Free Agents Lions Should Watch in Super Bowl 57
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off on one of the biggest stages in all of sports.
The Super Bowl matchup appears to be a good one, with the top seeds in both conferences finding their way to the season finale. Both teams have been the best in their respective conference throughout the season, and now will square off for the Lombardi Trophy.
With all this talent on display, there are plenty of players who are auditioning for their futures. The Detroit Lions will be among the teams keeping an eye on the performance of upcoming free agents who could be available this offseason.
Here are five players participating in Super Bowl LVII that Detroit should consider signing during the offseason.
LB T.J. Edwards, Philadelphia Eagles
Edwards could be the hard-hitting linebacker the Lions need to improve their defense. Rookie Malcolm Rodriguez plays in a similar way, but his inexperience was exploited at times last season.
In Edwards, the Lions would get an experienced linebacker who can both play the run and cover the pass. In particular, he fits what Detroit is looking for out of its stack linebackers, in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s scheme.
Signed to an extension by the Eagles leading into the season, he’s proven to be consistent and reliable. He finished with 159 tackles in the regular season, and has totaled seven in the team’s two playoff games.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs
Though Detroit appears loaded at the wide receiver position, it could benefit from adding another piece. DJ Chark is a free agent, and could be too expensive to retain. So, adding a player like Smith-Schuster could prove beneficial.
More: Former Lions with Ties to Super Bowl 57
The dynamic among Detroit’s receiving corps would change slightly, should the Lions add the current Chiefs wideout. He’s played a majority of his snaps from the slot, and appears comfortable there. So, landing him could move Amon-Ra St. Brown from the slot to out wide.
St. Brown has been more than capable of playing on the outside, so the switch in role wouldn’t affect him. With Smith-Schuster’s speed, he could add another level, as a downfield threat, to Ben Johnson’s offensive attack.
CB James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles
The Lions direly need cornerback help. The team lacks in the areas of both experience and talent, as the unit struggled to be consistent against the pass last year. Bradberry, a proven talent, would help in both areas.
He had an excellent season for the Eagles after being released by the Giants, notching three interceptions. Detroit made an emphasis on creating takeaways during the second half of 2022, so Bradberry would fit that mold.
As he enters his age-30 season, he would be a veteran presence in the locker room. In particular, he would be the oldest of the cornerbacks, and could serve as a mentor to young players like Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs.
While still being a productive player, Bradberry’s influence could be massive for a young Lions locker room.
Maria Lysaker, USA TODAY Sports
S Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs
The Lions have an interesting dynamic at the safety position. Kerby Joseph emerged as a starting-caliber player after Tracy Walker III went down with a season-ending injury, and both are back heading into 2023.
At the other safety spot, though, DeShon Elliott is a free agent. If he’s unable to return, the Lions would benefit from signing Thornhill. The talented Kansas City safety has plenty of valuable big-game experience in his four seasons with the Chiefs, and is a true ball-hawk at safety.
In his career, Thornhill has eight interceptions and 20 passes defensed. For a unit like the Lions which struggled against the pass, Thornhill could be a valuable piece in the back-half of the defense.
G Isaac Seumalo, Philadelphia Eagles
The Lions have signed a guard away from the Eagles in the past, bringing in Halapoulivaati Vaitai during the 2020 offseason. Now, with Vaitai’s future up in the air after missing all of 2022, Detroit could grab another guard off the free-agent market.
Seumalo has been productive as a pro, and started all 17 games in 2022. However, he has dealt with injuries in years past. As long as he remains healthy, he would be a worthwhile addition to Detroit’s offensive line.
The Lions have invested significantly in their offensive line, as three of their current starters up front were first-round picks. Though adding Seumalo could cost the team financially, he would be an upgrade. He’s still young, heading into his age-30 season. And, he would bolster the experience level of Detroit’s line, as well as its talent.
