Media linking Lions to 'name' players

[Mitchrapp]

Media linking Lions to 'name' players
On the eve of free agency, the Detroit Lions are being linked relatively credibly to a number of significant free agents. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported they are one of two front-runners for safety Dashon Goldson, NFL.com reports "strong buzz" between the Lions and safety Glover Quin and everyone thinks the Lions are in on running back Reggie Bush.

Many of you are asking via Twitter how the Lions could afford more than one of those players from a salary cap perspective, especially if they eat up a few million dollars' worth of cap space to extend restricted free agent tender offers. Frankly, I don't know the answer to that yet.

Perhaps they have restructured the contracts of some other players. Perhaps quarterback Matthew Stafford is closer to a contract extension than he appears. Maybe the Lions will do something with the contract of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, which is projected to count $18.2 million against their cap.

Free agency opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, and I'll of course be blogging all day and perhaps all night as well on NFC North events. For now, let's all get some sleep.

 

[tomdalton22]

Media linking Lions to 'name' players
On the eve of free agency, the Detroit Lions are being linked relatively credibly to a number of significant free agents. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported they are one of two front-runners for safety Dashon Goldson, NFL.com reports "strong buzz" between the Lions and safety Glover Quin and everyone thinks the Lions are in on running back Reggie Bush.

Many of you are asking via Twitter how the Lions could afford more than one of those players from a salary cap perspective, especially if they eat up a few million dollars' worth of cap space to extend restricted free agent tender offers. Frankly, I don't know the answer to that yet.

Perhaps they have restructured the contracts of some other players. Perhaps quarterback Matthew Stafford is closer to a contract extension than he appears. Maybe the Lions will do something with the contract of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, which is projected to count $18.2 million against their cap.

Free agency opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, and I'll of course be blogging all day and perhaps all night as well on NFC North events. For now, let's all get some sleep.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions re-structure both contracts.

 

[cheeno]

I've been asking this question myself. Like Diggler says don't care do want.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/2013-nfl-free-agency-primer

Scroll down to the Lions. It is the mystery of the ages. We may need to draft someone not just to fill a need over BPA, but to actually field a team.

 

[dtroitlionsfan951]

idk how the lions are going to do it either..but mayhew meant it when he said we want impact players...we'll see what we get though,

 

[johnny2x2x]

The local sports radio show did a whole segment on whether or not them brining in Bush was a good idea. They were acting like it's imminent. The concensus was it's going to make us a better offense.

My opinion is that it will make our offense better, but we'd be better off spending it on defense.

 

[LKP]

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2013/02/detroit_lions_have_a_handful_o.html

Plus cut Thomas,Robiskie,Johnson for 2.9 million

7.9 million plus the 4-5 in space we have should be enough. Worst case cut Scheffler.

Don't restructure Suh. Makes it worse next year.

 

[cheeno]

The local sports radio show did a whole segment on whether or not them brining in Bush was a good idea. They were acting like it's imminent. The concensus was it's going to make us a better offense.

My opinion is that it will make our offense better, but we'd be better off spending it on defense.

I've been saying this since he's been linked here.

 

[mhughes0021]

I've been saying this since he's been linked here.

id like to see 2 cbs before we even touch another rb. or a cb and a safety. you wont be getting 2 starting cbs and 2 starting safeties out of the draft. Guestimated Houston will command 5 mil per.

 

[LKP]

Lions are linked to Goldson, Glover Quinn, Houston, Delmas, Antoine Cason, Wiliam Hayes and Jason Jones besides Bush. We'll find out soon.

 

[cheeno]

id like to see 2 cbs before we even touch another rb. or a cb and a safety. you wont be getting 2 starting cbs and 2 starting safeties out of the draft. Guestimated Houston will command 5 mil per.

That's Bush's salary right there. I'd rather have him back and draft a mid round speed back than lose him and draft a mid round corner (we have plenty of those btw).

 

[sggatecl]

Five and half hours and counting. I wonder who's house Jim Schwartz is out in front of?

 

[cheeno]

Five and half hours and counting. I wonder who's house Jim Schwartz is out in front of?

What a creepy bastard. The FA's kids are like...Mommy?

 

[coel73]

If they come out getting one (of any) of these impact free agents, then I would call it a success. I would hate for them to keep backloading contracts (like next year is gonna be the break out year), because we all know that barring any colossal repeat of last year, everyone in the front office and schwartz will be back

 

[Diggler Cometh]

That's Bush's salary right there. I'd rather have him back and draft a mid round speed back than lose him and draft a mid round corner (we have plenty of those btw).

I didn't know there were any backs under 4.5 speed in this draft.

 

[cheeno]

I didn't know there were any backs under 4.5 speed in this draft.

Knile Davis for one. They only have to be faster than Leshoure's 4.9 to be an improvement.

 

[LKP]

Analysis

Strengths

Big-bodied north-south runner. Has a thick lower-body build and runs with enough forward lean to run through arm tackles. Agile enough to spin off tackles inside and hurdle would-be tacklers in the open field. Can use the strength he builds in the weight room to be a physical pass protector, aware enough to hit multiple targets. Provides some receiving skills as a check-down option over the middle and handling good throws in the flat.
Weaknesses

Has a long injury history, missing time or playing hurt in every season of his college career, in addition to the final two years of his of his high school career. Runs a bit top-heavy, gets tripped up easily in space, especially before he gets his head of steam. Inconsistent taking on tacklers at the second level, will try to run around them instead of using his strength. Inconsistent protecting his quarterback, resorts to (and misses) cut blocks. Lack of hip flexibility hurts his ability to adjust to poor throws as a receiver. Was unable to display adequete foot quickness in his final season.

Mayhew isn't allowed to take guys with an injury history like Davis. It was decreed by many on here.

 

[cheeno]

Analysis

Strengths

Big-bodied north-south runner. Has a thick lower-body build and runs with enough forward lean to run through arm tackles. Agile enough to spin off tackles inside and hurdle would-be tacklers in the open field. Can use the strength he builds in the weight room to be a physical pass protector, aware enough to hit multiple targets. Provides some receiving skills as a check-down option over the middle and handling good throws in the flat.
Weaknesses

Has a long injury history, missing time or playing hurt in every season of his college career, in addition to the final two years of his of his high school career. Runs a bit top-heavy, gets tripped up easily in space, especially before he gets his head of steam. Inconsistent taking on tacklers at the second level, will try to run around them instead of using his strength. Inconsistent protecting his quarterback, resorts to (and misses) cut blocks. Lack of hip flexibility hurts his ability to adjust to poor throws as a receiver. Was unable to display adequete foot quickness in his final season.

Mayhew isn't allowed to take guys with an injury history like Davis. It was decreed by many on here.

What about an injury history like Bush. Although he played last year he was severely limited by a knee injury against the Jets that affected him the whole year. One of the reasons why Miami let him walk. I'd rather pay 500k for an injurY risk than 5 mil. Or look at it this way a Tahir Whitehead over a FA budget.

 

[LKP]

Bush still played and was effective.

Davis is junk.

 

[LKP]

What about an injury history like Bush. Although he played last year he was severely limited by a knee injury against the Jets that affected him the whole year. One of the reasons why Miami let him walk. I'd rather pay 500k for an injurY risk than 5 mil. Or look at it this way a Tahir Whitehead over a FA budget.

And you are going to like Ryan Broyles cap number then. Only paid 900 K for an injury risk.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I know it will never happen but I hope they sign a S and one other guy today.