Five Lions players who might be finished in Detroit

#4. Tavon Wilson, S

The youth movement at the safety position in Detroit is crystal clear. The Lions has spent two third-round selections in back-to-back drafts on safeties. And the results are a safety combo of Tracy Walker and Will Harris that should both start in 2020.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a veteran like Tavon Wilson. In fact, the former New England Patriot started 13 games for Detroit last season. And Wilson posted a nice stat line, recording a career-high 98 total tackles along with five pass deflections and a sack.

And it’s those stellar numbers that could push Wilson out of the Lions’ price range. The 29-year old safety figures to draw starter-level money on the open market. It seems unlikely that Detroit would match it considering their draft investment in both Walker and Harris.

In 2018, the Lions signed Wilson to a two-year, $7 million contract. Last year, they asked him to take a pay cut. And Wilson reportedly agreed to do so in order to remain in Detroit, reducing his salary from $2.15 million to $1 million according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

So perhaps the Lions will allow the eight-year safety to test the market hoping he might decide to return on a more team-friendly deal. But it seems more likely Detroit will opt to find a cheaper and younger alternative to back up both Walker and Harris in 2020.