Detroit Lions: 4 Positions the Lions Should Target This Offseason

The Detroit Lions have an assortment of key areas that must be addressed this offseason.

Rarely does a team retain its entire roster from season to season, and the Lions are not exempt.

Through free agency and the draft, Detroit will have to try to build upon a roster that was able to make the franchise's first playoff appearance in over a decade.

Positions along the offensive line and the secondary will be hot topics throughout the winter months, and it will be interesting to see how General Manager Martin Mayhew attempts to tweak the roster with a limited amount of room left under the cap.

Let's look at four positions Detroit will need to target this offseason.

(Note: This list excludes defensive end because it has been reported that Detroit will re-sign Cliff Avril. If he is not re-signed, then defensive end becomes an area that must be addressed.)

4. Middle Linebacker

Middle Linebacker is a position listed only because Stephen Tulloch's future with the team is uncertain.

If the free agent linebacker does not return next season, then obviously the position jumps to the top of the Lions' needs.

DeAndre Levy proved to be rather effective at the outside linebacker position this season as he recorded a career-high 109 tackles.

Moving him back to the middle of the defense would not be beneficial to his development, and that is why if Tulloch moves on, the Lions should look outside the organization to fill the void.

Again, if Tulloch stays, then this is not an area of concern.

3. Offensive Tackle

Jeff Backus has been heavily criticized at the left tackle position during his 11-year career.

Whatever the sentiment towards him may be, his playing days are dwindling.

34-year-old tackles are not exactly a hot commodity in today's NFL, and that is why the Lions need to start looking towards the future.

Gosder Cherilus is average at best at right tackle and it would probably be a mistake to try and move him to quarterback Matthew Stafford's blind side.

Detroit needs to draft a young tackle that they can groom and develop as they get the last bit of football out of Backus.

2. Center

Dominic Raiola has been the Lions center for the same time period as Jeff Backus has been at left tackle: 11 years.

Cutting ties with these types of mainstays will not be easy, but no NFL career can last forever, especially along the offensive line.

The bright side is that these guys have finally had the opportunity to taste postseason football in Detroit.

But general manager Martin Mayhew is going to have to move past that and continue building for the Lions' promising future.

Center is not a particularly deep position at the top of the upcoming draft, but Detroit should look to find somebody in the later rounds as Raiola's heir apparent.

1. Cornerback

The Lions defensive backfield took a giant leap forward in 2011. Detroit ranked 22nd this season with 239 yards passing allowed per game.

By no means an amazing statistic, it is still a marked improvement over the 4,205 passing yards allowed in 2010.

Starting cornerbacks Chris Houston and Eric Wright played great at times and were certainly serviceable.

But that does not mean the Lions are set at the position. Wright in particular was hot and cold for much of the season.

Detroit would be smart to look for additions at cornerback, be it through the draft or free agency.

The Lions will struggle for cap room, but Cortland Finnegan is an enticing acquisition if nobody stands out to Mayhew or coach Jim Schwartz in the draft.