If and when the Lions cut any big checks this offseason, it will likely be for their own players. GM Brad Holmes has potential extensions to negotiate for Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and even Alim McNeill, which could consume most of Detroit's budget. He also has two key free agents on the offensive line in Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow.
Holmes acknowledged earlier this month that having so many players to take care of internally "changes the landscape a little bit in free agency."
"Maybe not as many high-price external adds, but that's not required right now," he said. "So we'll just keep sticking to our plan and go as normal. I think it's proven that it's worked so far for us."
The bargain bin will grow deeper ahead of free agency as teams around the league cut high-priced players, as Detroit did Tuesday with veteran safety Tracy Walker. If this is where Holmes and the Lions wind up shopping, there are some cut candidates who fit their needs. Question is, which of these players will hit the market -- and would any of them be worth the risk for Detroit?
Doug Karsch says "these are prime candidates that you would target on prove-it contracts," starting with Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White. A first-team All-Pro in 2019 who led the NFL in picks that season, White could be cut loose from the rest of his $69 million contract that runs through 2025 after missing most of the past two seasons due to a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles last October. He's still played well when he's been on the field.
Of course, the Lions took a similar gamble last offseason on a veteran corner coming off a torn ACL in Emmanuel Moseley and it backfired when Moseley tore his other ACL in the first quarter of his Lions debut. White, 29, is coming off his sixth NFL season.
"White, if it all worked out, at one point he was first-team All-Pro, that is a CB1, so that would make some sense to me," says Karsch.
Another cut candidate he has his eye on is Ravens edge rusher Tyus Bowser, who missed all of 2023 with a knee injury he suffered last offseason. Bowser, who also tore his Achilles in the final game of 2021 but bounced back to play in nine games in 2022, has one year left on his $22 million contract. He put up seven sacks and 40 pressures in 2021 and turns 29 in May.
Gator says that Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson "would be the guy that I look at." A six-year vet, Jackson has one year remaining on his $35 million deal with Carolina. He returned to play in 16 games this season after missing the second half of 2022 with a torn Achilles, but his performance wasn't up to his prior standard.
Still, if he recovers the form that earned him that contract in the first place, Jackson could be a worthwhile add for the Lions at a position of need. He had 29 passes defended and eight picks from 2019-21.
