The Detroit Lions finished up one of its most successful seasons record-wise in franchise history. Now the offseason begins with the combine, free agency and the NFL draft.
To start that process moving, we’ll look at each position group analyzing what worked, what didn’t and projecting what could happen between now and training camp, a little over six months away.
Previous analyses: Quarterbacks; Running backs; Wide receivers; Tight ends; Offensive tackles; Interior offensive linemen; Defensive line
2015 Free Agents: Ashlee Palmer; Josh Bynes (restricted)
The good: DeAndre Levy had another standout season, leading the NFL in solo tackles (117) and finishing second in the league in total tackles (151). He once again made a bunch of plays in coverage and played like be one of the top 4-3 backers in the league for the second straight season. In an added benefit -- more on this in the bad -- he also took over as the man relaying defensive plays with no hiccups. Tahir Whitehead stepped in for the injured Stephen Tulloch and had a fairly strong season, making 77 tackles and picking off two passes. The Lions didn’t show much dropoff from Tulloch to Whitehead, who became a player that can be more than a special teams standout. Josh Bynes was signed after Tulloch’s injury and became a contributor, filling in for Whitehead at times based on packages. The run defense was exceedingly good throughout the season. Levy ended up as the best run defender on the Lions according to Pro Football Focus, with Whitehead also getting a Top 5 grade.
The bad: Tulloch tore his ACL in the third week of the season and missed the rest of the season, the first major time he has missed in his career. Losing him could have been devastating for the defense, but due to Whitehead’s play, the Lions still thrived. His recovery is going to be something to keep an eye on in the offseason. Rookie Kyle Van Noy never got his season going. He spent the first half of the season injured and the second half trying to beat out Palmer for playing time. Next season already becomes huge for the second-round pick in his development. The Lions struggled a little bit in coverage as a group. Levy allowed 82 of 105 passes thrown at him to be caught, according to PFF.
The money (using 2015 cap numbers from ESPN Stats & Information): Tulloch has a cap charge of $5.8 million with no bonuses attached. Levy has a $4.5 million cap hit in the final year of his deal. Van Noy has a cap charge of $1.159 million, including a $50,000 reporting roster bonus. His base salary of $601,914 is fully guaranteed. Whitehead has a cap number of $713,000 in the final year of his deal. Travis Lewis, also in the last year of his contract, has a $674,793 cap hit, and Julian Stanford has a $660,000 cap charge.
Potential cuts: Tulloch is the obvious one, depending on how comfortable the Lions feel with Whitehead manning the middle of the defense. He has $2.6 million in dead money this year and if he’s a post-June 1 cut, there’s $4.5 million in savings. His future could be tied into what happens with Suh, but he’s very likely to be with Detroit in 2015.
Draft priority: Not high, unless the Lions are planning on not bringing back Tulloch, Levy or Whitehead. The only way this jumps up is if the Lions were to make a defensive scheme switch. But if Detroit does take a linebacker, it won’t be until the middle rounds or later.