Detroit Lions: 7 Top Players to Target in Free Agency and the Draft

The Detroit Lions may have many issues heading into this offseason, but fortunately, they also have many options for filling those needs.

Offensive line and cornerback are the most pressing concerns, and through free agency and the draft, the Lions should be able to fit some pieces into the proverbial puzzle.

Cornerbacks, in particular, litter the free-agency market, and while Detroit's GM, Martin Mayhew, might not have a ton of room under the salary cap to work with, he may be able to sign at least one player of note.

Let's look at seven assorted players that Detroit should target either through April's draft or free agency.

Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans

Cortland Finnegan may still be best known for tussling with Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans, but he is also a seriously talented secondary player.

A player Jim Schwartz will be quite familiar with from the Tennessee Titans, Finnegan has at least nine pass deflections and 56 tackles in each of the last five seasons.

Finnegan will not be a cheap addition, but he would add much-needed consistency and depth to a position that has been rocky at times for Detroit.

Eric Wright and Chris Houston are adequate in their own right, but Finnegan is a definite upgrade.

Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Brent Grimes is a slightly lower profile free agent than Finnegan, but he too has an impressive skill-set.

2011 was not his best statistical year by any means, recording just one interception and 37 solo tackles. But, in the two years prior, he had a combined 11 interceptions and 36 pass deflections.

Grimes seems to always be around the ball and has already spent time as a teammate of Chris Houston in Atlanta.

The transition to Detroit would not be a difficult one.

Carlos Rogers, CB, San Francisco 49ers

The cornerback carousel continues with Carlos Rogers of the San Francisco 49ers.

Rogers does not have the ties to Jim Schwartz like Finnegan has or the connection to Chris Houston that Brent Grimes possesses, but he does have a lot of talent.

This season proved to be the best statistical season of Rogers career. He recorded six interceptions, 18 pass deflections and 40 tackles.

These kind of numbers will demand a lot of money and Rogers has made his desire to stay in San Francisco clear, but somehow adding him to the roster would be an impressive catch for the Lions.

Janorice Jenkins, CB, North Alabama Lions

The NFL draft is going to be a crucial component of the Lions' roster moves this offseason, and Janoris Jenkins could be the shining star of the draft class.

Jenkins has had well documented trouble with the law and that could cause his stock to fall in the draft, but his talent warrants a top-end selection.

At 5'10" and 191 pounds, Jenkins is extremely quick out of his breaks and has fantastic coverage skills. In his final year with Florida, he was a first-team All-SEC selection.

The former Florida Gator would surely come with a better price tag than a Finnegan, Grimes or Rogers, and he had an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl.

Jenkins may be the best option for secondary help if the free agency bidding gets too high.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes

Mike Adams has the kind of size and skill to be a great left tackle in the NFL.

At an astounding 6'7", 323 pounds, Adams is bigger than current left tackle Jeff Backus and could be the long-term solution to protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford's blind side.

Adams was part of the memorabilia scandal at Ohio State, and whether or not that affects his draft stock remains to be seen, but to see the Lions take him in the first round would make a lot of sense.

He has tremendous athleticism for such a large player and is great at both pass- and run-blocking.

Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin Badgers

Much like Jeff Backus is aging, so is center Dominic Raiola.

The guy that could fill that position for the next decade may be Peter Konz from Wisconsin.

Konz is 6'5", 315 pounds and was a decorated collegiate center, earning an All-American selection and being named a Rimington Award finalist.

Konz is surprisingly athletic for his size and plays well against both the pass and the run. His pulling ability and quick feet are both assets and will help him at the next level.

His durability has been a concern, as he has missed some time in each of the last three seasons, but when on the field, Konz is a true force to be reckoned with.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford Cardinal

Jonathan Martin has spent the last couple seasons protecting the blind side of Andrew Luck, so he has a proven track record of excellence.

The 6'6", 305-pound tackle may not be quite as athletic as Adams from Ohio State, but nobody surpasses his pass-blocking ability.

If Martin has a blemish, it may be run blocking, but the system in Detroit certainly favors his pass-first style of play.

The Stanford left tackle would make for a smart choice as Backus' heir apparent and could easily protect Stafford for the foreseeable future.