Lions free agency thus far

Some have criticized the Lions for not being active enough in the free agent market. But the Lions biggest off-season move was the trading of Shaun Rogers for an established CB in Leigh Bodden. Detroit hasn’t been throwing around big money in free agency, which is fine by me in a fairly weak free agent class and a year in which the draft is strong at positions the Lions need (RB, OL, DE, etc.).

What the Lions have added so far: DT Chuck Darby (3-year deal); S Kalvin Pearson (signed to 3-year, $3.5M offer sheet), Tampa Bay; CB Leigh Bodden (trade w/3rd round pick for Shaun Rogers), Cleveland; CB Brian Kelly (3-year deal), Tampa Bay; TE Michael Gaines (4 years, $10M), Buffalo; S Dwight Smith (2 years, $5M), Minnesota; OG Corey Hulsey (1 year deal), Oakland; Re-signed CB Travis Fisher (3 years, $9M), RB Tatum Bell (1 year, $1.6M), OT George Foster (1 year, $1.1M), CB Keith Smith (2 years, $5M), TE John Owens (1 year), RB Aveion Cason (1 year).
Players lost: LB Teddy Lehman (Tampa Bay), LB Boss Bailey (Denver), QB J.T. O'Sullivan (San Francisco), RB T.J. Duckett (Seattle), CB Fernando Bryant (released), DT Shaun Rogers (traded to Cleveland), OT Damien Woody (Jets).
So let’s go over each of the additions and subtractions so far:

SUBTRACTIONS
DT Shaun Rogers
We all know about the attitude and weight problems, but meeting this man in person tells you a lot. I’ve interviewed him at training camp a couple years ago and ran into him at a Detroit restaurant during the off-season last year. The difference was unbelievable. The man is absolutely massive and doesn’t look like an athlete at all. His lack of motivation beyond dollars is sad, and a strip club run-in with the law (where no charges were pressed) just adds to making it easy to paint Rogers as a character problem.

LBs Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman
A pair of second-round picks who had tremendous potential but never really panned out, in part due to injuries. Boss just never seemed to get it and his speed was offset by a lack of instincts and occasional inability to play within the defensive scheme. Lehman often over pursued plays, but was a solid tackler when healthy, which wasn’t too often. The Lions haven’t replaced these two in free agency, which leaves the Lions’ line backing cupboard bare aside from Ernie Sims and the always-promising-but-usually-not-delivering Alex Lewis. Anthony Cannon, Paris Lenon and Buster Davis are the only other LBs left on Detroit’s roster. The Lions will almost assuredly be selecting a LB in the first rounds, unless they plan to fill out the position with injury risk guys like Al Wilson.

QB J.T. O’Sullivan
Mike Martz somehow thinks this guy can start in San Fran because he knows his system a little. Sullivan was OK as a second- or third-stringer, but was only minimally impressive when he actually played in the regular season. Martz’ ego to develop his own QB in SF rather than work with the one he’s given (former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith) just shows you how far gone he is in some ways.

RB T.J. Duckett
Seattle threw some serious dollars at this part-time who can thrive in a thunder-and-lightning system with a faster back complementing him. The Seahawks did just that by also signing Julius Jones, a guy the Lions could have paired with Duckett, but chose not to, instead settling for a RB corps that includes fumble-prone Tatum Bell, unknown Brian Calhoun and third-down back Aveion Cason now that the Lions have cut Kevin Jones. Detroit’s RB situation is not in a good spot, and I look for Detroit to select a runner in the first three rounds of this year’s draft.

CB Fernando Bryant
Bryant was an enigma in Detroit. An above average corner when occasionally healthy, he was thrust into a system that didn’t suit his skills. The Lions dumped Dre’ Bly, but not Bryant before last season. Bryant actually adapted and played solidly (again, when helthY0, but his predilection for getting dinged up meant he usually missed at least a few plays every game with some sort of boo boo. It was frustrating, because he was clearly Detroit’s best CB when healthy. Not known for his tackling ability, he actually was the most reliable CB in run support in the Tampa 2. But his habit of getting hurt and his high price tag led to his departure.

OT Damien Woody
After getting benched for his poor conditioning, Shaun Rogers’ dream workout partner soon found some motivation because he knew he was going to be cut. He put in just enough effort to be an average RT for the last part of the season and con the Jets into giving him a big contract. He’ll likely fatten up again and show up to lazy and unmotivated by mid-season.

