This is the seventh in a series of eight sections that predict the Detroit Lions’ positional needs for free agency. The negotiation window will be officially opened on Monday and transactions can be signed from Wednesday. Today: defensive backs. Previously: Wide recipients | Rearrunners | Quarterbacks | Stiff points | Offensive line | Defensive line
Under contract: CB Jeff Okudah, CB Amani Oruwariye, CB Mike Ford, S Tracy Walker, S Will Harris, S CJ Moore, S Bobby Price, S Godwin Igwebuike (futures), S Jalen Elliott (futures)
Expiring contracts: CB Darryl Roberts, CB Tony McRae, S Duron Harmon, S Miles Killebrew
Best available: CB Patrick Peterson (Cardinals), CB Shaquill Griffen (Seahawks), CB Richard Sherman (Cardinals), CB Chidobe Awuzie (Cowboys), CB Desmond King (Titans), S Anthony Harris (Vikings), S John Johnson III (Rams)
Other names to look at: CB Michael Davis (Chargers), CB Lamarcus Joyner (Raiders), CB Mackensie Alexander (Bengals), CB Quinton Dunbar (Seahawks), CB PJ Williams (Saints), CB Troy Hill (Rams), S Rayshawn Jenkins (Rams), S DJ Swearinger (Saints), S Karl Joseph (Browns), S Malik Hooker (Colts)
Break down: The Lions have made significant investments on cornerbacks over the past four years, including the first, second and second fifth rounds on the position. They also spent a lot of money on guys like Darius Slay, Desmond Trufant and Justin Coleman. These are four draft picks (one of which was in the top five) and three major contracts in just four years, a significant investment that somehow yielded one of the worst defenses in the entire league last season. They allowed the most yards per passing and the third most passing yards per game, while picking the second least passing on their way to becoming one of the worst defenses in NFL history.
Quinntricia’s mismanagement of the secondary has been staggering, and it’s already being taken apart. Kill, away. Trufant, away. Coleman, away. Teez Tabor, a second round, away. Jamal Agnew, a fifth-round pick, has changed positions and is now a free agent. The only corners under contract are Jeff Okudah, a top-five pick who was one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL last year; Amani Oruwariye, a solid choice in the late rounds that continues to improve; and Mike Ford, a special staple who just revived. That’s it. And with $ 12.1 million in dead money packed into Coleman and Trufant this season, it’s not like they can do much in free agencies either.
The Lions’ plan for free agencies is starting to emerge after guys like receiver Tyrell Jackson and Josh Hill, the smart team, signed. They want free agents who have connected with these staff in the past and can help root the new culture – all without making a long-term financial commitment. This is where this team is in the early days of a total rebuild, and they will not be competitive for top racks like Patrick Peterson, Shaquill Griffen and Richard Sherman.
But Detroit still needs at least one corner he can trust at a price he can afford. Imagine a man like Troy Hill, who started all 16 games in the regular season last year, defending 10 passes, intercepting three more and returning two of them. And he did it all while playing for the Rams, where Brad Holmes, general manager of the Lions, worked as director of the university’s reconnaissance.
If the Lions open the spending, someone like Michael Davis might be interested. Davis is tall (6 feet-2), can run and is only 26 years old. He has also broken 23 passes in the past two seasons and intercepted five passes. And he did it all while playing for the Chargers under the current attacking coordinator of the Lions, Anthony Lynn. Davis ticks all the boxes, except for the price point, which could be north of $ 9 million annually.
Another corner to look at: PJ Williams, a sixth-year player who has spent his entire career under former Saints defense coach Aaron Glenn, who has just been appointed Detroit’s defense coordinator. Williams is the kind of versatile player team that keeps on the bench in the defensive backfield. “PJ, just the ultimate Swiss Army knife for us,” Glenn once said. “He is a man who I think is sometimes taken for granted, but I’m glad we got him back.”
The Lions also have a bit of work to do safely. Duron Harmon arrived in a trade last year and led the team into the position but was not very effective. Now his contract will expire. Jayron Kearse is also already out, while Will Harris remains under contract, but has never done anything to show why he was worth a third round in 2019. serious question marks or already out.
Tracy Walker, the other safety in the mix, is coming off the worst season of his career. But he was open about the challenges he faced last year, from shooting down his cousin to the birth of his first child and then the Lions dampened him for Will Harris in training camp. Walker has promised that he will produce a better player in 2021, and he certainly has the size and speed to do so. He was also a good player in 2019, and a return to form would serve the Lions well.
But there is still a lot of work to be done while the Lions figure out how to replace all the snaps. John Johnson III, set up by Holmes four years ago, is one of the best security services in the league. He had 105 tackles for the Rams last season, defending eight passes and scoring 71.9 for the passenger. That’s pretty good. In fact, according to PFF, he was the third best safety in the entire league. But the Rams are financially difficult, and Johnson is expected to test the market. However, it’s going to cost a lot of money to hook him up, and Detroit may not have that kind of cheddar.
A cheaper alternative could be Rayshawn Jenkins, who has missed just once for the Chargers the last two seasons, where he played for Anthony Lynn. He played both the strong and free safety positions, as well as in the lock. “By releasing him, he made it difficult for our second-round concept to get on the football field,” Anthony Lynn said. ‘Rayshawn just got better and better. I mean, he ended up, in my opinion, last year as one of the top five free safties in the game. And he’s just going to take it to another level. ‘