6 free agent safeties the Detroit Lions should have on their radar

2. C.J. Moore

Moore was immediately released by the Lions in 2023 after he was given an indefinite suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy. He was among the players recently reinstated from those suspensions, so he's free to sign with a team like fellow former Lion Quintez Cephus did (with the Buffalo Bills) upon his being reinstated from a gambling suspension at the same time.

About a month before the gambling suspension came down, the Lions signed Moore to a two-year contract extension. That showed how much he was valued as a core special teamer, ranking top-five on the team in special teams snaps in each of his first four seasons.

Moore made a stupid mistake with his gambling suspension, after which the team and league both acknowledged holes in educating players about the gambling policy. The fit for a reunion seems easy, and if it happened soon it wouldn't a surprise.

Update, March 7 1:05 p.m. ET: According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Lions have re-signed Moore to a one-year deal.

1. Quandre Diggs

Diggs is someone Lions' fans want back, and they truly never wanted him to leave after he ran "afoul" of Matt Patricia. It's also pretty clear he never lost his affinity for the city and the fans, and likes the current situation in Detroit.

After being traded to Seattle during the 2019 season, Diggs further fueled the ire attached to the Lions trading him when went on to earn a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first three full seasons as a Seahawk. Last year was not nearly as good in most respects (one interception, 55.4 PFF coverage grade), but he still played all 17 games (over 1,100 defensive snaps) with a career-best 95 total tackles.

Diggs would be an ideal fit for the Lions, as a safety who can play all over the field and be a veteran leader. He would presumably have no problem embracing a reserve role that would include a good dose of special teams snaps, and coming back to Detroit (if they want him, and they should until shown otherwise) looks like his best option right now.