Just Say No 2: 4 more free agents the Lions should avoid

We are just under a week away from the free agent frenzy getting under way. With that in mind, it’s time to crush more dreams with part two of our Just Say No series. Let’s not waste anymore time. Here’s four more free agents the Detroit Lions should run as far from as possible.

Previously: Just Say No 1.0: 4 free agents the Lions should avoid

Alshon Jeffery

At one point in time it looked like Jeffrey was going to be the real deal. Lions fans feared him when he was the young up-and-coming receiver for the Chicago Bears. Since then it’s been a downward trend for the former second-round pick. Yet there are some out there that think Jeffrey would be a fine replacement for Kenny Golladay if the Lions wind up passing on re-signing their star receiver.

Look the other way on this one, ladies and gentlemen. Jeffrey has had struggle after struggle in recent years, and he is on the wrong side of 30. Jeffrey missed most of the 2020 season with a calf injury and only registered six catches all year. The argument can be made that Jeffrey has had bad luck with quarterbacks in his career, but that argument won’t get far. Jeffrey will have a hard time finding a team in 2021. The Lions should not be the team kicking the tires here.

Duron Harmon

Hey, you know this guy. The Lions traded for Harmon last year, and for a minute early in the year he looked like a guy that former Lions GM Bob Quinn had scored on. The problem is everyone else scored on Duron Harmon, too. Harmon struggled down the stretch for the Lions’ league-worst defense, and now the Lions and Harmon have the chance to walk away from each other scot-free.

They should both do so. All jokes aside, Harmon wasn’t too bad in 2020. He graded out decently (65.3 PFF grade) and was honestly one of the better performers in the Lions secondary in 2020. But he’s the product of an old system that failed miserably and for that reason, the Lions must move on and move forward with new guys that fit their new system.

Will Fuller

The Lions are in need of a receiver. There’s no doubt about that. Will Fuller is going to be a receiver who is going to get a ton of looks in free agency, and it will be tempting for Lions fans to want Fuller if Kenny Golladay is gone, especially after he torched the Lions for 171 yards and two touchdowns on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions need to take a pass, though.

Perhaps the biggest reason to pass on Fuller is what happened to him a short while after that big game against the Lions. Fuller was suspended the rest of the season for use of PEDs. His suspension will carry over for one game in 2021. That’s not what the Lions want. You need to have a guy who’s available all season, and someone you don't have to worry about when it comes to issues like this.

On top of it all, Fuller is legendary for his boom-or-bust play during his career. He’s either going to have a great game or a really bad game. For the money he’ll more than likely get, it’s not worth it.

Von Miller

I know what you’re thinking. “Has Mike lost his mind?” I get it. Von Miller is a former Super Bowl MVP and seven-time All Pro. He’s probably a guy that’s going to be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame some day. But those days are coming to an end. I’m sure Miller will play a few more years and will be productive for some team out there, but the Lions should not be that team.

The biggest thing that should give Lions fans pause is the fact that Von Miller missed the entire 2020 season with a bad ankle injury that required surgery. On top of that, in 2019 he had one of his least productive seasons. On top of all that, he’ll be 32 when the 2021 season starts.

The Lions are in need of defensive help. There’s no doubt about that. But they need young homegrown talent that can develop in their system instead of expensive talent who’s on the decline. Plus, if we’re be honest, Von Miller is probably just saying no to the Lions anyways.