Detroit Lions followers have expressed fairly loudly that they’ve little curiosity within the consequence of Tremendous Bowl. Hell, a lot of you don’t even plan to look at it. In our ballot from Saturday, over half of Lions voters stated they don’t even plan on watching the San Francisco 49ers tackle the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
However there may be not less than one minorly sensible motive to look at Tremendous Bowl 58. There are many gamers who shall be enjoying that sport who might be free brokers come subsequent month. And given the Lions are in a snug wage cap place, it’s fairly doable that somebody who performs on Sunday will ultimately be enjoying for Detroit in 2024.
So listed below are eight Tremendous Bowl gamers who might be a Lions free agent goal in 2024, 4 from every crew.
Chiefs
DT Chris Jones
Let’s get the most costly choice out of the way in which. Jones is an absolute game-wrecker and could be a welcome addition to a Detroit protection that’s missing true game-changing expertise of their entrance seven. Jones has posted a median of 11 sacks a season over the previous six years, and he’s removed from a legal responsibility in opposition to the run, too.
Jones will flip 30 this offseason, so his profession is actually on the downswing. Moreover, he’ll come costly and he’s a participant that is aware of his price. His holdout went into the common season final 12 months, and he ended up getting a one-year deal price over $18 million assured. Don’t count on a less expensive price ticket than that. Actually, PFF is projecting a $30 million/12 months common for Jones.
CB L’Jarius Sneed
The Lions have a reasonably critical outdoors cornerback drawback, and Sneed seems to be top-of-the-line potential choices this 12 months in a comparatively skinny free agent market. Whereas Sneed began his profession enjoying principally slot, he moved to the surface in 2023 and thrived. For the season, he allowed a passer ranking of simply 62.5, a completion share of 52.0, and didn’t enable a single landing through the common season, per PFF. He additionally posted 14 passes damaged up (eighth within the NFL) and two interceptions.
He additionally got here up with the most important play within the AFC Championship sport:
EDGE Mike Danna
Danna, a Michigan native and former Wolverine/Chippewa, has seen his NFL manufacturing slowly enhance over his four-year profession. He turned a full-time starter for the Chiefs this season and rewarded them along with his best season so far. He completed the season with 50 tackles (7 for loss), 6.5 sacks, three passes defended, and 13 QB hits. PFF credited him with 46 pressures, the third most on the crew.
At 6-foot-2, 257, he’s a bit undersized, however he shows a shocking quantity of power. That’s why the Chiefs haven’t been afraid to throw him inside on passing downs (129 of his 874 snaps got here on the inside).
This could be a case of shopping for excessive, although. Coming off a rookie contract as a fifth-round decide, Danna is projected to get across the $7-9 million/12 months vary. Nonetheless, with the Lions set to probably lose Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara, Charles Harris, and even presumably John Cominsky (as a cap casualty), Detroit might want to spend money on EDGE expertise.
G Nick Allegretti
The Lions are dealing with a possible enormous overhaul in the midst of their offensive line, and Lions GM Brad Holmes stated that place “won’t be neglected” this offseason. The inside, particularly, might be an issue with Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Kayode Awosika, and Graham Glasgow presently on expiring contracts.
Allegretti has by no means been a full-time starter, however he has loads of backup expertise and has stepped in on a number of events to assist preserve the boat afloat. That would be the case on Sunday, as he’s anticipated to begin at left guard in substitute of Joe Thuney.
This 12 months alone, Allegretti has performed snaps at left guard, heart, and proper guard. That type of versatility could be valued in Detroit, particularly as a depth piece. In his solely 12 months the place he logged greater than 300 snaps (899 in 2020), Allegretti posted a 66.0 PFF grade however was notably stable in run blocking (70.2). Appears to be like like a match to me.
49ers
Notice: EDGE Chase Younger was deliberately left off the record. I noticed all I wanted to see right here.
OL Matt Pryor
You aren’t prone to see Pryor play a lot on Sunday, if in any respect, as a result of he’s presently a backup. However the veteran offensive lineman may nonetheless actually be a possible goal for Detroit. Prior to now 4 years, he has began six video games at left sort out, seven video games at proper sort out, and 11 video games at proper guard. Having veteran versatility like that would assist fill the position of Matt Nelson or Dan Skipper—each free brokers—if the Lions choose to maneuver on. There’s been numerous discuss Detroit’s future at guard, however there’s some work to do at sort out, as effectively. Pryor helps out each positions.
DT Javon Kinlaw
It’s honest to say Kinlaw’s profession has been a reasonably large disappointment so far as a former 2020 first-round decide. He solely has seven tackles for loss and 11 QB hits in his four-year profession with the 49ers, and he’s by no means posted a PFF grade above 54.1 for a whole season.
However beneath the steerage of star 49ers DL coach Kris Kocurek, Kinlaw confirmed some critical indicators of enchancment in 2023. He posted a 72.1 PFF cross speeding grade this 12 months and produced 34 whole pressures—each figures putting him within the prime 40 amongst defensive tackles.
Nonetheless, regardless of his first rate measurement (6-foot-5, 319 kilos), Kinlaw has gotten labored within the run sport his complete profession. That might be a direct disqualifier in Detroit, but when the Lions need to spend money on a situational inside cross rusher, Kinlaw might be a comparatively low-cost, younger choice.
EDGE Clelin Ferrell
Notice: Ferrell won’t play within the Tremendous Bowl, as he recovers from a knee damage.
Talking of first-round busts, Ferrell simply didn’t work out with the Raiders. Nonetheless, this might be a first-rate instance of merely touchdown within the improper spot. Whereas Ferrell was not electrical for the 49ers this 12 months, he did arguably produce his finest season so far. As a 17-game starter in San Francisco, Ferrell produced a career-high 13 quarterback hits and 6 tackles for loss (though simply 3.5 sacks).
Ferrell acted because the participant reverse Nick Bosa to let their begin edge defender run free. Might he serve the identical objective for Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit? He would come at a comparatively inexpensive value after signing only a one-year, $2.5 million deal in San Francisco final offseason.
DB Logan Ryan
Ryan is primarily a nickel or security, and whereas the Lions have that place locked down with Brian Department, the longer term is just not as sure for a man like C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Detroit, fairly merely, will want some depth at that place, and a 33-year-old veteran like Ryan might be the veteran mentor a man like Department wants.
At this level in Ryan’s profession, he’s going to be very selective about the place he performs—if he decides to play in any respect. He didn’t signal with the 49ers till December of this season. However Detroit is now within the class of “Tremendous Bowl contender” and phrase of their infectious tradition has actually unfold.
As an added bonus, new Lions cornerbacks coach/cross sport coordinator Deshea Townsend really coached Ryan for one 12 months with the Titans again in 2017.
