Defensive end Cliff Avril and linebacker Stephen Tulloch aren't the only starters on defense from last season who are set to become free agents. Cornerback Eric Wright is also set to hit the open market in March. He signed a one-year deal with the Lions last offseason and started in all 16 games in 2011.
There hasn't been nearly as much discussion about re-signing Wright when compared to the constant updates about Avril and Tulloch, but it appears the Lions do want to bring Wright back. According to Dave Birkett, the Lions had a meeting with Tony Fleming, Wright's agent, on Saturday. Although no contract proposals were apparently exchanged, it sounds like the two sides are hopeful that something will be worked out.
"He had a solid season for us," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said Friday. "He had good production; 74 tackles, four picks, 16 (pass breakups), started 16, which we haven’t had a lot of corners do that the last few years. So we were happy with his performance. He can obviously perform better. Most of our guys can. But we’re also going to work on trying to get him back."
As nice as it would be for the Lions to add somebody like Brandon Carr or Cortland Finnegan, the more realistic option is that Wright will be brought back and the team will add another corner in the draft.