Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com

ALLEN PARK -- While Lions GM Bob Quinn is busy interviewing replacements for Jim Caldwell, he has some difficult contract decisions awaiting him on the horizon as well.

The Lions have 17 players who can become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire March 14, plus another 10 who can become restricted or exclusive rights free agents. That's more than half the team.

Once the new coach is in place, Quinn must sit down with him and decide which players they want to let go, and which are worth bringing back. And nowhere is that call more difficult than on the defensive line.

Here are all those pending free agents, ranked by their importance to the team.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

17. Don Barclay

Position: Guard

2017 cap hit: $410,294

Outlook: Best known for committing three fourth-quarter penalties in the loss against Cincinnati, two of which came as Detroit tried to mount a late comeback. No wonder he didn't play much, despite heavy losses up front.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

16. Greg Robinson

Position: Offensive tackle

2017 cap hit: $3.3 million

Outlook: It's bad enough when your division rival calls you lazy. It's worse yet when nobody in your own locker room defends you. Such was life for Robinson, who failed to live up to expectations as Taylor Decker's injury replacement -- and expectations were really, really, ridiculously low. If Bob Quinn can't find somebody better, I'll eat my shoe.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

15. Mike James

Position: Running back

2017 cap hit: $378,000

Outlook: Has played just four games since 2014, and none for Detroit. Signed with the club's practice squad twice, but spent the bulk of 2017 on injured reserve.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

14. Jordan Hill

Position: Defensive tackle

2017 cap hit: $418,000

Outlook: Kerry Hyder wasn't the only defensive lineman to be lost for the season in the preseason. Hill went down too, and his chances of making the team as a backup tackle were vanquished. But he did flash some potential in practice, so don't be shocked if Quinn kicks those tires again in 2018.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

AP Photo

13. Dwight Freeney

Position: Defensive end

2017 cap hit: $353,000

Outlook: The Lions believed Freeney still had something left when they claimed him off waivers late in the season. Instead, he didn't record an official stat in five games. Nothing. Nada. If there's anything left in the tank, he sure didn't show it.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

12. Tavon Wilson

Position: Strong safety

2017 cap hit: $1.65 million

Outlook: He's better than most of the guys ahead of him on this list, but his value is diminished by the rise of Quandre Diggs. Wilson missed the last five games with a shoulder injury, and Diggs picked off three passes in his place. He forced a fumble for good measure, and even Glover Quin has said Diggs' long-term future is at safety. Wilson was a solid player in Detroit, but his return is a low priority with a replacement already in place.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

11. Don Muhlbach

Position: Long snapper

2017 cap hit: $695,000

Outlook: Death. Taxes. Don Freaking Muhlbach. After yet another flawless season as the long snapper, there's no reason not to bring back The Mule for a 15th season.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

10. Paul Worrilow

Position: Linebacker

2017 cap hit: $3 million

Outlook: Didn't seem to make too many mistakes. Didn't seem to make too many plays either. He was just kind of a guy. The Lions could upgrade here if they want. Or if they prioritize other positions in free agency or the draft, they could bring him back. Whatever. Strong-side linebacker has become a subpackage position anyway.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

9. Nick Bellore

Position: Linebacker

2017 cap hit: $579,000

Outlook: A linebacker in your program, but wound up playing more snaps of offense (eight) than defense (five) in the second half of the season. He was basically the fullback in power sets, and even caught a touchdown pass. But his real value was on special teams, where he was a core member of almost every unit. Not a big-name player, but the sort of versatile chess piece that Bob Quinn likes to populate the bottom of his roster.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

8. Don Carey

Position: Safety

2017 cap hit: $1.2 million

Outlook: He's a freak on special teams, and one of the best gunners in the game. But he turns 31 next offseason, too, which jeopardizes his return. He can do the job better than most, but most will come cheaper at that position. If Bob Quinn is trying to shake some change out of the couch cushions, this is one place where he can find it.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

