Detroit Lions news and rumors: A big free agent target?, Emmanuel Moseley contract details, Craig Reynolds back

Monday marks the beginning of the NFL free agency fervor, and the “legal tampering period” is expected to produce a flurry of transaction reports. So as he examines some Detroit Lions news and speculations, consider this the quiet before the storm.

After the Chiefs signed Chris  Jonesand the Ravens signed Justin Madubuike, Christian Wilkins, the top free agent defensive tackle, was sort of linked to the Lions by ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

“Christian Wilkins of Miami is expected to be a hot name after Chris Jones signed a big deal on Saturday night, with contending teams like the Texans and Lions looking to upgrade at that position,”

Wilkins makes sense for the Lions overall. However, his cost is

Moseley got the kind of deal you’d expect coming off back-to-back seasons having suffered a torn ACL (once to each knee). It’s low-risk, medium-to-high reward if he can be healthy.

Bo Scarborough, who had a memorable run for the Lions late in the second half of 2019 season (301 yards over a four-game stretch) and stuck with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL over the last two seasons, has announced his retirement from football.

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Since he was injured in early October, Moseley should be ready to play sometime early next season. He is unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp though, and overall based on last year’s experience he will not be rushed into anything.

Toward the end of last season, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News caught up with Moseley. He was around the team, attending practices, sitting in on meetings and generally being a veteran presence with playoff experience.

“I’ve found joy in coming around, being around my teammates, seeing them excited, being excited about going to the playoffs,” Moseley said. “It’s the little things like that, that haven’t been done in a while. Just being around, making sure I’m helping out the guys out as much as I can with what I see on film. I’m sticking around to help them because that’s what guys did for me.”

Moseley was very good for the 49ers when healthy in 2021 and the early part of 2022. Health is of course the important caveat with him now, after tearing an ACL in back-to-back seasons. But the Lions are smart to give him another shot, with only upside and no realistic expectations he’ll be a starter on another one-year deal.