Lions notes: The free agent market grows

Yesterday the NFL franchise tag window officially opened and some teams have already made their decisions regarding who does or does not get the tag. Today a few bombshells dropped that will change the entire free agency landscape.

• Washington edge rusher Preston Smith has been one of the rising names in free agency in recent weeks, and as Fansided’s Matt Vederame reported Wednesday, his team will most likely let him hit the open market.

• Another huge free agency target may be set to hit the market as well. New York Giants safety Landon Collins looks to be finished in the Meadowlands, as ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported Wednesday.

• Our friends over at the Lions Wire wrote about why they think the Detroit Lions should go all in for free agent edge rusher Trey Flowers this offseason.
• While Detroit may not be interested, Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell is also set to hit the open market as general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters that the team has no intention of franchise tagging him again.

In non-free agency news:

• Pro Football Focus ranked all four of the NFC North’s starting quarterbacks today based on their grading© system™ and while Matthew Stafford did not exactly come out on top, at least he wasn’t last.

• CBS Sports ranks the Lions 2019 schedule as the 19th hardest in the NFL, tied with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.