The Detroit Lions are being urged to bring in a recently released player to help address some gaps in their roster.
The Lions are making moves to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season, aiming for another shot at making it to the Super Bowl and achieving history. It’s remarkable that the Lions are the only team to have never reached a Super Bowl, but they hope to change that in the future.
Now, experts are advising the Lions to target the perfect player to fill a hole in their roster.
Recently Released Player Could Strengthen the Lions
On February 14, the Miami Dolphins announced they were releasing several players, one of whom was cornerback Kendall Fuller.
Fuller signed with the Dolphins last offseason on a two-year, $15 million deal. Before joining the Dolphins, Fuller had an impressive 2023 season with the Washington Commanders, but struggled with injury in 2024. As a result, his Pro Football Coverage grade dropped from 82.8 in 2023 to 62.4 in his first year with the Dolphins.
In a February 16 article for Detroit Jock City, NFL analyst Devon Platana made the case for the Lions to pursue Fuller. “Although his time with the Dolphins didn’t go as planned, Fuller is still a player the Lions should consider in free agency,” Platana writes. “Carlton Davis, Emmanuel Moseley, and three other cornerbacks are set to become free agents next month, so Detroit should start planning for potential replacements.”
Platana further emphasizes that despite Fuller’s struggles in 2024, he “could revive his career by joining a Super Bowl contender like the Lions.” He adds that head coach Dan Campbell and his staff “know how to maximize player performance, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they helped the 30-year-old cornerback return to his best form.”
In a February 13 article for Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox suggests another cornerback for the Lions: Greg Newsome II from the Cleveland Browns. Knox points out that the Browns are facing a “projected $34.2 million cap deficit” and are in “one of the worst financial positions in the league heading into the offseason.”
“With no escape from Deshaun Watson’s massive contract,” Knox continues, “Cleveland will likely have to offload salary and focus on rookie contracts.”
This situation could lead to the Browns trading one of their top cornerbacks. ESPN’s Ben Solak discussed the possibility, stating, “With no promising future, I expect the Browns to trade players for picks.” Solak believes that both cornerbacks Denzel Ward (who had a strong season) and Greg Newsome II (who had an unusually poor season) should be made available, with one likely being traded.
Knox adds that while both Ward and Newsome would provide “value on the trade market,” dealing Ward before June 1 “would cost Cleveland another $5.8 million in cap space.” Trading Newsome, however, would eliminate his entire $13.4 million salary from the team’s books.
He suggests that the Lions could benefit from adding a young talent like Newsome to their roster.
The NFL’s free agent tampering period begins on Monday, March 10.
