At 1-6 it is easy to look forward to next season. The Detroit Lions have underachieved, to say the least. While many people are focused on the draft, it is hard for me to get excite about the draft. The Lions have shown time and time again that they are inept when it comes to drafting. I would rather focus on free agency. There are still busts in free agency, but the success rate is much higher than the draft.
The first step in figuring out which direction the Lions should go in free agency, is to in fact begin by assessing their own pending free agents. Without going into much depth, but focusing on the starters and regulars, here are current Detroit Lions who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season : Haloti Ngata (DT), Jason Jones (DE), Manny Ramirez (G), James Ihedigbo (SS), Tyrunn Walker (DT), Tahir Whitehead (LB), Travis Lewis (LB), Josh Wilson (CB).
Other moves could include releasing Stephen Tulloch ($7.3 million to keep, $1.3 million to release), Joique Bell ($3.5 million to keep, $1 million to release), Rashean Mathis ($1.875 million to keep , $375k to release).
There is also a void at right tackle that must be addressed, possibly moving Reiff to that position leaving a void at left tackle seems to be the preference.
Next: Henry Melton