UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (20)
Anquan Boldin
Position: Wide receiver
2016 stats: 67 catches, 584 yards, eight touchdowns
Twentyman: Boldin just might have been GM Bob Quinn’s best free-agent signing this offseason. He joined the Lions on the eve of training camp, and became a security blanket for Matthew Stafford over the middle of the field. He led the team with 23 third-down receptions. He’ll turn 37 next October.
Riley Reiff
Position: Tackle
2016 stats: 14 games, four sacks allowed, three penalties
Twentyman: Reiff made the switch from left tackle to right tackle pretty seamlessly, and was solid all year. A five-year starter, Reiff is likely to garner some interest around the league.
Larry Warford
Position: Guard
2016 stats: 15 games, three sacks allowed, two penalties
Twentyman: Warford has started every game he’s played in since 2013, when he was selected by Detroit in the third round. Warford said after the season he expected to test the free-agent market. Graham Glasgow, Laken Tomlinson and Joe Dahl are all under contract for next season, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Warford in Detroit.
Stefan Charles
Position: Defensive tackle
2016 stats: 12 tackles, one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss
Twentyman: Charles was a rotational defensive tackle, and played in 12 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Dallas Week 16. He’s big and physical, and was good against the run, especially during the Lions' midseason winning streak.
Tyrunn Walker
Position: Defensive tackle
2016 stats: 26 tackles, two quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery
Twentyman: Coming off a broken leg in 2015, Walker didn’t have the impact from a statistical standpoint some thought he would as a starter in a contract year. He lost his starting spot to rookie A’Shawn Robinson midseason. He was a rotational defensive tackle the second half of the year.
Andre Roberts
Position: Wide receiver
2016 stats: 14 receptions, 188 yards, one touchdown
20 punt returns, 246 yards, two touchdowns
33 kickoff returns, 747 yards
Twentyman: Roberts’ 12.3 average per punt return ranked second in the NFL behind only Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill (15.2). His two punt-return touchdowns were tied for the league lead. He played in 24 percent of Detroit's offensive snaps this season, primarily as the No. 4 receiver, but made the most of his opportunities. A number of those 14 receptions were late in games in crucial moments.
Devin Taylor
Position: Defensive end
2016 stats: 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, one safety, one forced fumble
Twentyman: Entering a contract year, I thought Taylor would have more of an impact. His sacks dipped from seven a year ago to 4.5 this year. The Lions finished 30th in the NFL with just 26 sacks total as a team.
Rafael Bush
Position: Safety
2016 stats: 53 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one touchdown, three passes defended, one quarterback hit, two tackles for loss
Twentyman: Bush made the game-saving interception in the final moments in the victory over Los Angeles Week 6. He also made a huge interception in the Jacksonville game that he returned for a touchdown in that victory. Bush became a big part of Detroit’s three-safety package utilized by defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Josh Bynes
Position: Linebacker
2016 stats: 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, four passes defended
Twentyman: Bynes was re-signed in October when the team traded Kyle Van Noy to the Patriots. He immediately stepped into the starting lineup and provided some stability at the position.
Dan Orlovsky
Position: Quarterback
2016 stats: Did not play
Twentyman: Orlovsky was Matthew Stafford’s backup for all of 2016. It will be interesting to see where Orlovsky fits into Lions plans with Jake Rudock already under contract.
Don Muhlbach
Position: Long snapper
2016 stats: The Lions made 31 field goals and registered a net punting average of 44.1
Twentyman: Death, taxes and Don Muhlbach. He was a key component in Detroit’s special teams trio that was one of the best in the league. If he returns for a 14th season, he’ll likely have to battle Jimmy Landes, who the team drafted in the six round last season, for the job. Landes missed the 2016 season with a shoulder injury.
Jon Bostic
Position: Linebacker
2016 stats: Did not play
Twentyman: The Lions traded for Bostic in the offseason, but a foot injury during training camp landed him on IR. He was never able to return.
Clay Harbor
Position: Tight end
2016 stats: Three catches, 19 yards
Twentyman: Harbor is a versatile guy that can play a few different roles. This was actually the first season in his seven-year career he didn’t record at least one touchdown.
Matthew Mulligan
Position: Tight end
2016 stats: One reception, eight yards
Twentyman: Mulligan was a blocking force on the edge for the Lions. The journeyman tight end knows his role, and plays it well.
Tim Wright
Position: Tight end
2016 stats: Did not play
Twentyman: Wright was placed on season-ending IR back in May with a torn ACL. When healthy, Wright provides a nice receiving option at the position. He's recorded 13 touchdown catches in his first three years in the league from 2013-15.
Joique Bell
Position: Running back
2016 stats (also w/ Chicago): Three carries, six yards; one catch, minus-two yards
Twentyman: Bell was brought back late in the season after Theo Riddick injured his wrist. He played some special teams and limited snaps on offense.
Asa Jackson
Position: Cornerback
2016 stats: Seven tackles, 1 pass defended
Twentyman: Jackson became Detroit’s starting nickel cornerback after Quandre Diggs was lost to a pectoral injury. He played in four games (two starts) before he too was placed on season-ending IR with an ankle injury.
Crezdon Butler
Position: Cornerback
2016 stats: Two tackles
Twentyman: Butler was signed late in the year after injuries hit the corner position. He totaled two tackles in the Green Bay game Week 17 playing in the slot.
Armonty Bryant
Position: Defensive end
2016 stats: Five tackles, three sacks, three quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble
Twentyman: Bryant was picked up off waivers and became an immediate spark plug for Detroit’s defense. He recorded sacks in three of his first four games. He was suspended three games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and eventually ended up on IR with a knee injury. He made the most of his opportunities in those five games with the Lions.
Garrett Reynolds
Position: Tackle
2016 stats: Did not play
Twentyman: Reynolds was signed late in the year after Corey Robinson was placed on IR, and Reiff's availability for the playoff game in Seattle was in doubt. The veteran played two snaps on special teams.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (2)
Cornelius Lucas
Position: Tackle
2016 stats: Five games, one sack allowed, no penalties
Twentyman: Lucas stepped in and played pretty well in Detroit’s playoff loss in Seattle. Lucas is still a developing player with terrific size at 6-foot-9, 330 pounds, even though he has 36 games under his belt. He entered the year as the fourth tackle on the roster behind Taylor Decker, Reiff and Robinson.
Khyri Thornton
Position: Defensive tackle
2016 stats: 18 tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble
Twentyman: Thornton is a big, powerful man, who is very hard to move and manipulate in the middle of the defense. He’s still a developing player, having only played 19 career games between this year and last year.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (3)
Kerry Hyder
Position: Defensive end
2016 stats: 36 tackles, eight sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended
Twentyman: A practice squad player last season, Hyder was one of the feel-good stories for the Lions this season. He led the team in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits. He should only get better the more experience he gets.
Brandon Copeland
Position: Defensive end
2016 stats: 16 tackles, 0.5 sack, one quarterback hit, one forced fumble
Twentyman: Copeland has shown he can play end, linebacker and all four phases on special teams. He’s been a solid contributor playing in all 33 games, including the playoffs, for the Lions the last two seasons.
TJ Jones
Position: Receiver
2016 stats: Five catches, 93 yards
Twentyman: Jones was a member of the practice squad most of the year until he was activated for Detroit’s last six games. He made a few nice catches when given the opportunity, and he can also return kicks.