3 former Detroit Lions who could be brought back in 2024 free agency

The Detroit Lions value fit very highly, with familiarity a tentacle of that, so these three former Lions could be brought back in free agency this offseason.

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
2 of 4

3. K Randy Bullock

Bullock barely qualifies as a former Lion, since he was signed in March of 2021 and did not make it to Week 1 as the team cycled through kickers that first year under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell faster than some people change underwear (metaphorically speaking, or course).

Bullock latched on with the Tennessee Titans a couple weeks after the Lions let him go. He went 26-for-31 on field goals and 42 of 45 on extra points over 16 games in 2021. In 15 games for the Titans in 2022, he went 17-for-20 on field goals and 28-for-28 on extra points.

Bullock went without a team into last season until the New York Giants lost Graham Gano. In six games for the Giants, he went 5-for-6 on field goals and 10-for-10 on extra points before landing on IR with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 15.

Bullock has spent most of his career with an outdoor stadium as his home stadium (105 of 144 career games outdoors). Michael Badgley's limitations from longer-range outdoors were not a thing until they were a thing in a big spot; the NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers. It would appear there would be no such limitation attached to Bullock, even at 34 years old. Not that Dan Campbell won't still go for it on fourth down a lot if it'd be a 45-50 yard field goal attempt instead, but having a kicker as even a faintly reliable option when it may make more sense would be nice.

Bullock may carry some ill-will toward the Lions for letting him go, but that seems unlikely. He's not in a position to be choosy if there's an opportunity to kick in Detroit, even if it's ostensibly only as competition for Badgley initially.

Yes, Bullock isn't the most exciting kicker option if the Lions' eye a change there this offseason. But no stone should be left unturned, and there's a non-zero chance giving Bullock another shot becomes an option.

Schedule