Detroit Lions' Blueprint for Winning Free Agency

For once, the Detroit Lions won't enter free agency with a large shopping list, but the lack of length doesn't mean the items will be easy to attain.

The first priority on this list won't surprise anyone. The entire offseason seems to revolve around it since none of the other dominoes can start falling until a certain defensive tackle's services are secured.

And you'll notice that quite a few of those dominoes have already worn Honolulu blue. General manager Martin Mayhew's focus needs to be on keeping together a successful roster as opposed to adding a bunch of pieces.

So what steps must Mayhew take to put his team in the best possible position? Click through to find out.

Step 1: Re-Sign Ndamukong Suh

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Shockingly, everything begins with re-signing Ndamukong Suh.

He's the player who allows defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to get creative. He consistently handles double-teams and occasionally breaks through anyway to disrupt plays in the backfield.

He's entering his prime and was already Detroit's best player. Obviously, the Lions want him back on a long-term deal but have discussed the idea of slapping him with the franchise tag. Despite his immense value, that might be a bridge too far.

For starters, the tag means a one-year deal for $26.7 million. That means other deals would have to be restructured, or veterans would have to be released to fit the contract under the cap. The team wouldn't be able to maintain the roster it had last year, much less improve it through free agency. 

And Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out another problem with the tag:

"

However, guaranteeing Suh $26.8 million for 2015 and setting him up for $32.16 million in 2016 makes the logical starting point for any negotiation on a long-term deal $58.96 million fully guaranteed for the first two years.

That’s the problem with using the tag; the amount of the tag in the current year and the expected amount of the tag in the next year becomes the starting point for a long-term deal.

"

So yes, Detroit needs to sign Suh for this offseason to be a success, but it has to be a long-term deal. He will cost more than J.J. Watt or Gerald McCoy, and that's OK because the salary cap will continue to rise at a healthy pace, rendering the deal more palatable. Something in the range of six years for $102 million—around $60 million of it guaranteed—should make both parties happy for years to come.

Step 2: Re-Sign Rashean Mathis

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The cornerback pool will be inviting and warm considering some of the names on the list. Darrelle Revis isn't a realistic possibility, but Chris Culliver, Antonio Cromartie and Walter Thurmond have made their rounds on Twitter as valuable targets. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press highlighted the fact the Lions liked Culliver "coming out of the draft":

"

Lions liked Chris Culliver a lot coming out of the draft. Good coverage there by him

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) February 4, 2013"

And the Lions would be well-off if they signed any one of those three. They're all worthy starters in an NFL secondary. But none of them provide the fit that Rashean Mathis represents.

Mathis has enjoyed a renaissance in Detroit, peaking with the 12th-highest-graded season among cornerbacks last year, according to Pro Football Focus. His production alone warrants another low-risk and, more importantly, low-cost contract.

However, that's just one part of the package. Detroit will probably draft a cornerback. Mathis has already proven to a reliable mentor for the rising Darius Slay and could be relied upon to do the same for the newcomer.

In short, he would provide a stable bridge for the entire secondary. His on-field play would keep the defensive standard high and his off-field leadership would help groom a successor who can maintain or elevate that standard.

Step 3: Avoid the Running Backs

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Signing a free-agent running back may be tempting because recent cuts have made it a buyer's market. The Lions must avoid falling into this trap. BostonHeraldHS noted that the Lions need to "keep Suh" but also advocated bringing Shane Vereen on board:

"

@BHallESPN Gotta do things to keep Suh. Shane Vereen to the Lions

— BostonHeraldHS (@BostonHeraldHS) February 25, 2015"

Vereen is a versatile running back who fits the modern game well. He's an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield, essentially extending the running game using flairs and attacking the flats.

But he doesn't add any value to the Lions roster because Detroit already has Theo Riddick. Vereen would be a redundancy and would only serve to block Riddick from getting on the field.

The Lions need a home run threat who can do damage on the ground and in the air. While the free-agent pool is deep in terms of veteran talent, only C.J. Spiller could fit that bill. And his injury history (eight missed games over the last two years) and recent fumbling issues (three in just 78 carries last season) make him an unattractive option for the bids he's likely to garner.

