2. Poona Ford
2022 Team: Seattle Seahawks
Even coming off a bit of down year for the Seahawks in 2022, albeit with a career-best three sacks, Ford is somewhat surprisingly still available. Pro Football Focus projected him to get a two-year, $15 million, but at this point that ship has probably sailed.
Ford’s overall down year last year is not easily explained on the surface, as he did not miss a game. But Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll admitted misusing him.
Pete Carroll says Seahawks overused Poona Ford on the defensive line. He likes Ford over the center at nose tackle. They played him more outside as 3-technique and even 5-tech. "I think we wore him down."
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 16, 2023
Expect Ford back over the nose, among other changes to DL/run D in 2023
The Lions have more of a need at 3-technique than nose, but a depth of options at both spots would be nice. Ford stands to be a nice bargain at this point.
1. Armon Watts
2022 Team: Chicago Bears
Watts was a sixth-round pick the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. Then he was waived late last summer, and picked up by the Bears. So signing with the Lions would continue a tour of the NFC North for him.
Watts played in all 17 games for Chicago last season, starting a a career-best 12 contests while registering 35 total tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. For the Vikings in 2021, he had a career-best five sacks along with 21 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus had him with a career-high 11.3 percent pass rush win rate last season with the Bears.
Watts is a sneaky great fit for the Lions, and adding him as a new piece to the defensive line would not take them out of drafting someone who could be a long-term stalwart at defensive tackle.