Rumor mill: Another Lion in the "Pac"?

Help may be on the way for what figures to be a sketchy secondary (detailed yesterday right here). According to an Associated Press story last week, the Lions are reportedly interested in Adam "Pacman" Jones. Nothing is imminent, as GM Martin Mayhew reiterated today, but there has definitely been contact. Jones says he is in talks with not just Detroit, but 3 other teams as well. Just to be clear: there has not even been a meeting between the two sides, only discussions. This is far from a done deal, and is probably unlikely. But since the stories out there, let's pretend, shall we? What would a Pacman signing mean for Detroit?

Look, I know the arguments for bringing him in. Two areas this team is most spotty at are cornerback and in the return game. Jones does both things. Or at least he did. He played no football at all last year, and has more arrests than career interceptions. The last time we saw the Pacman, he was in Dallas playing sub-par corner and averaging under 5 yards per punt return. And now he's had a year off. What exactly is he bringing to the table? He is saying all the right things, and assuming his legal issues are a thing of the past that's all well and good. That's not my issue. Can he still play the game? This is the question people should be asking. And I think Mayhew and Schwartz have asked it in their heads. The answer they came up with will be revealed when camp starts, and Jones is either wearing blue and silver or another color.

image credit: theredzonereport.com

Lions projected depth chart, Part 2 (defense)

Defensive End
Starters: Jason Hunter, Kyle Vanden Bosch
Bench: Cliff Avril, Jared DeVries

Defensive tackle
Starters: Ndamukong Suh, Sammie Hill
Bench: Corey Williams, Joe Cohen

Outside Linebacker
Starters: Landon Johnson, Julian Peterson
Bench: Zack Follett, Vinny Ciurciu

Middle Linebacker
Starter: DeAndre Levy
Bench: Jordan Dizon

Cornerback
Starters: Chris Houston, Amari Spievey
Depth: Eric King, Dante Wesley, Jonathan Wade

Free safety
Starter: Louis Delmas
Bench: Marquand Manuel

Strong safety
Starter: Ko Simpson
Bench: Marvin White

What should stand out at you here is the defensive line. Not only are the starters strong, but all of the reserves know how to play too. This should allow plenty of rotation keeping all bodies fresh and the rushes in the fourth quarter as strong as they are in the first.
What stands out at you should you be a pessimist is that secondary. The starters aren't great, and it only falls off from there. I wouldnt be surprised to see veterans like Manuel and Wesley cut in favor of younger talent with at least moderate upside (Jahi Word-Daniels and Daniel Bullocks stick out in my mind as possible young replacements. Throw them in and see what happens.) The Linebackers won't win you any games, but they do the job adequately enough. Levy, Dizon and Follett are all young guys who should improve over last year. I doubt Peterson makes it through the entire year as the starter. His prime was multiple seasons ago, and he just isn't the stud he used to be at the position.

Strength: D-Line
Weakness: Secondary
Overall outlook: Defense looks to once again be the downfall of a promising team. The line should be better, even above average, but I forsee teams getting whatever they want in the passing game off this weak secondary.