Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Whom will the Lions go after in free agency? Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett breaks down the Lions’ needs by position, ranked from one star (least urgent) to five stars (most urgent):

Quarterback

★

On the roster: Matthew Stafford.

Lions free agent: Dan Orlovsky.

Top available free agents: Brock Osweiler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Drew Stanton.

The Lions haven’t spent much on their backup quarterback position the last few years, and this off-season shouldn’t be any different. They’ll add a veteran at some point, probably on a minimum salary benefit deal. But the Lions also have eyes on drafting a quarterback for the first time since they took Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009. Ultimately, the Lions are sunk if anything happens to Stafford, and they’re better off spending their money on defense and the offensive line.

Prediction: The Lions sign a veteran camp arm but go the draft route for their eventual backup.

Running back

★★

On the roster: Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, George Winn, Zach Zenner, Michael Burton.

Lions free agent: Joique Bell (released).

Top available free agents: Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, Matt Forte.

Riddick emerged as one of the best pass-catching running backs in the NFL last year, and Abdullah has a bright future ahead of him if he can curtail his fumble problems. The Lions still need a between-the-tackles option to compete with Zenner for the No. 3 job, but it has to be someone with special-teams ability given the state of the Lions’ backfield. Think a Bell type with fewer miles on his body.

Prediction: The Lions sign a young vet to a minimum deal in the second wave of free agency.

Wide receivers

★★★★

On the roster: Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, TJ Jones, Corey Washington, Austin Willis, Ryan Spadola, Corey Fuller.

Lions free agent: Lance Moore.

Top available free agents: Marvin Jones, Travis Benjamin, Rishard Matthews.

The Lions are still waiting on word about Calvin Johnson’s future, but they’re going about things as if they won’t have Johnson in 2016. At the NFL combine, the Lions let it be known that they’re in the market for a top receiver (at least as top as they come in this down class of free agents). Even if Johnson returns, the Lions need a deep threat to complement Tate and Riddick in the passing game, and they should get one.

Prediction: Marvin Jones joins Tate in the Lions’ Calvin Johnson-less receiving corps this fall.

10 free agents who should interest the Detroit Lions

Tight ends

★★★

On the roster: Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Jordan Thompson, Casey Pierce.

Lions free agents: Bear Pascoe, Tim Wright (restricted).

Top available free agents: Antonio Gates, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener.

The Lions have spent considerable resources on the tight end position over the years, but their depth chart is a bit in flux now because of the season-ending knee injury Pettigrew suffered last year. Depending on his recovery, the Lions may need to add help at the position this spring. They won’t spend much on a tight end in free agency, and the draft offers few appealing options, so the best bet might be re-signing their own guys.

Prediction: The Lions bring back Pascoe and/or Wright, at least for the spring.

Offensive line

★★★★

On the roster: Riley Reiff, Larry Warford, Travis Swanson, Laken Tomlinson, Michael Ola, Cornelius Lucas, Corey Robinson, Darren Keyton, Tyrus Thompson, Lamar Holmes, Gabe Ikard, Braxston Cave.

Lions free agent: Manny Ramirez.

Top available free agents: Alex Mack, Keleche Osemele, Mitchell Schwartz.

With all five starters returning, offensive line wouldn’t seem like a huge need, but the Lions have made no secret about their desire to upgrade the position. They have options, too. They could add a right tackle like Schwartz, who would start Day 1. They could chase a player like Osemele, who has played both tackle and guard but won’t come cheap. Or they could pursue a center like Mack and relegate Swanson to the bench. Whatever direction they go, they will sign someone.

Prediction: The Lions lure one of the top free-agent linemen to Detroit to play right tackle.

Defensive line

★★★

On the roster: Ziggy Ansah, Devin Taylor, Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid, Kerry Hyder, Gabe Wright, Khyri Thornton.

Lions free agents: Haloti Ngata, Jason Jones, Darryl Tapp, Jermelle Cudjo, Corey Wootton.

Top available free agents: Malik Jackson, Mario Williams, Damon Harrison.

The Lions re-signed Walker to a one-year deal on Friday, filling one vacancy on their defensive line, and they’re deep in talks to bring Ngata back to fill the other opening at tackle. They’re still looking for depth up front, though, especially at defensive end. The draft is deep in interior linemen this year, so there’s no reason to chase the position in free agency. But if Jones doesn’t return, they need at least one rotational player for their front.

Prediction: Ngata re-signs before the start of free agency and the Lions add a B level pass rusher for depth.

Linebacker

★★★★

On the roster: DeAndre Levy, Stephen Tulloch, Kyle Van Noy, Josh Bynes, Khaseem Greene, Jerry Franklin, Brandon Copeland.

Lions free agents: Travis Lewis, Tahir Whitehead.

Top available free agents: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Rolando McClain.

Levy is expected back healthy after missing most of last season with a hip injury, but the Lions need an infusion of youth and speed in their linebacking corps. Van Noy hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, Tulloch has been told he’ll be released this week, and while the door hasn’t closed on Whitehead’s return, he’s not expected back at this point. Trevathan is an excellent player, but his price might be too prohibitive for the Lions given their other free-agent interests and the money they’ve invested in Levy.

Prediction: Both Whitehead and Lewis sign elsewhere, and the Lions sign Vincent Rey of the Bengals.

Cornerback

★★

On the roster: Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Alex Carter, Quandre Diggs.

Lions free agents: Crezdon Butler, Josh Wilson.

Top available free agents: Casey Hayward, Sean Smith, Janoris Jenkins.

The Lions are more confident than most in their young secondary, with general manager Bob Quinn listing it as one of their strengths. Slay has emerged as one of the top young cornerbacks in the NFL, and the Lions are high on Lawson despite his relative inexperience. Diggs is a slot corner, and Carter hasn’t played a down yet, so the Lions still need to add a veteran at the position who’s at least capable of playing in a pinch. It doesn’t appear as if the Lions will be big players in the cornerback market, but there are a couple free agents with ties to Quinn (Sterling Moore) or head coach Jim Caldwell (Jerraud Powers).

Prediction: The Lions make a depth play at cornerback, similar to the Josh Wilson signing last year.

Safety

★★★

On the roster: Glover Quin, Don Carey, Isaiah Johnson.

Lions free agents: Isa Abdul-Quddus, James Ihedigbo.

Top available free agents: George Iloka, Eric Weddle, Tayshaun Gipson.

Quin turned out to be one of the steals of free agency when he left the Houston Texans three years ago, and the Lions are looking for a running mate to pair with him this off-season. There will be steep competition for the best fit on the market, Iloka, and the sense is the Lions won’t go crazy at the position if they miss out there. Abdul-Quddus could return after he played well as a part-time starter last year, but the Lions would like to upgrade the position if at all possible.

Prediction: The Lions beat out the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons for Iloka’s service.

Specialists

★

On the roster: Sam Martin, Matt Prater.

Lions free agent: Don Muhlbach.

Top available free agents: Adam Vinatieri, Josh Brown, Greg Zuerlein.

The Lions entered free agency last year with a hole at kicker and wisely re-signed Prater. This year, their only vacancy is at long snapper, where Muhlbach has been an institution. The real special-teams storyline to watch is later this summer, when the Lions could sign Martin to a hefty extension.

Prediction: Muhlbach snaps for the Lions until his arms fall off.

Every Lions free agent, and their chances of returning

Dave Birkett's NFL mock draft 1.0

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

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