Detroit Lions Offseason Wish List: 7 Free Agents the Lions Should Target

There are seven free agents in the NFL’s 2012 class that the Lions must target as the Detroit brass will wine and dine some of the better available talent to capitalize on the surprisingly successful 2011 season.

The Lions will make their first trip back to the playoffs since 1999, and with the first 10-win season since 1995, the organization is assured of a first-round draft pick no better than 21st. 

Twenty-one; the perfect card combination in blackjack could create a euphoria in the Lions’ war room similar to a hot Vegas table at 3:30 in the morning. Because this offseason marks the first for the Lions that will be void of high-priced, top-15 picks who have drained the Ford’s bank account for the last decade.

The uneven distribution of cheddar in the Lions locker room historically was a crutch as many picks became Enrons (Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams), while the Steelers, Patriots and Packers continued to develop a well-diversified portfolio of lower-seeded picks.

Furthermore, according to Charley Casserly, the 2012 salary cap will not increase, or at best, only increase slightly from its current number of approximately $120 million. He adds that around one-fourth of all NFL players will be unrestricted free agents in 2012.

This is great news for the Lions who are perceived to be a team on the rise. A constant salary cap will create a buyers' market; that should drive down the asking price or force teams to push money out to 2013, when the new television contracts, and bigger money, kicks in.

What does that mean? Simply put, veterans looking for short-term, big contracts will be disappointed, but players looking for stability in a winning environment could be signed at a relative discount.

With a core of young, talented players, a driven head coach and a front office that has distanced themselves from the previous regime, Detroit can now present itself as a destination for players who want to win, as opposed to a last resort for players looking to get paid.

Additionally, the cap makes it advantageous to offer some risky, yet cheap, one-year deals for players  who may have been injured and are looking to prove themselves again in a city that could showcase their talents on a winning team.

This offseason will be markedly different for Tom Lewand, Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz as they will be entertaining free agents from a different leverage point than the past.

Of course, the Lions will try and re-sign their own free agents first. Cliff Avril and Stephen Tulloch will be the priorities. Additionally, Jeff Backus should return at a cap-friendly number far south of his current $5.5 million final year.

But who else should be on the radar?

Here are seven 2012 free agents the Lions need to be in contact with and hopefully convince a few of them to pack their bags for Detroit. 

Cortland Finnegan

Cortland Finnegan is Jim Schwartz’s kind of player—a hard-nosed cover corner that comes up and plays the run tough with a less-than-angelic reputation.

He played for Schwartz when Jim was the DC in Tennessee and definitely is the kind of player he values. In 2007, Jim Schwartz referred to Cortland as the Titans' “unsung hero,” high praise considering some of the talent that was on that defense.

The 27-year-old is third on the Titans with 75 tackles, is a perfect fit for the Lions defense and obviously has plenty of experience in the system.

Word is Cortland is unhappy with how there was little interest in negotiating a long-term deal before the start of the season. His bags could already be packed.

''It is finally starting to hit me that the end is probably near,'' Finnegan said. ''It doesn’t look bright for me here."

If you don’t hear much about Finnegan in the offseason, chances are Schwartz will be calling him at 12:01 when the free-agency period starts, similar to Vanden Bosch two years ago.

Remember how they tried to downplay Stephen Tulloch when most had a pretty good idea he was headed to Detroit?

There's a reason Cortland wears a "C" on his jersey, and Schwartz knows that better than most; Finnegan could begin again in the Motor City.

Jared Gaither

Like Lou from Hot Tub Time Machine, Jared Gaither is looking for a place to call "Home Sweet Home."

I'm not so sure Jared has the same Bandit Trans-Am, but I'm sure he'd like to unpack his bags for more than just one season.

After the Ravens stole him with a fifth-round pick in the 2007 supplemental draft, Jared replaced Jonathan Ogden, and the Ravens thought they were set at left tackle.

Gaither then suffered a season-ending back injury in 2010, and Ozzie Newsome cut ties, forcing him to sign with Kansas City and warm the bench until San Diego came calling in November.

Since then, Gaither has started at left tackle for the Chargers and did not allow a sack in the Bolts' final four contests, including the goose egg put up by Detroit on Christmas Eve.

At only 25 years of age, Jared is a perfect misfit tackle, with starter potential, looking for a place to call home.

Gaither has shown why he was once considered one of the best young tackles in the league, and signing him would not only create depth at the position, it would also assure Jeff Backus’ asking price would be digestible.

Plus, Jared is a Maryland native so he and Schwartz can discuss their favorite crab shacks and proper Blue Crab cracking techniques.

Ben Grubbs

Even with the revolving door at left tackle, Ben Grubbs has been rock solid and has helped Ray Rice become the best overall running back in the game.

