Detroit Lions: Is Trey Flowers their top free agent target in 2019?

The Detroit Lions figure to be players in free agency in order to improve their roster after a disappointing season in 2018. And is a Patriot their top target?

When the Detroit Lions signed former New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to be their head coach last year, it made sense that he’d want some of his former players to join him to make the transition easier.

The Lions went about the business of signing former Patriots like running back LeGarrette Blount, quarterback Matt Cassel, defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois and others. And despite the fact Detroit struggled last season, posting a disappointing 6-10 record, Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn figure to still be in the market of acquiring players from their old stomping grounds.

If true, that points to one of the biggest possible free agents of 2019 being a priority target for the Lions when the market opens in March. And that player is defensive end Trey Flowers.

With the future of soon-to-be 30-year old defensive end Ezekiel Ansah up in the air, Detroit’s biggest need figures to be pass rusher. And Flowers is not only one of the most consistent pass rushers who is scheduled to be available, but the 25-year old played under Patricia for his first three seasons in New England.

A former fourth-round selection out of Arkansas back in 2015, Flowers has posted a total of 21.0 sacks in the past three years. Here’s what Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner had to say about Flowers after he ranked the Patriots’ defensive lineman the third best player available in free agency in 2019.

"“Flowers may be one of the best values in this year’s free agency class. He’s never put up huge sack totals, but he’s been one of the most versatile and consistent pass rushers in the NFL over the past couple of seasons. He produced 60-plus pressures in 2017 and 2018 while playing from virtually every alignment on the Patriots’ defensive line.”"

Connecting the dots between Trey Flowers and the Detroit Lions is easy. Whether it actually gets done is anyone’s guess. But based on his experience in Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme and their familiarity with one another, it seems like a no-brainer.

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