Lions hope to re-sign their free agents

President Tom Lewand sounded an optimistic tone during Super Bowl week when discussing the re-signing of the team's vital free agents - defensive end Cliff Avril, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, cornerback Eric Wright and left tackle Jeff Backus.

He was equally upbeat about the chance of working out an extension for wide receiver Calvin Johnson, whose rookie contract expires after the 2012 season.

But he also offered this cautionary note: "There are only so many eggs in the basket."

In other words, not every free agent is going to get what he's looking for, so most likely not every free agent will be re-signed unless some agree to take less than they might get elsewhere. That's the nature of the business in a salary-cap world.

"All (talks) are at different stages and they all move at a different pace," Lewand said. "We have had discussions with Calvin. The challenges going forward are different than they were in the past. We want to keep the nucleus of the players we have together for as long as we can.

"But I will take the problems of trying to keep good players over the problems of trying to find good players."

The one question general manager Martin Mayhew has to answer is, which of the players can be reasonably expect to replace and which can't be replaced.

Avril, given the importance of pass rushing defensive lineman in the Lions' scheme, cannot be replaced. Willie Young and Lawrence Jackson are certainly capable defensive ends, but Avril is on the brink of stardom.

Tulloch cannot be replaced. Sure, they could move DeAndre Levy back to the middle, but then they are back where they were in 2010 - weaker in the middle and on the outside.

Backus cannot be replaced, at least not yet. The Lions' developmental left tackle - Jason Fox -- hasn't been able to develop because of injuries. It would probably cost the Lions as much to bring in another free-agent left tackle as it would cost to keep Backus for another year or two (or three).

Wright can probably be replaced. He had a bounce-back year, but it appeared he was more productive working in the slot than he was on the corner. The Lions have a couple of young corners - Aaron Berry and Alphonso Smith - who, despite some inconsistency, have shown they are capable of playing right cornerback.

If Wright is expected a huge pay day, he may have to find it elsewhere.

"Generally speaking, if we want to get a deal done and a player wants to get a deal done with us, it usually gets done," Lewand said. "Calvin, Cliff, Jeff and the others have said publicly they want to be here. They like where we're going. We've said we want them here and we are going to work as hard as we can to get deals done for all of them and fit them in the budget that all 32 teams face when it comes to the salary cap."

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