The Ravens experimented with moving Michael Oher from right to left tackle to reprise his movie persona in The Blind Side, but unlike the movie, the move was a failure.

So much so that Baltimore went dumpster diving and grabbed donut-crushing Bryant McKinnie off the Vikings scrap heap.

The move was a success as the Ravens have positioning themselves for a first-round bye and a shot at more Super Bowl jewelry.

All the while, Grubbs has not missed a game since he was drafted out of Auburn in 2007.

The guard market should be set by New Orleans' Carl Nicks, but with the Saints already having big money in their other guard, Jahri Evans, don't expect Nicks to break the bank if he re-signs.

This should keep Grubbs asking price managable if the Ravens have to franchise Rice and would leave the door open for Grubbs to entertain offers from other teams.

This is the only player I've targeted on a team with a better record, but if the Lions are truly making the move into the upper tier of the NFL, this is the type of move that's not only possible, it's probable.

The Lions are currently set to pay Stephen Peterman over $2.7 million next year; wouldn't you rather Tom Lewand squeeze out some additional juice for Grubbs?

Michael Griffin

Michael Griffin has made his mind up; he's "Audi 5000."

The fifth-year Texas Longhorn made it clear he does not plan on playing for the Titans next year via Twitter:

"My Last Game at LP. Got to make it a good one. Let's got Titans!!!!"

Griffin is tied with Finnegan for third in tackles with 75 and has had that total, or better, for the last four seasons. With the injury problems the Lions have had at safety, it would be nice to have a player who has started 63 of his last 64 games.

Spievey and Delmas are young and developing, but where is the depth?

Chris Harris will be a free agent and entering his 10th season, do the Lions really want to give him big money when he was cut by the Bears?

Griffin is familiar with the system, having started for Schwartz in Tennessee. Plus, both Gunther Cunningham and Michael have similar military backgrounds with both of their fathers serving in the Air Force.

The elder military brat should be helpful in convincing Griffin Detroit should be his final transfer.

Demetrius Bell

The Buffalo Bills' impressive 3-0 start, including the upset of the Patriots, was with Demetrius Bell protecting the blind side of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The 27-year-old recently had knee surgery and lost his starting spot to rookie Chris Hairston, so there should not be a bidding war for his services; it's the type of gamble that makes sense.

Bell is a good pass blocker but an even better run blocker and could find his way out of Buffalo easily if there’s an opportunity for more playing time.

The Lions currently are thinner at the offensive tackle position than Keira Knightley after a buffet of three grapes, two bibs of lettuce and a full rice cake.

They have, as backups, Jason Fox who has battled knee injuries continuously since he was drafted two years ago, and Corey Hilliard has already proven he cannot supplant Gosder Cherilus at the right tackle position.

Bell will have a very reasonable price tag and would be a nice swing player that adds experienced depth with 30 NFL starts; the current backups have five games between them.

Plus, it should be a pretty easy sell; Detroit is not Phoenix or Miami, but it’s a hell of a lot better than Buffalo.

Jason Jones

Like Ty Pennington says, "welcome home Jason Jones, welcome home."

The Titans defensive end has slid into the spot vacated by Kyle Vanden Bosch. Could the trend continue in Detroit?

Once again, you’ll have a player familiar with the Schwartz system, and at only 25 years old, he could benefit greatly under the wing of KVB.

He has 27 tackles and three sacks so his numbers will not explode off the stat sheets equating to a huge contract.

Jason has also played the three-technique while in Tennessee, and Jim Schwartz values that type of versatility as the front four will continue to rotate to remain fresh.

This would also allow the Lions to get out from under the $4.9 million Corey Williams is set to make next year. Far too much scratch for him considering the current contract of Nick Fairley.

As I referenced previously, Jones is a local guy, playing at Eastern Michigan and growing up in Metro Detroit. It could be a quiet hometown signing that paves the way for the Lions to fill the right defensive end spot nicely when Kyle is ready to retire the red contacts. 

Terrell Thomas

If you like to gamble, Terrell Thomas may be your guy.

The 26-year-old from USC was snake bitten this preseason when he tore his ACL ending his year.

What’s worse for Thomas was that it’s a contract year.

Terrell led the Giants last year with 101 tackles, five interceptions and four forced fumbles.

The statistics validate his importance as well. The Giants were ninth best last year, defending the pass at 210 ypg. This season, the yards have ballooned to 255 ypg for a 20-team drop to 29th in the NFL.

Thomas is a difference maker for certain but how he comes back from an ACL injury is not.

The Lions should roll the bones and give Terrell a one-year deal that could pull him out of New York.

Eric Wright has been a successful one-year stop-gap; Thomas could do the same, and if he returns to form, could be a comeback player of the year candidate for Detroit.