As the Detroit Lions start to shape their plan for 2023 free agency, these four free agents should be easy to let leave.
Compared to the last two, this offseason will be a little bit different for the Detroit Lions. A list of offseason needs could have just basically said “everywhere” in each of Brad Holmes’ first two offseasons as general manager, as a rebuild in the wake of the mess Matt Patricia and Bon Quinn left behind was embarked on.
But the roster build is going pretty well, pretty quickly in Detroit, with a winning season and a near-playoff berth this season as a nice springboard into this offseason and a promising future.
In free agency, the Lions can eye upgrades at some spots if they want to, re-sign some key pieces, etc. But need areas are narrower, and thus able to be targeted more aggressively. In particular defensive reinforcements will surely be a priority, in free agency and the draft, as that side of the ball is the final frontier for the Lions to become legit contenders. A bottom-tier defense across the board this year, even with some promising pieces in place, needs a further injection of talent. Veteran free agents may even see Detroit as a destination they’ll greatly consider now.
The Lions have 18 unrestricted free agents to consider bringing back or letting leave over the next couple months. These four should be easy to waive goodbye to.
4 free agents the Detroit Lions should be fine letting leave
4. QB Nate Sudfeld
This is no knock on Sudfeld, who barely played this season (nine total snaps in blowout wins over the Jaguars and Bears) after the Lions remade their depth chart behind Jared Goff and signed. But when Goff missed some time to injuries and a bout with COVID in 2021, we saw the result (Tim Boyle).
Via SI.com, Holmes has already laid out the priority that will be placed on the No. 2 quarterback position this offseason.
"Going into this past year, yeah, we went down to the umpteenth hour trying to figure out what we were gonna do at number two,” Holmes said. “I’ve let it be known internally that we’re not gonna be in that position again heading into this year, so we have to get that settled. I thought Nate Sudfeld did a nice job with us, so we’ll figure that out. But, I am gonna make it a point of emphasis and make sure that, being that we’re finally in a position to address that quarterback room behind Jared, we have been in that position in the past. But, we’re gonna make that a point of emphasis this year.”"
Holmes was sure to mention the nice job Sudfeld did, and thus faintly keep open the possibility he’ll be re-signed. But there will be some options in free agency, and replacing Sudfeld with someone who could keep the offense rolling if Goff were to be out shouldn’t be too tough.
3. CB/S Will Harris
Safety, cornerback, a combination of the two, Harris hasn’t been particularly good at either over the course of four seasons with the Lions. He should be commended for embracing a role (the most snaps on the Lions defense–1,012) and seeming to find something a home at cornerback in 2021, and in a broad sense his versatility should have been good for the Lions’ secondary.
But Harris was exposed as a slot corner this year, pressed into duty as he was. In 15 games he allowed a 70.5 percent completion rate and a 106.0 passer rating in his coverage (according to Pro Football Reference) with one interception.
An overhaul of the Lions’ cornerback room this offseason starts here. Harris is the epitome of replaceable.
2. CB Mike Hughes
Hughes played well at times this season, and he stepped into a bigger role when Jeff Okudah struggled late in the season (snap rate of 65 percent or higher four times from Week 12-Week 18).
But he was not impactful enough, with zero interceptions (no turnovers forced at all) and just one pass breakup in 16 games over 563 defensive snaps. His coverage numbers (73.2 percent completion rate; 126.0 passer rating, according to Pro Football Reference) were a step or two worse than Harris’ even.
Hughes could be brought back to Detroit on another one-year deal. But it’ll be better to just let him go, even if it’d be a cheap contract again.
1. CB Amani Oruwariye
After looking like a budding shutdown corner in 2021, as he had six interceptions and looked like a building block for the Lions’ secondary, Oruwariye was eventually benched this season. And when he did get on the field later in the season, he became someone opposing quarterbacks found and targeted. And often targeted successfully.
What exactly plagued Oruwariye this season is unclear. It may have been a hidden injury, but the league’s rules and consequences for not reporting injuries make that unlikely on the Lions’ end. The league’s increased focus on illegal contact seemed to be a thing early. Being in line for a contract extension off his breakout 2021 season, and any pressure he may have been putting on himself, was dismissed as non-physical thing impacting his performance, but that’s to be expected.
During the Lions’ strong closing stretch from Week 9 on, Oruwariye only played a noticable amount of defensive snaps when injuries or illness forced no other choice. That’s as telling as anything else about his 2022 season. He was not part of a winning formula, as the Lions’ defense generally played better–and played better without him, even as other cornerbacks struggled.
The Lions may make a token one-year offer to Oruwariye, while crossing their fingers he doesn’t take it. They are definitely glad they slow-played the idea of a contract extension for him last offseason. Otherwise they’d be paying pretty good money moving forward to one of the worst cornerbacks in the league this season–at least early when he was playing enough for his ineptitude to be noticed and spotlighted that is.
Oruwariye too-easily takes the No. 1 spot on this list.