Coming off an extremely successful season, for what they were expected to do, the Lions have a few key free agents coming up that they need to negotiate with. With how they showed out this year, players might want more than the Lions are willing to pay them. Here are my predictions for what will happen with these free agents.
Jamaal Williams, Lions Runningback- Re-Sign
Jamaal Williams was the heart and soul of this Lions team this year, from being an excellent consistent player on the field to being a great locker room guy and keeping everyone involved. When Swift went down it was up to Jamaal to step up to keep Detroit’s run game near the top, and he did that plus more. Not only did he become the first 1,000+ yard rusher for Detroit in over ten years, but he also broke Barry Sanders’ single-season touchdown record for a Lions running back. So with all, he brings to this team, Detroit would be stupid not to bring him back on, like a 2-year 8.5 million dollar deal.
D.J. Chark, Lions Wide Reciever- Let Walk
Chark absolutely balled out for Detroit this year and embraced the city, but the role he plays in Detroit may not be worth his price tag. Chark only played 11 games this season for Detroit due to an injury from the previous season yet still put up 500 yards and three touchdowns on the year, as Detroit’s wide receiver two. Chark was also the reason for some of Detroit’s biggest receptions this year in terms of yardage and significance, including the catch that beat the Packers in Week 18. However, with Jameson Williams coming back Chark would be Detroit’s wide receiver three and is worth way more than wide receiver three money. Because of that Chark will likely leave to a place to be a wide receiver one or two for about 12 million dollars a year.
Alex Anzalone, Lions Linebacker- Re-Sign
While he wasn’t a top-tier linebacker this year in terms of on field production, Anzalone provides a dependable option for the Lions and linebacker while they try to find the franchise guy and a great leader. Anzalone put up 77 solo tackles this year with one and a half sacks and an interception, while that doesn’t sound great he made some significant plays over the middle to stop a big gain and was a good second option alongside Malcolm Rodriguez. Anzalone is the definition of a great depth player, and while he’s currently starting for Detroit, he would be a great and cheap depth piece once they find that second starting linebacker. A reasonable contract for a guy like Anzalone would be a one-year deal worth 3.5 million dollars.
John Cominsky- Lions Defensive Lineman- Re-Sign
The Lions’ defensive line was undoubtedly worse when Cominsky was injured, both statistically and in the actual game. Statistically, it doesn’t look like he did too much but if you watch the tape you can see Cominsky was one of the most important players on the Lions’ defensive line all year. Even if the lions plan to sign or draft some defensive lineman it would be extremely smart to keep his whether it’s for depth or to start. A reasonable contract for Cominsky would be a one-year deal worth 2.75 million dollars.
Isaiah Buggs, Lions Interior Defensive Lineman- Re-Sign
Outside of Alim McNeil, Buggs was the only interior defensive lineman that wasn’t getting eaten alive by runningbacks and was actually able to create some pressure in the pass rush. Buggs was a huge part of the Lions’ end-of-the-season stretch of wins due to his ability to disrupt at the line of scrimmage. Weather he’d start or be depth next season, he is an essential keep, a reasonable contract for Buggs would be a one-year deal worth 1.5 million dollars.
