Roundtable: Reacting to Detroit Lions Free Agency

1.) What was your reaction to the D.J. Reader signing?

Christian Booher: I think signing D.J. Reader is massive for the Lions. He gives them a true nose tackle presence, which they’ve lacked in recent years. When healthy, Reader is a true difference-maker capable of wrecking opposing run games.

The veteran also brings juice as a pass-rusher, which should take some attention off of Aidan Hutchinson. As it stands, the Lions will be once again one of the league’s best run defenses, and will very likely improve in pass-rush statistics as well.

Vito Chirco: I think the signing was truly the best of the Lions’ offseason so far. He provides Detroit with a valuable run-stuffing and pass-rushing presence along the interior of the defensive line. Plus, he's a solid running mate for fellow interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill. I'm a big fan of the move.

2.) Are you now trusting the process of GM Brad Holmes, with how he has built the team?

Booher: Absolutely. I think Holmes has had a strong offseason. He was patient early, but managed to add two strong players on the first day of the legal tampering period, then followed it up with two more big additions later in the week. As a result, the pool of talent on defense is much deeper.

While the Lions did have two significant losses in Jonah Jackson and Ceedy Duce, both received contracts that the organization likely would’ve struggled to dish out. With so many players due for long-term extensions in the near future, Holmes has wisely navigated the offseason to this point in his contract commitments.

Chirco: I am. But, I still believe it's fair to criticize Holmes for the lack of a big-time move at the cornerback position. I'm a fan of Carlton Davis, but he's not a No. 1-caliber corner like L'Jarius Sneed or Stephon Gilmore. If I were Holmes, I would've gone out and signed Gilmore rather than traded for Davis. And, even with Davis In the fold, I'd still be more than willing to sign Gilmore.

3.) Which player in free agency do you wish the Lions could have landed?

Booher: The Lions got better defensively, but I was a proponent of adding a big-time pass-rusher. With the team in win-now mode, I believed that a deal for Jonathan Greenard would’ve given the organization the perfect complement to Aidan Hutchinson.

Instead, the Lions will now have to deal with Greenard twice a year, as he signed a lucrative deal with the division rival Minnesota Vikings.

Chirco: I'm going to say former Minnesota Vikings EDGE Danielle Hunter. I like the acquisition of Marcus Davenport on a one-year deal, but there's no doubt that Hunter, who signed with the Texans, would've added more punch to the Lions’ pass-rushing unit than Davenport.

Case in point, Hunter has played in a full season's worth of games each of the past two seasons and has racked up 27 sacks. Meanwhile, Davenport has played in a total of 19 games the past two seasons and has accumulated 2.5 sacks.

4.) Did the Lions give up too much to land CB Carlton Davis?

Booher: It remains to be seen. My instant takeaway is that the deal is a strong one, as Davis is a proven talent who will be a major asset for the Lions’ secondary. However, the cornerback position is a tough one to play at a high level consistently.

We won’t know if the third-round pick the Lions parted with to acquire him is too much, or too little, until the season kicks off. However, based on his body of work, it’s looking like a solid deal for Holmes and the rest of his staff to bring in a talented, proven cornerback.

Chirco: I don't view it like that at all. I think what the Lions gave up to land Davis, a Super Bowl champion with the Buccaneers, was fair. Detroit gave up just a third-rounder in this April's draft (No. 92 overall) to land a cornerback that is certainly worthy of No. 2 status on the team's CB depth chart. I believe it's more than understandable to part with that kind of draft capital for a No. 2-level corner. Plus, the Lions also received a pair of sixth-rounders (one in each 2024 and 2025) as part of their return.

So, by no stretch do I believe this was an overpay on the part of Brad Holmes & Co.

5.) How do you describe the year that Ceedy Duce spent with the Lions?

Booher: When Duce first arrived, he was a massive addition. The Lions’ secondary seemed to benefit from his swagger and toughness in training camp practices. The veteran also had numerous memorable soundbites in media availability, and had an astounding recovery from a torn pec suffered in Week 2. However, his season with the team was ultimately underwhelming.

Duce did show flashes of being the takeaway artist that he was billed. When he arrived, he picked off two passes between a total of six regular and postseason games. But, the torn pec injury held him out much of the year, and his lack of availability was a negative point in his short stint with the Lions.

Chirco: To me, Ceedy Duce undeniably failed to live up to the bill. He talked a lot of trash, but didn't even come close to backing it up on a consistent basis during his injury-plagued campaign in the Motor City. With Gardner-Johnson having signed with the Eagles, the Lions do now have a void at safety. However, I still believe Holmes & Co. made the right move in moving on from the veteran defensive back.