Detroit Lions: 3 free agent interior defenders to consider signing

Shelby Harris

2019 team/Salary: Denver Broncos / $3.095 million

2019 stats: 16 games played, 16 starts, 6.0 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 49 total tackles, 9 passes defensed

Age: 28

Height/Weight: 6-2/ 290

Harris, like Hargrave, is a versatile lineman who has quietly elevated his game in recent seasons, filling a variety of roles along the way. In his time with the Denver Broncos, Harris has played everywhere from the nose tackle position to an outside rushing spot. Versatility is a quality that the Lions covet in their defensive linemen, and Harris has become a multi-faceted player who could be in for a serious pay raise.

That pay raise could come from the Broncos, especially after Harris notched a career-best 6.0 sacks in 2019. Along with talented edge defenders Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, Denver may want to keep their forceful defensive front intact. This likely means that it will take a sizeable offer to lure him away from the Mile-High City, or to keep him there.

His sacks came in explosive spurts this past season, including racking up three in a game against the Minnesota Vikings and two in a contest against the Kansas Chiefs. Harris also showed a knack for batting down passes, as evidenced by his 9 passes defensed.

He’s the kind of player that the Lions would love Hand to become, and Hand certainly has the capability to do so. What Hand hasn’t had is the availability, as previously noted. Conversely, Harris has not missed a game over the past three years. Having them both would offer the Lions plenty of options on defense.

Which of these players do you think would be a good fit for the Lions? Which interior defenders do you think they should pursue this offseason? Let us know in the comments section below.