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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: John McCoy/Getty Images
Credit: John McCoy/Getty Images /

4. Matt Ioannidis

2022 Team: Carolina Panthers

Ioannidis started all 13 games he played for the Carolina Panthers last season. While his raw numbers weren’t great, he did have an impact lining up as as stabilizing force next to Derrick Brown, who had a breakout campaign.

Ioannidis spent his first six NFL seasons with Washington, highlighted by seasons (2018 and 2019) where he had 7.5 and 8.5 sacks respectively. He only played three games in 2020, but he remains an underrated, versatile player the Lions should like a lot.

3. A’Shawn Robinson

2022 Team: Los Angeles Rams

With a recurring reunion theme for the Lions, the idea of bringing Robinson back is out there a bit. A second-round pick by Detroit in 2016, he has spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. His 2022 season ended was ended by a torn meniscus, but in 2021 he had 67 total tackles–which is a pretty massive number for an interior defensive lineman.

Robinson is far more a run stopper than a pass rusher, at 330 pounds, and the Lions need help on that front. Last season he had a solid run-stop win rate of 39.5 percent and he also posted a 68.7 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus.

Robinson would not be expensive to sign coming off an injury, and he looks like a nice fit for the Lions defensive line.

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