Detroit Lions Free Agency: Is Nnamdi Asomugha a Remote Possibility?

Nnamdi Asomugha is the best cornerback in the NFL, far and away the most sought-after free agent on the market this offseason.

Cornerback is one of the Detroit Lions' greatest weaknesses heading into 2011.

Seems like a match made in heaven, right?

Maybe. But there are a number of reasons that Asomugha unfortunately doesn't make sense for Detroit.

Asomugha was born in Louisiana and played his college ball at Cal. Just from a location perspective, with 32 teams likely to be after his services, why would he single out Detroit?

He wouldn't. There would have to be something else involved, like money. So can the Lions afford to throw more money at Asomugha than any other team on the market?

It's hard to say, with the labor situation in its current state. Where does the salary cap land? How will it be structured, and how will it affect the Lions?

I'll tell you straight away, none of that matters. What matters is that the Lions aren't the team that goes out and overpays for the coveted free agent. And because Asomugha is a hot market commodity, somebody will undoubtedly overpay for him.

That's not to say he's not worth big money. Even average cover corners get paid when they hit the open market. And Asomugha is anything but average.

But somebody is going to overpay for him, because there are always teams out there that try to build by throwing out the most money for free agents (I'm looking at you, Washington).

The Lions are not that team, and it has nothing to do with their desire or ability to get him. It has to do with the fact that the Lions don't need to bust their future salary cap for the sake of a single player.

But maybe, just maybe, it isn't the money Asomugha is after. Maybe he's looking for a decent contract on a team he can win a Super Bowl with.

If that's the case, the Lions are a little bit out of the loop. See, there's no doubt that the Lions are improving, and they should be in the playoff hunt this season.

But the Lions are not exactly the team you look at when you think "perennial Super Bowl contenders." Quite the opposite in fact, as the Lions are one of only two pre-Super Bowl-era teams to have never made a Super Bowl.

If Asomugha is looking for a complete team he can win a Super Bowl with, he'll be looking to Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh or possibly New Orleans.

Detroit? They're much better than they have been, but they've hardly proven anything tangible to anyone outside of Detroit. Asomugha won't be thinking about Detroit if he's thinking about Super Bowls.

That's not to say Detroit won't contend for one in the near future, that's only to say that the Lions franchise doesn't exactly go hand-in-hand with that conversation.

Of course, free agents who have visited Detroit have come away with overwhelmingly positive impressions.

Safety Erik Coleman gushed about the Lions organization (!!!) recently, saying that he was so impressed with the team, coaches and organization, that there was no need to wait for other offers and that it "was just the right fit."

Of course, Coleman is a journeyman safety who signed a one-year deal, and Asomugha is one of the league's brightest stars. Asomugha might not be so easily swayed by future promise and a warm fuzzy feeling in the locker room.

Asomugha, ultimately, has the luxury of shopping around for a team that brings the best mix of big money, title chances and desirable location.

As fun as it is to think the Lions are that team, they're not. And they shouldn't be.

Teams who pursue sign top-tier free agents are generally not serious contenders. By the same token, teams that are generally serious contenders generally don't even give top-tier free agents a call. They build through the draft and smart, frugal moves in free agency.

That has been the trend for Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz in their time as the Lions' brain trust. They have been successful with strong draft picks and the "Square Peg Brigade."

That strategy has been successful so far, so why deviate from it just as it begins to see its greatest success?

Asomugha, as talented as he is, probably isn't a good fit for Detroit. And it's not because he isn't good, or he doesn't fit the Lions scheme.

It's just that he's probably looking to go somewhere else, and Detroit's probably looking to sign someone cheaper.