Detroit Lions Free-Agency Tracker: Updated Signings, Rumors and Grades
The Detroit Lions waded into free agency like a six-year-old into the Atlantic after watching Jaws. They held their breath and feared the worst, and then they realized the unknown wasn't nearly as scary as imagined.
Now that Ndamukong Suh has made his decision, the dominoes should start falling soon. Detroit doesn't need to rebuild because it's down one All-Pro. The roster isn't devoid of talent.
And for that reason, general manager Martin Mayhew's job isn't under fire because one supreme defender took a record-breaking deal elsewhere. Yet that doesn't save him from the wrath of public scrutiny, and here he will find no quarter unless he navigates the free-agent waters well.
So click through for all the latest Lions rumors and signings, along with a grade to get the conversation started. I'll update the slideshow with news and notes as they happen, so be sure to check back periodically.
DT Ndamukong Suh
1 of 12
Detroit's offseason centered on Ndamukong Suh, and now the defense no longer will.
Suh took the money. He picked the state that doesn't administer an income tax—although the high sales and property taxes will sting (h/t Bleacher Reporter Scott Carasik). No one should blame him since most of us would jump at an employment offer that paid us 12 percent more.
And the fans shouldn't blame Martin Mayhew unless they're referring to the restructurings that created an untenable franchise-tag situation. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explained it well here:
"On Monday, with negotiations going nowhere, the Lions decided not to use the biggest piece of leverage NFL teams have with their own top free agents, the franchise tag, because of the excessive cost of $26.9 million brought on by their own financial mismanagement.
Suh's tag was so exorbitant because of the way the Lions structured his rookie deal and the fact that they twice borrowed against his contract to push cap money into future seasons.
"
Should the Lions have found other ways to free up money? Perhaps, but that doesn't change the fact the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins pushed the bidding to such an extreme that it became completely reasonable for the Lions to say no.
"Ndamukong Suh will sign with #Dolphins on Tuesday based off parameters around $114 million and $60 million guaranteed, per sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 8, 2015"
A single player won't replace Suh. It'll take a village—or whatever; I never really understood that metaphor. The point is that the team will need to take the $17 million saved annually (which Detroit offered along with $58 million guaranteed, per Birkett) and use it to fill the remaining holes on the team.
This isn't the ideal situation. It also isn't the close of this team's playoff window. The Lions made a strong effort, placed a high value on Suh and made the smart decision not to cave because somebody else was willing to. So while the grade reflects that final wisdom, it also includes a downward adjustment for the decisions that led to that point.
Grade: D+
NT Haloti Ngata
2 of 12
If you're a Lions fan, you should have gotten over the loss of Ndamukong Suh during the time it took you to read the last slide because general manager Martin Mayhew wasted no time moving on:
"It’s mid-rounders from the #Lions to the #Ravens in exchange for Haloti Ngata
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015"
A pair of Day 3 picks (a 4th and a 5th-rounder per Peter King) versus Ngata represents a huge upgrade in value for Detroit. They acquire the ninth-highest rated 3-4 defensive end from last season, per Pro Football Focus, and a seventh-rounder for a very reasonable cap hit:
"If the Lions don't rework his deal, Ngata will be under contract for one year at $8.5M. That's his cap hit for the Lions, too
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 10, 2015"
Obviously, he'll either return to nose tackle or 4-3 defensive tackle, which could further increase his value.
Ngata brings a lot to the table. He'll take over the double-team duties Suh used to handle to set up the linebackers in run defense. And his ability to anchor the middle of the line gives defensive coordinator Teryl Austin even more scheme versatility than he previously had. There's now no end to the creative fronts he can throw at opposing offenses.
Even if Detroit can't lock Ngata down for two or three more years, this isn't a loss. The move gives Detroit its best option available at maintaining last year's defensive success while retaining future cap flexibility for a very minimal price.
Picks that late are usually reserved for specialists (kick returners, punters and kickers) or projects. Ngata is a five-time All-Pro with a Super Bowl ring.
Grade: A-
DT Nick Fairley
3 of 12
The Lions didn't rest on their haunches when everyone else was scooping up the big-name players. Aside from the Haloti Ngata trade, Charles Robinson of Yahoo reports that Detroit kept in close contact with Nick Fairley:
"#Lions are still trying to get it done with Nick Fairley, but he's got some interest elsewhere, too (I don't know who yet).
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 10, 2015"
Fairley was a hot topic on #Lions Twitter since the Ndamukong Suh announcement. Fans were eager to see the front office do something to stop the bleeding and securing 2011's first round pick was the most popular tourniquet available.
The Ngata trade lessened the need for defensive tackle, but it reinvigorated the fans who envisioned Fairley and Ngata destroying offensive lines together.
I cautioned those fans to drink some milk and lie down. General manager Martin Mayhew was not going to jump to meet Fairley's demands because Suh, Jared Odrick and Stephen Paea already had deals in place. This is the same player who forced Mayhew's hand last summer because he refused to stay in shape or put in the effort necessary to elevate his game.
