Lions mock offseason v2.0: Post-Senior Bowl edition

The attitude with free agency in this scenario is filling immediate-need holes. After the free agent losses and roster attrition, the Lions have big openings at CB, DT, RG, inside LB, RB and backup QB.

Eagles CB James Bradberry is an obvious target. I’m a firm believer that the Lions need a veteran CB presence and that definitely influenced my choice here. Bradberry can play either side of the field and works well in both press and off-man, as well as zone shells. Bradberry will likely cost over $12 million a season, and the 29-year-old is not a long-term investment.

The next box on the wishlist gets checked with Vikings DT Dalvin Tomlinson. The big veteran has consistently proven himself to be one of the best nose tackles in the league across multiple teams and schemes. Tomlinson, who will be 29, consistently provides top-10 run defense for his position and 2-3 sacks a year with very impressive durability. Two years and $18 million fully guaranteed should get it done.

It’s a freakishly deep running back class in free agency. With Williams leaving, the Lions need an inside runner who can pass protect and grind out first downs on 3rd-and-3. Enter Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson, one of the best B-gap runners in the league in 2022. With under 500 carries in his five NFL seasons, Wilson still has tread on the tires and has reliably churned out yardage in zone schemes. One year at $2.5 million should get it done in this oversaturated market.

Cowboys QB Cooper Rush gets the nod as the new No. 2 QB. Rush capably handled his business filling in for an injured Dak Prescott in Dallas in each of the last two seasons, showing accuracy and poise in five of those six starts. The one exception, a brutal performance against the Eagles, is why Rush is a career backup and won’t threaten starter Jared Goff. One year at $3.75 million is the price tag.

Finally, we’ll stick with one holdover from the first mock offseason. Bengals LB Germaine Pratt is an instant alpha dog starter in the middle of the defense. The NFL’s best coverage backer in 2022 won’t be cheap, but in this scenario the Lions opt to break character a little and invest at the LB spot.