When Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes was asked about his tight end room at the NFL combine last week, Holmes took a minute to remind everyone how the group was viewed after the T.J. Hockenson trade.
“I’m glad that the T.J. Hockenson trade is being called a trade now cause it was kind of (viewed as) a wave the white flag kind of deal at the time when it happened,” Holmes said. “But yeah, again, we’re always looking to add. We’re always looking to add. We’ll not leave a stone unturned.”
The Lions set a franchise record for most receiving touchdowns by tight ends last season, and most of the scores came from players other than Hockenson.
Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell are all under contract for 2023, or will be once Wright signs his exclusive rights free agent tender, but the Lions are in the market for help at the position as they look to strengthen their roster.
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Holmes said he’s opening to adding “someone that can help us that has a little bit more experience maybe that can bring a little bit more immediate contribution,” while some around the NFL expect the Lions to wait to address the position in what projects to be a strong tight end draft.
Tight end isn’t the biggest hole on the Lions’ roster. Those are all on the defensive side of the ball. But it ranks high on our annual position by position list of the Lions’ needs heading into free agency.
1. Defensive back
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: CB — Jerry Jacobs, Jeff Okudah, Chase Lucas, Mac McCain, Khalil Dorsey, Jarren Williams. S — Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph, Brady Breeze, Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Pending Lions free agents: CB — Amani Oruwariye, Will Harris, Mike Hughes, Bobby Price (ERFA). S — DeShon Elliott, C.J. Moore.
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Top free agents: CB — Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles; Cam Sutton, Pittsburgh Steelers. S — Jessie Bates, Cincinnati Bengals; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Eagles; Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills.
Others who may interest the Lions: CB — Rock Ya-Sin, Las Vegas Raiders; Tavierre Thomas, Houston Texans.
Market watch: The Lions allowed more yards per pass attempt than every team but the Chicago Bears last season and are in desperate need of a playmaker at cornerback. Dean, 26, is in line for a massive payday. That does not fit with how Holmes has operated in free agency so far, but the Lions’ need at cornerback is so acute he might be worth it. If not, there are other cheaper but still capable options on the market like Ya-Sin, Marcus Peters and Eli Apple, who started for Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with the New Orleans Saints. The Lions could go the trade route to address their cornerback need; rumors persist they are interested in acquiring Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. One way or another, they need an upgrade at cornerback even if Harris returns to man the nickel spot. Safety is less a need as Walker and Joseph project as starters in 2023, but Walker is returning from a torn Achilles and the Lions may need some insurance depending on his recovery.
2. Defensive line
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: Edge — Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, Josh Paschal. IDL — Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Demetrius Taylor.
Pending Lions free agents: Edge — Austin Bryant. IDL — John Cominsky, Isaiah Buggs, Benito Jones (ERFA).
Top free agents: Edge — Zach Allen, Arizona Cardinals; Marcus Davenport, New Orleans Saints; Yannick Ngakoue, Indianapolis Colts. IDL — Javon Hargrave, Eagles; Dre’Mont Jones, Denver Broncos; Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings.
Others who may interest the Lions: IDL — Greg Gaines, Los Angeles Rams; Shy Tuttle, Saints.
Market watch: The Lions have some promising young talent on their defensive line, led by Hutchinson, the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and there is veteran depth at the edge position if both Harris and Okwara return. Both Cominsky and Buggs have said they want to stay in Detroit, and both were valuable contributors up front in 2022. But the Lions had not made Cominsky a contract offer as of Thursday, which leaves open the door to adding an interior pass rusher in free agency. Both Jones and Allen could excel as three techniques, though both are in line for mega deals. Several ex-Saints linemen who played under Glenn are more stopgap options in free agency, including Tuttle, David Onyemata and Sheldon Rankins. Buggs should return. If he doesn’t, the Lions will need a run-stopper for the middle of their line.
3. Linebacker
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: James Houston, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Julian Okwara.
Pending Lions free agents: Alex Anzalone, Josh Woods, Chris Board, Anthony Pittman (ERFA).
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Top free agents: Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills; Bobby Wagner, Los Angeles Rams; David Long, Tennessee Titans.
Others who may interest the Lions: T.J. Edwards, Philadelphia Eagles; Bobby Okereke, Colts.
Market watch: There’s a good group of off-ball linebackers set to hit free agency, and depending how the market shakes out, that could mean a bargain or two for patient teams (think D.J. Chark to the Lions on a one-year deal when the receiver market exploded last year). Edmunds, Long and Edwards are among the 26-and-under crowd that should get long-term deals as three-down players, while Lavonte David and Eric Kendricks join Wagner in the veterans-who-still-have-something-left-to-give pool. Houston, Rodriguez and Barnes currently project as the Lions’ starting linebackers for next season, with Houston rushing on pass downs. Anzalone should have a healthy market coming off his best season, and the Lions will need to add someone if they don’t bring him back. It’s just a matter of where they want to allocate resources on defense, at cornerback, linebacker or along the defensive front.
