Now that we’re officially in offseason mode Da’Shawn Hand Jersey , it’s time for us all to play armchair general manager for the Detroit Lions over the next four months. While I know we’re all excited about the Lions’ Super Bowl 2019 NFL Draft, first up is free agency. Last month, our own Andrew Kato identified one of the Lions’ biggest needs, an offensive guard that could bring the heart of the running game back. Though T.J. Lang said this week that he’d love to come back next year, he also admitted he needs some time to contemplatehis football future. And even if he does decide to play in 2019, the Lions may not want to keep him at his hefty $11.7 million cap hit, especially with his lengthy injury history.Both Kent Lee Platte and Alex Reno have identified some potential guard replacements in the upcoming draft, but Detroit would be wise to at least scour the free agent list to see if the Lions can add some more proven talent—something general manager Bob Quinn has not shied away from in his short time with the Lions.Here are five free agent candidates that could fill in for Lang next season.Mike Iupati2018 PFF Grade: 62.9 (32nd)—70.1 run blocking (5th), 47.5 pass block (75th)Iupati is easily the most recognizable name in the 2019 free agency class of guards. But the five-time Pro Bowler comes with a lot of risks. First of all, Iupati will be 32 by the start of next year’s season, so if you’re looking for a better long-term solution, Iupati may not be any better than Lang.Additionally Tracy Walker Jersey , Iupati shares some of the same kind of injury concerns. He’s played in just 11 games over the past two seasons, missing almost all of 2016 with a torn tricep. He suffered an MCL injury in November, ending his season a month early this season. Iupati is not technically a free agent yet, but the final year of his contract is completely voidable, meaning he could hit the free agent market if the Cardinals think he’s too much of an injury risk for the $3.7 million cap hit.Rodger Saffold2018 PFF Grade: 73.5 (8th)—72.8 run blocking (3rd), 71.2 pass block (32nd)In a lot of way, Saffold is much like Iupati. He’s a well-renowned blocker—especially in the running game—but his age is starting to catch up with him. Safford was named second-team All Pro in 2017, and over his nine years with the Rams, he’s played both guard spots and even started out as a left tackle. That sort of versatility is obviously very valuable to any team, but is especially important for a team like the Lions that seems to hold that skillset in high order. Safforld is coming off an very solid season, but he will be 31 next year. He’s likely the best free agent option available, which means he’ll also come with a hefty price tag. The Rams have shown they have no problem shelling out a lot of cash for free agents. We’ll see if he ends up hitting the market. D.J. Fluker2018 PFF Grade: 50.9 (66th)—51.2 run blocking (51st) Kerryon Johnson Jersey , 75.1 pass block (25th)Fluker is one of the younger options on the market, but he comes from a Seahawks team not exactly known for its offensive line acumen. If the Lions are looking for someone a little more able to protect Matthew Stafford, Fluker may be their guy. That’s odd, considering Fluker has a reputation as a mauler in running game, but the PFF grades say it all. Fluker is a popular character in the locker room and a potential leader, but the former 2013 first-round draft pick has not played consistently enough to earn more than a one-year deal over the past two years. Quinton Spain2018 PFF Grade: 61.8 (39th)—56.7 run blocking (37th), 75.6 pass block (23rd)Another younger option (27), Spain’s career has already seen some ups and downs. As an undrafted rookie in 2015, Spain wasted no time in earning starter status with the Tennessee Titans. 11 games into his rookie year, Spain took over as a starting lineman. Since then, Spain has missed just six starts in the following three seasons. However, this season was a struggle for Spain and it resulted in him getting benched in at halftime of his Week 13 game against the Jets. This was his worst year as a Titan Frank Ragnow Jersey , but he entered the year heralded as one of the Titans’ best discoveries:A.J. Cann2018 PFF Grade: 61.0 (43rd)—57.7 run blocking (32nd), 61.4 pass block (50th)Cann, a 2015 third-round pick for the Jaguars, has essentially been a starter for the Jaguars since entering the league. He’s only missed five starts in his four-year career, but the level of his success has been tepid. Big Cat Country has a very good review of Cann’s play entering the 2018 season, calling his performance “inconsistent” but hopeful that some new tweaks to his technique would improve his game this season. It didn’t exactly work out that way, but most of his issues seem coachable. And his athleticism is hard to pass up:If this list seems underwhelming, that’s because it is. If the Lions decide to go the free agency route at guard, they’re either going to have to pay heavily for an aged offensive lineman, or take a risk on an inconsistent younger player, hoping they can coach them up. It’s not an ideal situation for the Lions, but starting-level offensive linemen are coveted in this league Marvin Jones Jersey , and the good ones rarely hit free agency. You’d think after watching the NFL for decades now, you’d get used to seeing a letdown performance. “Any Given Sunday” is a popular slogan of the league for a reason. You constantly have to prove your worth every week of the season, and one down day can ruin the progress you’ve made in past weeks.But as the Lions entered Week 8 on a two-game winning streak, it’s hard not to feel at least a little devastated from their performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle dominated Detroit in all three phases of the game, and just when it seemed like the Lions may work their way back into the game, Bad Stafford showed up and ruined everything. It’s just one week, and based on how this season has gone so far, we may see the Lions come out and dominate the Vikings next week, but, for now, today’s Question of the Day is:Do you feel better, worse or the same after the Lions’ loss to the Seahawks?My answer: A little worse. If there’s anything I’ve learned from this season—and something we really should’ve known anyway—it’s to not overreact to one week. Admittedly Darius Slay Jersey , this game felt like a litmus test, and it was one the Lions thoroughly failed. But it was one performance, and the team’s identity is not defined by a single game.Are there some consistent issues to this team? Absolutely. The defense is still very bad and has been in almost every game this season. Detroit’s pass defense is statistically one of the worst in the league, and there doesn’t appear to be any relief on the way... unless you’re hoping Ziggy walks through that door and immediately returns to his 2015 self. There is still reason for optimism the run defense improves, as “Snacks” already looks like the real deal. As soon as he’s ready for full-time snaps, Detroit should see at least minor improvement.And while the Lions schedule looks absolutely daunting, we’ve seen them pull off some surprising upsets, and they’re just a game out of first place in the division. Unfortunately, with some of the teams they’ve lost to, I believe winning the NFC North is their only realistic path to the postseason, but I’m not counting that out yet.Your turn.