With the NFL league year kicking off Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET (March 17), it’s also the official start of free agency. But on Monday, the legal tampering period portion of free agency kicked off and teams could begin agreeing to deals with potential free agents. That, of course, includes the Detroit Lions.
And while the Lions’ new regime figures to be busy in free agency at some point, it’s no big surprise they’ve opted to stay relatively quiet through the first two days of frenzy. The new brass in Detroit apparently believes their team is more than one or two high-priced free agents away from competing.
Instead, they’ve spent the majority of this period trying to erase the mistakes of the past made by the previous regime in Detroit. The news of the intended release of players like quarterback Chase Daniels (still pending) and defensive tackle Danny Shelton (official) was made on Tuesday.
Guard Joe Dahl was cut due to a failed physical. Cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Desmond Trufant (pending), plus tight end Jesse James, and linebacker Christian Jones were all sent packing before them.
The biggest signing the Lions have made with someone not on last year’s roster has been tight end Josh Hill, whose son requested his dad join a team in a place with snow. Wish granted. Hill played under new Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell for five years with the New Orleans Saints and he should replace James as the number two tight end behind 2020 Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson.
The Lions agreed to re-signed their leading sacker from last season, defensive end Romeo Okwara, to a massive three-year, $39 million contract on Monday. They also inked linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to a one-year deal.
The Detroit Lions have released or lost several players to free agency. So much so, they undoubtedly will have to start signing veterans from the open market to fill their roster voids at some point. But allowing the frenzy to die down first is a wise approach and a way to find some quality free agents who won’t break the bank.