Detroit Lions: Latest Free Agency News and Rumors
The Detroit Lions enter free agency with one of those "good" problems—the team is already competitive.
General manager Martin Mayhew's focus will rightly be centered on retaining his own players that head coach Jim Caldwell guided to an 11-5 record. The need to pillage other franchises for key pieces isn't nearly as prevalent as years past.
That's a testament to Mayhew's past free-agent pickups, draft choices and undrafted free agent signings.
Therefore, you'll find most of our focus here trained on recent Lions. This isn't a true speculation article that picks out players that could fit. Its goal is to report and comment on the rumors and stories that are actually out there, and the AP wire isn't filled with stories linking the Lions to outside players.
Free agency kicks off March 7—when teams can begin to negotiate with players—and continues on March 10—when contracts can actually be signed. Don't be caught unaware. Click through to find out the latest.
Running Back Reggie Bush
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The Lions entered the offseason in a decent salary cap situation (approximately $15.5 million under the cap, per Spotrac.com). Of course, that doesn't mean a thing for players currently under contract. Every option to maximize maneuverability has to be explored, and veterans with large cap hits and little production are at the top of the hit list.
Running back Reggie Bush was the first to feel that wrath. And it was the right move.
He had 3.5 times more rushing yards in 2013 than 2014. Poor health limited him to just one-third of the carries he had the prior season, but there's a disturbing trend that the folks at NumberFire explained well:
"Alright, back to Reggie Bush. The former Saint turned Dolphin turned Lion turned free agent has compiled 70 or more rushes in eight of his nine NFL seasons. He's reached the league-average running back Rushing NEP per tote (remember, this is -0.03) in exactly two of those seasons.
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Feel free to read the article in its entirety here. The main takeaway here is that Bush isn't even consistently average running the ball. A running back with below-average rushing ability has no business carrying a football, much less a $5.28 million cap hit.
Additionally, if he was hoping his presence in the passing game would save him, the reality that the NFL is built on a few superstars and cheap, young talent bit him in his rather well-paid posterior:
"One reason the #Lions can move on from Reggie Bush: Theo Riddick caught 2.45 Yards Per Route Run last season, best of any NFL RB.
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 26, 2015"
The only point of contention is that the Lions didn't designate him a post-June 1 release. Detroit could have split his remaining dead money ($3.56 million) over two years and next year's salary cap is being projected upwards of $160 million per Pro Football Talk.
DE Phillip Hunt
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The Lions made one other move quite recently that only die-hard fans who are recovering from surgery and are desperately in need of something to do will be acquainted with:
"Lions confirm signing of DE/OLB Phillip Hunt.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) February 27, 2015"
Hunt was a menace in the Canadian Football League. He led the CFL with 16 sacks in his second season, earning his NFL shot.
Unfortunately, after joining the Philadelphia Eagles, he tore his ACL during the 2013 preseason. He then signed on with the Indianapolis Colts the following year, but was cut before the regular season.
Hunt's signing is a semi-blindly thrown dart. The Lions' success with journeymen George Johnson and Darryl Tapp is the pie-in-the-sky scenario here for a player who hasn't logged a NFL regular season snap.
Kick Returner
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The lone slide not to feature a name in the headline belongs to a position that often gets more credit and criticism than it deserves. The decision wasn't made to protect the players. Rather, the story and speculation regarding the two is too intertwined to separate.
First, general manager Martin Mayhew has already made it known that he will "bring back exclusive rights free agent Jeremy Ross," per Tim Twentman of DetroitLions.com. That won't be a popular decision with the fanbase.
Those same fans will probably jump at Michael Rothstein's suggestion that the Lions take a run at Jacoby Jones. He doesn't advocate much either way, but does explain that the now-former Raven should have an heightened comfort level than he may find elsewhere:
"Detroit would know what it would be getting with Jones, too, if it were to bring him in. The Lions – at least some of their staff – have familiarity with Jones. He played under Jim Caldwell when Caldwell was the offensive coordinator in Baltimore. He also was the punt returner for Houston during some of new special teams coordinator Joe Marciano’s time with the Texans.
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While new shiny objects do hold the attention for a few seconds, a deeper look proves that Jones only has one real advantage.
| Player | Punt Return Avg. | Kick Return Avg. | Return TDs |
| Jeremy Ross | 8.88 | 25.39 | 0 |
| Jacoby Jones | 9.17 | 30.56 | 1 |
The Lions need competition for this position. Jones may be the man for the job, but it would take a small salary to beat the value available in the draft.
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Kicker Matt Prater
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One specialist the Lions have settled on is kicker Matt Prater.
The Lions have reportedly offered Prater a contract. At least, that's what general manager Martin Mayhew said to Tori Petry in a video on the team's website.
There's no official word on how the talks have gone since the combine. We do know, however, that Prater at one time was very adamant about his desire to return:
"Matt Prater: "I've already told my agent I want to stay here. I've enjoyed it so much. I want to stay here."
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 5, 2015"
The mutual interest should help get this done quickly. It's difficult to see why Mayhew would leave the kicking position to chance after it cost his team the Buffalo game. Suffices it to say, his other attempts at filling the job went sideways.
| Player | Makes | Attempts | Percentage |
| Nate Freese | 3 | 7 | 42.9 |
| Alex Henery | 1 | 5 | 20 |
| Matt Prater | 21 | 26 | 80.8 |
This is the most likely deal to be done first.
