Roundtable: Perfect Lions Free-Agent Fit

It is the perfect opportunity for the Detroit Lions to improve in free agency.

1.) Who is the perfect free-agent fit for the Lions?

Christian Booher: I think Tremaine Edmunds is a perfect fit for Detroit. He's an instinctive linebacker who can make plays in both the pass and run game. He's still young, heading into his age-26 season. So, he fits the Lions' desire to build with youth.

Having played in big games for the Bills, he would bring maturity and plenty of big-game experience. If Detroit could land Edmunds, he would be a massive addition.

Vito Chirco: If I'm the Lions, I'm hunting down 25-year-old Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. 

The play-making safety has recorded at least one interception in each of his four seasons in the league, and is coming off a career-best campaign with the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. During the 2022 season, he produced a career-best six picks. 

He'll cost a pretty penny for Detroit --at about $13.3 million per season, according to Spotrac. However, I think he'd be worth the investment for Brad Holmes and the Lions' front office, and instantly upgrade the team's defensive backs group.

2.) Will you be disappointed if the Lions don't land a big-name free agent?

Booher: It would certainly be disappointing. The Lions need to bolster their talent, especially on defense. Brad Holmes needs to recognize the window of opportunity opening in Detroit, so adding talent and gearing up for a run is important.

At the same time, the Lions emphasize culture over everything else. If they fail to land a big-name free agent, it should send a message that the Lions' front office doesn't view these players as fits for their culture.

Chirco: I won't be, and here's why: The Lions clearly have set out to build through the draft. And, based on the results of Brad Holmes' first two drafts as general manager, you can make the argument that he's mastered the art of doing just that. 

Now, no GM is perfect in drafting players, and you still have to supplement your roster through free agency and some shrewd trades (maybe even a few big ones from time to time, too). 

However, how I see it, Holmes & Co. don't need to make a big splash in order to take the next step as an organization. They just need to continue orchestrating their plan of building through the draft, with an eye on upgrading the defensive side of the ball.

3.) Which free agent should the Lions avoid?

Booher: No big-name player should be off limits. However, the Lions have made a point to rebuild with youth. Because of this, veteran players should only be brought in on short-term contracts.

I think Bobby Wagner is a player the Lions should stay away from. He will likely command a hefty contract, and I don't believe that's justifiable at his age.

Chirco: I'm going to give you two names for the price of one: EDGE defenders Carlos Dunlap and Justin Houston. 

This isn't because of their recent production -- Houston, for one, is coming off a nine-and-a-half sack season. Instead, it's because they're both 34 years old, and subsequently don't fit what Holmes is trying to build in the Motor City.

So far, Holmes has been ultra resistant to adding players to Detroit's roster who are north of 30. So, although it might be tempting to add a pass rusher of Houston's or Dunlap's caliber, Holmes needs to avoid the temptation, and I think he will. 

4.) Now that the Bears traded the No. 1 pick, what odds do you give the Lions of drafting Jalen Carter or Will Anderson?

Booher: I think Anderson will be the first defensive player off the board, so I'll put the odds of him coming to Detroit as very low.

However, Carter's off-field concerns could cause him to drop to Detroit's sixth overall selection. We won't know the exact impact until more details emerge. So, I'll put the odds of him dropping to six as 60-40, with him not dropping as the more likely option.

Chirco: Much like Christian, I'm concerned that Will Anderson still won't even last until pick No. 6. I could see him going either No. 3 to the Cardinals or No. 5 to the Seahawks. So, I think the odds of him falling to the Lions are very low still. I'll place those odds, in fact, at just 25 percent. 

As far as Jalen Carter, I believe there is a strong likelihood that he'll still be on the board when Detroit's pick rolls around at No. 6. I think he could fall even further down the board than that, too. It stems from his involvement in a January car crash that killed one of his Bulldogs teammates and a Georgia recruiting staff member.

If I were Holmes, I'd pass on Carter because of the above. At this juncture, he just doesn't seem to be a fit inside the Lions' locker room. With that said, I'll place Detroit's odds of drafting the Georgia product at 35 percent, only slightly higher than the team's odds of selecting Anderson (25 percent).