Happy New (league) Year ... almost!
The new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m., and with it comes the official start of free agency.
Six teams used their franchise tags this past week in preparation, and while the Detroit Lions were not one of them, those moves will still affect the free agent market.
The Lions did get to work on their own list of soon-to-be free agents, re-signing long snapper Don Muhlbach, linebacker Steve Longa, defensive end Mitchell Loewen, defensive end Romeo Okwara and safety Charles Washington.
"I think the NFL resume is huge," Lions general manager Bob Quinn said at the Combine, when asked about the value of adding players via free agency. "Those guys have been in the League, most of them four years plus, right—because they're hitting unrestricted free agency.
"So, there's plenty of tape and stuff you can watch against NFL competition if they're making plays at whatever position they are. That's a little bit, I'd say, a safer bet than drafting anybody from the first round down to the seventh because the Draft is sporadic. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss. We try to do as much work as possible to try to mitigate those misses, but yeah, the NFL free agency is more of a safe bet."
COMBINE RECAP
With the conclusion of the defensive back workouts Monday, the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine has officially come to a close.
There were standout performances from players and position groups, and even a few new records set along the way.
Mississippi State's Montez Sweat, who many have linked to the Lions in mock drafts, became the fastest defensive lineman in modern combine history with a 4.41 40-yard dash time.
Sweat was one of several players who likely improved their draft stock at the combine.
Teams now have a lot more information to consider as they make their way to the Pro Days and official visits portion of the pre-draft process.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
- Watch local draft prospects at the combine list their favorite things about Michigan.
- Find out who ESPN analyst Todd McShay thinks the Lions will take with the No. 8 pick in the draft.
