Jeff Backus, Cliff Avril, Stephen Tulloch, and Eric Wright are unrestricted free agents heading into the 2012 season and while each of them brings something different to the table, they each also are surrounded by very different circumstances. Avril is a burgeoning superstar who was drafted by the Lions, Backus is nearing the end of his career, and Wright and Tulloch were both serviceable veterans brought in on one year contracts.

While The Lions front office would surely love to see all four re-sign this off-season, it simply doesn’t seem feasible. With the massive contracts of Stafford and Suh and the unparalleled payday that Calvin Johnson is sure to receive, the most realistic scenario would see the Lions being able to re-sign two of the previously mentioned free agents this offseason. This begs the question, which two should Mayhew focus on, considering the players’ salaries, depth at the positions, and availability of replacements?

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