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The Detroit Lions have made a handful of moves in free agency, but for the most part, they’ve been quiet, which is normal for Brad Holmes.
The Detroit Lions have made a handful of moves in free agency, but for the most part, they’ve been quiet, which is normal for head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. The NFL free agency period kicked off on March 11, and it came and went without a lot of big names running through the Detroit Lions’ camp.
Now, one NFL expert is warning the Lions that their lack of movement on a key player could cost them. Holmes famously doesn’t like to spend big bucks in free agency, or with trades, but sometimes, that means missing out on players that would be a great fit for the Detroit Lions.
One of the larger moves the team made in free agency was signing center Cade Mays to a three-year, million deal, as well as adding tackle Larry Borom, running back Isiah Pacheco, defensive back Christian Izien, cornerback Roger McCreary and tight end Tyler Conklin.
According to the team’s official website, Mays has played in 52 games and started 27 in his first four seasons in the league with the Carolina Panthers at both guard and center, so he’s versatile. “Over the past two seasons, he’s started 20 games and hasn’t allowed a sack. He started 12 games at center last year, allowing a pressure rate of just 2.56 percent 11th among centers,” the Lions add of their new player.
Detroit Lions Get Slammed for Moves in Free Agency and Missing Out on Key Player
In a feature out from SI on Thursday, March 19, the publication’s staff has their “The MMQB” and pretended to be a general manager in the NFL. NFL expert Albert Breer pretended to be Holmes.
“If I were the Lions, I would’ve topped the two-year, $20 million deal that the Texans did with Colts RT Braden Smith, and used that as a pivot point to flip All-Pro Penei Sewell over to the left side,” he stated. “Detroit’s been at its best under GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell when its offensive line has been dominant.”
He added, “And signing Smith would have been comparable to adding Kevin Zeitler a few years back, bringing in a reliable third-contract vet who you know exactly what you’re getting.”
Now, Smith is off the market. The Houston Texans signed the player to a two-year, $20 million deal with $13.5 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac research.
Lions Have a ‘Lack of Apparent Effort to Make Any Kind of Notable Move’
In a Sunday, March 22 feature for SideLion Report, NFL analyst Brad Berreman discusses the move. “With how critical the offensive line is to the Lions’ success, Breer is right about there being value in knowing ‘exactly what you’re getting.’”
Berreman adds, “How many offensive lineman do they know what they’ll get from right now? Sewell, the recently signed Cade Mays and Tate Ratledge? Three-fifths is not good enough, especially when the entire blindside of Jared Goff carries the two question marks right now.”
He concludes, “The Lions being content to largely sit out of free agency was fine when it didn’t feel like other teams with high expectations and aspirations were passing them by. But that time is gone, to the point the lack of apparent effort to make any kind of notable move is impossible to ignore.”
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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