After the Lions couldn't get a deal done with Fairley, he visited Cincinnati, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Again, Fairley didn't receive a deal so he headed to St. Louis, where the Rams secured his services with a one-year deal worth $5 million with incentives that could drive the final cost to as much as $8 million, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
If you want to argue that Martin Mayhew screwed this up royally by declining Nick Fairley's fifth-year option (worth $5.477 million per NFLTradeRumors.com) last March, it's understandable since it could have been withdrawn at a later date. However, the front office didn't trust Fairley because he still couldn't be bothered to up his effort after the ordeal, resulting in an August benching.
There's no denying his talent. More than likely, the team wasn't willing to sink much money into a player it couldn't rely on and who possibly doesn't have the right attitude for a Jim Caldwell locker room. And that's a defensible position because you can't field a competitive team carrying $17 million of dead money by paying possible slackers decent amounts of guaranteed money.
Grade: C+
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OG Justin Blalock
4 of 12
The offensive line was an issue all season after being a formidable strength the year prior. Guard Rob Sims, who was a part of the problem, is currently a free agent and the Lions have yet to replace him.
Martin Mayhew could turn to the draft for the answer, but he's at least kicking the tires of one veteran per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com (H/T Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch):
"The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the Lions are in the mix for Blalock, who is one of the top remaining players in the thinned-out guard class after Mike Iupati (Cardinals), Orlando Franklin (Chargers), James Carpenter (Jets) and Clint Boling (Bengals) all landed new deals.
Blalock, 31, has started all but three games at guard since joining the Falcons in 2007. At 6-foot-4, 326 pounds, he's consistently been an upper-tier player at the position.
"
Blalock won't be the long-term answer because of his age. It's more likely that he holds the fort down for a year or two while the Lions develop his successor.
It's hard to say what he does particularly well. Blalock has graded as a top-25 guard in each of the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus, but he gave up just two less quarterback hurries than Sims. Additionally, his run blocking only earned a league-average mark (negative-0.2), which is actually a stark improvement over Sims' negative-3.8.
There's nothing definitive to grade at this point. Let's see how the numbers shake out if Detroit opts for the veteran from Atlanta.
UPDATE: Blalock is on his way to Detroit for a visit, per Josina Anderson of ESPN via Michael Rothstein:
"The #Lions confirm the @JosinaAnderson report that former #Falcons OG Justin Blalock is visiting Detroit today.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 12, 2015"
Grade: Incomplete
DT Tyrunn Walker
5 of 12
The Lions didn't ink Justin Blalock to a contract Thursday, but did get one nailed down with defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker. Rand Getlin of Yahoo (via NFL agent Scott Kiernan) has the details:
"Non-Tendered DL Tyrunn Walker signs a one-year deal worth $1.75M with the #Lions. Includes a $750K bonus, per @skiernan78.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 13, 2015"
Detroit only had two true interior linemen on the roster prior to this deal. Obviously, Haloti Ngata has a strangle hold on a starting spot, but Caraun Reid can't even be counted on to round out the bottom of the rotation yet.
Walker only logged 306 snaps in 2014. Despite those limited appearances, he created a little buzz among NFL front offices according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
"You’ve probably never heard of new Lions DL Tyrunn Walker. I hadn’t either. The amount of interest by smart personnel people was staggering
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2015"
It's likely his greatest strength is the biggest reason for all that interest:
"New Lion Tyrunn Walker had a Pass Rushing Productivity of 7.3. That was the 17th best of 72 qualifying defensive/nose tackles.
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 13, 2015"
The Lions needed to add depth along the interior of the defensive line. Walker will do that while adding a pass-rushing element that few else on the roster could provide. It's a solid marriage of value and need that has enough upside to make it a nice signing.
Grade: B-
K Matt Prater
6 of 12
The Lions didn't wait for Ndamukong Suh to sign to take care of a few matters. A certain stable of veterans were going to come cheaply enough that Suh's hit wouldn't matter; the largest of which is detailed here by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:
"3 years, $9M RT @ttwentyman: The #Lions have re-signed K Matt Prater to a new 3-year contract. Lions finally have long-term stability
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2015"
Prater did enough last season to prove that he's worth an investment. After the Lions ran through two kickers and gave away the Buffalo Bills game in the process, Martin Mayhew wasn't taking any chances.
Need more proof that Prater deserves the money? Just look at the Denver Broncos. They cut him after a four-game suspension last season and released his replacement within the same season. Finding kickers isn't as easy as it seems.
Prater converted 80.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, including 9-of-13 from 40-plus yards out, including that game-winner against the Atlanta Falcons. His contract shouldn't bother anyone.
Grade: A
DE/OLB Darryl Tapp
7 of 12
The first defensive domino to fall didn't raise too many eyebrows. In fact, it took a few days before anyone even noticed, and it's understandable if you still haven't seen it. So let Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com fill in the details for you:
"Can confirm thought NFLPA records that Darryl Tapp is under contract with the #Lions in 2015. Base salary of $870,000
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 2, 2015"
Obviously, the money is fine. The Lions retain a rotational piece who provides stability and even an impact play every now and then on the big stage (pictured above). Tapp is also a veteran who will help maintain a healthy locker room and be sure to remind players of the good thing they have going, as he recently did with Rothstein here:
"“I wanted to be here and I feel like this is a great situation, the way they do things,” Tapp told ESPN.com Monday afternoon. “The way everybody is on the same page as far as the powers that be upstairs, the players, everybody was together.
