The draft, the draft, the draft. Listen, I like the NFL draft just as much as the next guy. In fact, last year, when the Lions traded up to 13 and took Jamo, I jumped and screamed so loud my roommate thought we were under attack. (Logan if you’re reading this, if Brad Holmes pulls off a miracle, landing Jalen Carter or Anthony Richardson this draft, expect to get an email from our apartment complex stating we’ve been flagged for a noise complaint. I’ll pay the fine and give our grumpy, no-fun, Karen-like neighbors a big middle-finger sandwich next time I see them).
As I was saying, I love the NFL draft. But are fans, writers, and the talking heads on TV forgetting free agency occurs before the draft? Free Agency is the time of year to make or break your team. Don’t believe me? Let me convince you.
The Eagles signed Haason Reddick (28 years old) to a three-year, $45 million contract last off-season. Reddick recorded 16 sacks, was named to the All-Pro Second team, forced more fumbles than anyone in the NFL, and led the Eagles defense to the Super Bowl this year.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed Chandler Jones (33 years old) to a three-year, $51 million contract last off-season. Jones recorded just 4.5 sacks this season while rotting his career away in Las Vegas (6-11).
One contract directly impacted a Super Bowl run. The other contract is a GMs worst nightmare.
Do you see my point? Cool, here’s another example of why free agency is awesome anyway.
Last Summer, the NFL community (both fans and media) laughed hysterically at the Christian Kirk signing. Four years for $72 million seemed unfathomable. TikTok comments were ruthless. The media criticized this deal so badly because they were used to criticizing the Jaguars, especially after the whole Urban Meyers experience. Say what you want about the trade. The Jags don’t win the AFC South and a playoff game without Kirk. And the Detroit Lions don’t have a top-5 offense without Jamaal Williams.
The Detroit Lions picked up Jamaal Williams in 2021 free agency, and a year later, he led the NFL in touchdowns. If the Lions want to seriously contend in the NFC this year, they’ll need to make at least one of those signings on defense. More importantly, they need to not sign a Chandler Jones contract.
Here are two guys that could transform the Lions into Super Bowl contenders; who will simultaneously not destroy our future.
Jonathan Jones, CB
Photo by Fred Kfoury III
I understand if you still have PTSD from the last few ex-Patriots the Detroit Lions have brought in, but let’s look past that for just a moment. Jones was damn near the best corner in the NFL for the first half of the 2022 season. Through Week 10, Jones’ 82.1 PFF grade ranked sixth amongst CBs. In the last seven weeks of the season, teams started lining their biggest WR up against Jones’ 5-foot 9-inch frame, which at times, was too much for Jones to handle.
Wait… isn’t that a giant red flag? Well, not really, considering 6’1″, Jeff Okudah is still on the roster. I’ll be the first to tell you, Okudah is far from perfect. But if there is one thing he does exceptionally well, it’s playing man coverage down the sidelines against big receivers, the perfect compliment for Jonathan Jones.
The seven-year veteran is 29 years old, but realistically, the only thing this means is whoever signs him in free agency will not have a long-term commitment with the former Auburn Tiger. Spotrac.com estimates Jones’s market value with a two-year $24.9 million contract. If the Lions are seriously looking to compete in the NFC the next few seasons, they have to spend money on defense. Why wait?
Jones is coming off a career season, notching four INTs, including a house call, to go along with three forced fumbles and a catch rate of just 51.8 percent. He’ll be one of the top names in free agency.
Bobby Wagner, ILB
Bobby Swags seems to be a pretty controversial player of late. So what better way to settle it than a good ol’ fashion pros and cons list?
- Bobby Wagner is a 32 years old free agent: Con
- Bobby Wagner is coming off his ninth All-Pro season: Pro
- Signing Bobby Wagner means Anzalone will find a new team through free agency: Pro
- Bobby Wagner would instantly be a captain: Pro
- He would drastically improve our run defense: Pro
- He’s a liability in covering routes over the middle, which the Lions already suck at: Con
- More expensive than Anzalone: Con
- Better than Anzalone: Pro
- His nickname is Bobby Swags: Pro
- Locker room guy with playoff experience: Pro
Seven pros, three cons. What other stats do you need to sign Bobby Wagner in free agency, Brad Holmes?
If Detroit does decide to bring in Wagner, the team would still need to draft a faster coverage linebacker in April. Wagner and Rodriguez are more than capable of stopping the run. Our 20th-ranked run defense is sure to improve. However, that still doesn’t fix our lack of over-the-middle coverage. Our personnel just can’t do it, which prevents us from playing any zone. At some point in the draft, Detroit needs to bring in someone to be a part of the rotation and primary play passing downs alongside Bobby Swags.
Other Notable Free Agents
- Zach Cunningham LB
- Deion Jones LB
- Marcus Peters CB
- Fletcher Cox, DT
- Javon Hargrave, DT
- Lavonte David, LB
- Nelson Agholor, WR
