What move in NFL free agency should the Detroit Lions have tried to make?
The first wave of NFL free agency is done, and while a few more moves will surely trickle in over the coming weeks, many eyes will turn to the NFL Draft . Yet before we turn the page too quickly, let us examine the week of contracts. The Detroit Lions made a fair number of signings, from internal re-signings to new starters to depth pieces. However, free agency is not just about the moves that you make, but also about the moves that you do not—for better or worse.
The Lions are setting themselves up for a hopefully successful NFL Draft, yet that doesn’t mean we can’t look at “what if” scenarios. Is there a player who signed for a great deal that you wish wound up in Detroit instead?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Is there a deal that you wish the Detroit Lions had made in free agency?
My answer: Jeremy Chinn.
Out of all the moves made in free agency so far, two of my favorites happen to be courtesy of the Detroit Lions. D.J. Reed joins the team on a cheaper deal than the player he is replacing, Carlton Davis. At worst, he is a lateral move, but by many metrics and opinions, Reed is an upgrade over Davis. The next contract that I love is the Levi Onwuzurike re-signing. Getting him for up to $5.5 million (closer to $4M) is a steal , especially in contrast to Milton Williams getting a four-year, $106 million deal from the New England Patriots .
Yet the move that really stands out as an “I wish the Lions made that deal” is safety Jeremy Chinn signing with the Las Vegas Raiders on a two-year, $16 million deal.
The Lions lost Ifeatu Melifonwu in free agency, signing with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal worth $3 million. Two of the top safeties on the market, Jevon Holland and Talanoa Hufanga, earned themselves three-year contracts worth $45 million. However, with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch entrenched as the starting safeties, the Lions were likely not in the market to spend that kind of money for a third safety, even with Branch’s versatility. Despite this, the role of third safety is an important one for the Lions—one they have yet to address in free agency. Aside from Branch and Joseph, the only other safeties on the roster right now are Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, and Erick Hallett.
I think that Chinn would have been a great signing for the Lions, especially at that reasonable price. Chinn has a Swiss Army Knife aspect to his game, slotting in all over on defense: at free safety, in the box, in the slot, and as a pass rusher too. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Chinn’s build closely mirrors Melifonwu’s (6-foot-3, 210 pounds). He has a knack for run defense too, an important part of the Lions’ defensive identity—he was no slouch with 117 tackles in 2024 for the Washington Commanders .
There is a question about whether Chinn would have wanted to be a third safety on the Lions, but I do not see it as a significant negative. Detroit has found ways to get their talent on the field, and when Melifonwu was healthy in late 2024, he was playing over 40 snaps per game. Third safety in this Lions’ defense is a starting-caliber role.
The Lions will likely add to their roster in the coming weeks of free agency and the draft, and while I am happy with their acquisitions thus far, Chinn would have been a great addition given his price tag.
Was there a free agency contract that you wish the Lions had given out? Let us know in the comments below.