Detroit Lions reloading, not rebuilding

Jim Schwartz told the media the Detroit Lions are not rebuilding. Let’s not get this confused with 2009, the Lions aren’t coming off an 0-16 season. How could you even consider rebuilding when stars like Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Ndamukong Suh are signed?

“I wouldn’t call it rebuilding,” Schwartz said Thursday. “There’s been a lot of other words used for it: ‘reloading,’ whatever you want to call it. But when you say ‘rebuilding,’ it sounds like you’re starting from the ground up.”

The Lions have the chance to add another piece to the puzzle as they hold the No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

“We’ve got some strengths on our team that we can build around,” Schwartz said. “It’s not so much a rebuild.”

The Lions aren’t missing the star players, they are missing the depth.

Several key backups are unrestricted free agents and if they plan on turning around a 4-12 season they must act fast and fill these needs.

RB Jerome Harrison UFA

RB Stefan Logan UFA

RB Kevin Smith UFA

FB Shaun Chapas UFA

WR Kassim Osgood UFA

TE Will Heller UFA

PK Jason Hanson UFA

P Nick Harris UFA

OT Gosder Cherilus UFA

OT Corey Hilliard UFA

C Dylan Gandy UFA

C Don Muhlbach UFA

DL Andre Fluellen UFA

DL Sammie Hill UFA

DL Lawrence Jackson UFA

DT Corey Williams UFA

DE Cliff Avril UFA

LB Justin Durant UFA

LB DeAndre Levy UFA

CB Drayton Florence UFA

CB Chris Houston UFA

CB Jacob Lacey UFA

CB Patrick Lee UFA

FS Louis Delmas UFA

Who should the Lions bring back or go after in free agency?