Detroit Lions: 4 easiest offseason roster decisions for the defense

3. Let Alex Anzalone and/or Jalen Reeves-Maybin go

I’m going with somethin akin to a 2-for-1, with a one or the other or both decision for the Lions here. Anzalone and Reeves-Maybin were the Lions’ fourth and third-leading tacklers respectively in 2021, and Anzalone was literally an every snap player over the first 12 games of the season before an injury eventuallly ended his season.

As much a such things mean anything, Anzalone seemed to hint at his looming departure in free agency in an Instagram post last month. Getting down to it, Pro Football Focus graded him as the second-worst player on the Lions this past season.

After he stepped into a more prominent defensive role in 2021, Reeves-Maybin appears to be a priority re-signing for the Lions. But the price has to be right. I’ve said in the $3-$4 million per year range on nothing more than a two or three-year deal, and even then he could easily be usurped on the depth chart by an incoming rookie, etc.

If the Lions get to making a choice of who to keep between Anzalone and Reeves-Maybin, it should be Reeves-Maybin. But there’s definitely a scenario where both are allowed to leave, as upgrades are sought and secured.