Tier 2 Free Agents Lions Could Target
The Detroit Lions have a big opportunity to add talent in free agency after the NFL increased the salary cap for the 2024 season.
The organization ranks eighth in available cap space and could be big time players in free agency. General manager Brad Holmes has the resources available to make a splash, but there are other factors at play.
Namely, the organization must make decisions on key players who are due for extensions. Starting guards Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow are both set to be free agents this year, and cornerstones such as Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Taylor Decker are free agents after next season.
As a result, the Lions will have to be measured in their future commitments. Holmes has a tendency to offer short-term contracts to external free agents, and they could be players in this area again in 2024.
Here are three veteran free agents who the Lions could sign on short-term contracts heading into the 2024 season.
CB Chidobe Awuzie
The cornerback position is one that is a major need for the Lions heading into 2024. With the value that has been placed on the position, the top options are expected to demand significant commitments.
With Holmes' track record of offering one-year, prove-it deals to players, Awuzie could be a candidate to come to Motown in 2024. He has had success over his seven-year career, but is a year removed from a torn ACL and had an up and down campaign with the Bengals in 2023.
He's a good tackler, posting a 72.3 Pro Football Focus tackling grade last season. However, he allowed a opposing passer rating of 112.8 in coverage. Prior to his injury in 2022, he had allowed a passer rating of just 58.2 in 471 snaps.
Awuzie could be a good veteran option who could serve as a plug-in option and a mentor on a short-term deal while the Lions perhaps add a young option.
DL Denico Autry
There is a connection between Autry and the Lions organization with the hire of new defensive line coach Terrell Williams. He's a veteran, having logged 10 seasons across three seasons.
Despite his experience, Autry has still been productive in recent years. He had 11.5 sacks for the Titans in 2023 and has totaled 28.5 over the last three years.
Autry also has positional versatility, with the ability to line up on the edge as well as on the interior. He had 53 pressures last season, a number that would've ranked second on the Lions.
With his veteran experience, he could help guide the younger players at the position such as Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston. Additionally, his past with Williams would allow him to easily integrate with Detroit's defensive system.
EDGE Josh Uche
Whereas the first two options are veterans, Uche is a younger option who would provide competition on the edge. The Michigan product profiles as a fit in Detroit's SAM linebacker role, which the Lions struggled to find a consistent answer at last year.
Part of the Lions' instability at the position lied with Houston's injury, which sidelined him from Week 2 until the NFC Championship game. Uche had 37 pressures last year but had just 3.5 sacks.
Yet, the talented rusher is just a year removed from logging 11.5 sacks in 2022. He has potential to be a significant contributor as a disruptor for opposing passers.
Detroit ranked tied-for-24th in sacks last year, so reinforcements are needed. With Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris set to be free agents, a younger option who could offer competition in that area would be a wise investment.
