Lions have work to do with free agents
The Lions started in earnest their pursuit of their own pending free agents on Thursday, drawing close to a one-year deal with defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker and tendering all six of their exclusive-rights free agents.
But, with free agency starting on Wednesday, the Lions have plenty of work left to do.
Walker was one of 17 players who would become unrestricted free agents at 4 p.m. next Wednesday if the Lions don’t re-sign them. Among the top free agents remaining are safety Isa Abdul-Quddus and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, but as is the case with many free agents, the Lions might value some players less than their respective agents expect on the market.
With more than $30 million in cap space, the Lions could be major players in free agency, but there’s a chance they won’t use all the space. After being hamstrung by the salaries of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh because of the rookie pay scale, the Lions are in good shape financially, and, presumably, they’d like to keep it that way.
Because of familiarity with the coaching staff, some of the pending Lions free agents will be back, but new general manager Bob Quinn has stressed the importance of improving the team’s depth this offseason. If a player isn’t an impact starter or a two-tier backup, it might be time to move on.
“We have the guys that we want to target at each level, different positions across the board, so I really want to build the depth of this team,” Quinn said at the combine last week.
“That’s something that I really, truly believe in. We have some good players. I think the depth really needs to improve, and that’s something that I’m going to set out and do in free agency hopefully.”
Here’s a look at the Lions’ pending free agents:
Unrestricted free agents
Safety Isa Abdul-Quddus
Age: 26
Years with Lions: 2
Analysis: In his eight starts last year, the Lions went 7-1, so Abdul-Quddus wants to be a starter. However, the Lions are one of several teams hoping to lure strong safety George Iloka in free agency, so there’s no guarantee Abdul-Quddus will be back. He might fetch more on the market than the Lions want to pay.
Cornerback Crezdon Butler
Age: 28
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: The old regime valued Butler as a veteran backup, but he won’t be a priority for the Lions, especially with their young cornerbacks getting significant experience last year.
Defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo
Age: 29
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: He was inactive for seven of the final eight games last year when the Lions could have used defensive tackle help. He’ll be cheap, but the Lions will look for other depth options first.
Safety James Ihedigbo
Age: 32
Years with Lions: 2
Analysis: Ihedigbo still thinks he can be a starter, but the Lions effectively moved on from him during the second half of 2015 despite his incredibly productive 2014 season. At this point, they’re looking elsewhere.
Defensive end Jason Jones
Age: 29
Years with Lions: 3
Analysis: Jones quietly had solid campaigns the past two seasons, but Devin Taylor proved last year he could play the same role. Jones likes playing for his hometown team, but the Lions might try to get younger here.
Linebacker Travis Lewis
Age: 28
Years with Lions: 4
Analysis: Lewis is a solid contributor on special teams, but in his four years, he didn’t prove to be more than a backup. A split is probably best for both sides.
Wide receiver Lance Moore
Age: 32
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: Part of the reason Moore came to Detroit was his connection to former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, but he developed good enough chemistry with Matthew Stafford to warrant consideration. However, TJ Jones plays a similar role, so he won’t be a priority.
Long snapper Don Muhlbach
Age: 34
Years with Lions: 12
Analysis: Muhlbach wants to play another year and still played well last season. He should be back to maintain continuity in the kicking game, but there’s a chance the Lions will go younger.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata
Age: 32
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: There’s mutual interest in a return for Ngata, but the two sides will have to meet on a price. Ngata struggled in the first half of the season, and there will be other run stuffers on the market like the Jets Damon Harrison. But a short-term deal seems likely unless the Lions know they can find an upgrade.
Quarterback Dan Orlovsky
Age: 32
Years with Lions: 6 (two stints)
Analysis: Coaches like Orlovsky, but it’s unclear how the new personnel executives feel about him. The Lions know they need to find a young developmental quarterback, but there’s still a chance he comes back on a cheap deal to try out for the No. 2 job again.
Tight end Bear Pascoe
Age: 30
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: He played in just three games for the Lions, but with Brandon Pettigrew recovering from knee surgery, they will need a blocking tight end for the start of the season. With a fairly thin market, Pascoe could be back for cheap.
Offensive lineman Manny Ramirez
Age: 33
Years with Lions: 5 (two stints)
Analysis: The Lions and Ramirez’s camp already agreed that a split was in the best interest of both sides, so he won’t be back.
Defensive end Darryl Tapp
Age: 31
Years with Lions: 2
Analysis: The coaches love Tapp’s veteran leadership, but he’s not much more than a backup at this point. The Lions could re-sign him for cheap, but they’ll look at other options, too.
Defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker
Age: 25
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: Walker was flying to Detroit on Thursday with plans to sign a one-year deal. He’ll be slotted back atop the depth chart and enter the year as a likely , as he’s shown good progress from his broken leg suffered last season.
Linebacker Tahir Whitehead
Age: 25
Years with Lions: 4
Analysis: Whitehead seemed to prove he was a starter last year, but the Lions remain skeptical about his ceiling. There’s a chance he’ll be back, but the Lions will look for an upgrade because Josh Bynes is already on the roster and can similarly play multiple spots. Whitehead could find a better deal on the market, too.
Cornerback Josh Wilson
Age: 30
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: Wilson came to Detroit as a favorite of former GM Martin Mayhew, and with Quandre Diggs proving capable of playing the nickel role, a return for Wilson seems unlikely.
Defensive end Corey Wootton
Age: 28
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: Wootton spent the whole year on injured reserve, but considering he was unlikely to make the 53-man roster before his injury, a return is unlikely.
Restricted free agent
Tight end Tim Wright
Age: 25
Years with Lions: 1
Analysis: Lions GM Bob Quinn was with the Patriots when they traded for Wright, and because the Lions have limited depth at the position, he seems likely to return. However, the low-round tender is $1.67 million, which might be a little pricy for a backup tight end who struggles as a blocker.
Already cut or retired
Running back Joique Bell, linebacker Stephen Tulloch, defensive tackle C.J. Wilson and cornerback Rashean Mathis.
jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com
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