Although the Detroit Lions had a successful draft, the team still needs improvement in a few areas if it wants to contend for the Super Bowl in 2024.
One of them is the safety position, where the squad currently has a shallow roster. There are just three real safety on the roster for the Lions: Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Brandon Joseph. Tracy Walker was released earlier in the offseason, and the team decided not to draft a player at the position.
Now, the team could get creative and move their newly assembled stable of cornerbacks around in the secondary. However, it also would behoove the team to look into the veteran safety free agent market.
These five safeties are active free agents that could benefit the Lions.
Lions.
Quandre Diggs
In light of their need for safety depth, the Lions might consider reuniting with a past standout. Diggs was a nice defensive addition after being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. However, he fell out of favor with previous head coach Matt Patricia and was transferred in 2020.
Over the course of nine NFL seasons, Diggs has carved up a respectable career with 24 interceptions. With a career-high 95 tackles last year, the three-time Pro Bowl pick still has plenty left in him. He participated in all 17 games.
Diggs appeared to have had a good time in Detroit prior to his disagreement with the coaching staff. If he chooses to come back, the industrious safety may be a major spark for the young club under the new leadership.
John Johnson III
Johnson has a connection to the Lions because, at the time of the Rams’ draft selection, Brad Holmes was the team’s director of college scouting. Before the 2021 season, he inked a big deal with the Cleveland Browns, where he totaled nine interceptions in his first four seasons.
But after two seasons, the safety was cut by the Browns because he could not perform at an elite level. He signed a one-year contract to rejoin the Rams last year. He recorded six passes defensed and two interceptions.
Johnson has had three seasons with 100 or more tackles in his career, the most recent being in 2022. After six NFL seasons, he may still have a lot to offer because he is only 28 years old.
