5 free agents the Detroit Lions should pounce on in 2021

The Detroit Lions will need to add new blood during their rebuild

Following Sunday’s 20-0 blowout loss to the injury-decimated Carolina Panthers, the Detroit Lions‘ season has taken a major turn for the worse. And it appears head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn will fall short of ownership’s mandate of making the 4-6 Lions a playoff contender in 2020.

A loss to the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving in front of a massive national audience could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and the final nail in the coffin of the New England Patriots’ midwest experiment in Detroit. If so, the focus will turn to 2021 for the Pride.

And with an eye on that future, we believe there are some difference-makers scheduled to hit free agency next offseason who could help rebuild what has been destroyed over the past three seasons under Patricia and Quinn. Here are five free agents we believe the Lions should pounce on next March if given the chance.

5. Anthony Harris, S

While the Lions used back-to-back third-round selections in the draft on the safety position (Tracy Walker, Will Harris), the Lions seem unsettled with the results. That’s one of the reasons Detroit traded for former New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon this offseason. But Harmon will be a free agent himself in 2021. And if he’s allowed to walk, there’s an opportunity to upgrade.

Signing a free agent safety like Anthony Harris makes a lot of sense. Not only is the six-year veteran one of the top players at his position scheduled to hit the open market, but he’s also spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings. A divisional rival that the Lions have to play twice a season, Detroit has already done their fair share of scouting Harris and understand better than most his strengths and weaknesses.