Detroit Lions free agency rumors: The latest on St. Brown, Jonah Jackson, and CB search
The NFL Combine is a showcase for draft prospects, but it’s also a week for teams to mingle and talk prospective free-agent moves. With the legal tampering period just a week away, general managers are scrambling to devise strategies, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler have the latest updates from Indianapolis.
ESPN’s report has three NFL free agency rumors about the Detroit Lions. Let’s look at each of them individually.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Contract Estimates
We already know, thanks to Dave Birkett, that the Lions and St. Brown’s agency planned to meet at the Combine to negotiate a possible contract. It’s a no-brainer to give St. Brown—who has been playing on a very cheap fourth-round rookie contract—a substantial raise. According to Graziano, the contract might be worth “in the range of $26-28 million per year.”
Given that Tyreek Hill already earns $30 million a year and Justin Jefferson is expected to earn more, this appears to be a reasonable price for St. Brown, who finished 2023 third in receiving yards, tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns, and tied for second in receptions.
Jonah Jackson could be paid.
Jonah Jackson, a free agent guard, has kept his plans confidential. There were reports last year that the Lions and Jackson were not close to reaching an agreement, and with his contract scheduled to expire on March 13, it appears that the Lions’ starting left guard may hit the open market.
According to Fowler, the guard market is expected to skyrocket this offseason, with Jackson potentially cashing in on free agency.
“So many teams need them and have targeted the position, and Detroit’s Jonah Jackson, Miami’s Robert Hunt, New England’s Mike Onwenu, and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kevin Dotson are among the top options,” Fowler said in a statement. “Don’t be surprised if some or all from this group command $16 million or more.”
The Lions are currently paying a $19.1 million cap charge for Taylor Decker, $12.8 million for Frank Ragnow, and $7.7 million for Penei Sewell. And, with Sewell’s big payoff on the horizon, Jackson may be priced out of the Detroit market. However, the Lions have a healthy cap situation, so it’s probable they’ll continue to invest in the offensive line.
The Lions will be aggressive in chasing a cornerback… maybe L’Jarius Sneed.
We know the Kansas City Chiefs are considering a “tag and trade” scenario for Sneed, which would cost teams not just important draft capital but also a significant percentage of their salary cap for an extension. Given the Lions’ generally conservative approach to free agency, it appears that Sneed would be priced out. However, Fowler feels the Lions could be interested, considering their great demand for a cornerback.
“We know the Chiefs are working on a potential tag-and-trade with L’Jarius Sneed, and multiple teams are believed to be in the mix there,” Fowler stated in an email. “The word out of Indianapolis is that Detroit is pretty keen on signing a high-end cornerback, so the Lions are worth watching. Miami is also worth paying attention to.
Fowler also names Marshon Lattimore and Carlton Davis III as cornerbacks who could be traded.
