Training camps get started for NFL teams relatively soon and the Detroit Lions still have a good handful of players out there on the open market after not bringing them back in free agency. 10 to be exact. We thought today it would be fun to look at those guys and pick the best landing spot for each of them. We'll even recommend bringing one guy back to Detroit. Let's jump into it.
CB Jerry Jacobs: Rams
It's a bit surprising that no team has signed Jacobs yet. He had a tryout with the Vikings and another with the Jets, but neither team signed him. One team that could be interesting is the Rams.
The big reason is that former Lions defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant is over there as the Rams assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. He was a big part of Jacobs making the Lions roster in 2021 and playing as well as he did. Plus the Rams aren't super deep at corner. He could have a chance to make their 53-man roster.
RB Mohamed Ibrahim: Bucs
Ibrahim just needs a chance to show what he can do at the NFL level. It looked like he might get that last year until he suffered an injury that required emergency surgery in Baltimore. Now the Lions have moved on.
The Bucs are an interesting choice because they were the worst rushing team in the league last year and they didn't do a ton to make improvements. That's not to say that he can make a roster right now, but he's someone that could get his very best chance to do that in Tampa.
G Michael Schofield: Saints
The Lions were weird about Schofield. He was a guy with a ton of starting experience, yet the team never played him when they needed a guard to come in when there were injuries. He might just be done at this point.
But if he's not, the Saints offensive line is really bad and they present one last opportunity for the 33-year-old to get some playing time or at least get a roster spot.
Tracy Walker: Jaguars
Walker has to have something left in the tank and we've thought that the Lions bringing him back at a reduced rate might be the best idea for a while now. But the Lions are suddenly looking deep at safety with Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, C.J. Moore, Brandon Joseph and Loren Strickland. The move seems unlikely now.
The Jags would be a solid landing spot for him since they didn't address safety too much in the offseason and there's a chance they could be parting with Andrew Wingard at some point . Walker is someone that would we would be the most shocked about not being on a roster in 2024.
TE Anthony Firkser: Lions
Yes, Firkser is the guy we think the Lions should give another shot to and it's for multiple reasons. The Lions have their top two tight ends with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. After that it's a full on competition between Sean McKeon, James Mitchell, Parker Hesse and Shane Zylstra.
Each guy brings something to the table, but only Firkser brings the ability to be a full back. That's something the Lions don't currently have on the roster and Dan Campbell has already talked about the tight ends filling in at that spot from time to time. Why not let the guy who has played both positions in the NFL try his hand at training camp?
Retirement
This is not me saying that these players should retire, it's me saying that I think these guys are about to retire. Jason Cabinda, Halapoulivaati Vatiai, Tyson Alualu, Charles Harris and Jake McQuaide have all likely played their final games in the NFL. Cabinda is really the only one we're not sure about. It feels like the Lions could always bring him back at any moment.
Related: Projecting the passing, rushing and receiving stats the Lions offense will put up in 2024
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