5 Free Agents Lions Should Watch in Super Bowl 58
Watching the Super Bowl will bring extra motivation for the Detroit Lions and their fanbase.
Dan Campbell's team was on the precipice of reaching this game, holding a three-score lead at halftime of the NFC Championship Game. However, the San Francisco 49ers mounted a furious rally to defeat Detroit and punch their ticket.
As a result, the Lions will be forced to watch two teams square off in a game they hoped to reach. However, it will also allow them to continue evaluating potential free agents ahead of the 2024 offseason.
Here are five free agents the Lions should watch Sunday.
Kansas City
CB L'Jarius Sneed
After working primarily as a slot cornerback over the last three seasons, Sneed moved to the boundary for the final year of his rookie contract. The results were solid, as he showed the ability to be a shutdown corner for the Chiefs' defense.
Additionally, he was a playmaker. Sneed picked off two passes this year, and forced a fumble in a critical juncture in the team's AFC Championship Game win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Lions invested in a cornerback last season with Cam Sutton, but the veteran struggled in his role as the team's top cornerback. Sneed is projected to earn a contract worth $17.5 million annually by Pro Football Focus, so the Lions may choose to avoid paying another hefty deal to a cornerback after doing so last year.
However, Sneed fits a clear need, and would give the Lions a top option in the secondary.
DE Mike Danna
The Lions have one of the league's top EDGE rushers in Aidan Hutchinson, but struggled to find production on the opposite side of the defensive line.
Danna doesn't have the elite pass-rush production, with 17 sacks in four seasons. But, he has been an anchor in the run game. Detroit shuffled through defensive ends in 2023, so Danna could provide that reliability on the opposite side of Hutchinson.
The Lions have expressed desire to add competition to their roster, and Danna would put pressure on young players like John Cominsky and Josh Paschal to produce.
He has ties to Michigan, having played for Central Michigan and Michigan in college. Additionally, he's expected to command an affordable, short-term contract that would allow the Lions to make an easy commitment.
San Francisco
DT Javon Kinlaw
The Lions had one of the league's best run defenses in 2023, but were strapped for depth on the interior at points this past year. Veteran Tyson Alualu wound up playing a key role down the stretch, and Alim McNeill missed time at the end of the regular season with a knee injury.
McNeill has the making of a standout defensive tackle, but the Lions would benefit from adding another starter to their four-down front. Kinlaw fits that mold.
The 2020 first-round pick had his fifth-year option declined by the 49ers, and will enter free agency this year. He posted career-best numbers in sacks and tackles for loss, an indication that he is still developing after dealing with injuries the last two years.
Under general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions have shown an ability for giving short-term deals to players who have dealt with injuries. Kinlaw is talented and would be a good fit within the defense. As a result, a short-term, prove-it contract could bring out the best in the 26-year-old.
DE Chase Young
Many clamored for the Lions to make a move for Young at the trade deadline, though he was ultimately dealt to the 49ers. The 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is brimming with star potential, but injuries have hindered his progress early in his career.
However, there are questions about whether his effort level would meet the standards that the Lions have set. He has the ability of an elite rusher, but has struggled to always meet that potential.
The potential of Young is exciting, and he has been very good at points in his career. Depending on the price tag in free agency, the Lions would be wise to explore the possibility of adding him to their pass-rush corps, as they try to maximize their Super Bowl window.
WR Jauan Jennings
The only restricted free agent on this list, Jennings is an interesting player who has grown into a key part of the 49ers' offensive attack. San Francisco has a plethora of playmakers elsewhere, but Jennings always seems to make key plays at key points.
At 6-foot-3, Jennings profiles as a solid X-receiver who would be a multi-level threat. Both of the Lions' physical outside threats, Josh Reynolds and Donovan Peoples-Jones, are set to be free agents.
The Lions would have to overpay a bit to bring him in, as the 49ers can match contract offers to retain him. Yet, Holmes has never shied away from making big moves to bolster the depth of his team.
Jennings has intriguing potential, and would fit nicely with Detroit's budding core of receivers, headlined by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
