During his session at the podium at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, which made headlines for some other reasons, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes snuck in a nugget about free agency planning when talking about the Lions’ defensive line.
“I was looking at our game at Arizona in Week 3. We’re looking at a free agent on the offensive side of the ball”, Holmes said.
At first glance, the Cardinals really don’t have any greatly appealing free agents. But under “things that make you go ‘hmm'”, it’s worth a closer look to try to figure out who Holmes was talking about.
Here are three Cardinals’ offensive free agents Holmes may have on his radar.
3 Cardinals’ offensive free agents Lions GM Brad Holmes may have on the radar
3. WR Greg Dortch
Tim Patrick is a free agent, and Kalif Raymond could be a cap casualty. So the Lions could be in the market for a wide receiver, and in terms of free agent Cardinals receivers Holmes could have scouted on that Week 3 game film we are left with Dortch (Zay Jones did not play, and Zach Pascal played one offensive snap in the game).
Dortch has often been fairly productive when he has gotten noticeable opportunity in the Cardinals’ offense, it’s just that opportunity has been very fleeting for him over the last three seasons. For the Lions he’s an easy parallel to Raymond, as a smallish, return man, gadget-type receiver and he’d be cheaper.
Dortch is a restricted free agent, but the Cardinals may not be willing to tender him at the cost it will be (projected over $3.2 million). If he’s freely available, here’s a possible replacement for Raymond if cost concerns push “Leaf” out the door.
2. OG Will Hernandez
Hernandez would be a contingency option if the Lions lose Kevin Zeitler. He missed the final 12 games of last season due to a knee injury, but he had the highest grades of his career from Pro Football Focus both overall (69.3) and as a run blocker (66.0). In his first two seasons as a Cardinal, PFF graded him in the top-30 among guards.
Christian Mahogany would be a top candidate to start at right guard if Zeitler departs. But Hernandez would be a cheap veteran backup option as insurance if Mahogany is deemed to not be quite ready, and he has started at both guard spots in his career.
1. C/OG Evan Brown
Brown landed with the Lions in 2020, then spent the next two full seasons in Detroit. He most notably filled in at center when Frank Ragnow first suffered his turf toe injury in 2021, and did so very capably.
Brown signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 2023, starting 16 games for them at center that season. He started all 17 games for the Cardinals at left guard last season, with the 30th best overall grade at the position from PFF (and the 15th-best pass blocking grade at the position).
Brown is a familiar face, and he can play all three interior line positions. If things go a certain way in free agency, a return to the Lions could be in the cards.
Two offensive lineman, and an undersized gadget receiver who still lands as an interesting player. Told you the options weren’t all that exciting among Cardinals’ offensive players who are 2025 free agents. But Holmes did have easy access to a full game of tape to evaluate Arizona’s players from, so an otherwise innocuous sentence could wind up meaning a little something when free agency starts in a couple weeks.
