5 former Lions who could come back to Detroit for 2022

As the Detroit Lions possibly look to add some veterans this offseason, these five former Lions could be lined up for a reunion.

The Detroit Lions were one of the youngest teams in the NFL last season. As they look to take a step toward contention in 2022, some reasonable veteran additions could be on the radar via free agency or trades.

The wrongs of the previous regime in Detroit may not be able to be corrected. But general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are setting a culture players have bought into, and they can sell that to free agents.

But the focus here is on former Lions. Here are five former Lions who could be on the radar for a reunion this offseason.

5 former Lions who could come back to Detroit this offseason

5. RB Dwayne Washington

Credit to Mike Payton of Pride of Detroit here. Washington was a seventh-round pick by the Lions in 2016, playing 17 games over his first two seasons. He has spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, largely playing special teams, and he overlapped with Campbell for three seasons there when Campbell was tight ends coach.

The Lions may be considering how to overturn the bottom couple spots on their running back depth chart this offseason. Washington looks to be a nice fit if they do so.

4. DT Ndamukong Suh

The idea of Suh coming back to Detroit has been out there. He remains a very effective player at 35 years old,  the Lions run defense needs help and the interior defensive line could use a real presence. If nothing else, Suh is an imposing presence. Any animosity he had toward the Lions should be long gone. The biggest question if he’d prefer to sign with a team easier to see as a contender for 2022.

3. LB Jarrad Davis

Davis was drafted 21st overall by the Lions in 2017, with 41 starts over his first three seasons before his struggles led to a reduced role in 2020. He signed with the New York Jets last offseason, and later acknowledged he considered retiring during his time in Detroit ( that’s obviously a serious matter no to be taken lightly, but on the other hand Matt Patricia can have that affect on people, I suppose).

Davis started his season with the Jets on IR with an ankle injury, and he never got on track. He finished with 25 total tackles in nine games, with no particular impact in any aspect.

Bringing Davis back to Detroit would be about adding experienced depth to a linebacking corps that could be turned over a lot with Alex Anzalone and Jalen Reeves-Maybin as unrestricted free agents. Maybe Davis can find his way, and a role that fits, under a new regime.

2. WR Marvin Jones

This is one I want, and I assume I’m not alone. Jones signed a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason, as the Lions entered a rebuild and let him go. He then found something beyond the worst levels of Detroit-style dysfunction under Urban Meyer.

New Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson certainly values veterans as he tries to set a course in Jacksonville, and Jones remains a productive player too (73 catches for 832 yards and four touchdowns in 2021). But if the Lions offered…say a third-round pick?, would the Jaguars listen?

1. S Quandre Diggs

Diggs was one of the veteran players cast off by Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn, but the idea of him  coming back to Detroit gained some buzz with the Lions’ Week 17 visit to Seattle and his comments to Penei Sewell after the game expressing admiration for the city. He has now played out the extension the Lions gave him in 2018. The Lions have never truly replaced him, and their need for a ball hawk at safety is clear.

Diggs suffered a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle in Week 18, which is sure to impact his market in free agency. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported the veteran safety is expected to be fully cleared by June, in plenty of time for training camp. That’s along the line of the 4-5 month recovery time, but it’s still very good news.

No NFL safety has more interceptions (10) than Diggs over the last two seasons, and he set a career-high with 94 total tackles for the Seahawks last season. Seattle would surely like to bring him back, but the Lions also surely have some interest in bringing him back and they might win that battle.