"
“That’s so unique on this level, the NFL, that’s very rare. I’m just happy with the way they do things around here.”
However, the grade has to reflect the on-field significance of the move as well. I don't "hate" the Tapp signing, but that doesn't mean it's worthy of an "A" either. It fits the need at the proper cost.
Grade: B-
WR/KR Jeremy Ross
8 of 12
The response to Jeremy Ross' return wasn't enthusiastic. This is probably the only tweet on the matter I could get past my editors that conveyed the proper sentiment:
"Why are the Lions bringing Jeremy Ross back. Let Broyles play. #freebroyles
— Tree J (@tree2j) March 6, 2015"
It wasn't that harsh, but a quick survey of the fans will find the responses filled with colorful words and statements. They're a mix of confusion and disdain sprinkled with a pinch of surprise.
Ross' debut in Detroit created a tough act to follow. His second season didn't bring the memorable plays, and he too often failed to make the routine ones.
| Year | Punt Return Avg. | Kick Return Avg. | Return TDs |
| 2013 | 16.2 | 29.3 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8.9 | 25.4 | 0 |
You could tell by the end of the season that he was pushing too hard to break a long return. The Lions are hoping another offseason to clear his head will free him to trust the instincts that made him so exciting in the first place. That optimism doesn't make it a great signing, but the non-guaranteed low cost ($660,000, per Over the Cap) makes it understandable.
Grade: C
DE George Johnson
9 of 12
Remember that discussion about needing multiple players to step up in Suh's absence? George Johnson will be one of the villagers tasked with that responsibility.
However, it isn't a certainty that Johnson is back in the Honolulu blue. As Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News explains, the Lions only offered an original-round tender:
"Lions announce original-round tender for RFA DE George Johnson. Teams can offer. Lions have matching rights, but get nothing if he leaves.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) March 6, 2015"
This is another case of Martin Mayhew sticking to his valuation. If he had upped the tender to the second round, which would have cost Detroit $2.356 million and required anybody who signed him to give the Lions a corresponding pick, Johnson would be all but guaranteed to be back.
Johnson can provide the pass-rushing yin to Jason Jones' run-stuffing yang, giving Detroit a complete defensive end on one side of the line. His six sacks in a reserve role is the type of spot production needed to keep the defense humming.
The work isn't done here yet, so a grade will be forthcoming once we know the result.
Grade: Incomplete
S Isa Abdul-Quddus
10 of 12
The Lions continued their quest to retain the role players that helped them wring out 11 wins from the 2014 season:
"News for Lions fans. Detroit is finalizing a 1 year deal w/ safety Isa Abdul Quddus. Good young safety started 4 games in 2014. @NFLonFOX
— P. Schrager (@PSchrags) March 10, 2015"
Nobody is going to write long, media-filled articles about Detroit re-signing safety Isa Abdul-Quddus. But his importance to a team that broke down on special teams too often late (remember Micah Hyde's punt return in Week 17?) shouldn't be understated.
He's a trusty special-teamer, and he fills out the safety depth chart nicely. Abdul-Quddus did a decent job filling in as the starting strong safety for the first few games, grading out (-0.2) at a league-average level during the time.
It's another move that won't be debated late into the night in Michigan bars. It is, however, a solid signing that fills a need cheaply.
Grade: B
LB Josh Bynes
11 of 12
Again, I hope you're not looking for new names in free agency because the front office is keen on keeping the core of a winning team together. Granted, linebacker Josh Bynes isn't a key acquisition, but he is a player who fills a need.
"Lions announce that LB Josh Bynes' contract is for two years.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) March 10, 2015"
Bynes isn't going to push either Stephen Tulloch or Tahir Whitehead for a spot in the starting lineup. In fact, it would be bold just to presume his roster spot is guaranteed next season.
There's nothing exciting about Bynes' retention. He gave up a passer rating of 104.6 when opposing quarterbacks targeted his assignment.
But he's another player that could help on special teams as well as be a valuable fill-in for the defense. He only missed one of 24 tackles attempts, per Pro Football Focus, and alleviates one more nagging bottom-roster need.
Grade: C+
LS Don Muhlbach
12 of 12
There's not much here to report or discuss.
Don Muhlbach has been Detroit's long snapper since mid-2004 and is the classic case of not fixing what isn't broken, especially when he counts for so little against the salary cap. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explains here:
"He's played the last three seasons on one-year minimum salary benefit deals, which for 2015 includes a $970,000 base salary and $80,000 signing bonus but only counts $665,000 against the cap.
"
Detroit is hoping that Muhlbach, holder Sam Martin and kicker Matt Prater can continue to build upon the kicking success that came late in the season. This isn't a move that moves the needle. It is a necessary one that will keep continuity in an area where the trait reigns supreme.
Grade: B
All salary-cap numbers are sourced from Over the Cap unless otherwise noted.
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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