5. DE Teair Tart
Tart had a weird exit from the Titans late in the 2023 regular season, as they waived him in mid-December amid his desire for a new contract and the team's issue with his effort and attitude. He apparently asked for and was granted his release. He played on a $4.3 million second-round tender this season, after an agreement on a contract extension was not reached.
The Houston Texans claimed Tart off waivers, as two other teams also put in a claim. So whatever issues that prompted his exit from Tennessee, other teams weren't overly concerned in terms of taking a late-season fleir.
Tart comes in at No. 71 on Pro Football Focus' ranking of the top 150 2024 free agents.
"On the field, Tart is difficult to displace with just one blocker in the run game, and he has solid juice as a pass rusher. He makes a great member of a platoon as a zero- or one-technique who can push a pocket or knife through double teams, and he shows good recognition as to when to get his hands up for a batted pass."-Pro Football Focus
Williams had an up-close view of Tart as his position coach-good, bad or maybe ugly, for basically four seasons. The Lions could look to reshape their defensive tackle group outside of Alim McNeill this offseason, and Williams has valuable insight here.