Detroit Lions Free Agency: So Far, So Good, but There Is a Huge Hole

I will admit, I didn't think there was any way possible that the Lions would add the quality that they did in the first few days of free agency.

I knew they would be aggressive, but I really didn't think that middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch and defensive back Eric Wright were in the cards.      

Wright is solid, but Tulloch is a game-changer that will benefit mightily from playing behind our stacked defensive line.

Linebackers' eyes light up when they see the big boys up front dominating the line. It allows them to avoid having to waste energy shedding monster offensive linemen.

Tulloch will clog the middle like past players like Earl Holmes and Stephen Boyd, although I am not ready to christen him Chris Spielman just yet.

Linebacker Justin Durant was another solid signing that will help bolster the back seven. Add to the mix Erik Coleman in the secondary, and you are looking at the makings of a very good defense.

So should we start popping Champagne bottles from coast to coast in honor of our upcoming Super Bowl appearance?

Not quite.

The defense is much improved, as is the offense. The backfield has improved with draft pick Mikel Leshoure, giving the team a legit thunder and lightning running back by committee. However, neither has proven that they can be big time threats as of yet.

The receiving corps has improved with the subtraction of Bryant Johnson and the addition of Titus Young. While I am not a huge believer in Young, he definitely will be an upgrade.

The tight ends continue to be strong with the much improved Brandon Pettigrew and the solid Tony Scheffler.

Heck, we even have reason to be optimistic about our quarterback—a notorious position around these parts.

But there is still a huge hole on this team, and I'm not sure that it can be addressed. The offensive line is a major fear in my mind.

Gosder Cherilous looked good at times last year, but he is far from proven.

Rob Sims is a good guard, but Stephen Peterman is solid at best.

Dominic Raiola is a solid center, although he can have problems with big nose tackles—and that is something that is prevalent in this division.

The real question right now is Jeff Backus. He apparently ripped his pectoral muscle during the lockout and it is not yet known how long he will be hurt.

Even with a 100 percent Backus, this is still a questionable offensive line that likely played way above their talent level last year.

Sure, lightning could strike twice and they could play out of their mind again. But more than likely, they need to bring somebody in to at least compete with the incumbents.

The problem is that the Lions are running out of money quickly. They likely only have a couple million dollars left to spend, and the top offensive linemen will likely command much more.

Carl Nicks is the best guard on the market, but he will command upwards of $5-10 million per season given his age and ability.

The top tackle is Jared Gaither, and he similarly is out of our price range.

So what can be done about this hole? Personally, I think the answer is a seasoned veteran, likely on the wrong side of 30.

There are a couple out there and they could be had. Leonard Davis and Brian Waters in particular appear to fit perfectly with this line, and Waters in particular would be a huge upgrade.

So how expensive would they be? Well, they made a lot of money over the course of their careers, and both would probably welcome the chance to play for a winner at the end of their careers.

But will either be willing to sign well below their usual salary?

Stay tuned, this should be resolved relatively quickly.