The Detroit Lions are poised to boost their squad with 10 offense-free agents…

The following 10 offensive free agents the Lions should move to sign in 2024

With the start of NFL free agency just days away, the Detroit Lions are reviewing the immediate future of their organization.

General manager Brad Holmes confronts many tough decisions, as the Lions attempt to capitalize on the momentum they generated by reaching the NFC title game. Armed with plenty of cap space, Detroit can continue to improve its roster with ambitions of reaching the Super Bowl. Here are 10 offensive players who the Lions should consider signing when free agency officially opens on March 13.

Onwenu played both guard and tackle for the Patriots in 2023, displaying a level of versatility that is prized. Given the nature of the physicality that linemen deal with on a weekly basis, the flexibility to play various spots and shift around is vital.

The Michigan product will be among the most desired lineman on the market, but Detroit may stand to make a splash if it elects not to retain one or both of its starting guards due to enter free agency.

Davis has lengthy speed and the ability to shred a defense. Though erratic at times, Davis has shown to be a respectable contributor for the Bills’ passing attack, with 2,730 yards across his first four NFL seasons.

While the Lions have crucial players at the position in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, Davis would provide the team with a big-bodied wideout who would add another downfield threat for Jared Goff.

Lewis is another lineman ready to hit the market after four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He had an up-and-down 2023 season, allowing 29 pressures on 610 pass-blocking snaps and ended with a 57.9 Pro Football Focus run-blocking rating.

He will have suitors in free agency, given the good start to his career. Lewis allowed three sacks last season, and missed just one game for Seattle last year. He’s been durable throughout the early portion of his career, and would provide Detroit with another seasoned presence.

While the Lions are set with second-team All-Pro selection Sam LaPorta, the team will need to have solid depth behind him. Brock Wright was tendered as a restricted free agent, but Detroit values competition at all positions.

Enter Trautman, who specializes as a run-blocker with the capacity to make an impact in the passing game. While he’s contributed on a secondary basis as a pass-catcher, Trautman’s value would come with his ability to help pave pathways for the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

Should Detroit want to follow in previous year’s footsteps and reunite with an offensive lineman of years past, Brown may be a solid choice. Brown signed with the Seahawks to be their center, but might be passed on the depth chart by 2023 draft pick Olu Oluwatimi.

Brown possesses that interior versatility that the Lions appreciate, as he can play either guard spot, as well as center. He’d be a familiar face for the organization, and may have an influence comparable to what Graham Glasgow did last season for Detroit.

Whereas Trautman provides more pop as a blocker, Gesicki is a chess piece that can be moved around on offense. He can play in-line as well as in the slot, which would generate tough matchups for opposition defenders.

Gesicki had back-to-back 700-yard seasons with the Dolphins in 2020-21, but his production has tapered off in recent years. He struggled as a run-blocker in 2023, receiving a PFF grade of just 35.1 in that department. As a result, he’d likely be more impactful in the passing game next to LaPorta.

A third-round pick in 2023, Jones spent last season with the Houston Texans, after being moved by the Arizona Cardinals. The blocker was expected to be a depth piece for Arizona, before stepping in with the Texans.

He was unable to hold the reins on the job in Houston, though, as he served mostly as depth. With the Lions poised to retain both starters at the tackle position in Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, Jones might provide crucial depth at those spots.

Brown is a physical, “X”-type receiver, capable of earning contested catches. He showed a nice relationship with Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud — before sustaining an injury — notching a second consecutive season with over 500 receiving yards.

That physicality at the wide receiver position is something the Lions would benefit from adding. Given that this year also boasts a good draft class, Detroit might make a smaller move with a less highly wanted player, rather than dish out a big contract with so many talented young players available in the draft.

Detroit has two solid running backs in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. While both have fairly good holds on the first two places, there could be a competition to be the team’s third option.

Craig Reynolds is the incumbent, but the Lions could seek for a competitive veteran, such as Johnson, a former Lions running back. He’s played on three teams, and has totaled 1,057 yards over five seasons.

The Lions have yet to obtain a true evaluation of young quarterback Hendon Hooker, who spent much of the year on the NFI list until being added to the roster late in the season.

If Detroit wants to create competition at the backup spot behind Jared Goff, adding a veteran like Allen, who has been a member of three teams which have reached the Super Bowl, would further provide a winning pedigree to the quarterbacks room.

 

 

 

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