NFL free agency: One player each team should sign in 2019

Detroit Lions: DE Trey Flowers

This year, the Detroit Lions franchise-tagged Ezekiel Ansah, but he’s been limited to three games because of a shoulder issue.

Despite logging only two sacks, Ansah may still demand a premium salary. The team’s threshold for payment may not match his price tag in the offseason. Even if it does, head coach Matt Patricia could still use another pass-rushing end on the opposite side.

Speaking of Patricia, he should consider reuniting with defensive end Trey Flowers. As the New England Patriots defensive coordinator, the Lions head coach helped the 25-year-old record 13 sacks between the 2016-17 terms. This year, the fourth-year man out of Arkansas isn’t showing his best as a pass-rusher with 2.5 sacks through nine games.

Flowers offers some versatility as a run-stopper who can also move inside in the nickel formation. He’s recorded 87 solo tackles since the 2016 term. The Lions rank 30th against the run. Nose tackle Damon Harrison needs some help in the trenches.

Familiarity with Flowers should allow Patricia to optimize his talent as he did in New England. Secondly, the head coach can point to someone who probably buys into his method of coaching.

With early rumblings from team veterans that have dissipated since winning a few games, it’s an added plus. Lastly, the Patriots defensive end would bring a championship pedigree to the locker room. Flowers possesses the skill set and mentality needed in Detroit as Patricia shapes the roster in his vision.