The Detroit Lions have several needs on their defense that still need to be addressed. Despite signing linebacker Chris Board away from the Ravens, Aaron Glenn’s defense still could benefit from adding additional defensive linemen, cornerbacks and safeties. © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsIn a recent ESPN report that revealed NFL deals that fell through, general manager Brad Holmes was interested in bringing in a former Los Angeles Rams linebacker. “For a little Rams flavor, Detroit GM Brad Holmes — Les Snead’s top lieutenant in Los Angeles before taking the Lions’ job — was interested in signing linebacker Cory Littleton, who rose to fame as a do-it-all Ram a few years back. Littleton chose Carolina, which guaranteed $2 million of his $2.6 million deal. But Detroit is in the linebacker market, so don’t be surprised if it fills a spot there soon.”Eventually, Littleton agreed to join the Panthers, as he agreed to a one-year contract over the weekend.Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions ArticlesLittleton started 27 of 31 games after joining the Raiders in 2020. The veteran linebacker spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before signing a three-year, $35.25 million free-agent contract to play with the Raiders. Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions NFL free agency rumor Arden Key will visit
Despite the quiet free 2022 agency period for the Detroit Lions, the team can still sign players from other NFL teams. During the 2022 NFL free agency period, general manager Brad Holmes signed several of the Lions own free agents. Only two players from other organizations have joined the team thus far. It has been reported by NFL Network that defensive lineman Arden Key is headed to Allen Park on Monday to visit with the Lions.The 25-year-old is coming off of 6.5 sacks with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, and it is believed several teams will be in the mix for his services in 2022. According to SI’s All 49ers, “Key wasn’t a starter for the 49ers, but he was their best interior pass rusher on third down and finished the season with 6.5 sacks. For that reason, he most likely will sign a lucrative multi-year deal this offseason. The 49ers could give him that deal, or look for the next Arden Key.”The Lions are desperately in search of an improved pass-rush, which has been a major issue for the past couple of seasons. Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions Articles”You can never have enough pass rushers. Now, I did think losing a Romeo Okwara earlier in the year, that hurt cause we were really counting on him. But, really like what Charles Harris did for us, we really like the growth that Julian Okwara had,” Holmes explained following the conclusion of the Lions 2021 season.© Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY SportsJoin the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions NFL free agency sign New Orleans Saints Garrett Griffin
The Detroit Lions looked to a familiar location with their latest free agent acquisition. After signing wideout DJ Chark Jr. to a one-year agreement, Detroit has signed a new tight end. According to NFL Network, former New Orleans Saints tight end Garrett Griffin is signing with Detroit. Griffin played college football at Air Force from 2012 to 2015 and finished his collegiate career with 41 receptions for 678 yards and eight touchdowns.Griffin was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent back in 2016. The 28-year-old has secured five receptions for 43 yards in 20 regular-season appearances. Griffin did not appear in any regular season games in either 2018 or 2019.Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions ArticlesCurrent head coach Dan Campbell has familiarity with Griffin, as Detroit’s second-year head coach served as an assistant coach and the Saints tights ends coach from 2016-2020.He is currently in Colorado Springs honoring his yearly Air Force commitment. NFC North roster newsIn a blockbuster trade, the Green Bay Packers are reportedly trading Pro-Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for two prime 2022 picks, sources told ESPN. Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions free agency C.J. Moore re-signed by Brad Holmes
The Detroit Lions are bringing back special teams ace C.J. Moore. According to NFL Network, Moore will sign a one-year contract that is worth up to $2.4 million and includes $800,000 in guaranteed monies. Moore signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft.In 2021, Moore recorded 22 tackles and one interception. He earned a PFF grade of 82.6 on special teams, which ranked 26th of 218, and also earned a 59.2 grade on defense.When injuries besieged the Lions secondary, safety Will Harris was moved to the nickel cornerback position. As a result, Moore was slotted in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense as the third safety. When Tracy Walker was out of the lineup due to coronavirus, Moore earned his first career start against the Arizona Cardinals.Recommended Lions ArticlesSpeaking with reporters late in the 2021 season, Moore explained that he has always remained confident he could contribute to the team beyond his role on special teams. The 26-year-old has been one of the Lions’ most consistent performers on special teams for the past three seasons.Moving forward, Moore will continue to develop in Detroit’s defense working with Glenn and defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant, who are all returning to Detroit next season. Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Beware breaking the bank for premium WRs
Wide receiver is a major need for the Detroit Lions in the 2021 offseason. Just ask Lions’ WR coach Antwaan Randle El, who wants the team to draft two and sign another free agent to help boost the league’s most anemic wideout corps.
However, simply going out onto the free agent market and paying top dollar for a big-ticket wide receiver isn’t likely to work out. A recent study shows that signing expensive free agent WRs has been a consistent failing strategy for teams of all caliber.
Over the last four seasons of free agency, just two of the 32 premium free agents (total contract value of at least $8 million) at wide receiver have topped 1,000 receiving yards. Only four have caught at least 70 passes in the first season with the new team.
The name at the top is one Lions fans know all too well — Kenny Golladay. Detroit’s unheralded Kalif Raymond (48 receptions, 575 yards, 4 TDs) outproduced Golladay for 1.3 percent of the annual average compensation.
In fact, Raymond posted more productivity in Detroit’s largely moribund passing offense than all but two of the 10 free agent wideouts who pulled at least $8 million in total contract value last offseason. One of those is the man whose role he replaced in Detroit, Marvin Jones, who was very good on a very bad Jacksonville team.
This isn’t advocating for Kalif Raymond, though the Lions would be wise to consider bringing back the diminutive speedster for the right price. It’s more a cautionary tale against relying too heavily on a high-priced free agent to provide bang for the receiving buck.
The originating post on Twitter from where the spreadsheet here is taken:
Note that the average production from those 32 wideouts is very close to what the Lions got from Raymond. Again, this isn’t about pumping up Raymond; it’s warning against betting too heavily that the answer to the Lions’ passing game woes can be bought with a big-ticket free agent. The two guys who did top 1,000 receiving yards, John Brown and Robbie Anderson, haven’t come close to doing it since. The Bills even ate Brown’s contract and cut him prior to the 2021 season.
Many of the more prominent free agent WRs for this offseason already appear on the list: Allen Robinson (twice), Juju Smith-Schuster, Emmanuel Sanders, Sammy Watkins, Will Fuller. A Lions swing-and-miss from last year, Tyrell Williams, also made the list from a different year. At least he only cost Detroit $4 million.
There are myriad factors why the coveted free agents didn’t work. From scheme change, to dropoff at quarterback, to being placed into a different receiving role or the ever-present injury threat, it’s a motley stew of a cautionary tale.
The “go big or go home” strategy with free agent wide receivers isn’t a smart one. Betting on the Lions to be the team to buck the trend and become one of the few success stories is a tough sell, too.
Big thanks to ClevTA for the data and research!
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