Free agency looms. Set to open Tuesday at 4 PM, fans tend to get a little too hyped for the flurry of signings that are to come. Every year there are big names in free agency, and every year some team “wins” free agency by signing them, and nearly every year, we don’t hear much from them in terms of success. Free agency isn’t about adding superstar players to an all-star laden roster in the NFL, it’s about adding key role players who add depth and dimension to the team. For every Jevon Kearse and Albert Haynesworth, there is a Kevin Mawae or Mike Vrabel. For every Drew Brees, there is a Scott Mitchell. Scott MF Mitchell. Heading into free agency the Lions have all the same holes in their roster we have mentioned while discussing the draft, S, OLB, CB, WR, DE, and C. So, what should the Lions do in free agency?

C and OLB– The Lions currently have passable players under contract at these positions. I don’t expect them to be of much concern during free agency. If they do sign someone at either of these positions, it’s likely to be a guy I’ve never heard of. I think the smarter path here is to address these positions in the draft, get rookies that can sit the bench and learn for year behind serviceable NFL players ( just guys, if you will) before stepping into the spotlight.

DE– The Lions have their own free agent at Defensive End in Willie Young. Some people refer to him as The Great Willie Young. I like to call him an all star back-up. His production isn’t the best in the league, but its solid work for a back-up, and he has the sort of high motor you want late in a game when the opposing o-line is getting winded. The thing about Willie Young is, as a back-up, he played like a starter. A starter that was just a guy, but a starter nonetheless.

The Lions need to re-sign Willie Young or another DE of similar ability, and probably draft another young guy in the mid rounds of the draft. Names to think about include: Michael Johnson, Lamaar Houston, and Anthony Spencer. Each of these players will likely be more expensive than Young, and maybe they will provide more production, But I think re-signing Willie Young is likely the best move for the Lions at this position.

CB– The Lions need to add a veteran player at cornerback. The position is proverbial “giant question mark” for the franchise. Has Slay learned enough to step into a full time starting role? Have Chris Houston’s two injury plagued years slowed him down? Can he bounce back? Can Bill Bentley slide outside for a starting position? Will Chris Greenwood develop into a worthwhile position player? So many questions at one position. Many can be made moot by signing one veteran who can void one answer. If they sign a rotation player who is just a guy or a little less than that, Greenwoods development and Bentley’s ability to slide outside are moot. If the team grabs a starting caliber player, Houston, or Slays ability to hold up become much less pressing.

A lot of people like Alterraun Verner for the Lions. I think Alterraun Verner is likely to get over paid, and over paid players tend to under produce. Some names that don’t seem to be generating media buzz the same way Verner does, but, are in fact just as good, are Captain Munnerlyn, and Terell Brown. The lack of media buzz may mean they could come at a cheaper price, but their play is on the same level. Any of these three men could make the questions of Slay or Houston much less important as they would be plug and play starters for the Lions. Captain Munnerlyn wins out as the Lions target for me because, if I’m being honest, he has the coolest name.

If the Lions Can’t get any of those three players for a decent price, the list of players that could answer fill in on at least as rotation guys is fairly extensive. One name of many to keep an eye on is Corey Graham, who was with the Baltimore Ravens last year, coached by our current Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin.

S– Safety is certainly the second biggest hole on the Lions roster. Louis Delmas was released earlier in the offseason. He leaves a hole at the position that shouldn’t be terribly difficult to fill. I know it’s not a popular sentiment, but Delmas was routinely out of position, and frequently failed to wrap up on tackles. Sure he was the spiritual leader of the defense, and everyone stepped up when he was out there, but let’s be honest, these guys are professionals who will find another leader on and/or off the field. My favorite free agent target is in the position group. Not Jairus Byrd, who is going to make a lot of hay, but TJ Ward. TJ Ward is a solid contributor who would vastly improve the Lions secondary. He is a terrific tackler that is best in run support, but somehow maintains the ability to play well in coverage. I really want the Lions to target him, probably more than I should, but I think he would be terrific for a blitzing defense, which seems to be where the Lions are heading with Teryl Austin at the helm. In addition, TE’s that run like receivers, and are too big for most safeties to cover continue to be en vogue in the NFL, and TJ Ward has the ability to cover them with his physicality.

If the Lions miss out on Ward they could bring back Delmas, or turn to either Chris Clemons or Stevie Brown. TJ Ward would be a major coup for the Lions though. I really couldn’t overstate how much I think he could change the dynamics of their secondary.

WR– The Lions will draft a wide receiver in May. Almost certainly in the first or second round. They’ll need more help than that at the position though. Calvin Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL. Debating that is as silly as asking your friend “how do I know that the color I see when I’m looking at red is the same color you see when you’re looking at red.” It deserves to be met with “shut the fuck up” unless the two of you are in an altered state of mind, or spending a few minutes being idiots while nothing else is happening. Aside from Calvin Johnson though, the Lions have chronic problems at receiver. Ryan Broyles may never be healthy enough to get open again. Maybe he will, but I wouldn’t bet my job on it if I were Mayhew. It’s a bit sad, because Broyles seems like a nice kid, and he has the same name as the lieutenant from Fringe. There is also Kris Durham. He’s big, kind of fast, can’t get open, has a hard time catching, and runs routes like fields a water bed. I’m not a fan.

I’d like to recommend Golden Tate or James Jones as targets for the Lions in free agency, but the Philadelphia Eagles gave Riley Cooper 5 million a year with 10 million guaranteed, so it’s unlikely they get less than that, and that’s more than they are worth. Emmanuel Sanders has the long speed the Lions are looking for, and could come at a price they could live with. He also provides competition for Jeremy Ross for returning duties. Andre Roberts is another player that could thrive in Detroit, and come at the right price. I favor Emmanuel Sanders, because I favor a vertical passing game, but Roberts, despite issues dropping passes in the past could be a solid contributor in an offense that dictates half an opposing secondary is covering one man.

Brandon Pettigrew is a free agent the Lions could lose this offseason as he is set to test the open market. He would be a loss, and I would like to see the Lions retain him, but the price tag is key. I don’t think his receiving skill set will be terribly difficult to replace, but he really was a fantastic blocker. I think his negotiations will give us an idea of the direction new Lions Offensive Coordinator and scion to a legend, Joe Lombardi, will take the team.

TJ Ward and Emmanuel Sanders. Thats the free agency I want from the Lions. They could also add some depth/role playing guys with names that make me run to google or tweet at beat writers for teams I could care less about. Depth, versatility, a star, and a guy who can do his job. Thats my list for the Detroit Lions 2014 Free Agency bonanza.

Note: I posted this minutes before hearing the news of William Clay Ford Jr.’s passing. I thought he was a good owner that provided all the resources the team could use to be successful and took a lot of heat for providing people who were unable to perform their jobs the benefit of doubt. Ford Jr. had little to do with the teams operations in recent years, so aside from some mourning by the team, this is unlikely to have much real world impact on the organization.