The Detroit Lions value culture fit very highly, in parallel with if not more than a player's talent. If someone is not deemed to be an ideal fit by the tandem of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, they will not be drafted or signed. It really is that simple, and any perception of position value or significant roster need will become secondary.
As Holmes said during his season-ending press conference, looking for the most talented player is easy, and a "prerequisite of evaluation" as it relates to the draft. That certainly applies to free agency too, even without a specific mention of it by Holmes in this case.
"We have to get past just looking for the most talented player," Holmes said. "In my opinion, that's the prerequisite of evaluation."That's what I'm saying about that 2021 draft class. That was very intentional to find those guys that had the intangibles. It's not like, 'Oh, we'll wait until the fourth round to pick a wide receiver. No, we wanted (Amon-Ra) St Brown. He had the intangibles that we were looking for to set our foundation."
In free agency, the Lions have placed a priority on retaining their own. Some notable outside signings were made last offseason, but they were deemed good all-around fits and they mostly worked out on the field too. Two of those outside signings, Graham Glasgow and Jaylen Reeves-Maybin, had played for the Lions before.
In Reeves-Maybin's case, he played under this regime in 2021 before leaving to sign with the Houston Texans in 2022. Glasgow was drafted by the previous regime in 2016, before leaving to sign with the Denver Broncos in 2020.
It's possible some other former Lions could be on the radar to return in free agency this offseason, after spending some time away. It's not a long list of viable options, per se, but these three former Lions could be brought back if circumstances push toward it.
3 former Detroit Lions who could be brought back in 2024 free agency
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.
2. C/OG Evan Brown
After Brown signed with the Seattle Seahawks last March, the Lions quickly pivoted to Graham Glasgow to replace his interior line versatility. That alone may have been a strong reflection of his value to them, wasting no time to replace him.
In 2021, after Frank Ragnow went down for the season due to turf toe, Brown started 12 games for the Lions at center and was graded solidly for his work by Pro Football Focus (68.8 overall).
Then in 2022, when Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed the entire season due to a back injury, Brown started 11 games at right guard among his 12 total starts. He wasn't as well-regarded for his work at guard, but practically being a full-time starter at two different positions in back-to-back years theoretically helped him heading into free agency last year.
Glasgow was open and honest about the idea he wants to make more money than he did this year, and he earned it with his performance. Not that it'll take much, with the reported max he could make on his one-deal this year being $4 million. But there's a chance Glasgow finds what he's looking for elsewhere.
Brown started 16 games at center for the Seahawks this past season, coming in as PFF's No. 27 center among 36 qualifiers. He could follow offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to the Chicago Bears, and there are other teams he'd be an experienced upgrade for at center.
But if Glasgow, in particular among the three guards they have who are headed to free agency, goes elsewhere, the Lions could enter the mix to sign Brown and bring him back.
1. WR DJ Chark
A full hat-tip to FanSided's Mark Powell here.
In his lone season with the Lions in 2022, Chark's overall numbers won't jump out at you (30 receptions for 502 yards, three touchdowns). But once he shook off an ankle injury, he turned into what the Lions had to have envisioned he could be when they signed him.
Over five games from Week 13-17 that season, he averaged 20.8 yards per catch (18 receptions for 374 yards) with a touchdown. He topped 90 yards three times in that span.
Chark of course eventually signed with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. This past season went about as expected it would (35 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games). He'll hit the open market again off a similar season to the one he had with the Lions, and he's unlikely to get more than a one-year deal yet again.
Spotrac projects Chark for a one-year, $10.96 million deal right now. If he gets close to $11 million, it would be surprising.
If Josh Reynolds leaves in free agency, perhaps for more money or a multi-year deal the Lions may hesitate to give him, there will obviously be a need to replace his presence as a trusted veteran receiver.
Among the free agent options of that ilk, a WR3/WR4 type, Chark could stand out for the Lions based on familiarity alone if they have a need. A reunion is easy to brush off as unlikely, but it is possible if things go a certain way for Detroit (Reynolds leaving).