Cornerback

I put corner at priority number 2 and 3. Yes, I do believe that LB is a more integral part of the game, but a third LB can be hidden more than a second CB. You see several times in a pass happy league a CB get picked on. You cannot hide two LBs though, like we tried to for most of the year.

I think we have all heard enough about Nnamdi. For good reasons as he is willing to switch teams and can. Nnamdi probably is worth the money.

The free agents that are number one type backs are probably going to get resigned minus Nnamdi. Just too name them, Jonathon Josepth, Brandon Carr, Brent Grimes, Chris Carr, Josh Wilson, and Ike Taylor. I'm not sure that all these guys are number one type guys, but they are better then Houston.

Houston is someone who has to get resigned. I am still a firm believer in team chemistry. Not that I ever liked chemistry. If he did resgin, he will probably be our number one CB.

There is any intriguing CB in Carolina. It seems like they have an abundant of top tier free agents on a bad team. I don't know how many of them will want to resign. Richard Marshall has a little beef with the organization and might want out. He asked for a long term contract and didn't get it. He didn't have a very good year. Lets face it, CBs lose one step is a big deal in this league. If he has lost which he probably hasn't then he isn't worth the money he is going to get. It really going to matter how these free agents look at the Lions as far as talent. Will people say that the Lions D line will help me look good and get a big contract down the road? It could possibly be, yeah they are close but not over the hump. They are not that elite team even when they do get over the hump possibly.

A couple of interesting guys that can play, but sometimes just aren't quite there are Kelly Jennings and Eric Wright. They are almost Alphonso Smith on a higher level. It is tough to say that they won't resign.

Here are my top targets from greatest to least.

Nnamdi - I don't think you pull a Snyder (Redskin's owner and overpay)

Chris Houston - There is something to be said about chemistry

Kendric Burney - For the price and the talent, it just makes sense

Antonio Cromartie - He is a good player, but he has enjoyed the Rex Ryan like team he will want to stay

Josh Wilson - The Ravens have two CBs on the market which always makes things more difficult, especially when they are the top guys on the market

Richard Marshall - 26 years old could be solid someday

Fabian Washington - A third CB from the Ravens

Eric Wright - Very physical guy which we could use

Kelly Jennings - Would be a good pickup

Three CBs kind of the number we need to sign. Here is a more realistic list of the 3.

Chris Houston

Fabian Washington

Kendric Burnery

Fabian Washington doesn't sign with the Lions it could be a long ways down that free agents list. When I say a long ways down that list I mean Tye Hill could be that second signing. There are a lot of number two guys out there. Lets hope we get a couple of them.

Linebacker

I put linebacker at 1 and 4 on the needs list. I figure we will talk about both right now. The reason I put one LB ahead of the CBs because it is not as important as a position. The only reason I was tempted to put a CB at one is because we do a have a middle linebacker. Lets start at OLB.

Thomas Howard from Oakland seems to be the most realistic fit at OLB. The Raiders has a good LB corps and he is one the outside looking in there. Don't get me wrong. He is a good LB.

Manny Lawson is someone we have talked about before. He will probably want out of San Fran and into a 4-3. Probably the top OLB entering free agency and still appears to be.

It is tough to say which other OLB won't be back with their 2010 team.

Now onto MLB.

We know Tulloch and we have talked about Poluszny. So, am not going to go there.

Barrett Ruud seems like an extremely attractive and realistic. He is coming off a bad year and I don't think Tampa wants him back. He is 28 and still has sometime left in this league if he doesn't have another bad year.

It seems like the other top guys in this free agency class are older gap filler guys. Guys like Takeo Spikes and Dhani Jones.

On the other end of the spectrum there are rookie MLBs that could be good, but they weren't drafted for a reason. Just to name a few Mark Herzlich, Scott Lutrus, and Central Michigan's Nick Bellore.

I think it is tough to say that you could put any of these rookies in a starting MLB start at year one. You could maybe put them behind an older guy or Levy. I think that is the big question. Would you sign an older guy and just move Levy over now sign if you sign a Herzlich because you expect him to start next year but not this year? Or do you let a Herzlich sit behind a Levy and see what the situation is next year.

Lastly I do think you take a small chance on Vernon Gholston. It really matters how much he wants and for how many years.

If it ends up being Barrett Ruud and Thomas Howard, that wouldn't be a terrible thing. Levy would move to the outside I believe. Yeah, Tulloch and Manny Lawson would be ideal, but they really do have several choices open to them. I hope Schwartz pulls another KVB with Tulloch, but we will see.

Needs

I am going to go through every position and decide what our major needed areas are and then my other posts will focus in on that position. Yes, I do realize that our major areas are obvious. A post might be about one player. I do not think we need anymore information about Nnamdi. There are plenty of posts  about Nnamdi and his possibility with Detroit. I don't think we need to really dive in to deep there.

Quarterback
Need a third string qb not a major needed area.

Running Back
We need to decide who to cut not who to sign.

Wide Receiver
Same as RB.

Tight End
Nothing needs to be done.

Offensive Tackle
Backus is good and hopefully Cherilus will come around.

Offensive Guard
Sims is good and Peterman isn't. I think one guard is a needed area, but not the highest priority. We will decide how high this is when we have went through everyting.

Center
Raiola whether you like it or not.

Defensive End
I think we need one. I am going to leave this off the needed area for Avril reasons.

Defensive Tackle
Gosh I hope not.

Middle Linebacker/Outside Linebacker
I want to combine these two because Levy can play either position. Also, he is are only linebacker that should be seen in a defensive formation in this league on that roster. Put us down for two on that major needed area.

Cornerback
Two please

Safety
We need a free safety and I will delve into the roles each player will be playing now that more information has been made available.

Kicker
Come on Jason.

Punter
None for me, thank you though.

One guard
Two linebackers
Two corners
One safety

I would list them from highest priority to least

LB
CB
CB
LB
S
G

I would leave guard off the needed area list, but I will still address it.