NFL free agency begins a week from today. The Lions don't plan to be big spenders, with several of their own players to extend/re-sign, but they will plug holes at positions of need. Karsch and Anderson have identified two ideal targets for the Lions who should be within the team's budget.
Karsch has zeroed in on the No. 3 wide receiver job behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. With Tim Patrick set to be a free agent, it's once again a void for the Lions, who have done "a very good job of finding that guy to come in and play the role: Josh Reynolds, Tim Patrick, guys who fit into the role nicely."
This year, Karsch says the Lions could turn to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught 32 passes for 497 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Titans. Patrick, for comparison, caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns for Detroit.
At 6'2, Westbrook-Ikhine has the size the Lions seek in that role. Karsch says he "could be the perfect 3rd wide receiver here, and he’s down the list of available wide receivers in free agency." He's projected to land a two-year, $7.8 million deal, per Spotrac. A five-year vet, Westbrook-Ikhine will be 28 next season.
On the other side of the ball, where the Lions may not be able to bring back Carlton Davis III, Gator points to fellow cornerback Paulson Adebo. He only played in seven games last season before breaking his femur in October, but Adebo has 18 passes defended in 22 games over the last two seasons for the Saints, tied for sixth in the NFL.
A Farmington Hills native and a former third-round pick, Adebo will be 26 next season. Spotrac projects him for a two-year, $22.2 million deal, significantly less than Davis could secure on the open market.
"Good size, 6’1, and tell me this doesn't scream Brad Holmes: coming off a broken femur in Week 7," says Gator. "But this is a guy who’s been an excellent corner, and he’s only going to be 26 years old."