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6 free agent defensive tackles the Detroit Lions should have on their radar

By Brad Berreman

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 09: Armon Watts #96 of the Chicago Bears looks on before the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 29-22. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images).
MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 09: Armon Watts #96 of the Chicago Bears looks on before the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 29-22. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images). /
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Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

6. Chris Wormley

2022 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Wormley’s 2022 season with the Steelers ended in December due to a torn ACL, and being so close after surgery explains his availability to some degree. In the 13 games he played,  he had 29 total tackles with a half a sack.

But in 2021, Wormley had 51 total tackles and seven sacks as he started 14 of the 15 games he played for Pittsburgh. He has some inside-outside versatility too, which would seem to make him a nice potential fit for the Lions.

Given that he’s a defensive lineman and not a skill position guy, perhaps Wormley could be ready to contribute faster coming off a torn ACL than someone who needs more speed, agility and change of direction to play. He likely wouldn’t be ready for Week 1, but as a depth piece who has been a good run defender and pass rusher the Lions could consider a flier here.

5. Quinton Jefferson

2022 Team: Seattle Seahawks

Jefferson has become a bit of a journeyman lately, playing for three teams in the last three seasons. He spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks, the team that drafted him in 2016, with 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits over 565 snaps as he played all 17 games. But Seattle released him around the start of the league year, and he remains available.

Michael Bumpus of Seattle Sports 710 AM took up the case for the Seahawks to keep Jefferson before they cut him, with the following note.

"You’ve got to bring back a guy who had a good five games to end the season, and I’m talking about Quinton Jefferson, who’s on his third stint with the Seahawks,” he said. “His last five games, he had the fourth-most QB pressures from a D-tackle, he had a higher pressure rate than Chris Jones and DeForest Buckner, he had a career-high 5.5 sacks.”"

The Lions need someone who can rush the passer effectively from the inside. Jefferson looks like a nice fit there.

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