Nov 18, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Kassim Osgood (10) before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions experienced a fair number of growing pains on special teams as they worked in a number of young players. That made the veteran specialists even more important. Guys like John Wendling and Ashlee Palmer have been dependable members of the coverage units for a few years now, with Kassim Osgood joining them just this year.

It didn’t take long for Osgood’s contributions to be appreciated by his teammates. They have voted him the Yale Lary Special Teams Most Valuable Player. Pro Football Focus grades Osgood as an above average special teams player and one of the Lions’ best in 2012.

Earlier this week, SideLion Report’s own Mike Bainbridge included Osgood in his list of the top five free agents the Lions must retain. As a former Pro Bowl specialist and solidifying force, especially in punt coverage, the Lions would be wise to make retaining Osgood an offseason priority.

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Chicago won 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

There is no doubting that the 2013 version of the Detroit Lions, especially on defense is going to look far different from the team that finished with eight straight losses en route to 4-12 record.

The Lions have a total of 22 unrestricted free agents, many of whom have played an integral part over the years in the team’s rebuilding process. Because of the team’s salary cap situation, players looking for bigger contracts (Cliff Avril) will likely be looking elsewhere for offers.

Listed below are a group of players that the Lions should find a way to bring back. They won’t be the highest paid players, nor are stars, but play critical roles in the team’s success in all three phases of the game.

*Note: I believe the team needs to bring back Delmas as well, but could do so on the franchise tag.

1. Chris Houston, CB:
It may be a good thing for the Lions that Houston really struggled in the last few games of the year. He was torched in the Atlanta game, especially, as Roddy White and Julio Jones caught touchdown passes over Houston. That being said, other than Suh and Fairley, Houston was really the only playmaker the Lions had on defense. Not only that, he is the only constant in the Lions defensive backs group that you can count on week in, week out.

Like a lot of the unrestricted free agents, it really depends on what the asking price is here. Houston is not a No. 1 cornerback on most NFL teams. He is a fantastic No. 2 guy, and should be paid accordingly. If the asking price is not ridiculous, Houston will be brought back.

2. Sammie Lee Hill, DT:
As the staff and management repeatedly say, the goal is to keep good players here. Hill is one of those players. He may have regressed a bit in 2012, but what Lions’ player didn’t regress? Hill, in his fourth year out of Stillman College, recorded only 15 tackles on the season and did not have a single sack.

Defensive tackles rarely fill up the stat sheet, unless you are Ndamukong Suh, which Hill is not. But he could start on a few teams in the NFL, so having him as your run-stuffing, third defensive tackle is a luxury this team should look to keep. Again, if the price is right, bring him back.

3. Lawrence Jackson, DE:
LoJack came on strong at the end of the year, finishing with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the last four games. That is not a good number by any means, but the Lions will take what they can get out of the defensive end position (which is not much). With uncertainty surrounding starting defensive ends Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch, and whether or not the two will be brought back, Jackson becomes very valuable as he fits this system that the Lions employ very well.

There is no telling what the Lions will do at any position right now, as it is so early in the offseason, but don’t be surprised if the team uses a defensive end-by-committee approach at one of the spots next year. Jackson should be a part of that rotation.

4. Will Heller, TE:
Heller, or as I like to call him, Dexter (because he looks exactly like Michael C. Hall), had a coming out party in the latter portion of the year when Pettigrew was out with an injury. Heller assumed the starting role and actually displayed some hands that we are not accustomed to seeing. That just adds to his versatility as he is already one of the better blocking tight ends in the game. Add in the fact that they Lions don’t have a fullback on the roster, and that makes Heller even more valuable as he assumes that role as well.

Despite being the third tight end on the Lions, he plays a crucial role in the Lions offense. He will most likely be brought back.

5. Kassim Osgood, WR/ST
This one may come as a surprise. Why would a special teamer be a must-sign. Well, look at how our special teams improved drastically after the disaster that were the Titans and Vikings games. Since that debacle, the Lions gave up an average of 6.2 yards per punt return and 20.5 on kickoffs. That all happened when Osgood signed with the Lions.

Now, is he solely responsible for that improvement? Of course not…there are 11 guys on special teams that can make a tackle. But Osgood, along with John Wendling and Ashlee Palmer, are stalwarts are the Lions’ special teams units. If the Lions want to win in all three phases of the game, the special teams aspect needs to be fixed, and Osgood can help with that.

Dec 11, 2011; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Kassim Osgood (81) during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

So I’m a Detroit Lion. Well…still gotta work to make the team! It’s so cooooollllldddd in the D!!!

— Kassim Osgood (@kassimosgood81) August 23, 2012

Hey Kassim, don’t worry about the cold. Ford Field is climate controlled and has a roof.

He spent the previous two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was cut as a salary cap casualty this past offseason. While his official position is listed as wide receiver, Osgood has just 44 career receptions for 749 yards and five touchdowns in his nine seasons. It was as a special teams standout with the San Diego Chargers that made Kassim Osgood known around the league. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl for his special teams play in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

It’s hardly shocking that the Lions would bring in a veteran special teams player considering the problems they’ve covering kicks and punts through two preseason games. Younger players will be able to learn a lot from Kassim Osgood while he tries to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.

The Lions have lost solid special teams players like Isaiah Ekejiuba and Rashied Davis recently and the special teams units have suffered as a result. Bringing in Kassim Osgood could be a step towards restoring what has been lost.