Detroit Lions: Free Agent Moves, Will It Mean Drafting Stafford or Curry?

The Lions have been fairly active in the free agent market and have also been making some decent trades.

What is a concern is the types of players they are getting.  Will these actions lead to taking what approximately 90 percent of the mock drafts out there are saying—Matt Stafford?  Or will they continue to play it smart and take Aaron Curry out of Wake Forest?

The jury is still out on Mayhew, but the moves he has made do “potentially” have the Lions headed in the right direction.  No one will know just how successful Mayhew will be until we see the product on the field.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions have signed three players, two that could have an immediate impact:

Maurice Morris, RB

He will complement Kevin Smith nicely.  Good receiver out of the backfield and great change of pace runner.  He averaged 4.5 yards per carry behind a shaky Seattle offensive line.

Bryant Johnson, WR

Slated to be the starter opposite Calvin Johnson, the Lions expect Bryant to minimize the double-teaming of CJ.  He’s a big target at 6’3” and 211 pounds.  He was slowed by leg injuries last season in San Francisco, where he had hoped to establish himself as a No. 1 receiver after years of playing behind Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona.  He had a decent 12.1 yards per catch last year and if he can avoid injuries he could complement CJ very well.

Daniel Loper, OL

The Lions most recent free agent signing, the 6’6”, 320 pound former Tennessee Titan is hoping to compete for a starting job on a weak offensive line.  He can play both tackle and guard as well as special teams.  He’s bigger and heavier than Jeff Backus, whom he could beat out at left tackle and force to move inside to left guard to replace Edwin Mulitalo.  If he doesn’t take the left tackle spot away from Backus, look for him to be at left guard.

Also in the mix is guard Stephen Peterman, who agreed to a five-year contract.  With Gosder Cherilus ready to take the right tackle spot, the right side of the offensive line is in decent shape.  

With the signing of Loper, it looks like the Lions are addressing the offensive line through free agency.  Loper was a fifth round pick in 2005 by the Titans, and his contract is cheap compared at what would have to be paid to a first round pick.  Could the Lions be holding down the salaries to be able to afford Matt Stafford?  If so, Stafford will ride the pine for at least a year while Culpepper and Stanton split time.

As for the defense, perhaps the worst one ever over a three year period, there have been some significant upgrades, particularly to the secondary:

Phillip Buchanon, CB

Started 16 games in 2008 for Tampa Bay with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.  He is looking for playing time and will get it with the Lions.

Anthony Henry, CB

Acquired from the Dallas Cowboys for quarterback Jon Kitna, he, along with Buchanon, will be a huge upgrade to the non-productive secondary the Lions had last year.  Make no mistake, these two will be tested severely and I suspect interception totals to be greater than the one the Lions secondary garnered all last year.

Eric King, CB

With the Titans last year. Is expected to back up Henry and Buchanon as well as contribute on special teams.

Grady Jackson, DT

This is the one signing I have concerns about.  Jackson is listed at 6’2” and 345 pounds but is 36 years old.  The Lions signed him to a three-year contract.  In his 13 years, Jackson has been fairly durable and will be expected to be a run-stopping presence.  But he will bring an air of nastiness and hopefully take the pressure off Cory Redding.

Even with these signings, the Lions defense is still weaker than the offense.  The addition of Aaron Curry would strengthen the linebacker group.  Let Curry start in the middle and move Lenon to the outside; you will have three very fast, hard-hitting tackling machines in Sims, Curry, and Lenon.

Consensus?  Lions would be wise to take Curry.  Defense can carry a team to contention while the offense figures itself out.