5. Kerry Hyder
Re-signing Kerry Hyder is a no-brainer for the Lions. He had an impressive 2016 season, leading the team with eight sacks. Hyder showed that he has great potential as a pass rusher, and is versatile because he can play both the tackle and end position. Hyder is only 25 years old, so his ceiling is still high.
According to Pride of Detroit, Hyder is an exclusive-rights free agent. This means that Hyder “can be offered a qualifying contract, which gives the team sole rights to the player. If the player signs, he no longer a free agent. If he declines the offer, he must sit out the entire season.” Based on this information, there is no reason to think Hyder will not be on the Lions in 2017.
