Playing The Free Agency Match Game

Defensive End

Ziggy Ansah is a monster and under contract, so one of the Lions’ bookends is set for next year. On the other side though, the Lions’ cupboards are pretty bare. Jason Jones and Darryl Tapp are both UFAs and Devin Taylor is the only other DE on the roster that saw any meaningful minutes last year. Even if the Lions promote Taylor to the starting DE spot, the position still needs to be addressed.

Personally, I like Taylor a whole lot more as a rotational guy than as an every down player. It’s likely that Jones or Tapp will be offered a small contract to return, and I think Tapp’s locker room presence may actually make a minimum contract worthwhile. Jason Jones might have some interest from other teams meaning he might end up being priced out of Detroit. The way the FA class at DE looks this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Detroit bring back Tapp, promote Taylor to starter, and add an edge defender in the draft.

Next: Defensive Tackle