Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Meet the Detroit Lions free agent: QB Kellen Moore

Every day we’ll take a look at one of the Detroit Lions heading for free agency, what he has meant to the team before and a prognosis on whether or not he’ll be back with the club in 2015. Previous free agents profiled are here.

Free agent to be: Kellen Moore (restricted)

Position: Quarterback

Age: 25

Years in the league: 3

What he made last season: His cap number was $576,668 and his cash money was $570,000.

What he did last season: On the field, Moore did nothing. He was active for no games for the third straight season and held down the role of No. 3 quarterback. Where Moore provides value is during the week in preparation for games. He helps Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky and the coaches break down games for Stafford and, like Orlovsky, is another set of eyes for Stafford on game days. His biggest value is his intelligence and how he views the game, which is like a coach.

His potential market value: Not high. He has never thrown an NFL pass and went undrafted out of Boise State. He’s shown some competence during the preseason -- particularly in 2014, when his roster spot was not assured. But no one knows what he’d be able to bring if he needed to be on the field or if he was looked at as a viable No. 2. His best chances are either coming back to Detroit or possibly landing in Dallas with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who coached him the first two seasons of Moore's career.

Will he fit the Lions: Depends. Last year, general manager Martin Mayhew said he didn’t necessarily believe Moore was ready to be a No. 2 quarterback. After another season of no playing time and being the clear No. 3 quarterback, does that change? Do the Lions believe he is worth hanging on to as a No. 3 quarterback or as the true backup to Stafford or is it time to cede his spot on the roster to a developmental project for Jim Caldwell, Joe Lombardi and Jim Bob Cooter? These are the questions Detroit needs to ask itself.

What happens: The Lions have Stafford entrenched as their starter, so it all depends on what Caldwell, Mayhew and Lombardi want to do. Since Moore is a restricted free agent, the Lions would have to decide to give him a tendered offer -- and that might just be too much money for a No. 3 quarterback who has not taken a snap. The Lions might be better off letting him go to into free agency and then signing him to a minimum deal at that point if they want to retain him. With the Lions needing money to sign other free agents, that would seem the more likely course of action.

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