6 free agents the Detroit Lions should re-sign in 2019

With the offseason now in full swing, here are six of their own free agents the Detroit Lions should re-sign before they hit the open market.

With head coach Matt Patricia coming off a disappointing 6-10 regular season performance, the Detroit Lions are expected to continue to churn this roster. Patricia clearly wants players who better fit his plans and scheme, which many believe will result in several new names and faces to learn come training camp.

But the first order of business is deciding who stays and who goes among this current group of free agents ready to hit the open market in March. And there are some big decisions to be made. This biggest is likely concerning the future of pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah.

Patricia and company opted to sign Ansah using their franchise tag last year, resulting in a massive $17.143 million price tag. In return, the 29-year old defensive end played in just seven games, recording 11 total tackles and 4.0 sacks. That equals out to be a whopping $2.4 million per contest in 2018.

Turning 30-years old in May, it’s unclear if the Lions will pony up the dough to keep Ansah in the Motor City for another season. And who could blame them? Regardless, expect Ansah to be well compensated either by Detroit or another NFL team via free agency. Elite pass rushers are a rare commodity, even when considering Ansah’s age and injury history.

Beyond Ansah, the Lions have several players scheduled to hit free agency this offseason. Here are six free agents we believe Detroit should re-sign in 2019. Note: This list does not include Restricted Free Agents (RFA) or Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA).