NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Devonta Freeman

3. Detroit Lions

One issue that ended up taking place and arising for the Detroit Lions during the 2019 season was their lack of depth at the running back position.

When starting running back Kerryon Johnson went down during the year with an injury that resulted in the young running back missing half of the regular season schedule, Detroit’s lack of backups to come in behind him set the Lions back until Johnson was ultimately able to return to the field.

Over the 16-game regular-season slate, Detroit managed to average 103.1 yards per game in the running game, with Johnson finishing with a total of 403 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to pace the Lions.

That fact alone and strictly for the reason of trying to add depth within the running back group could be a reason why Detroit reaches out to Devonta Freeman to try and bring in the running back to join Matthew Stafford, Johnson and company on the offensive side of the ball in Detroit.

Freeman also displays the ability to be an option as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, which would offer Stafford and the Lions with a running back that could impact the game in multiple ways, something that Johnson hasn’t really shown the ability to do in his young career to this point.

Johnson could serve more as a primary back for Detroit, while Freeman would serve as more of a third-down back that could be used as a passing threat. Another thing that could be appealing to Freeman is the fact that the Lions play in a dome, which is similar to what he has been used to in Atlanta during this NFL career thus far.