The Detroit Lions are in the unique position of being a very good team, coming off a trip to the NFC Championship Game, and having quite a bit of cap space as free agency nears ($46.65 million, ninth-most in the league, according to Over The Cap). And while the clock is certainly ticking, there are some very cut-and-dry, almost simple, moves in play that could clear a lot more cap room.
The question is how the Lions will allocate the dollars they have to spend. General manager Brad Holmes has placed a clear priority on "keeping our own", but he may have opened the door just a little for a splashy move to add someone. In a vacuum, it would be nice to see a big swing to address a need as the Lions look to take the next step toward making (or winning) a Super Bowl.
Even if the Lions make a big move to add someone, they will sign free agents who will come at a far lower cost. A few spots on the roster are headed for some turnover, and/or need added depth. The deeper questions are where or how or if those needs will be filled with external free agents.
On the bargain shopping end of free agency, here are five potential targets who make sense for the Lions.
5 bargain targets for the Detroit Lions in 2024 NFL free agency
5. CB Stephon Gilmore
It's hard to comfortably call Gilmore a bargain, based on his name and resume alone. But at 33 years old (34 early next season), he can probably be brought in on a one or two-year deal that won't prevent other additions from being made. And there have been plenty of predictions/projections matching he and the Lions, even with the fairly flimsy addition of the fact his younger brother Steven is on the team.
Projections from Spotrac and Pro Football Focus sit a one-year deal for Gilmore, at $11.1 and $10 million respectively. He has plenty left in the tank, after playing all 17 games for the Cowboys last season with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions.
If Gilmore wants to chase another ring, there are few better places to do it than Detroit right now. Tacking on a second year, which would be fine and viable, could be a differentiation point from other offers he gets.
4. OG John Simpson
Simpson made our list of potential free agent pivot options if the Lions lose left guard Jonah Jackson, which seems more and more likely as the days go on and other guards sign new deals.
Pro Football Focus named Detroit as a possible landing spot for Simpson, of course on the idea they'd have to replace Jackson and may look toward someone who is cheaper. Brad Spielberger's evaluation of Simpson as someone who "brings an edge in the run game" sounds like an ideal fit for the Lions, and offensive line coach Hank Fraley can surely help him refine any previous penalty issues.
Simpson has started every game in the two seasons he was given a chance to start, 2021 with the Raiders and 2023 with the Ravens. He allowed just one sack last season, and seems to have some untapped potential. He may end up part of a competition at left guard if the Lions are looking for a new starter, but Simpson is an ideal bargain target if Jackson indeed finds far greener pastures elsewhere.
3. EDGE Josh Uche
After breaking out with 11.5 sacks in 2022, Uche fell down to just three sacks for the Patriots last season. But a closer look shows he was 18th among edge defenders with at least 200 pass rushing snaps in Pro Football Focus' pass rush productivity metric.
Uche is clearly a pass rusher, and little else. Not having Matthew Judon opposite him for a big chunk of the season hurt him last season, along with knee and ankle injuries that may have limited him beyond the two games he missed (lower snap rate).
Uche has one year of top-end sack production in four seasons with the Patriots, but a closer look at last year for him shows the relative randomness sacks can be. He's young (25), headed for a "prove-it" type deal somewhere and better than anyone the Lions had opposite Aidan Hutchinson off the edge last season.
2. CB Steven Nelson
Pro Football Focus tabbed Nelson as a perfect free agent match for the Lions.
"Detroit deploys a reasonably high amount of man coverage, and Nelson has placed inside the top 20 in man coverage grade in each of the past three seasons. Nelson won’t fix all of their issues alone, but his addition would be a nice starting point."
The 31-year old had a career-high five interceptions (counting the playoffs) last season with the Texans. He played nearly 1,100 snaps over all 17 regular season games, with 12 pass breakups (four interceptions) and a passer rating allowed of just 73.3. He is also a willing tackler in run support, with at least 50 total tackles in five of the last six seasons.
If the Lions don't got all in for a cornerback (L'Jarius Sneed?), Nelson will make a lot of sense. Even if they do add someone like Sneed, signing Nelson would be a worthy follow up to further fortify the cornerback depth chart.
1. DL Denico Autry
Sheerly on the idea of following new Lions' defensive line coach Terrell Williams from Tennessee to Detroit, Autry immediately makes a lot of sense. But the 33-year old (34 in July) also had a career-high 11.5 sacks last season, with 53 pressures. He has posted at least 53 quarterback pressures (per Pro Football Focus) in three straight seasons, with 9.0, 8.0 and 11.5 sacks (as mentioned) in those respective seasons.
Autry (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) can line up inside or out on the edge, and he's a strong run defender to go with the juice he can provide as a pass rusher. Here's PFF's evaluation of him, as he sits at No. 65 in their free agent rankings.
"Autry is still one of the strongest 5-technique defensive ends in the game, splitting double teams by lowering his shoulder and barreling through blocks with sheer power or sometimes utilizing a jump chop across the tackle's face to the inside. The wily veteran also does a good job of using a blocker's momentum in a backpedal to slingshot himself forward, always finding a way to end up around the quarterback, even if only to deliver a shot just after the ball gets thrown. Autry will be 34 years old in 2023 but still has good football in his future."
Autry's tie to Williams actually goes back to his 2014 rookie season in Oakland, which was Williams' last season as the defensive line coach there. He has said he wanted to stay in Tennessee, but that was before Mike Vrabel was let go as head coach and Williams decided to leave.
An endorsement from Williams, to both sides, could bring Autry to Detroit.