Training camp is about two weeks away for the Lions, who still have the cap space and motives to add another established player to their roster. Of those they've been linked to this offseason, Valenti asks which one makes the most sense: Chase Young, DeAndre Hopkins, Yannick Ngakoue, Hunter Renfrow or Melvin Ingram.
"Consider the cost of acquisition, whether they're a free agent or you need to trade for them, the role they would play, and culture fit."
Rico's choice?
"Take a chance on Chase Young," he said. "If he ends up bombing, you can absorb it because you still have a lot of young players. But if he goes back to being the Chase Young that you thought he was and you pair him with Aidan Hutchinson, because you didn’t really address the defensive line, this is a gamble for a team that’s in a division with an open window. Take a chance on a guy like Chase Young who can help you out immediately."
Related
Young, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, is on the trade block after the Commanders declined his fifth-year option and could possibly be had for a couple mid-round picks.
Valenti is going in a different direction, "a potentially soon-to-be-released player who even if you traded for him would cost low draft capital. A slot machine, gritty, gutty, smart kid whose role has been reduced because of a regime change."
"It’s Hunter Renfrow. It’s more culture fit. This is a kid who was a walk-on at Clemson and turned himself into a great football player, a brainiac, knows playbooks, knows how to be a pro. What have we had a bit of an issue with with Jamo? Amon-Ra is a dog. You bring Hunter Renfrow in here, I have two guys you can’t play man against, slot machines. What this would do, too, is allow for a little bit more pre-snap motion, more manipulation of the defense. And I know, we need a perimeter receiver, but Jameson Williams is going to play Week 7, he’ll be that outside presence."
That's also part of the reason that Valenti says he would avoid Hopkins, a free agent after being released by the Cardinals:
"The DeAndre Hopkins thing, you’re blocking a potential star that you used the No. 12 pick on. Hopkins would come here and have a demand to be the No. 1 or 1A guy in targets. I don't need that. Amon-Ra is going to be No. 1 in targets. Jamo, the perimeter is going to be available to you if and when you come back and hit the ground running."
Related
Renfrow, 27, was limited to 36 catches for 330 yards in 10 games last season, in part due to an oblique injury. But he went over 100 catches and 1,000 yards the season before that and would give the Lions insurance in the event St. Brown gets injured and "a diverse approach" on offense, says Valenti:
"If I put guys in motion and use multiple slot receivers, know what I like? Giving Jared Goff nice seven- to 10-yard throws. I know it’s not sexy, but for a sixth-round pick or once he gets cut, I’d bring him here because I think he is a Lion. I think he is what they want: a pro."
Listen live to 97.1 The Ticket via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker