4 other free agents Detroit Lions could sign from 2022 NFC North rosters

4. WR N’Keal Harry

2022 Team: Chicago Bears

Harry has been an undeniable draft bust, one of the most recent of the New England Patriots’ big misses in scouting wide receivers. He got a theoretical fresh start with a trade to the Bears last summer, but it was not to be.

An ankle injury late in training camp sidelined Harry for the early part of the season. In seven games he ultimately played in, he had seven catches (on nine targets) for 116 yards and one touchdown over 176 snaps. He did have a notable highlight as a Bear, in a brief flash of the potential that made him a first-round pick.

Harry had a nice college career at Arizona State, topping 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons with 17 touchdowns over that span. He is a big receiver (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), and he is still just 25 years old. The Lions could use a big-bodied receiver of his ilk, and he would be incredibly cheap to sign.

3. K Mason Crosby

2022 Team: Green Bay Packers

The re-signing of Michael Badgley is noteworthy for the Lions, but there could still be a kicker competition.

It’s hard to remember a time when Crosby was not the Packers’ kicker, as he goes all the way back to Brett Favre’s final season in Green Bay (2007). He has certainly had some ups and downs, but they’ve stuck with him. That he has not been re-signed yet says something though, and it points to them moving on.

Crosby will turn 39 just before next season starts, and his prowess on kickoffs has eroded dramatically (20.3 percent touchback rate last season). But having home games indoors in Detroit can only help, and Jack Fox handles kickoffs for the Lions anyway.

Crosby of course has plenty of experience with big kicks, and of course kicking in cold weather November-December-January games. The Lions could have had some initial interest here, and Badgley being brought back would not necessarily prevent interest now.