Dave Birkett discusses the Detroit Lions' decision to use a franchise tag on Ziggy Ansah. Dave Birkett/Detroit Free Press
Despite suggestions from general manager Bob Quinn that they would turn to internal options to fill their needs in the secondary, the Detroit Lions are among the teams interested in signing recently released cornerback Richard Sherman, ESPN reported Saturday.
Sherman, who's representing himself in free agency, told the network he has received preliminary interest from the Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.
A California native who went to school at Stanford, Sherman is reportedly visiting the 49ers on Saturday, and they are the favorite to sign him.
Sherman has a visit scheduled next week with the Lions, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Saturday afternoon.
ESPN's Josina Anderson reported Saturday afternoon no date for a meeting was scheduled, according to Sherman.
Sherman, part of the Seahawks' iconic Legion of Boom secondary, was released Friday after seven seasons in Seattle.
He was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for much of his time in Seattle, but now a few weeks shy of his 30th birthday is trying to return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Lions' secondary is in a state of transition with Darius Slay coming off a Pro Bowl season but Nevin Lawson and DJ Hayden scheduled to become free agents next week.
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Quinn said at the NFL combine last week that "there’s probably a pretty good chance (the replacements for Lawson and Hayden) are internal."
The Lions took two cornerbacks in the first five rounds of last year's draft, Teez Tabor and Jamal Agnew, who played sparingly as rookies but are expected to have bigger roles this fall.
Tabor could compete for the starting job opposite of Slay, depending on what the Lions do in free agency at the position, while Agnew will vie for time in nickel packages.
Veteran Quandre Diggs also returns for the Lions, but he split his time between slot cornerback and safety last season and it's unclear what position he'll play for the Lions this fall.
The Lions will enter free agency with about $27 million in cap room and could pursue one of the top players at the position, the New England Patriots' Malcolm Butler, if they choose.
New Lions coach Matt Patricia said last week that he has an "extremely strong" relationship with Butler, who he coached for four seasons in New England.
A quick breakdown of 10 starter-level free agents who may interest the Detroit Lions when the new NFL league year begins March 14. Video by Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press Wochit
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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