Detroit Lions must show patience in 2018 free agent market

DEFENSIVE END

Not the biggest fan of defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (nicknamed “Ziggy”) getting the franchise tag, but it buys the Detroit Lions a year. Defensive ends Kerry Hyder and Anthony Zettel give Detroit some depth at the position, but they could use so much more.

Defensive end is a position where you want two great guys that start, and four good guys as your depth. That makes for a rotation that never relents and is impossible to block.

In terms of free agency, there are no game changers available. This is all about signing the right guys at the right price. The draft is where the Detroit Lions should try to acquire at least two more ends to compete on the roster.

It would be hard to imagine how bad this position would look in 2018 without Ansah. The Detroit Lions must prepare for 2019. They could lose Ziggy next year. And even if they resign him, they need more depth at defensive end.

LINEBACKER

2017 rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis is a lock at middle linebacker. The Detroit Lions hope fellow rookie Jalen Reeves-Maybin can expand his role in 2018.

It appears that linebackers Devon Kennard of the New York Giants and Christian Jones of the Chicago Bears will be signed today. That should give the Lions their starting three, and some versatility on the field.

If the Lions took a linebacker later in the draft, it would be understandable. This is definitely a position that they cannot ignore. The position still lacks depth even with the signings today.