PHOENIX – There isn't a whole lot of time for celebrations in the fast-paced world of the NFL's legal tampering period, which constitutes the negotiating period of three days leading up to the start of free agency. But there was time for a few high fives and some pats on the back after Lions general manager Bob Quinn was able to land his No.1 free agent target this offseason, defensive lineman Trey Flowers.
"It's exciting, of course it is," Quinn told beat reporters at the Annual League Meetings Monday of the reaction in Allen Park after Flowers agreed to become a Lion. "It's adding a really good player. It's a little bit of a high-five, it's a pat of the back and then it's like, 'Okay, what's the next thing to do?'
"Because in free agency, it's always like, what's the next shoe to drop? You want to make sure you're not missing out on other opportunities. So, you celebrate for a quick minute and then you're onto the next thing."
The next thing for Quinn was signing cornerback Justin Coleman and tight end Jesse James in the first wave of free agency. Quinn's been busy in the second wave of free agency, too, adding a number of potential starters and quality depth players.
But it was the Flowers signing that kicked off the Lions' offseason in a big way.
In four years in New England, Flowers compiled 164 tackles and 21 sacks. He recorded 9.5 sacks this past season, but ranked in the top 10 in hits, hurries, and total pressures in 2018, per Pro Football Focus.
"He's a three-down player with position versatility," Quinn said of Flowers. "Affects the quarterback, affects the run game, knows the technique, knows the scheme.
"There's not a lot of sure bets in free agency. Certain years you can be more aggressive than others. With the money that we paid those guys, the contracts, speaks to what we think of them and we think they can help us win games, and that's the bottom line. We want to get as many players into our team and our scheme that can help us win more."
One of the things that enticed Flowers about Detroit was the culture Quinn and Lions head coach Matt Patricia are building.
"Obviously, it's a tough league, and in order to be successful you have to be tough," Flowers said in his introductory press conference. "You can't be comfortable. Obviously, I got a taste of what it takes and how it's done and things like that."
In Flowers, the Lions have a player that fits exactly what they were looking to add to their defensive line this offseason, and they plan to deploy him in a variety of ways.
"Scheme fit, culture fit, great player, great person," Quinn said of Flowers. "[I] feel he's going to be able to be a three-down player for us and really increase that level of play across the defensive line from multiple positions."
