NFL free agency officially opens next week with the start of the new league year.
While we here at The Detroit News are going position-by-position to find free-agent solutions for the Detroit Lions, there’s also another avenue we wanted to explore for potential fits: connections to new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. It’s not a given Petzing will bring any of his former pupils to Detroit, but familiarity goes a long way when making free-agent investments.
Join us as we dig through the Arizona Cardinals’ recent free-agent classes to find players who are set to be free agents and could be interested in rejoining their old OC in his new endeavor.
More free agent previews: Quarterback, running back, wide receiver
Jonah Williams, RT, 28 years old
Petzing connection: Overlapped for two seasons in Arizona (2024, 2025), where Petzing was Williams’ offensive coordinator
Projected NFL starter? Yes.
Projected market value (per Spotrac.com): $10.3 million
Williams had his last two seasons cut short by injury and likely is looking for someone to give him a starting job. Perhaps his durability issues interfere with those goals, and a team like Detroit could bring him in as a high-level backup for offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who’s set to return for an 11th season after battling significant shoulder issues a year ago. However, we don’t anticipate a backup opportunity will entice a player like Williams.
David Njoku, TE, 29
Petzing connection: Overlapped for three seasons in Cleveland, including two as tight ends coach (2021, 2022).
Projected NFL starter? Yes.
Projected market value: $10 million
Njoku is coming off his least productive season as he looks to test free agency before Year 10. His 293 receiving yards over 12 appearances in 2025 might make a team think twice about handing him the coin that Spotrac is projecting. But he’s also not far removed from his most productive season — he caught 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns in a Pro Bowl 2023 season — so he’ll probably be outside of Detroit’s price range whether his next contract reaches $10 million or not.
Kelvin Beachum, LT, 36
Petzing connection: Overlapped for three seasons in Arizona (2023-25)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.9 million
Beachum was thrust into action as Williams’ backup over the last two seasons, making 23 starts for the Cardinals in that span. He’s not the player he once was — he was dinged for a career-high 48 pressures allowed with five sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus — and at age 36, there’s plenty of reason to wonder whether he’ll even be playing football next fall. But if he does come back for a 15th season, he might still hold value as a depth piece.
Greg Dortch, WR, 27
Petzing connection: Overlapped for three seasons in Arizona (2023-25)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.6 million
The 5-foot-7, 180-pound Dortch is a gadget receiver who specializes in returns, which could make him a layup to serve as Kalif Raymond’s replacement, if Detroit decides to go in another direction there. Dortch averaged 267 receiving yards per year under Petzing, which was down from his career-best of 467 yards the year before Petzing arrived, so maybe he wouldn’t be thrilled about reuniting with his old boss. But he’s also coming off his best year as a returner, setting career highs for average in both punt returns (11.6 yards) and kick returns (26.2), which has nothing to do with Petzing, but certainly illustrates his potential value.
Michael Carter, RB, 26
Petzing connection: Overlapped for two seasons in Arizona (2024, 2025)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $3.1 million
Carter hasn’t been able to find a consistent role since starting 21 games for the New York Jets in his first two seasons. Despite playing in an Arizona backfield that was decimated by injuries last season, he averaged just 25.6 yards per game over 13 appearances (333 yards total). Still, it’s within the realm of possibility that Detroit takes a flier on him as it tries to figure out life without David Montgomery.
Will Hernandez, G, 30
Petzing connection: Overlapped for three seasons in Arizona (2023-25)
Projected NFL starter? Situation-dependent.
Projected market value: $2 million
Hernandez has ended each of his last two seasons on injured reserve, where he also began last season while recovering from a torn ACL. He didn’t have the best showings during his seven starts in 2025, and with only 12 games played in the last two seasons, might have to settle for a job where he has to compete for a starting gig. As of now, that opportunity exists in Detroit, which could have an open competition at both guard spots if the Lions move Tate Ratledge to center.
Zay Jones, WR, 30
Petzing connection: Overlapped for two seasons in Arizona (2024, 2025)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.3 million
Jones’ production peaked with an 823-yard season for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 and has steadily been on the decline since, culminating with him catching just 20 passes for 267 yards over his last 19 appearances — his only two seasons under Petzing. There’s a fairly decent chance the two parties have no interest in reuniting.
Trystan Colon, IOL, 27
Petzing connection: Overlapped for two seasons in Arizona (2023, 2024)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.6 million
Colon has a connection to Petzing and the Lions. The latter probably hurts more than it helps. He was a shell of himself in four starts last season, to the point the Lions were willing to give rookie Miles Frazier, who didn’t partake in his first real NFL practice until November, snaps in games of critical importance. Still, he could hold value as a reserve if the Lions want to bet on a rebound with a one-year prove-it deal.
Marquise Brown, WR, 28
Petzing connection: Overlapped for one season in Arizona (2023)
Projected NFL starter? Situation-dependent.
Projected market value: $5.5 million
After compiling a 1,000-yard season for the Ravens in 2021, Brown totaled 709 yards in 12 games for Arizona the next season. Upon Petzing’s arrival in 2023, his production decreased once again (51 catches, 574 yards, four touchdowns in 14 games) before he opted to seek greener pastures with the Kansas City Chiefs. After playing in just two games during the 2024 season, he hauled in 49 passes for 587 yards with five touchdowns this past year.
Austin Hooper, TE, 31
Petzing connection: Overlapped for two seasons in Cleveland (2020, 2021), with Petzing serving as Hooper’s position coach in both
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $2.4 million
Petzing said his use of three-tight end sets was mandated by Arizona’s personnel, rather than a philosophical choice. But the Lions only have two tight ends currently on the roster, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Detroit add someone who can push Brock Wright for TE2 from a pass-catching standpoint. Hooper, a former Pro Bowler, has averaged 366.2 receiving yards across four different teams over the last six seasons and has played at least 16 games in every season since 2021.
Pharaoh Brown, TE, 31
Petzing connection: Overlapped for 13 games in Cleveland (2022), when Petzing was the Browns’ tight ends coach; reunited for one season in Arizona (2025)
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.0 million
In eight NFL seasons, Brown has totaled just 752 receiving yards. But Petzing’s Cardinals brought him in last season after a three-year hiatus of the two working together, and we could certainly see him — like the other bottom-of-the-depth-chart tight end we’ll include here — getting added to the roster for training camp.
Harrison Bryant, TE (Houston Texans), 27
Petzing connection: Overlapped for three seasons in Cleveland, including two as tight ends coach (2021, 2022).
Projected NFL starter? No.
Projected market value: $1.5 million
Bryant was a minor pass-catching tight end in all three seasons he overlapped with Petzing in Cleveland (236.7 yards per season), but has failed to top 100 yards receiving in any of his last three seasons. Like Pharaoh Brown, Bryant is a candidate to help fill out the 90-man roster and compete for the job at TE3.
What’s the move?
All told, there are three former Petzing players we could envision having clear, defined roles at a reasonable price with the Lions next season: Dortch, Hernandez and Hooper. While we’re also intrigued by Williams, it seems like a long shot that he’ll settle for a backup role.
Dortch provides much of the on-field impact of Raymond while being significantly younger; Hernandez would carry immediate impact as a reserve with the potential to come in and take a starting job; and Hooper could add some pass-catching prowess to the tight end room. If Spotrac’s market value estimates are accurate, none of them should break the bank.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 12 possible Lions free-agent targets with connections to OC Drew Petzing
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
