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

With the expected offseason release of Tracy Walker, and the also-expected free agency departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Detroit Lions seemed lined up to take a safety somewhere in the recent draft. Fourth-round pick Sione Vaki played the position pretty well at Utah, but there seems to be other plans for his primary immediate role.

The Lions projected starters at safety are Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu. At the unveiling of the new uniforms, Joseph revealed he had hip surgery and will be out until training camp. Melifonwu has battled injuries of varying degrees in all three of his NFL seasons.

There has been talk about Brian Branch seeing more time at safety next season, but moving him completely off the nickel corner role he was so good in last year doesn't seem like a great idea. Brandon Joseph, who was brought in as an undrafted rookie last year and stuck around on the practice squad, has an opportunity to earn a roster spot.

Before the draft, head coach Dan Campbell pointed to safety as a spot that would be targeted for reinforcements. But as mentioned, Vaki's immediate role is lined up to be multi-faceted as a running back, special teamer and possible occasional safety. Depth at the position has to be a lingering concern for the Lions.

So a veteran addition to the safety room makes a lot of sense right now. There are some noteworthy options out there, even now into May and after the draft.

More specifically, in search of the best fits, here are a half-dozen free agent safeties the Lions should have on their radar.

6 free agent safeties Detroit Lions should have on their radar

6. Marcus Maye

Injuries and a suspension have limited Maye to 23 games over the last three seasons. He finished last season on IR with a shoulder injury, which helped make him an easy cap casualty for the Saints in their annual effort to get cap-compliant. But in the seven games he played last year, he had two interceptions and a 67.9 passer rating allowed.

The "when healthy" caveat has to be be attached to Maye, and it's the No. 1 reason he's available as OTAs start to get rolling around the league. But he has proven to be a capable every-down player "when healthy", and if the Lions wanted to kick the proverbial tires here it wouldn't be outlandish.

5. Duron Harmon

We've beaten the Harmon drum before, so let's do it again. He was part of Matt Patricia's attempt to bring the "Patriot Way" to Detroit, spending one season (2020) with the Lions after seven in New England. He started 16 games and played over 1,100 defensive snaps in that lone season as a Lion, then he played all 17 games and played over 1,000 defensive snaps in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons and 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, he earned a top-12 coverage grade (77.6) among qualified safeties from Pro Football Focus.

Harmon had, let's call it a well-traveled, 2023 season. He went from the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad to the Chicago Bears' active roster and finally to the Cleveland Browns to end the season. He played in a total of seven games and 291 defensive snaps.

At 33 years old, Harmon's best days are behind him. But it's hard to imagine the form he showed two seasons ago (86 total tackles, etc.) has completely evaporated. Maybe he can't/shouldn't play 1,000 defensive snaps, but if he came back to the Lions he wouldn't have to.

4. Eddie Jackson

Jackson's play has definitely fallen off in recent years. But he did pop up with 80 total tackles and four interceptions in 2022, with a PFF coverage grade (74.3) that was top-30 among safeties that season. Last year's drop-off from that, as he moved toward 30 years old and missed five games, shouldn't be forgotten.

But Jackson has the experience, range, nose for the ball and ball skills that can make him a very valuable reserve. If he's willing to embrace a role that will naturally include special teams, the noted past Lions' killer would be a nice fit.

3. Tracy Walker

Another former Lion, Walker struggled at times last season and was eventually benched in favor of Melifonwu. Despite his fast recovery from an Achilles tear early in the 2022 season, being pressed into starting duty after Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pectoral probably wasn't ideal coming off his own major injury.

The the aforementioned release of Walker early this offseason was firmly rooted in a cap hit that was not lined up to what his role was going to be. It also felt like a favor to him, so he could hit the free agent market early as he looked for another team. To this point, there have been no reports of Walker even taking a free agent visit anywhere.

In mid-April, Walker posted on Instagram saying he was back in Detroit.

The path seems to be paved for Walker to come back to the Lions at a much lower salary, it may just be a matter of time. Maybe he should be higher on this list.

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.