5 former Detroit Lions who are in need of a team for 2022

2. TE Eric Ebron

2021 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers slowly phased Ebron out last season in favor of Pat Freiermuth (12 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in eight games), then a knee injury landed him on season-ending IR in late-November. It’s not great timing to enter the free agent market off an injury, but in February the Lions’ former first-round pick tweeted he has been medically cleared.

The bigger issue for any team that may want Ebron is his performance. He has topped 600 yards once in the last five seasons, 2018 with the Indianapolis Colt when he set a career-high with 66 receptions and had more touchdowns (13) than he has had in practically any other grouping of three seasons in his career. He has only exceeded 600 yards one other time (2016 with the Lions), with no other season where he has had more than five touchdowns.

The idea of a team betting on Ebron reaching his potential as a former top-10 pick is long gone. But someone will eventually sign him…I think.

1. S Duron Harmon

2021 Team: Atlanta Falcons

Harmon is one former Lion the relatively new regime should seriously be looking to bring back, but it doesn’t appear to be on the radar. Last season with the Falcons he had 67 total tackles, with two interceptions and five pass deflections over 17 games while playing 92 percent of the snaps.

Harmon spent 2020 with the Lions after “Quinntricia” (former GM Bob Quinn and former head coach Matt Patricia) acquired him from the Patriots (naturally). But he was a good player in that lone season, registering a top-five grade from Pro Football Focus among all NFL safeties through roughly half the season and playing just over 1,100 snaps. He also set a career-high with 73 total tackles in 2020.

Harmon has multiple interceptions in five straight seasons, and he has functioned solidly within a couple bad defenses the last two seasons. Someone ought to sign him soon.

Update (3/24/2022): The Las Vegas Raiders announced a deal with Harmon.