Cornerback Rashean Mathis
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The second quickest to sign will probably be the ageless wonder at cornerback.
Rashean Mathis was brought to Detroit two years ago on a flier. He grabbed that opportunity and finished the 2014 season as the 12th-highest-graded cornerback, per Pro Football Focus.
A large part of his jump forward was head coach Jim Caldwell and undoubtedly defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Caldwell has a reputation of listening to his veterans, and it appears the approach has Mathis ready to ride in Motown:
"Rashean Mathis wants to play with the Lions at least one more year. Said Jim Caldwell is the best NFL coach he's ever had.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 5, 2015"
Mathis is also known as a great locker room guy who has helped Darius Slay develop. His value won't be reflected in his salary because he likely won't get much of a raise from the $1 million he made last season.
Defensive End George Johnson
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Detroit has also made the decision on another recent addition and with good cause.
Vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White convinced Martin Mayhew to pull the trigger on Rashean Mathis and George Johnson. And like the veteran cornerback, Johnson has taken his chance by the horns and used it to beat down opposing quarterbacks.
The 27-year-old defensive end proved to be an adept reserve pass-rusher, finishing with six sacks and 27 quarterback hurries—both third-best on the team.
There was some question regarding whether he was a restricted or unrestricted free agent. The NFL Players Association has concluded he is restricted, so Mayhew now has three options that Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com laid out here:
"Teams can tender RFAs on three different levels:
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"A first-rounder tender ($3.113 million last year) guarantees the team a first-round pick as compensation if it does not match another team's offer sheet."
"A second-round tender ($2.187 million) provides a second-round pick as compensation."
"Low tender ($1.323 million) provides no compensation, but the right to match any offer."
Mayhew will reportedly tender Johnson, again per Twentyman, but no details of the offer have leaked. A second-round designation would require an extra $750,000 or so and other teams could still extend an offer. Yet, at the cost of a second-round pick, other franchises will likely leave Johnson to the Lions.
Defensive Tackle C.J. Mosley
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C.J. Mosley played a much bigger role in Detroit's success than the coaching staff anticipated or likely wanted. Despite his contribution, Mosley finds himself squarely on the backburner.
Actually, he might not even be on the stove at this point. The most you're going to find on him is a Dave Birkett's Detroit Free Press article stating that "[t]he Lions met with Mosley's representatives at the NFL combine last week and expressed interest in bringing him back."
And honestly, what did you expect the team to say?
Mosley stepped into the starting lineup after Nick Fairley went down with a knee injury in London. The defense didn't miss a beat against the run finishing with the least rushing yards allowed by a comfortable margin.
Unfortunately for Mosley, he doesn't provide the type of pass rush or upside of the aforementioned Fairley. And you have to wonder if him getting sent home from Britain for smoking pot in his hotel room is playing any role in the team's decision.
It's understandable for Detroit not to make a move on some of its more pricey free agents until Ndamukong Suh signs. However, Mosley doesn't figure to be anywhere near the same stratosphere of Fairley's contract considering his age and skill level. It's almost baffling that the Lions haven't made a stronger move toward locking up a guy who can either be a very valuable reserve or an above-average starter.
Defensive Tackle Nick Fairley
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Nick Fairley's status is the most mysterious of all included here.
Ndamukong Suh's contract will be the determinative deal of the offseason. Nothing will happen with Fairley until that deal is done. One has to wonder how Fairley feels about being an afterthought, even if it's to one of the most destructive defenders in the game.
Plus, there could be a lingering effect from making him a free agent in the first place:
"Positive meetings with Nick Fairley's reps wouldn't be necessary if the Lions had exercised their 5th year option with him for $5.477M.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) February 23, 2015"
Some, like Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey, think the issues that forced Detroit to turn down that option will make Fairley the more enticing commodity:
"Concerns over signing Fairley are obvious. He hasn't lived up to the high expectations that accompanied him out of Auburn. Yet, those concerns can and will be used to depress the market for his signature, making him a more valuable free-agent addition.
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The game of musical chairs for the Lions' free agents will begin once Suh signs. Out of everyone highlighted here, Fairley is the most likely to find a chair elsewhere.
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
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Is it still news if the latest report reads the same as it has for a year?
"The Lions had "extensive" negotiations with Ndamukong Suh's agent at the combine http://t.co/qWl4mp1qvN
— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) February 23, 2015"
This has been the case since Ndamukong Suh picked Jimmy Sexton as his agent. As general manager Martin Mayhew told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, "there's no such thing as close." So, there's no way to predict if a long-term deal is likely or not.
But Jeff Risdon of DetroitLionsdraft.com thinks there is a predetermined outcome here based on conversations he had at the NFL Scouting Combine:
"Suh will be back. I strongly believe the Lions will use the franchise player tag on him if they cannot reach a long-term deal. They are prepared to make that move, and it’s not as crippling to the cap in their eyes as it is to the fan base. GM Martin Mayhew, President Tom Lewand and the staff have a financial plan to accommodate Suh at the outrageous franchise tag figure.
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The number does seem outrageous. Detroit must designate $26.7 million of the salary cap to Suh if they slap him with the franchise tag. That's a tough pill for anyone to swallow.
Using the tag would means the Lions front office believes the championship window is open—a sentiment Bleacher Report's Ty Schalter recently echoed. And Detroit isn't winning the biggest prize in football without the baddest man in the sport.
Stay tuned.
All advanced stats, grades and rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All contract numbers are sourced from Spotrac.
Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.
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