5 Detroit Lions starters who may not be back in 2019

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 22: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Ford Field on November 22, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 22: LeGarrette Blount #29 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Ford Field on November 22, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
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Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

LeGarrette Blount, Running Back

Age: 32
Height/Weight: 6-0, 247
Years in NFL: 9
Games started in 2018: 8
2018 Stats: 418 yards, 5 tds
2018 Salary: $2 million
2019 Status: Free Agent

Analysis: Age and time have clearly taken their toll on the 32-year old LeGarrette Blount. The nine-year veteran averaged a career-low 2.7 yards a carry in 2018. But he did make a nice one-two combo with rookie running back Kerryon Johnson.

With Johnson now the clear starter for the foreseeable future, Detroit will likely pair him with a younger option than Blount. Perhaps re-signing free agent running back Zach Zenner who played well at the end of last season and adding a late round prospect from the draft to the mix as well. Combined with veteran Theo Riddick, Detroit’s depth chart doesn’t seem to have much room for Blount.

But new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell did find great success with the Seattle Seahawks using a power back in Marshawn Lynch. So there is a chance Blount could be re-signed if Bevell believes the aging back has something left in the tank.

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