Lions free agent countdown: No. 4 George Johnson

The Detroit Lions have 19* pending unrestricted free agents, and we're spending three weeks counting down each player and examining how or whether they fit into the future of the team.

Free agency opens March 10, the Lions can re-sign any of their players before the start of the new league year, and they can use the franchise or transition tag on one player now through Monday.

George Johnson

Age: 27

Position: DE

Other DEs under contract for 2015: Ziggy Ansah, Jason Jones, Devin Taylor, Larry Webster, Kerry Hyder

Other DEs entering free agency: Darryl Tapp

How acquired: Signed as a free agent in April 2014

2014 stats: 16 GP, 0 GS, 29 tackles, 6 sacks

2014 salary: $730,000

The future: The Lions and Johnson were at odds over Johnson's status as a free agent, though the NFL Players Association agrees now that Johnson is a restricted free agent. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said last week he plays to tender Johnson a contract, and depending on the tender level that could dissuade teams from pursuing Johnson in free agency. Johnson is young enough and had a good enough 2014 that some team could try to pry him away if he's given the lowest tender, but the Lions have made it clear that they want Johnson back as their No. 3 defensive end and Johnson is on board with returning. The Lions helped resuscitate his career, and Johnson is just entering his prime.

Next up: Rashean Mathis

* Previous versions of this series showed the Lions with 20 unrestricted free agents. The Lions and NFL Players Association are at odds over Johnson's status.

Previously:

No. 5 Matt Prater

No. 6 C.J. Mosley

No. 7 Isa Abdul-Quddus

No. 8 Darryl Tapp

No. 9 Rob Sims

No. 10 Dominic Raiola

No. 11 Don Muhlbach

No. 12 Jed Collins

No. 13 Ashlee Palmer

No. 14 Corey Hilliard

No. 15 Dan Orlovsky

No. 16 Cassius Vaughn

No. 17 Garrett Reynolds

No. 18 Andre Fluellen

No. 19 Kellen Davis

No. 20 Josh Thomas

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.