Detroit Lions: Four free agents to replace Damon Harrison
By Bob Heyrman
DT Jordan Phillips
Last summer Phillips signed a one-year deal to remain with the Buffalo Bills but he’s expected to land elsewhere this spring. The Bills have a couple of talented interior linemen in Ed Oliver and Star Lotulelei.
Jordan Phillips would be a perfect replacement for Damon Harrison. He’s a six-foot-six, 340 pounder that has all the tools. Phillips was initially drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the 52nd pick in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.
The former Sooner will likely command more money than the previous two players mentioned unless a team pays a premium for Wolfe’s pass-rushing abilities. Phillips isn’t necessarily a pass-rushing lineman, but last season he recorded a career-high 10 sacks on the season. A perfect year to have a career-high. Before last season he only recorded 6.5 sacks over a five-year span.
Perhaps the inflated numbers come from playing as a member of a stellar defense. Buy or beware with Phillips because of that. The 10 sacks stand out for a player of his stature, but Pro Football Focus wasn’t kind to the big man.
He received a very underwhelming 53.6 overall grade, which is very disappointing. He did receive an average 66.0 mark defending the run, and in Matt Patricia’s defense, that’s the defensive tackle’s primary role.
Phillips created 25 quarterback hurries, 19 tackles, 20 stops, and 1 fumbled forced last season in his D-line rotational role in Buffalo. He’s a player to keep an eye on moving forward as the Detroit Lions won’t be just signing one lineman, they will need to sign multiple players, and Phillips might be one of them.