Detroit Lions: Ten 2012 Free Agents We'd Love To See

There are 10 players set to enter the 2012 free-agency market that Detroit Lions fans would love to see in Honolulu Blue & Silver.

It’s painfully obvious the Lions are not a finished product, ready to vie for the Vince Lombardi trophy, just yet.

After the Lions had to use every last one of their collective claws to hang on to their eighth victory of the year, securing the first non-losing season in over a decade, the lack of depth and Jarlsberg holes in both the offensive and defensive personnel have increasingly become apparent over the last two months.

With the holiday season upon us, let’s hearken back to our younger years and help Jim Schwartz with his list for Santa, or Hanukkah Harry, depending upon your religious beliefs, for the 2012 free-agency period.

Back before NFL.com and the ability to purchase a Gulfstream online, my family always received holiday catalogs from the department stores that you would thumb through and circle your most coveted aspirations.

Unfortunately, the G6 lifestyle is still a bit out of reach, but it was the NFL merchandise pages that were always the most disappointing with less than 25 percent of all the NFL apparel having the Detroit Lions option—my personal Ralphie Ovaltine enlightenment.

Fans in Detroit have also endured the harsh reality of decoding the names of possible impact free agents the Lions were rumored to have interest in, but Mr. Ford’s elves were never able to crack the code.

But the winds of change are swirling in Allen Park, and there are many opportunities to improve this team for not only the immediate future, but long-term with young, talented players pressing their Jerry Maguire’s to “show me the money.”

Although Cliff Avril is making a strong case for being the Lions' No. 1 priority this offseason, we will keep the focus to free agents not currently on the Lions' roster.

Here are 10 players, under the age of 30, which should be on the Lions’ wish list. Some of these players are looking for a fresh start, and some, in all likelihood, will be retained by their current teams. It will be up to the Lions' organization to present Detroit as a destination and not a last resort.

Ray Rice: Running Back

Without question, Ray Rice is the best all-purpose back in the NFL today, and, in my opinion, the valedictorian of the 2012 class.

Rice has over 1,000 yards rushing, nearly 600 yards receiving, and with Willis McGahee finally shown the door, his touchdown total is fourth best in the league at 12.

He runs, he blocks and has great hands out of the backfield. He's a true three-down back.

The man who put Rutgers football back on the map is the most productive RB in fantasy football, has his Ravens on top of the AFC and will be 25 next year; his best is yet to come.

Alec Baldwin will get his American Airlines wings before Baltimore lets go of Rice, but wouldn’t it be great to have Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure as luxuries as opposed to necessities?

Mario Williams: Defensive End/Linebacker

I wonder if Charlie Casserly is still telling people “I told you so.”

It was Casserly who, in 2006, bucked popular opinion by drafting Mario Williams instead of the electrifying tailback from USC—Reggie Bush.

Kudos to Chuck because Williams is a beast.

Before he suffered the torn pectoral muscle in Game 5, Super Mario was averaging a sack per game.

The Texans should do everything in their power to get him back in the fold, but with the way Wade Phillips’ defense has played all year, could they justify the financial savings by letting him go?

Probably not, but Williams may want to get back to the 4-3 scheme and away from playing pass coverage. Kyle Vanden Bosch is 33 and not getting any younger.

A 27-year-old No. 1 overall pick next to Suh, Fairley and Avril is extremely unlikely with a redonkulous amount of scratch in the front four, but it sure would ease the need to go shopping for cornerbacks.

Demetrius Bell: Offesnive Tackle

The Buffalo Bills impressive 3-0 start, including the upset of the Patriots, was with Demetrius Bell protecting the blind side of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The 27-year-old injured his shoulder in Game 4 and has lost his starting gig to rookie Chris Hairston.

Bell is a good pass blocker but an even better run blocker and could find his way out of Buffalo easily if there’s an opportunity to start.

The draft will determine the need for offensive tackle, but as the Lions continue to creep further away from the top 10, the blue chip tackles fade away as well.

Behind Backus, there's nobody to put any faith in currently. The 27-year-old Bell could be the answer.

Carl Nicks: Offensive Guard

Carl Nicks is one of the best guards in the NFL and has enjoyed success down on the Bayou protecting fellow free-agent-to-be Drew Brees.

The problem in New Orleans is that they already gave a big contract to the other guard Jahri Evans.

Evans signed a seven-year, $56.7 million contract last year. Are the Saints going to put $100 million into the offensive guards?

Not likely and the 26 year-old Nicks may not take the hometown discount, regardless of Brees’ shoulder rubs and cajoling.

