The next NFL season of 2024 is quickly approaching. At 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the 2024 season will officially begin. Teams must be cap compliant immediately, free agents will become free agents, and trades and free agency transactions reached in the last two days will become pen-and-paper official.
But this does not mean the end of free agency. While the majority of the top options have been grabbed, there are still several players who can help the Detroit Lions fill up their 2024 roster.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top remaining options that may interest Detroit, particularly at their biggest positions of need. These are my best fits for the Lions, not necessarily the best remaining options at each position.
Note: Ages reflect how old they’ll be in Week 1 of the 2024 season
Guard
- Kevin Zeitler (34 years old)
- Connor Williams (27)
- Dalton Risner (29)
- Greg Van Roten (34)
- Laken Tomlinson (32)
Following Jonah Jackson’s departure, the Lions continue to have a major vacancy at left guard. While they have in-house options in Colby Sorsdal, Netane Muti, and Kayode Awosika (assuming an ERFA ender), none of them have much proven experience.
Zeitler is the best remaining option, despite having played right guard his entire 12-year career. Graham Glasgow could potentially shift to the left, but I’m not convinced that’s in the cards. Williams most recently played center for the Dolphins, but he spent four seasons as the Cowboys’ regular left guard. He is the youngest of the group and will most likely be the most expensive.
Van Roten could be the most cost-effective method to find an interim solution, and Tomlinson
Wide receiver
Marquise Brown (27)
DJ Chark (27)
Michael Thomas (31)
Josh Reynolds (29)
K.J. Osborn (27)
I left most of the top-tier receivers off the list with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Antoine Green all under contract. Given St. Brown’s likely extension, I don’t expect the Lions to be big spenders here.
“Hollywood” Brown doesn’t exactly fit the type of an X receiver the Lions may be seeking (he’s 5-foot-9), but he may be worth a flier on as a relatively low cost free agent after a couple of down years in Arizona.
Lastly, there’s Osborn. He’d bring some inside-outside versatility, but he has a relatively low ceiling after four pedestrian seasons with the Vikings.
Defensive tackle
- DJ Reader (30)
- Arik Armstead (30)
- Sheldon Rankins (30)
- Shelby Harris (33)
Reader feels like the most likely candidate for a “splash” signing given that Detroit is reportedly hosting him for a meeting this week. And while his ridiculous disruption in the run game would be welcomed in Detroit, his torn quadricep should give the Lions serious pause.
Armstead is expected to be released at the start of the new year, and the veteran defender would give Detroit the versatile player capable of both rushing the passer and stopping the run. It will be interesting to see the kind of market he draws after he’s officially released.
Rankins is also a good fit given his experience with the New Orleans Saints—and, as a result, some of the Lions’ current coaching staff. Rankins is coming off a 6.0-sack season, so he still has a lot of energy.
Safety
- Justin Simmons (30)
- Eddie Jackson (29)
- Quandre Diggs (31)
- Jordan Fuller (26)
- John Johnson (29)
The safety market is completely saturated and has seen some relatively little movement this early in the process. Justin Simmons is the king of the class, but unlikely to sign with Detroit. The Lions will be priced out, and I’m not sure they’d be looking to replace either Ifeatu Melifonwu or Kerby Joseph.
Personally, I like the idea of bringing Eddie Jackson to Detroit. He knows the division well, and despite a down year in 2023, he’s a captain that could help lead a pair of starting, young safeties who are still on their rookie deals.
The rest of the list is filled with safeties with ties to the Lions. Quandre Diggs could come back to Detroit and finish his career where it started. Meanwhile Fuller and Johnson are two players who were drafted by the Rams when Brad Holmes was the team’s director of college scouting.
Kicker
- Nick Folk
- Greg Joseph
- Randy Bullock
- Joey Slye
