl consideration, Levi being the biggest surprise of all. To top it all off, Alim does make the PB and is the free agent darling after our Superbowl game.
All 4 players are going to be highly sought after FA’s.
Obviously, we are not able to sign all 4, do we let Alim walk and throw our resources at Iffy, Barnes and Levi, or do we let the 3 walk and throw our resources at Alim?
First things first, the scenario needs to play out, (all have great years) I can see it happening barring the injury bug, and if it does play out, well Brad, I hope you have some magic tricks up your sleeve.
Your thoughts? Keep 3 studs and let the PB tackle go, or let the 3 walk?
I think Alim will be allowed to walk, we will have other FA fill in needs after the year and need to be prepared for Jamo & Hutch re-ups right around the corner.
I don’t think Iffy will have that kind of opportunity. Barnes likely won’t as well. Levi is the wildcard as absurd as that would have sounded five months ago.
Yup
IMO - Reader will be the biggest x-factor. Hutch will go OFF, if Reader is even a fraction of what he’s supposed to be.
Bro-Mart will be something between a great insurance policy and awesome. He could replace Reader in a couple of years, or possibly Alim, if we were to lose him in a year or 2.
I’m not letting Alim leave. Stud DTs to me are more important than LBers or safeties. If Alim is top 10 against run and pass you have to keep him. He’s a core guy.
I think Alim and Barnes have to be priorities, at this point.
Iffy has been injured only slightly less than Levi. I appreciate both, but, I can’t trust their health.
Just being honest.
Alim and Barnes are starters at their positions which makes them more valuable. From practice reports Iffy is reverting back to normal, make a good play and miss an easy one. As far as Levi goes he might be having a break out year.
I believe the Lions can keep all 4 if they choose, but i don’t like Iffy’s chances.
This scenario has so many variables it is impossible to project at this point.
How does Alim, Reader, Campbell and Anazalone play? Does Iffy play Safety or Nickel?
Does Barnes play Sam or MLB?
My question would be, if we could only keep 2 of Alim, Hutchinson, and Jamison, which 2 would you keep?
I want to see him as a pressure package chess piece. Then when he was most electric last year IMO. And perhaps at times a downhill thumper. Still don’t love him going backwards and deciphering route combinations but downhill he’s a force when healthy.
Hutchinson is a for sure keep. Jamo has a 5th year option that might come in handy depending on how he plays. I think the lions really want to keep Alim as well.
The what if scenario here is the Lions are in the Super Bowl if all four of those guys have Pro Bowl caliber seasons.
You pay Alim and maybe see if any of the other three take a Super Bowl discount to stay. Otherwise, you collect comp picks for them.
Expected progress of Bromart will impact this too
You keep the two starters. Alim is a go. And no matter what Cap says, the Lions LOVE Barnes.
Levi might come in cheaper than expected because, well, doesn’t really matter what he does this year. It matters what he HASN’T done for the last three, which is play and stay healthy.
Iffy is a non-factor unless he balls out like Walker did in his contract year. He’s another guy with troubles staying healthy and a six-week sample size for his entire career is not getting him re-upped.
True, but I thought Jonah Jackson’s injury history would hurt him in free agency. It didn’t.
Although Levi’s is worse.
I love me some Broadway, but I doubt it. A second year player (really playing his first) playing really well will have zero affect on what they do with Alim. They can’t let Alim walk and continue to give him time to develop. I think he’d have to completely outshine Alim which won’t happen because A. He’s not Alim yet, and B. He won’t get the opportunity to do it barring an injury.
The fact that Brad has stated that free agents are having their agents call gives Brad a lever to negotiate fair deals. Plus if other team’s player want to be here, our players most likely do too, and might not make unrealistic demands. That doesnt mean we can keep everybody, but it’s a good situation to be in.
It’s tough to say without seeing Jamo/McNeil play this year. I do think that all three will be Lions long term.
I think guys like Kerby, Iffy, Barnes, Levi, Paschal, Montgomery, etc. are the guys they will let walk.
Hutch
Alim
Branch
Campbell
Gibbs
LaPorta
Jamo
Those guys are foundational pieces they won’t let out of the building.
I hope not his jersey is on the way 
If Kerby has a nice season, they won’t let him walk. Free-agent safety values are in the tank anyway, so he might as well re-sign.
They’d at least tag him as an RFA.