Lions Listed as Free Agency Winners

Lions credited for upgrading their defense.
Lions Listed as Free Agency Winners
Lions Listed as Free Agency Winners /
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The Detroit Lions' defense needed to add new talent, especially at the cornerback position. 

General manager Brad Holmes, who expressed publicly he favors using free agency to address team needs, set out to add defensive backs who are playmakers and who want to prove doubters of their ability wrong. 

In Sports Illustrated's list of free agency winners and losers, Holmes and the front office are credited with upgrading the defense. 

"Speaking of new eras, the Detroit Lions are Super Bowl contenders and they’re acting like it. The Lions haven’t gotten complacent after their run to the NFC title game, addressing holes on their defense, writes Gilberto Manzano. "They didn’t get much return from last year’s notable signings of defensive backs Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who left to re-join the Philadelphia Eagles."

Detroit re-signed Emmanuel Moseley and traded for Carlton Davis. Amik Robertson is a versatile and gritty defensive back that plays the position in a similar manner that defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn once did during his playing days. 

The moves along the defensive line have caught the attention of pundits, as a strong run-stopping unit already got even better with the addition of veteran DJ Reader

With the additions, Manzano indicates Holmes may have just put together the best roster in the entire league. 

"But the improvements weren’t just in the back end of the defense. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader and edge rusher Marcus Davenport joined a front featuring Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. With an improved defense, the Lions might have a strong case for having one of the best rosters in the NFL."


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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!