The Detroit Lions have had a quicker rebuild than anyone realistically envisioned, going from 3-13-1 in the first year of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime to the NFC Championship Game in Year 3.
It's also safe to say Detroit has become a far more player-friendly place than it used to be, and Campbell is a coach players want to play for. Having a coaching staff filled with former NFL players only helps.
For the first time in the era of unrestricted free agency, which is not an exaggeration, Detroit is easy to consider a prime destination instead of a team free agents ultimately settle for when all else has failed.
The idea of any former Lions' players coming back now that things are good might inspire some eye-rolls. And a segment of those former players might be pretty far advanced in their careers at this point, so what would be the point of bringing them back?
The Lions had two former players (Graham Glasgow and Jalen Reeves-Maybin) come back in free agency in 2023, and both arguably followed (no doubt in Reeves-Maybin's case) by having the best season of their careers.
If things go a certain direction and a fit can be had, we'd like to see these three former Lions come back in 2024.
3 former Detroit Lions we'd like to see come back in 2024
3. S Duron Harmon
Harmon had a well-traveled 2023 season, going from the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad to the Chicago Bears' active roster and finally to the Cleveland Browns to finish the season. He played in a total of seven games (291 total snaps-defense and special teams), so his career could be considered to be on a downward trend.
But in three seasons before that, with the Lions (2020), the Atlanta Falcons (2021) and Las Vegas Raiders (2022), Harmon played over 1,000 defensive snaps each season and he did not miss a game. In 2022 with Las Vegas, his Pro Football Focus coverage grade (77.6) was the 12th-best among qualified safeties.
Safety depth behind Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu is a concern for the Lions right now, perhaps most especially from a sheer experience perspective after the release of Tracy Walker. Harmon could fill that void, and the weirdness of his journey last season is not nearly enough to say his skills have diminished.
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2. LB Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy was a second-round draft pick (No. 40 overall) of the Lions back in 2014. He didn't last three full seasons before being traded to the New England Patriots, who (unsurprisingly, at least at the time) got far better production out of him over the following three-plus seasons.
Van Noy has remained an effective and versatile linebacker over the years, with the Patriots, the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. He has posted at least five sacks in five straight seasons, including a career-high nine sacks in 2023 for the Ravens as he worked as more of a pure pass rusher. Pro Football Focus graded him as their 32nd best edge rusher last season (75.0 overall grade, out of 112 qualifiers).
The Lions' overall pass rush issues last season are well-documented. Retirement could always be on the radar for someone of Van Noy's age (33 on March 26), and he is dabbling in media on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" during NFL Combine week. But he has plenty left in the tank to keep playing, and he will have opportunities.
The Lions should be ready to offer an opportunity for him to come back and help their pass rush, as they'd also add a veteran leader with two Super Bowl rings.
1. OG Laken Tomlinson
Tomlinson was a first-round pick (28th overall) by the Lions in 2015. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after losing his starting job during his second season. He instantly went into the books as another draft bust in team history.
Not so fast. Tomlinson was the 49ers' starting left guard for the next five seasons (2017-2021), earning a well-timed Pro Bowl nod in that final season there as he headed into free agency.
The New York Jets ponied up and gave Tomlinson a three-year, $40 million deal in March of 2022, and he started 34 games at left guard for them over the last two seasons, But in a salary cap crunch, the Jets released him as combine week kicked off to clear $8.1 million in cap space.
It seems to be trending toward the Lions losing left guard Jonah Jackson in free agency, as they allocate big dollars to new contracts for other players. That will leave a significant void, and no one internally to step in unless someone is added in the draft. Even if Jackson is back, Tomlinson would provide experienced depth that currently does not exist.
Tomlinson should easily be able to find a starting job somewhere, so that's his most likely path back to the Lions (if Jackson leaves). The structure around him this time around in Detroit would be substantially better than it was when he was drafted, of course including offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
Overall, the fit could be very good if the Lions have a need for a starting left guard and Tomlinson wants to come back as he surveys his options.