ADDITIONS
CB Leigh Bodden (6-1, 193, 26)
He may just have stumbled upon the deal by accident, but credit Matt Millen with knowing a good deal when he sees it. He dealt a problem man-child in Shaun Rogers for what seems to be a definite answer at one cornerback spot, something the Lions have sorely lacked in recent history. Bodden is coming off a career year with six interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 88 tackles. And at only 26 years old, he’s just coming into his prime.

CB Brian Kelly (5-11, 193, 32)
Has had some durability issues creep up in the last two years after being remarkably healthy prior to that (played all 16 games in 7 of 8 seasons from 1998-2005). Played in only 13 games in last two years, including 11 in 2007. His experience in the Tampa 2 and lower price tag seems to be the main things that differentiate him from the guy he’s replacing, Fernando Bryant. Age is a bit of a concern at a position where speed is a must.

S Dwight Smith (5-10, 201, 29)
The Detroit native has never played in fewer than 14 games in a season, so is fairly healthy. Had four interceptions (one for a TD) last year and is 29, a reasonable age for a starting (or top backup) safety. Is a guy who can play some corner as well, giving the Lions three such safeties on the roster (joining Gerald Alexander and Daniel Bullocks), and that kind of versatility can‘t hurt and is something Marinelli seems to covet. And taking a starter away from a division rival never hurts.

DT Chuck Darby (6-0, 297, 32)
Don’t expect this guy to replace Shaun Rogers, just because he agreed to terms shortly after Big Baby was dealt away. Darby is no Rogers. He’s more of a run stopper who doesn’t generate much of a pass rush, evidenced by his season-high of 3.5 sacks in 2006. He has 12 sacks in 7 seasons. Oh yeah, he played in Tampa Bay under Marinelli. Shocking. That said, he has three years of experience as a full-time starter (57 starts total), including on Seattle’s Super Bowl team in 2005.

TE Michael Gaines (6-4, 277, 27)
The Lions are making a major shift away from former offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s pass-happy offense to a more physical run-oriented offense. One of the things needed for such a scheme is strong play from blocking ends. Gaines isn’t the biggest pass-catching threat, but at 277 pounds is a great blocker. Pairing Gaines and Dan Campbell on the ends, the opposition will never know which one is staying in to block or going out, since they are essentially the same guy. The move to a power running game should be a good one, given the popularity of the Cover 2 defense, which can be prone to a strong running game, and the fact that the opposition still has to respect Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson out wide by keeping the safeties back.

S Kalvin Pearson (5-10, 200, 29)
A backup and special teams ace who spent a year out of football before Tampa Bay picked him and he played in 46 of 48 games the last 3 seasons. Doesn’t have an interception in his career, but has made 94 tackles, 80 of which were solo. Detroit signed Pearson to a 3-year, $3.5 million offer sheet with $1.1 million guaranteed on March 5 and Tampa supposedly isn‘t going to match it. The former undrafted free agent won’t cost Detroit a draft. The Lions can definitely use help on special teams, a unit that was sorely looked over last year and the results on the field reflected it.

OG Corey Hulsey (6-4, 325, 30)
You probably didn’t know who this guy was before the Lions signed him. That’s not a good sign. Worked with Detroit’s new offensive coordinator, Jim Colletto, in Oakland. He didn’t play in the NFL last season, which says a lot, given that Colletto was the line coach in Detroit last year and the Lions didn’t ink him last year when some injuries hit. The 325-pounder is a good run blocker, but weak in pass protections and isn’t very athletic. The Lions interestingly released backup utility guy Blaine Saipaia not long after signing Hulsey. Saipaia is a Martz guy, and the Lions have been trying to unload some of those (trade rumors are swirling about Shaun McDonald). Still, Hulsey has 40 NFL games and 17 starts under his belt. But 12 of those starts came in his rookie season 7 years ago.

RETURNEES
Travis Fisher was brought back at a somewhat hefty price tag for a nickel back at $3 million a season for three years, while Keith Smith reportedly got as much to re-sign as safety Dwight Smith did to come here ($5 million for two years). Matt Millen must think Keith Smith can be something more than a dime back and could even compete with Fisher to move up to start next to newcomer Leigh Bodden. Cason and Ownes are purely depth signings and might not make it out of camp. Bell was brought back after Detroit’s failed attempts to woo Julius Jones, Warrick Dunn or any other capable runner to carry the ball in what will supposedly be a RB-friendly offense next season. Bringing back Foster is a sign that Detroit will be using a simpler system on the line next year, one that won’t require him to think too much before the snap and may reduce his habit of jumping the gun. His size could be nice for a power running game, and he came with a cheap contract.