With so many notable players set to become free agents this year, the next few weeks will be extremely important for the Detroit Lions. Not only could their long-term outlook be affected by what happens after the start of free agency, but the outlook for 2015 could especially change if certain free agents aren't re-signed.
With so much up in the air, it's tough to form expectations for the Lions in free agency. Predictions are even tougher, but the good folks at Pro Football Focus have gone through their ranking of the top 75 free agents and guessed where each player will sign. Below is a rundown of what they think will happen with the Lions. (Note: Seven different people submitted predictions. The numbers represent how many votes were cast for each team.)
Lions free agents
- DT Ndamukong Suh: Lions - 4, Jaguars - 2, Raiders - 1
- DT Nick Fairley: Lions - 2, Jaguars - 2, Broncos - 1, Falcons - 1, Seahawks - 1
- DT C.J. Mosley: Lions - 5, Broncos - 1, Bengals - 1
- CB Rashean Mathis: Lions - 5, Titans - 1, Jets - 1
Based on these predictions, those at PFF expect the Lions to retain Ndamukong Suh, C.J. Mosley and Rashean Mathis. The predictions for Nick Fairley are more split, but the two people who picked the Lions for him also have them re-signing Suh. That seems like it will be tough to pull off, but that would certainly be the best-case scenario for the Lions.
Other free agents
- RB Knowshon Moreno: Lions - 2, Panthers - 1, Raiders - 1, Vikings - 1, Colts - 1, Redskins - 1
- OG Clint Boling: Lions - 1, Buccaneers - 1, Falcons - 1, Bengals - 1, Jets - 1, Bills - 1, Broncos - 1
- DE Pernell McPhee: Colts - 5, Lions - 1, Titans - 1
- DT Jared Odrick: Dolphins - 4, Lions - 1, Falcons - 1, Colts - 1
- CB Antonio Cromartie: Cardinals - 2, Jets - 2, Lions - 1, Colts - 1, Bills - 1
As expected, there's not much consensus on which free agents the Lions will pursue from other teams, although two people did pick Detroit as Knowshon Moreno's destination. He actually played at Georgia with Matthew Stafford, so that would be a pretty cool reunion for them if that were to happen.
As for the other players listed above, they each received one vote apiece for the Lions. Jared Odrick in particular seems like someone the Lions could try to sign if they lose Suh, and I definitely could see them going after an offensive guard like Clint Boling. Pernell McPhee and Antonio Cromartie seem much less likely, but anything can happen, I suppose.