With free agency opening today, the Lions could use an upgrade at safety. Who should they consider?
The NFL's free agency period begins Monday, and you can follow everything as it happens in real time with Pride of Detroit's offseason tracker. Teams are able to legally begin talks with free agents on March 14th at noon ET. And with all the sparks flying over the past few days, I think it's safe to expect free agency to do the same.
In our final installment of the series, we'll take a look at the security situation, and how the Detroit Lions can raise their ranks once the window of conversation opens.
In line with the rest of the Lions' defense in 2021, the security unit had its struggles. Tracy Walker ended the season as the undisputed leader of the secondary, but is set to become an unrestricted free agent herself after playing out the final year of her rookie contract. Will Harris is entering the final year of his rookie deal, CJ Moore was just re-signed, and Brady Breeze and JuJu Hughes are both under contract for 2022.
So when the Lions technically enter the new league year with four Safaris under contract, the room could certainly use some competition.
Here are some names that you should keep an eye on as things start to get busy today.
before this
- 5 free agent QBs to watch
- 5 free agent RBs to watch
- 5 free agent WRs to watch
- 5 free agent TEs to watch
- 5 free agent OL to watch
- 5 free agent iDL to watch
- 5 free agent EDGE defenders to watch
- 5 free agent LBs to watch
- 5 free agency CBs to watch
Marcus Williams
At this point, you'll probably be familiar with Williams and his relationship with the Lions' coaching staff. Williams spent time with both defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and coach Dan Campbell during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
As for the Lions, he'll slide seamlessly into his secondary, bringing lots of range and playmaking to the table. And at only 25 years old, he will theoretically be in his prime by the time the Lions are getting closer to piecing together this reconstruction.
He won't come cheap, but it's one of the few players in this free agency class that I'd feel comfortable handing over a longer, more expensive deal.
Marcus Maye
Going in a different direction with this option, Mei is slightly older than Williams at 28, but she has some similar versatility. He'll be at his best far from the line of melee, where he can use his experience as a deep free defense, but can also perform well enough in other areas of the field.
Being a little bigger and less productive than some of the other players in this class, Mei is likely to get less money than Williams or our next player.
Quandre Diggs
Another name Lions fans are really familiar with, returning to Detroit after Diggs is inexplicably sent off, will really be something.
Since leaving the Lions, Diggs has continued his foray into the NFL as a safety. One of my favorite aspects of his game - you never have to take him off the field. He can come down and cover in the slot, patrol the rear end in cover 2, come down and lay wood against the run. Diggs does it all and does it well. He understands what is happening in front of him and will be an excellent leader on and off the field.
Like Marcus Williams, Diggs has earned himself a payday.
Xavier woods
Woods started all 17 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, recording 108 tackles, three interceptions, playing nearly 100% of his defensive snaps—all on a one-year contract worth $1.75 million.
Being just 26 years old and having missed only four games during his five NFL seasons, he should have more suitors this time around.
Justin Reid
At only 25 years old, Reid turned to Aaron Glenn and defensive back coach Aubrey Pleasant to cast another youngster.
Reid has started 53 games during his time with the Houston Texans, so there is experience. However, this signature would indicate more of an improvement project, rather than someone being brought in to get started immediately.