Chris Houston has contract offer from Lions, according to report

You can add cornerback Chris Houston to the list of Detroit Lions players who are planning to test free agency. He, like safety Louis Delmas, has actually received a contract offer from the Lions, according to the Free Press' Dave Birkett. Houston isn't planning on accepting it just yet, though. Instead, he's seeing what his value might be on the open market.

Of the Lions' free agents this year, Houston may be the top priority to re-sign. I say that because it doesn't sound like the Lions have much interest in trying to match defensive end Cliff Avril's best offer (whatever that may end up being), and given his injury history, I doubt Delmas is at the very top of their list. Houston, though, was among the Lions' best defensive players last season, and he was by far their best cornerback. What's more, he should be affordable given how many free-agent cornerbacks are out there.

Something worth noting is that Houston just switched agents. The change was officially announced on Sunday:

We are proud to welcome Chris Houston @chris23houston to the Schwartz & Feinsod family!

— Schwartz& Feinsod (@schwartzfeinsod) March 10, 2013

The timing of this change is pretty interesting considering free agency officially opens on Tuesday. Houston's new representatives will be trying to maximize his value, and I'm sure the Lions are hoping their initial offer will be good enough to re-sign him.