Detroit Lions free agency predictions: Haloti Ngata
By Zac Snyder
Why he could be gone
While the Lions need to improve the defensive line overall, Ngata could find himself a victim of the numbers game, even if there is some mutual interest in a return.
The defensive tackle position could be improved, but the need is greater at defensive end (pending what happens with Ansah). Akeem Spence, A’Shawn Robinson and Jeremiah Ledbetter are all signed through at least 2019.
Robinson isn’t going anywhere as he’s developing nicely as a recent second-round draft pick and Ledbetter showed some potential in his rookie year despite coming in as a sixth-round draft pick. Bob Quinn signed Spence to a three-year deal as a free agent just last offseason.
If the Lions look to the draft for another interior defender, as many mock drafts are already expecting, the depth chart could be full without Ngata. Keeping extra bodies on the defensive line isn’t unusual but the Lions will have to decide if doing so for a player late in his career is the best move or if that roster spot is better utilized elsewhere.