Lions 2022 free agents

[SammyGreene]

3 Down Nation has released the Lions list of free agents. Lots of work to do.
The only proven receiver under contract is Durant, who ironically was the one deal they would be happy to part with.

We are about to see what McElvoy and Campbell can do and what vision they have to get this team back into a contender again:

Running Back
Jamel Lyles (N)
David Mackie (N)
Chris Rainey (A)
Mario Villamizar (N)

Receiver
Bryan Burnham (A)
Jevon Cottoy (N)
Shaquille Johnson (N)
DeVier Posey (A)
Dominique Rhymes (A)
Jacob Scarfone (N)
Lucky Whitehead (A)

Offensive Line
Sukh Chungh (N)
Joel Figueroa (A)
Peter Godber (N)
David Knevel (N)
Ryker Mathews (A)
Phillip Norman (A)
Andrew Peirson (N)
Hunter Steward (N)

Defensive Line
Alex Bazzie (A)
J.R. Tavai (A)

Linebacker
Isaiah Guzylak-Messam (N)
Adam Konar (N)

Defensive Back
Anthony Cioffi (A)
Jamie Harry (N)
Hakeem Johnson (N)
T.J. Lee (A)
Garry Peters (A)
O’Shane Samuels (N)
Anthony Thompson (N)

Kicker
Stefan Flintoft (A)

Long snapper
Tanner Doll (N)

[B.C.FAN]

That list includes five starting receivers and five starting O-linemen. A lot of big decisions have to be made soon to get some of them signed before the end of December so signing bonuses can be paid under the 2021 cap.

[DanoT]

That list includes five starting receivers and five starting O-linemen. A lot of big decisions have to be made soon to get some of them signed before the end of December so signing bonuses can be paid under the 2021 cap.

So are you saying there is a silver lining to not making the playoffs: extra time to re-sign players for next year?

[Hambone]

That list includes five starting receivers and five starting O-linemen. A lot of big decisions have to be made soon to get some of them signed before the end of December so signing bonuses can be paid under the 2021 cap.

So are you saying there is a silver lining to not making the playoffs: extra time to re-sign players for next year?

I guess they can spend all of their time trying to do that. Waiting for the playoffs to end didn't stop Montreal from sign a bunch of their guys to new deals a couple weeks ago. I would question BC having much leftover out of their 2021 cap. Mind you they might have a chunk available from unrealized performance bonuses.

[Sir Purrcival]

Yep, that looks pretty grim. And here were are worrying about whether it is a good idea to keep Riley. If we lose say 50% of that list, we are going to be starting over again on Oline, still stuck with an underperforming DLine, have lost at least one of Burnham or Whitehead or Cottoy. A chunk of our Defensive Backfield. Yep, has all the makings of a great 2022. Well Hope things work out.

[SammyGreene]

Revisting this list.

Must signs (in order of urgency).

Running backs: None.

Receivers: Whitehead, Cottoy, Burnham, Grymes Johnson. This group showed what it could do when it was healthy. It will take top 3 receiver salary in the league to keep Whitehead given he is a premier kick returner too. Cottoy ready to be this team's No. 1 national receiver but it will take quite the offer from him not testing the NFL again and other CFL teams would be lining up to have him.

Offensive line: Steward and Godber. Godber had some tough games but we spent a year developing a very high draft pick. We need to be rewarded for that patience. Still on the fence about Chungh. Definitely not worth his last contract.

Defensive line: none

Linebackers: none

Defensive backs: Lee, Peters, Johnson. Two solid veterans that provide stability to the short side of the field. Johnson brings a lot a versatility including a rare starting national corner if need be.

[B.C.FAN]

Revisting this list.

Must signs (in order of urgency).

Running backs: None.

Receivers: Whitehead, Cottoy, Burnham, Grymes Johnson. This group showed what it could do when it was healthy. It will take top 3 receiver salary in the league to keep Whitehead given he is a premier kick returner too. Cottoy ready to be this team's No. 1 national receiver but it will take quite the offer from him not testing the NFL again and other CFL teams would be lining up to have him.

Offensive line: Steward and Godber. Godber had some tough games but we spent a year developing a very high draft pick. We need to be rewarded for that patience. Still on the fence about Chungh. Definitely not worth his last contract.

Defensive line: none

Linebackers: none

Defensive backs: Lee, Peters, Johnson. Two solid veterans that provide stability to the short side of the field. Johnson brings a lot a versatility including a rare starting national corner if need be.