Top-end guards are usually available at the end of the first round, so the Lions may not be willing to spend Hutchinson-type money, but if the Lions want to “kick it up a notch,” at a position of need, Nicks could be the creole spice the Leos need as it’s likely he will be playing in a new town next year.

Ben Grubbs: Offensive Guard

Even with the revolving door at left tackle, Ben Grubbs has been rock solid.

The Ravens experimented with moving Michael Oher from right to left tackle to reprise his movie persona in The Blind Side, but unlike the movie, the move was a failure.

So much so that Baltimore went garbage picking and grabbed donut-crushing Bryant McKinnie off the Vikings scrap heap.

The move was a success as the Ravens are positioning themselves for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and a shot at more Super Bowl jewelry.

All the while, Grubbs has not missed a game since he was drafted out of Auburn in 2007.

If the Ravens have to franchise Rice, it could leave the door open for Grubbs to entertain offers from other teams. Unlikely, yes but you never know.

Cortland Finnegan: Cornerback

Cortland Finnegan is Jim Schwartz’s kind of player; a hard-nosed cover corner that comes up and plays the run tough with a less than angelic reputation.

Wait, he's Schwartz’s player and definitely his guy. In 2007, Jim Schwartz referred to Cortland as the Titans “unsung hero,” high praise considering some of the talent that was on that defense.

The 27-year-old is third on the Titans with 61 tackles, is a perfect fit for the Lions defense and obviously has plenty of experience in the system.

If you don’t hear much about Finnegan in the offseason chances are Schwartz will be calling him at 12:01 similar to Vanden Bosch two years ago.

Word is Cortland is unhappy with how there was little interest in negotiating a long-term deal before the start of the season. His bags could already be packed.

Remember how they tried to downplay Stephen Tulloch when most had a pretty good idea he was headed to Detroit?

Finnegan could begin again in the Motor City.

Terrell Thomas: Cornerback

If you like to gamble, Terrell Thomas may be your guy.

The 26-year-old from USC was snake bitten this preseason when he tore his ACL ending his year.

What’s worse for Thomas was that it’s a contract year.

Terrell led the Giants last year with 101 tackles, five interceptions and four forced fumbles.

The statistics validate his importance as well. The Giants were ninth best last year, defending the pass at 210 ypg. This season, the yards have ballooned to 264 ypg for a 20-team drop to 29th in the NFL.

Thomas is a difference maker for certain, but how he comes back from an ACL injury is not.

If the Lions want to roll the bones and give Terrell the security the Giants will probably make him earn with a one-year deal, Thomas could be a comeback of the year candidate for the Lions.

Jason Jones: Defensive End

If not Mario Williams, why not Jason Jones?

The Titans defensive end has slid into the spot vacated by Kyle Vanden Bosch. Could the trend continue in Detroit?

Once again, you’ll have a player familiar with the Schwartz system, and at only 25 years old, he could benefit greatly under the wing of KVB.

He has 23 tackles and three sacks so his numbers will not explode of the stats sheet equating to a huge contract.

Jones is a local guy as well, playing at Eastern Michigan and growing up in Metro Detroit. It could be a quiet hometown signing that paves the way for the Lions to fill the right defensive end spot nicely when Kyle is ready to retire the red contacts.  

Tracy Porter: Cornerback

If you’re looking for a guy who plays big in big games, look no further than New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter.

It was Porter who picked off Brett Farve in the NFC championship late in the fourth to send the game to overtime, and it was also Porter who intercepted Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV and returned it to seal the Saints’ victory.

Picking off Favre and Manning back-to-back weeks is nothing to sneeze at.

This season he has only one interception, courtesy of Matthew Stafford, but also has two forced fumbles.

It would be tough to pull the 25-year-old Louisiana native out of New Orleans, but the Lions did it previously getting Nate Burleson to the leave the great northwest. Although, if they have to overpay for Tracy like Nate, I’d just assume leave him on Bourbon Street.

Mike Wallace: Wide Receiver

How can you deny a guy who reminds everyone how fast he is by striking a Usain Bolt pose?

Mike Wallace is top ten in yards and touchdowns with 1,034 and 8 respectively.

He’s a restricted free-agent so he’ll probably stay in Iron City, but the Steelers historically have let players go when the price is not right. Plus Calvin’ contract is coming up as well, so I wouldn’t expect the Lions to overpay for any wide receiver going forward.

His speed opposite Calvin would be perfect. Nothing makes safeties slide back quicker than outside speed and the 25 year-old Wallace could do what Burleson cannot.

Those are 10 players to watch when free agency hits. Have any other suggestions?