Detroit Lions Top Ten Weakest Positions (And How to Fix Them)
By Kent Platte
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Strong Safety
Present Starter: Isa Abdul Quddus/James Ihedigbo
Free Agency Fix
Best Free Agent: Eric Weddle
Other Options: George Iloka, Tyvon Branch
Strong Safety has not been a strength for the Detroit Lions this season. After a laughable preseason holdout, James Ihedigbo started off rough and only got worse as the season wore on. The team saw a brief improvement with Isa Abdul Quddus on the field, but we quickly realized he is a bandaid. Eric Weddle is a free safety primarily, but he’s one of the best in the game and is going through a messy divorce with San Diego and would be a huge get. Iloka is an underrated safety for the Bengals, but he’s also huge and young, both good traits to build on. Branch has seen his career slip after leaving Oakland, but he’s still a good option at SS if you have someone like Glover Quin across from him.
2016 NFL Draft Fix
Best Prospect: Jeremy Cash, Duke
Other Options: Jaryon Kearse, Clemson; Vonn Bell, OSU
This isn’t a great draft for safeties, but only because the depth isn’t so swell. The top of the bunch is a showcase in elite talents, and while most have Kearse and Bell ahead of Cash, Jeremy Cash is the guy I would take to play strong safety in my defense. Any of the three would be an immediate improvement over IAQ and a massive improvement over Ihedigbo. Glover Quin needs a running mate, and any of these three would do the trick.
Next: Middle Linebacker