As free agency beckons, the Lions have ample cap space and holes to fill across their roster. Namely on defense, where they allowed the most yards in the NFL last season. GM Brad Holmes isn't hiding from their need for more talent.
"Obviously, if you looked at where we were ranked defensively, we'd like to add more on defense," Holmes said Wednesday at the combine. "But I'll tell you what, we said at the start of our free agency meetings, every single position is on the table. There's not one position that we could think of -- offense and defense -- that we don't need to address. Whether that's starting-level players or looking at some good, quality depth."
That said, the Lions might not be inclined to spend big this offseason. At least not on top-dollar free agents. While they currently have about $23 million in cap space, 10th most in the NFL per Spotrac.com, and could create more before free agency starts March 15, the plan under Holmes and Dan Campbell has always been to build through the draft and to use free agency as more of a supplementary tool.
Holmes reminded reporters on Wednesday of something he said at the end of last season: "You’ve gotta be really careful in free agency."
"It’s not about how much money you have to spend," he said. "Regardless of how many resources, always being selective and strategic in that process. We’re just trying to find the right guys. I think we’ve done that in the past. A lot of the free agents we signed, they’ve had some really good years and we gotta make some hard decisions here."
There are plenty of big-name free agents who could fill big needs for the Lions. Cornerbacks James Bradberry and Jamel Dean stand out on defense. Ditto linebackers Lavonte David and Tremaine Edmunds and defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Javon Hargrave. Tight end Dalton Schultz might stand out on offense. As Campbell said Wednesday, "There’s always a number of ways you can go with it."
But on the heels of the Lions' strong finish to last season, Campbell also said he and Holmes are wary of getting spend-happy in free agency just because "we got a little bit more (money) to play with, we got a little more wiggle room."
"Like, man, let’s not lose sight of, let’s just get better," said Campbell. "Like, forget, ‘Well, man, can we acquire this, can you —' Let’s just worry about, let’s find a guy that can serve a certain type of role for us, he’s somebody who's maybe played some ball, he can start at a certain position for us. But we don’t need to acquire these high-level, you’re-paying-the-most-for-these-guys because they’re rated the No. 1 guy in free agency at that position. We just need to get better.
"Let’s just get better, in an area that we need to get better at, and focus on that. And I think that’s always been the focus."
Under Holmes and Campbell, the Lions have only signed one external free agent to a multi-year deal: Jamaal Williams, whose two-year deal expires this offseason. Instead, they've targeted short-term starters like Alex Anzalone and DeShon Elliott on defense and DJ Chark on offense, all three of whom, along with Williams, have emerged as potential long-term pieces. Those are the "hard decisions" Holmes is talking about.
The Lions certainly need more playmakers on defense. While they could go hunting for them in free agency, they might not have to look past their own roster. Several rookies in Detroit blossomed down the stretch last season, from No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson to third-round safety Kerby Joseph to sixth-round pass rusher James Houston. If that growth continues, Detroit's defense should improve organically.
"We don't want to be in the bottom five of the rushing and passing yard categories (again), but I will say the way we finished, winning eight of our last 10 and seeing those guys grow together and learn how to play winning football, I think it shows," said Holmes. "I don't think the cupboard's bare on defense (when) you look at the overall ranking. I think we got some good young players that showed they can really help us get on board."
That might mean they're careful with their money, even if now feels like the right time to splurge. The Lions' overarching goal in free agency?
"Really just not to take a step back," said Holmes, "making sure that we’re taking a step forward. That’s really the biggest one. We ended the season with a lot of momentum. Like I said earlier, I think we’re heading in the right direction. So again, this is gonna be a big offseason.
"Never like to put too much pressure on myself, but I think we just remain confident in our process, which we’ve done, and which has worked so far."
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