The Detroit Lions are exactly who we think they are – a team undergoing a full-on rebuild that has young players in a few key spots, but with plenty of holes still left to fill. But heading into the 2022 NFL offseason, any options on the Detroit Lions free agent list should fit into their long-term plan.
Fighting an uphill battle in the tough NFC North division, the Lions had their fair share of exciting moments this season under head coach Dan Campbell – from their last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings for their first win of the year, to unlocking rookie WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, to the many hangable tidbits provided by Campbell in his press conferences, this Detroit team has started to embark on its long journey, the right way.
This year’s free agency period is going to be important to keeping true to that plan, as certain players are going to help erase some needs from their team, ultimately helping them plan their draft out in a more efficient way.
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Detroit Lions Free Agent Targets for 2022 NFL Offseason
3. Dante Fowler – EDGE
Heralded as the future at the edge rusher position, Dante Fowler has failed to live up to those expectations dating back to his third overall selection back in 2015. After a short-lived stint with the Atlanta Falcons that saw his three-year deal cut short by a year, Fowler would be a smart player for the Lions to take a chance on.
Detroit’s edge LB group is nothing special, and taking a lottery ticket on a high-upside player like Fowler would be a good start to helping out this area of the defense. Wanting to try and repair his long-term value for another big-money deal, an incentive-driven, one-year deal would be smart for Fowler and the Lions to look into.
2. Marcus Williams – FS
The New Orleans Saints have one of the league’s worst salary cap situations, sitting north of $50 million over the cap for the 2022 season, at this point. Having been franchise tagged last season, free safety Marcus Williams will likely need a new home this offseason.
The Lions have one of the league’s worst defensive secondaries, so any sort of improvements to it would help, and Williams would be a huge step towards getting to just be league average.
Only 25 years old, Williams lines up perfectly with this team’s desired age range for free agent additions, and he should be one of their first calls they make when free agency opens up.
1. Mike Williams – WR
Outside of St. Brown, the WR group for the Lions is in very rough shape, reliant on a lot of players not typically expected to have huge roles. With Jared Goff’s future up in the air in regards to being this team’s QB of the future, it makes sense to look at WRs in free agency first.
Mike Williams has enjoyed two 1,000+ yard seasons with the Chargers, including putting up a career-high 1,146 yards and 9 TDs on 76 receptions – but these numbers have come while having Keenan Allen earn a lot of attention from secondaries, opening up opportunities for him.
Welcoming Williams into his first shot at being a WR1 would be a smart investment for the Lions to make, provided they aren’t forced into breaking the bank for him. As one of the better wideouts on the market this offseason, Williams will have a bunch of teams going after him in free agency, making Detroit’s chase a bit tougher.
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