The Detroit Lions are embracing a lot of change this offseason, and the most significant of those changes is the arrival of a nearly entirely new coaching staff. The team has already brought in several fresh faces, and there’s a lot of curiosity surrounding what life will be like with these new leaders. Fans are also speculating about which players from previous teams could follow their coaches to Detroit.
Whenever a coach moves to a new team, it’s natural to wonder which free agents could follow them, especially if they had a strong working relationship. After looking into the coaching staff’s past and analyzing this year’s free-agent market, we’ve identified seven players who might join the Lions under their new coaching regime.
John Morton – WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
From discussions in Denver about John Morton, it’s clear he made a significant impact while working with the Broncos’ receivers. Morton’s extensive work with the receiving corps there could make it likely that the Lions target another big-bodied receiver from Denver to potentially fill the WR3 role.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, despite the “lil” in his name, stands out as a 6-foot-4, 225-pound receiver with the ability to overpower smaller cornerbacks. Though he hasn’t made a major splash in the league yet, Detroit could be the perfect opportunity for him to climb the depth chart.
QB Zach Wilson
As I mentioned earlier this week, if the Lions don’t see a long-term future with Hendon Hooker, Zach Wilson could be a quarterback they bring in to compete for a spot. Even if Detroit sticks with Hooker, giving Wilson a chance in camp would be worthwhile. After all, we’ve seen how the current coaching staff can help turn quarterbacks into MVP-caliber players.
Kacy Rodgers – Edge Anthony Nelson
While it’s tempting to dream about the Lions landing a player like Vita Vea or Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ defensive line doesn’t have many big names hitting the market. However, Anthony Nelson is still a solid depth piece who could add value to the Lions’ defensive line, which has certainly shown a need for additional depth. He can reliably contribute with at least four sacks per season.
Bruce Gradkowski – WR Hakeem Butler
Bruce Gradkowski is stepping into his first NFL coaching role, which doesn’t offer much to pull from in terms of free-agent connections. However, one player to watch is Hakeem Butler, who Gradkowski helped win the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Butler has had unfortunate luck in the NFL, but with the right team—like the Lions—he could finally earn a spot on a 53-man roster.
David Shaw – CB Paulson Adebo
A lot of Lions fans are hoping for Paulson Adebo to make his way to Detroit. With uncertainty surrounding Carlton Davis’s future, this would be a chance for the Lions to add a young, promising cornerback to their roster. Adebo, who played under David Shaw at Stanford, has shown tremendous growth since entering the league, and Shaw could help bring him to Detroit.
QB Davis Mills
As the Lions continue to evaluate backup quarterbacks, Davis Mills might be a name worth considering. He worked with David Shaw at Stanford, and the familiarity could make a reunion in Detroit a real possibility. While Mills may not blow anyone away, his experience as a competent backup quarterback could prove valuable in case the Lions need someone who can step in and help win games.
