Bob Quinn Checking Off Free Agency Boxes For Detroit Lions
By Tony Fischer
The official NFL Free Agency tampering period is almost over. At 4 pm the Detroit Lions can make their 2017 Free Agent signing official. By all accounts it was a successful couple days. General Bob Quinn was able to check off box after box on his NFL Free Agency checklist, filling team needs ahead of the draft.
Improve Offensive Line, Check!
With the pending free agency status of offensive linemen Riley Reiff and Larry Warford, the trenches were a major focus of the Lions front office this offseason. Bob Quinn wasted no time upgrading the position group by locking down the best Right Tackle on the market in Ricky Wagner. According to reports on Twitter, Quinn used his head coaches influence to lure Wagner to the D. Jim Caldwell was Wagner’s Offensive Coordinator in Baltimore.
Wagner’s former coach Scott Otto confirmed his affinity for the Lions head man to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
"“Detroit fits in so many ways,” said Otto, Wagner’s coach at Hale High in West Allis, Wis. “It is close to home. I think they’re obviously a very good up-and-coming team, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He loves Caldwell. I know that. I believe Caldwell was his O.C. at Baltimore his first year, and so he said he always got along with Coach Caldwell and said, he goes, ‘I have not met a nicer, better, human being than Coach Caldwell,’ so I know he’s really very fired up about that. But if you know Ricky, I still think in his mind this is all surreal. He’s just a kid from West Allis, Wis., that is kind of living his dream.” – via Dave Birkett and Detroit Free Press"
Related Story: Lions Agree To Term With Ricky Wagner
Upgrade Linebackers, Check
While the severe winds and power outages dominated Detroiter’s attention on Wednesday slipping under the radar was a deal that could pay big dividends for the Lions front seven. General Manager Bob Quinn inked a deal with former Atlanta Falcon and back-up linebacker Paul Worrilow. At just 26 year old, Worrilow adds a lot of depth to a linebacking corp that has been prone to injury in recent seasons.
"Worrilow started most of the 2013-15 seasons in Atlanta before the Falcons took two linebackers in last year’s draft. He led the team with 142 tackles in 2014, but appeared in 12 games — and made 21 tackles — last season. – via Detroit Free Press and Dave Birkett"
The Lions could be getting a talented linebacker with a chip on his shoulder after being pushed out of a job. Whether he is able to start or is a key back-up, Worrilow is an instant upgrade to the depth at this position group.
Upgrade Wide Receivers, incomplete
At the time of this post, Twitter rumors were beginning to swirl that the Lions were looking to keep wideouts Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts in the fold. Many of the big name receivers were already spoken for with Brandon Marshall headed to the Giants and DeSean Jackson headed to Tampa Bay. This box will probably go unchecked until the draft that is turning out to be deep in WR prospects.
So Lions fans how has Bob Quinn done so far? Let us know what you think!