Just as he used his introductory news conference to talk to the people of Detroit, Lions coach Dan Campbell saw an opportunity to address pending free agents when he was asked about the Lions’ end-of-season win over the Green Bay Packers at the NFL combine last week.
“I think if anything these guys know — and anybody that wants to come into our building, if you want to know what we’re about, we’re about cutting it loose,” Campbell said. “We’re going to be aggressive and we don’t cower from anybody. We respect all of our opponents, but we don’t fear any of them. If you want to come to Detroit, you’re going to be gritty, and you’re going to be with a bunch of guys that freaking love the game. They’re going to give all their heart and soul, and we’re going to cut it loose. So that’s what we’re about, and that’s what they know.”
The Lions will hit free agency next week with more than $30 million in cap space once their release of Trey Flowers becomes official. Some of that money will be saved for their rookie class and in-season maneuvering, and some will be spent retaining their own free agents.
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The Lions have 12 unrestricted and four restricted free agents scheduled to hit free agency Wednesday. Here’s a look at each player and their chances of returning to Detroit.
S Tracy Walker
Age: 27.
Acquired: Drafted, third round in 2018.
2021 stats: 15 GP, 15 GS; 108 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT.
2021 salary: $2.183 million.
Outlook: Walker is the Lions’ top free agent and their No. 1 priority to re-sign. He played well last season after a tough year personally and on the field in 2020; he has said he wants to stay in Detroit for the foreseeable future. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, and if the Lions let Walker test the market they might have a bigger prize — Marcus Williams? — in their sights. But the secondary needs two starters at safety and Walker is a player they can trust in what appears to be a crowded market.
Prediction: Stays.
DE Charles Harris
Age: 27.
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: 17 GP, 14 GS; 65 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 FF.
2021 salary: $1.4 million.
Outlook: If Walker is the Lions’ top pending free agent, Harris is a close second. Harris played the best football of his career last season, when he more than doubled his career sack total and was the Lions’ best overall front-seven player. Pass rushers always command a premium on the open market, so Harris could get priced out of the Lions’ range. But NFL teams are sometimes reluctant to give multi-year deals to players with one year of production. If Harris is forced to take another prove-it deal, it makes sense for him to return to Detroit and play with a staff and a scheme that got the most out of him last year.
Prediction: Stays.
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DL Nick Williams
Age: 32.
Acquired: Free agent, 2020.
2021 stats: 17 GP, 17 GS; 27 tackles, 0.5 sacks.
2021 salary: $1.25 million.
Outlook: Williams took a pay cut to stay with the Lions last season, but now that his contract is set to expire, his time in Detroit appears up. One of two Lions defensive players to start all 17 games last season (along with Will Harris), Williams played about half the team’s defensive snaps but did not deliver many impact plays. The Lions are looking for more interior pass rush out of their defensive line going forward, and need to keep playing time free for young tackles Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike.
Prediction: Goes.
LB Alex Anzalone
Age: 27.
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: 14 GP, 14 GS; 78 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT.
2021 salary: $1.5 million.
Outlook: The Lions targeted Anzalone to fill their need at off-ball linebacker last spring because of his familiarity with Campbell and knowledge of Aaron Glenn’s defense, and little has changed 12 months later. The Lions still have a need at linebacker, Campbell and Glenn still like Anzalone and Anzalone fits what the Lions are trying to do on defense and in the locker room. Health has been an issue for Anzalone throughout his career — he missed three games last season with a shoulder injury. It makes sense for Anzalone to come back on a short-term deal, and for the Lions to pair him and Derrick Barnes with a free agent such as Nicholas Morrow or a young draft pick.
Stays or goes: Stays.
QB Tim Boyle
Age: 27.
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: 5 GP, 3 GS; 61-94 passing, 526 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs.
2021 salary: $1 million.
Outlook: The Lions have expressed an interest in re-signing Boyle to backup Jared Goff, but Boyle should have a market beyond Detroit. He showed steady improvement in three fill-in starts last season after breaking his thumb in training camp. There are more accomplished backup options available, and there’s a chance the Lions could add to the position in the draft. But as a relatively inexpensive option familiar with the Lions offense, Boyle makes sense to keep around.
Prediction: Stays.
WR/KR Kalif Raymond
Age: 27.
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: 16 GP, 14 GS; 48 catches, 576 yards, 4 TDs.
2021 salary: $990,000.
Outlook: The Lions already re-signed one of their pending free agent receivers, Josh Reynolds, and given their interest in some of the players at the top of the pass catcher market — and the depth of the position in the draft — they do not seem to be in a hurry to re-sign their others. Raymond is a good return man and had the best season of his career as a receiver. Dialogue is ongoing about a return, but he appears set to test the market.
Prediction: Goes.
WR KhaDarel Hodge
Age: 27.
