The Detroit Lions lost out on Ndamukong Suh in free agency to the Dolphins and now the team may focus on signing free agent Nick Fairley along with players like Terrance Knighton, Vince Wilfork, Stephen Paea or Dan Williams and this comes as the team likely will not rework Calvin Johnson's contract despite his high cap number.
The Lions made a run at keeping Suh, who was considered by many to be the top free agent player on the market. According to ESPN.com, the Lions offered Suh up to $100 million with $58 million guaranteed, but he opted to sign with the Miami Dolphins, becoming the highest paid defensive player in football. The Lions also have Nick Fairley and CJ Mosley hitting the market and now they could look at trying to keep one or both of those players after losing Suh.
According to Michael Rothstein at ESPN.com, the team may look at free agency to try and replace Suh, as players like Terrance Knighton, Vince Wilfork, Stephen Paea, Dan Williams and Kendall Langford are available. The Lions likely will try and keep Fairley, but if he ends up leaving, Knighton and Paea could be the main targets for Detroit. Pro Football Talk reports that the Cardinals, Cowboys and Lions have interest in Paea, while the Redskins also may try to sign him.
Wilfork was released by the Patriots during the offseason, while Williams comes in after having a strong season with the Cardinals in 2014. Rothstein writes that the team could potentially turn to a 3-4 after Suh left for the Dolphins, but added that it's too early to tell. Rothstein writes that depending on who the Lions can get in free agency may dictate how they line up next season. UPDATE: Paea is close to signing with the Washington Redskins.
The Detroit Lions decided not to use the franchise tag on Ndamukong Suh and that allowed him to head into free agency and now he is the highest paid defensive player in football. Suh would have been a $25 million cap hit had the team used the tag on him. According to ESPN.com, the Dolphins signed Suh to a deal worth $114 million over four years and he will have over $60 million in guaranteed money.
Suh was one of the top players on the free agent market this year and he was one of the most important players to the success of the Lions. Suh is an All-Pro talent and he was looking for JJ Watt money and he got it, as he bested his deal of $100 million with at least $50 million in guaranteed money. Adam Schefter at ESPN.com reported that Suh was looking to be the highest paid defensive played in football and that priced him out of Detroit with their cap situation. The team made a strong offer to Suh with at least $58 million guaranteed, but he opted to sign with the Dolphins.
