The Detroit Lions didn't make many big moves in the offseason. They knew that most of the big bucks had to be saved for their contract extensions, some of which still haven't gotten done, and the roster was mostly set anyway.
As such, most casual fans may not have given much thought to Roger McCreary's addition. He hasn't found his footing in the league yet, so his signing didn't make a lot of headlines. Nevertheless, it could be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason.
After a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions got the former Tennessee Titans draft pick for just $1.4 million. That's a bargain for a former second-round pick who still hasn't even reached his prime.
The Lions may have found a gem in Roger McCreary
One might not tell right away because of his somewhat underwhelming numbers, but McCreary might've just been a victim of the circumstances. He looked like a star in the making in Mike Vrabel's man-heavy schemes before switching to a zone-heavy approach with Brian Callahan.
Under Callahan, he was used almost exclusively in the slot, but he had plenty of experience in the boundaries in his earlier days in the league. Notably, that should come in handy for a Lions team with a big need for help outside.
While they signed him to play nickel, they might be better off moving rookie Keith Abney II, who's a bit of a tweener, to the slot. They can move McCreary to the outside and see how he fares opposite D.J. Reed, and getting a potential starting CB2 at less than $2 million a year would be an all-time bargain.
Even if that's not the case, McCreary showed signs of promise in his brief time in Los Angeles. An injury kept him off the field for most of the regular season, but he was out there during their playoff run and only gave up 28 yards in coverage in over 100 snaps.
McCreary is just 26 years old. Some players just need a change of scenery or favorable circumstances to finally break out, and we're talking about a guy who was a first-team All-American in college and entered the league as the No. 35 pick.
The context might force defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to get creative with McCreary, moving him all around the defensive backfield. Not many players are capable of doing so, and at just $1.4 million a year, he might be this team's most underrated addition.
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