7. Travis Swanson

Position: Center

2017 cap hit: $2 million

Outlook: Did anybody regress more this year than Swanson? He was so good last year. And he was so, so bad this year. Then he missed the end of the season because of a brain injury for the second straight year. And you know what? Graham Glasgow played better in spot starts at center than Swanson ever did. Dollars to doughnuts, the Lions let Swanson walk, replace him with Glasgow at center and then acquire a guard.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

6. D.J. Hayden

Position: Cornerback

2017 cap hit: $3.6 million

Outlook: When was the last time Detroit had this much depth in the secondary? Darius Slay and Glover Quin are stars, but even the role players had strong seasons. Hayden is one of them. He held QBs to a rating of 76.7 on passes thrown his way, which was 36th best among corners who played at least 25 percent of the snaps. Not bad for a fourth corner, right? With his experience and versatility to play inside and out, Detroit could have interest in re-upping.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

5. Nevin Lawson

Position: Cornerback

2017 cap hit: $1.9 million

Outlook: The Lions have Slay locked into one outside job, and will give Teez Tabor every opportunity to beat out Lawson for the other. But like they say in the NFL, you can never have too many corners, and the Lions showed why this year. Depth is so important, and they finally have it. Tabor looks like he's trending up, but the Lions still need somebody to back them up and play the slot. Lawson can do both.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

4. Darren Fells

Position: Tight end

2017 cap hit: $975,000

Outlook: The Lions got exactly what they expected in Fells. He was a good blocker for a team that desperately needed one, and especially at tight end. That allowed Eric Ebron to relinquish most of his blocking duties, for the betterment of us all, and focus on catching footballs. Fells even snagged a few of them himself, including a career-high three touchdowns. For $1 million bucks, the Lions got a nice return on their investment, and re-upping for another year makes a whole lot of sense.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

3. Tahir Whitehead

Position: Linebacker

2017 cap hit: $5 million

Outlook: He was awful in 2016. So awful, the Lions spent a first-round pick on Jarrad Davis to replace him in the middle. Whitehead slid back to the weak side, then enjoyed something of a comeback. He recovered four fumbles, after recovering one in his first five seasons combined, and added an interception for good measure. But with rookies Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin playing an awful lot together in the 2017 finale, you have to wonder if the future is already here at linebacker.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

2. Haloti Ngata

Position: Defensive tackle

2017 cap hit: $7.7 million

Outlook: He'll turn 34 later this month, and there's no telling whether he wants to play again. Either the Lions need to re-sign him if he does, or invest major resources into replacing him. Because this defense fell apart without him anchoring the middle, to the tune of 129.7 rushing yards allowed per game. A'Shawn Robinson didn't take the step forward that many anticipated, while Akeem Spence and Jeremiah Ledbetter played out of position because of injuries. After going largely neglected last year, Detroit's defensive line needs reinforcements posthaste.

Don't Edit

Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

1. Ezekiel Ansah

Position: Defensive end

2017 cap hit: $12.7 million

Outlook: Aside from finding a head coach, there is no bigger or more difficult decision awaiting Bob Quinn than this one. Detroit is desperate for a difference-maker in the pass rush, that much is clear. But is Ansah the answer? He was a non-factor for most of the last two seasons because of injuries. But he also ripped three teams for three sacks apiece this year, including in each of the last two games. Just like that, a player who looked like a shell of his former self for three months finished eighth in the league in sacks (12). Which means somebody is going to offer him a pile of money if he hits free agency -- but is the risk worth it? And if the answer is no, then perhaps the Lions' thinnest position group will need that much more help.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Etc.

In addition to the 17 unrestricted free agents, the Lions also have four restricted free agents in WR TJ Jones, OL Zac Kerin, DE/LB Brandon Copeland and RB Zach Zenner. The club can reach a deal with any of these players like usual, or place a qualifying offer on him. There are three types of offers: First, second and original round. If Detroit were to lose the player, it would be compensated an extra draft choice in the round it designated.

The Lions also have six exclusive rights free agents in DT Christian Ringo, DE Kerry Hyder, QB Jake Rudock, WR Jace Billingsley, P Kasey Redfern and DT Rodney Coe. These players can be offered one-year deals that are not guaranteed, which means there's no real downside for the team. These players are basically locked in for next year if the Lions want them back.