Acquired: Waivers from the Cleveland Browns, 2021.
2021 stats: 16 GP, 1 GS; 13 catches, 157 yards.
2021 salary: $920,000.
Outlook: Hodge has been a special teams stalwart throughout his career and made his biggest impact in that role for the Lions last fall. He saw spot duty at receiver, but the Lions are overhauling that unit this offseason. As of Friday, the Lions had not been in contact with Hodge’s representatives about a return. He does not appear to be a priority to re-sign for 2022.
Prediction: Goes.
S Dean Marlowe
Age: 29
How acquired: Free agent, 2021
2021 stats: 16 GP, 9 GS; 67 tackles, 1 FR
2021 salary: $990,000
Outlook: Marlowe was an able fill-in at safety last season, starting about half the year as injuries ravaged the Lions secondary. He tied for fifth on the team in tackles, but did not make many impact plays. The Lions are in the market for one or two starting safeties, depending on what happens to Walker. Marlowe appeared to indicate his time with the Lions was done this week, when he tweeted a picture of himself, head bowed, with the caption, “Detroit, Thank you.”
Prediction: 5% chance he stays.
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DL Joel Heath
Age: 28,
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: DNP.
2021 salary: $990,000.
Outlook: Heath still is recuperating from knee surgery after tearing his ACL last spring, but is expected to be ready for the start of camp. The Lions quietly thought they might have something in Heath when they signed him to a futures deal last February. They could bring him back on a veteran minimum-type deal this offseason, but Heath is not a priority free agent and might have to prove his health first.
Prediction: Stays.
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Age: 26.
Acquired: Waivers from Washington, 2021.
2021 stats: DNP.
2021 salary: $920,000.
Outlook: Hamilton was on his way to winning a roster spot when he was hurt in training camp last summer. He has played primarily on special teams throughout his career but is a capable fill-in on defense. The Lions are in the market for a starting-caliber linebacker, but could bring Hamilton back at some point if he’s healthy.
Prediction: Goes.
OT Tyrell Crosby
Age: 26.
Acquired: Drafted, fifth round in 2018.
2021 stats: DNP.
2021 salary: $2.183 million.
Outlook: Crosby was an effective swing tackle his first three seasons in Detroit, but his career is in flux now after undergoing back surgery last season. It is unclear if Crosby will play in 2022, and if he’s ready to return, what sort of market he will encounter. Either way, Crosby is not expected back in Detroit.
Prediction: Goes.
Restricted free agents
OL Evan Brown
Age: 25.
Acquired: Free agent, 2020.
2021 stats: 16 GP, 12 GS.
2021 salary: $920,000.
Outlook: The Lions are in a bit of a tricky spot with Brown, who played well as a fill-in starter for Frank Ragnow last season. They want Brown back, but can’t afford to pay him the money that would come with a first- or second-round tender as a backup center. Perhaps they give him a right-of-first-refusal offer (for about $2.5 million) or sign him to an incentive-laden deal that would pay that much based on playing time. If another team sees Brown as a starter, however, there’s little the Lions can do to compete with that opportunity.
Prediction: Goes.
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S C.J. Moore
Age: 26.
Acquired: Undrafted free agent, 2019.
2021 stats: 17 GP, 1 GS; 22 tackles, 1 INT.
2021 salary: $850,000.
Outlook: Moore has been one of the Lions’ best special teams players for three years running, so there is definite interest in bringing him back. As with Brown, however, tendering him as a restricted free agent probably does not make sense. The Lions signed Jalen Reeves-Maybin to a package worth $2.38 million as an unrestricted free agent last season, and ex-Lion Miles Killebrew just got a two-year, $4 million deal to play special teams for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Using those numbers as a guide, both parties should be able to strike a deal.
Prediction: Stays.
QB David Blough
Age: 26.
Acquired: Traded from Cleveland Browns, 2019.
2021 stats: 1 GP.
2021 salary: $850,000.
Outlook: Blough has not played much as the Lions’ No. 3 quarterback the past three seasons, but he has been a good solider in the locker room and is well-liked by the coaching staff. Last season, he played four offensive snaps and did not attempt a pass. The Lions are in a position to bring back one of their two backups — Boyle or Blough — and their preference appears to be Boyle. The door is not closed on a return for Blough, but chances are he’s competing for a job somewhere else next season.
Prediction: Goes.
OT Will Holden
Age: 28.
Acquired: Free agent, 2021.
2021 stats: 14 GP, 1 GS.
2021 salary: $920,000.
Outlook: Holden played primarily as an extra lineman last season and saw his most extensive action of the season after Taylor Decker was injured in Week 18. Holden should compete for a backup job somewhere, but it likely will not be in Detroit. The Lions already have informed Holden they will not be tendering him a restricted free agent contract.
Prediction: Goes.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.