Agreed. One possible addition is Ryker Mathews. The former Eastern all-star tackle in Hamilton missed most of training camp and only dressed for the season opener. He can play on either side of the line so he could start along with his impressive replacement Kent Perkins, who remains under contract.

[DanoT]

Revisting this list.

Must signs (in order of urgency).

Running backs: None.

Receivers: Whitehead, Cottoy, Burnham, Grymes Johnson. This group showed what it could do when it was healthy. It will take top 3 receiver salary in the league to keep Whitehead given he is a premier kick returner too. Cottoy ready to be this team's No. 1 national receiver but it will take quite the offer from him not testing the NFL again and other CFL teams would be lining up to have him.

Offensive line: Steward and Godber. Godber had some tough games but we spent a year developing a very high draft pick. We need to be rewarded for that patience. Still on the fence about Chungh. Definitely not worth his last contract.

Defensive line: none

Linebackers: none

Defensive backs: Lee, Peters, Johnson. Two solid veterans that provide stability to the short side of the field. Johnson brings a lot a versatility including a rare starting national corner if need be.

Agreed. One possible addition is Ryker Mathews. The former Eastern all-star tackle in Hamilton missed most of training camp and only dressed for the season opener. He can play on either side of the line so he could start along with his impressive replacement Kent Perkins, who remains under contract.

When you say Ryker Mathews "can play on either side of the line", do you mean RT and LT or do you mean Oline and Dline? Imo, D line needs the most help.

[TheLionKing]

Would be nice if he could play RT, LT AND Dline.

[Sir Purrcival]

Would be nice if he could play RT, LT AND Dline.

And kick too!

[B.C.FAN]

Mathews can play left or right tackle. He was a four-year starter at left tackle at BYU.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Can't argue with the importance of already named players mentioned in this thread, but I would add David Mackie to the list of priorities, so far as firming up the fullback position is concerned. It's an important role, often taken for granted. My impression of Mackie is an entirely positive one. (Another non-sexy role--the long snapper; Tanner Doll seems not to have had many gaffs at all. )

[Hambone]

Can't argue with the importance of already named players mentioned in this thread, but I would add David Mackie to the list of priorities, so far as firming up the fullback position is concerned. It's an important role, often taken for granted. My impression of Mackie is an entirely positive one. (Another non-sexy role--the long snapper; Tanner Doll seems not to have had many gaffs at all. )

Agreed on both. Mackie does what one would hope for in his role both on offense and on special teams. He's kind of like Rolly Lumbala 2.0. He also was quite prevelant in many of the community service type videos during games which tells me he also is very active in those critical off-field activities.

[B.C.FAN]

Mackie is the Lions’ nominee for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award.

https://3downnation.com/2021/12/01/nine ... ans-award/

[Hambone]

Moj was on the same flight to Toronto with me yesterday. I chatted with him for a bit while we waited to claim our luggage. Asked him for thoughts about next year. These were gut feels on his part:

Reilly - can't and won't return on existing contract terms. My question about that is can they get him to renegotiate final year without adding an extra year?

Burnham - probably not returning

Durant - probably moving on. Disappointing considering the money outlay. He started out well in 2019 but constantly hurt since then.

Kicking - thinks Whyte will come over from EDM to finish his career at home. IMO this adds up. Whyte is a pending FA and last year EDM drafted a kicker whom they kept on their PR all year.

Returners - Rainey is done. IMO his best before date was probably 2018. They should have seen enough in the first few games to move on. Moj was excited about seeing what Quadree Henderson could do then he broke his leg.

OL - needs to be reshaped. Loves Figs for all he brings but maybe time to move on. Certainly age and number of times he was hobbled by injury during games this year are signs. Steward - too soft. Godber - disappointing - too many holding calls for a center. Chungh - likes to play in a phone booth as a run blocker but not good when getting active moving around in pass blocking. Perkins - he thought Perkins acquitted himself well.

DL - likes lots of the pieces mentioning Gwachum and Bonner in particular. Thinks they are missing that disruptive force that stirs the drink making everybody else more effective. Felt they didn't do enough rotating quite often only rotating 5 with some of them also pulling special teams duties too. Late in the game guys were gassed.

FOPS - my bag came before I had a chance to quiz him about thoughts on possible changes to assistants and chances of losing one or more of the likes of Simon, Rigmaiden and McEvoy.