Detroit would be better-served looking for a Reggie Bush replacement in the draft. Any money spent on a free-agent running back would be a waste.

Step 4: Re-Sign C.J. Mosley

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Frankly, I'm surprised this move hasn't happened yet.

Four of the Lions' defensive tackles from last season are free agents. The rotation that kept the team in contention all season is in danger of being decimated. And that's why C.J. Mosley is such an important player this offseason.

Mosley is coming off a contract that averaged just under $1.4 million the last two seasons. During that time, he graded out as the 21st- and 26th-best defensive tackle in 2013 and 2014, respectively. He excelled at clogging up running lanes and occasionally made a play in the backfield, as ESPN's Michael Rothstein noted:

"

On that reverse by Miami, the play was made by C.J. Mosley. Snuffed it in the backfield but the whole defense read it well. #Lions

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) November 9, 2014"

Even if the Lions grab a top defensive tackle in the draft, they still need to keep Mosley around. Not only is he a valuable backup who maintains a high level of play in his reserve role, he is excellent insurance against an injury to either of the top tackles as evidenced by his eight starts last year.

General manager Martin Mayhew needs to make Mosley a priority before other teams can start bidding. It shouldn't take much more than a $500,000 raise to bring him back, considering he'll be 32 before the season starts.

Step 5: Re-Sign Matt Prater

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Mayhew hasn't wasted any time letting kicker Matt Prater know that he wants him back. Last year's failures (Nate Freese and Alex Henery) must have made him realize that you can't just plug anyone in at kicker and be fine. DetroitLions.com's Tim Twentyman tweeted about a Mayhew-Prater meeting in late February; the tweet also mentioned Mayhew's desire to bring Prater back and Mayhew's belief that he has Pro Bowl potential:

"

Mayhew is meeting with Matt Prater's agent tonight in Indy. Wants him back and thinks he can be a Pro Bowl kicker.

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) February 20, 2015"

It all came to a head against Buffalo, when Henery's late missed field goal gave Buffalo the chance to win the game with a kick of its own. And that one game could have been enough to push Detroit over the top in the NFC North, earning a home playoff game in the process.

Prater's 80.8 percent conversion rate is almost 18 percentage points higher than the previous two kickers' completion rates combined. And Prater believes that will improve with an offseason working with long snapper Don Muhlbach and holder Sam Martin, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

The only tripping point could be the money. Prater may want to get paid like the former All-Pro that he is, and the top kickers pull in over $3 million per season. If Mayhew can keep that number at $3 million or lower, he shouldn't hesitate.

Step 6: Sign Clint Boling

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Remember, the whole focus here was to retain players because the team already had a sturdy foundation. And in most cases, the positions that needed fresh blood would be better served with a draft infusion.

Of course, there is also the cap-space concern. With the highest percentage of the available space set aside for Suh, there simply isn't much left to throw around since Detroit only has $16.5 million available once you account for signing seven draft picks.

But if the team can keep Suh's cap hit low and push the big numbers further down the line, Detroit should address the only major hole on the team that can't be fixed with players currently on the roster—left guard.

The big name on the market is Mike Iupati. Good teams don't pay for names; they pay for value. That's exactly why the Lions should steer clear of Iupati and careen toward Clint Boling. 

Player	Run Grade	Sacks	QB Hits	Hurries
Mike Iupati	18.5	7	2	22
Clint Boling	5.4	2	8	10
*Stats sourced from Pro Football Focus

Iupati is the better run-blocker of the two. However, as the numbers indicate, he was a liability in pass protection last season, and offensive coordinator likes to use deep dropbacks and long-developing plays.

Plus, Iupati is bound to have plenty of suitors who will drive up his salary. He is bound to to be priced out of Detroit's range, while Boling could be had for a much more team-friendly deal.

That's it. That's all the Lions need to do to "win" free agency. Keep the players who got them to the playoffs and try to land a cost-effective guard who will solidify the offensive line.

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.