Detroit Lions Weblog

Comings and Goings…The Lions Become Active in Free Agency

The Lions have been very busy today. They re-signed DE Kalimba Edwards, RS/WR Eddie Drummond, and have a preliminary agreement with QB Jon Kitna.
The re-signing of Edwards and Drummond were very important. If the Lions had lost either player their already weak depth at Defensive End and Special Teams would have degraded into vast personnel chasms. At this point, with the losses of CB’s Andre Goodman and R. W. McQuarters and the checkered tenure of Fernando Bryant, corner moves to the front of the list as the roster group that most needs to be addressed.

Edwards, an athletically gifted player, has never really blossomed into the consistent performer the Lions have needed. That being said, he has been at times the best pass rusher on the Lions roster. I have always called him “The Ghost” because he has the unfortunate tendency of disappearing at inopportune times. I am glad that the Lions have decided to retain Edwards. Under new defensive tutelage, he may just be able to achieve the talent that he has shown in limited flashes in the past.

It was also imperative that the Lions re-signed Eddie Drummond. With the Lions past offensive deficiencies, the positive field position consistently provided with Drummond’s returns has been very valuable. Hopefully, with good health and an improved offense Drummond’s returns will lead to more positive results than they often did last year.

The signing of Jon Kitna will light the necessary spark to set the starting QB debate’s tinder ablaze. Kitna will assume the helm of the Lion’s fans perennial favorite–the backup QB. Kitna will join the ranks of Erik Kramer, Bill Munson, Charlie Batch, Mike McMahon and SO MANY others in the post-Bobby Layne Lion’s football world. Kitna was a valuable and essential acquisition. That being said, I hope that Joey Harrington is capable of staving off the competition of Kitna for the future benefit of this franchise. Kitna will prove valuable if called to service if Harrington suffers injury or proves incapable of overcoming his faults. No one should allow themselves the luxury of swallowing the panacea, Kitna is by no means a long term solution at the position.

I think the Lions are off to a good start in free agency. They have retained the players they have wanted to keep and have brought in a couple of players that the team has had their eyes on for a couple of years (Kitna and Bradford). They still have a very serious needs in their secondary especially at cornerback (lost McQuarters and Andre Goodman), offensive line (lost Utility Linemen Kyle Kosier), Defensive End, and Linebacker (Who will play the middle?). I will be curious to see where the Lions may turn to improve these areas.