Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Free Agents: Unrestricted and Restricted, Browns QB’s

The Lions have 16 upcoming free agents: Unrestricted: RB’s T.J. Duckett, Aveion Cason, Tatum Bell, LB Boss Bailey, TE John Owens, CB Tony Beckham, S Idrees Bashir, CB Keith Smith, CB Travis Fisher, T George Foster, WR/PR Troy Walters, and G/T Damien Woody. Restricted: QB Dan Orlovsky, G Stephen Peterman, DT Langston Moore, CB Stanley Wilson, Jr.

Of these players, I believe that the Lions will make G Stephen Peterman, RB T.J. Duckett, CB Stanley Wilson,Jr., DT Langston Moore, and G/T Damien Woody, and in Woody’s case, I believe against better judgment, their priority as far as players they would like to re-sign for ‘08.

Most of these free agents are itinerant roster-fillers who would likely return due to their familiarity with the Lions coaches, schemes, etc., but are of no organizational priority, especially if Millen can find upgrades at any of their positions.

MLive.com’s “Killer” Kowalski, who I usually agree with about 90% of the time, has been trumpeting that the Lions should trade for Browns QB Derek Anderson, which would likely cost them a first and third round draft pick in ‘08.

I agree with his belief that the Lions may need to make some bold moves to stave off a 2-14, 3-13-type of performance in ‘08, however, has he already forgotten about the disastrous Lions careers of Ty Detmer and Jeff Garcia, both Qb’s who joined the Lions immediately after leaving the Browns?
Anderson had an exciting break out-type of season. The Browns feature a lot more talented, and dependable, skill players than the Lions currently do, along with an offensive line that is on a completely different plain qualitatively than the one the Lions currently possess.

Anderson’s stats and performance were clearly on a downward trajectory as the season wound down. Did opposing defenses uncover something about Anderson as the season progressed, or did he suffer from the added pressure of trying to make the playoffs? We’ll never know.
Given the Lions deficiencies on their O-Line and throughout their defense, how can anyone seriously suggest that they take this kind of risk, when the safer, and smarter, move obviously would be to add a first round left offensive tackle and in the third round the Lions could draft the best available defensive player, regardless of roster position, considering how barren their defensive personnel truly is.

Ultimately, the Lions should probably look at veteran defensive players, who would fit the design of the Tampa-2 defense and possess, at least, a basic familiarity with playing within that defensive system.

Jonathan Vilma and DeWayne Robertson, are two very unhappy former first round draft picks in New York right now. They are stuck in Eric Mangini’s 3-4 defense, which neither of them are particularly suited for, ala Dre Bly. Matt Millen could reverse his fortunes significantly if he could pull a “Denver” on the Jets, and acquire one or both of these players with some of the Lions stiffs, ala George Foster and Tatum Bell.

Reading between the lines, I believe that “Killer” is actually stating, in his unrequited “man crush” for Derek Anderson, that he doesn’t think that Kitna provides a long term answer for the Lions and that he also doesn’t believe that J.T. O’Sullivan, Dan Orlovsky, or Drew Stanton would be able to measure up, if they were called upon, either.

I agree with that thought, but how much of a difference did Matt Schaub ultimately make for the Texans this season?

Anderson’s acquisition would be a desperate Schaub-like move that would likely not pay immediate dividends for a bottom-feeder team like the Lions. Would Derek Anderson, Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar or Vinny Testaverde thrive with Jeff Backus as their left tackle?