4. Running back
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: D’Andre Swift, Jermar Jefferson, Jason Cabinda.
Pending Lions free agents: Jamaal Williams, Justin Jackson, Craig Reynolds (ERFA).
Top free agents: David Montgomery, Chicago Bears; Miles Sanders, Eagles; Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns.
Others who may interest the Lions: Alexander Mattison, Vikings.
Market watch: Running back ranks ahead of other positions on the Lions’ offense as a need based solely on the numbers. Swift has spent much of his first three seasons battling injuries, and the other backs the Lions have under contract for 2023 (including Reynolds) have 99 career carries between them. The Lions met with Williams’ agent at the combine and Williams has made clear his desire to stay in Detroit. If the Carolina Panthers (with ex-Lions running backs coach Duce Staley now on staff), Buffalo Bills or some other team make Williams an offer he can’t refuse, the Lions will need to add a replacement in free agency and/or the draft. The top three free agent backs, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard, all received the franchise tag.
5. Wide receiver/tight end
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: WR — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus, Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy, Stanley Berryhill. TE — James Mitchell, Derrick Deese.
Pending Lions free agents: WR — DJ Chark. TE — Brock Wright (ERFA), Shane Zylstra (ERFA).
Top free agents: WR — Odell Beckham Jr.; Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots; Chark. TE — Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys; Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins; Irv Smith, Minnesota Vikings.
Others who may interest the Lions: WR — Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers. TE — Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals.
Market watch: This is not a great year to need a receiver, which might pump up Chark’s value and make him tougher for the Lions to re-sign. Beckham missed all of last season while rehabbing from a torn ACL, and Meyers (67 catches, 804) yards is an exciting player but not a No. 1. Lazard, Chark, Mecole Hardman and Parris Campbell highlight the 27-and-under crowd and should get multi-year deals, while veterans like Adam Thielen and Robert Woods are already on the street looking for work. The tight end market could be depressed by the strength of the draft at the position, though Schultz is in line for a big payday after playing on the franchise tag last year. Williams played for new Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden in Arizona the past four years.
6. Quarterback
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: Jared Goff.
Pending Lions free agents: Nate Sudfeld.
Top free agents: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers; Baker Mayfield, Rams; Teddy Bridgewater, Miami Dolphins.
Others who may interest the Lions: Case Keenum, Bills; Gardner Minshew, Eagles.
Market watch: The quarterback market is still in a holding period while Aaron Rodgers figures out his future and with teams decide whether or not to make a play for franchise-tagged Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. The Lions are content with Goff as their starter, but Holmes said at the combine upgrading the backup position is a focal point of the offseason. The Lions could wait till the draft to do that, but there are several veterans on the market who would be upgrades. Keenum was teammates with Goff on the Rams in 2016. Bridgewater played for Dan Campbell with the Saints. And Lions senior personnel executive John Dorsey drafted Mayfield with the Browns. As is always the case, some veterans may wait till late April to sign to see which teams draft a young QB first.
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7. Offensive line
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Penei Sewell, Kayode Awosika, Ross Pierschbacher, Logan Stenberg, Obinna Eze, Darrin Paulo.
Pending Lions free agents: Evan Brown, Matt Nelson (RFA), Dan Skipper (RFA), Tommy Kraemer (ERFA).
Top free agents: OT — Orlando Brown, Chiefs; Mike McGlinchey, Raiders; Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons. IOL — Jason Kelce, Eagles Isaac Seumalo, Eagles; Dalton Risner, Broncos.
Others who may interest the Lions: Will Clapp, Los Angeles Chargers.
Market watch: The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and even with a question mark at right guard — Brown is a free agent, and Vaitai missed all of last season with a back injury — this ranks low on the Lions’ free agent priority list. Vaitai could return on a restructured contract, young interior backups Awosika and Kraemer, who also missed last season with a back injury, are developmental prospects, and the Lions will have to invest in deals for Sewell and perhaps Jackson soon. They won’t be spending big on the offensive line next week, though NFL teams who want to have good options at the top of the tackle market and experience interior players to pick from on the interior line, too. Brown could get sneaky good money as a guard/center option who played well for the Lions the past two years.
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8. Special teams
On the Lions’ roster for 2023: K — Michael Badgley; P — Jack Fox.
Pending Lions free agents: LS Scott Daly (ERFA).
Top free agents: K — Matt Gay, Rams; Robbie Gould, 49ers; Chase McLaughlin, Colts.
Market watch: Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp spoke highly of the free agent kicker market last week, saying there are “some great free agent kickers out there this year.” The Lions plan to bring in competition for Badgley, though they could pass on free agency and wait until the draft. The Rams, in a cap crunch, opted not to franchise Gay, who projects to make $5 million a season as a free agent, according to Spotrac. If the Lions don’t want to invest that kind of coin in a kicker, they could always try and bring Matt Prater back to Detroit.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.