Detroit Lions: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time

The second-best free agent signing in team history is a guy who came to the Lions and dominated early, producing four solid seasons in the Motor City. A Super Bowl champion as a member of the then-St. Louis Rams, Dre’ Bly was an absolute ballhawk during his Lions playing days. He was one of the better cornerbacks in the league when he was signed a free agent prior to the 2003 season.

In his first two seasons with the Lions, Bly would be named to his only two Pro Bowls of his career, as he proved to be quite the interception machine. An All-Pro player in his first season in Detroit, Bly posted two seasons where he nabbed six interceptions. He ended his Lions career with 19 interceptions in 55 games.

In addition, Bly always seemed to have a nose for the ball, as he recovered five fumbles, including one that he returned for a touchdown. You always knew that he would have his side of the field locked down. When the team traded him to the Denver Broncos after the 2006 season, his presence was certainty missed in the Lions’ defensive backfield.

Bly would go on to play two seasons with the Broncos, starting all 32 games, before ending his career with a one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers in 2009. He would try to latch back on with the Lions for the 2010 season, but did not make the team, which ended his 10-year NFL career.

For Bly, his best seasons came while wearing the Lions uniform. Bly was quite a playmaker in the team’s defensive backfield throughout his four seasons. He did not have a long stay in Motown, but he certainly made his time count.