A free agent for the second straight year, Will Parks has received interest from multiple NFC North teams. The Lions are hosting the veteran safety on a visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The Vikings are believed to have submitted an offer to Parks recently, but he opted to keep looking for a fit. A former seventh-round pick, Parks has spent most of his career with the Broncos. Despite his draft status, the Arizona alum has received extensive playing time as a pro.
Denver used Parks as a regular rotational cog but let him defect to Philadelphia in free agency last year. A Philly native, Parks was unable to stick with the Eagles throughout last season. Injury issues intervened on his homecoming, and the Eagles waived him in December. The Broncos claimed Parks and reinstalled him as a rotational presence. The 26-year-old defender has displayed versatility, working also as a sub-package linebacker as a pro. Prior to last season, when he missed six games, the 2016 draftee had only missed two as a pro.
The Lions are in transition at a few positions. Safety may not be one of them, as the team has not addressed this position yet this offseason. Detroit dealt Quandre Diggs before the 2019 trade deadline and has used lower-profile players — whom the previous regime drafted — at the position. Duron Harmon‘s contract expired after the 2020 season, and Pro Football Focus assigned poor grades to Will Harris and Tracy Walker last season.
Parks just can’t seem to stick for some reason. He’s a solid player, but every year teams are interested without pulling the trigger on a long term deal. It reminds me a bit of Tre Boston’s perennial free agency as a safety a few years ago-solid, sparks interest, but never signs a long term deal. Maybe he ends up in Denver again, but at this point Parks should be going to a team with a chance to start.
Solid starters will usually only get a one year deal because teams are playin the pick game hoping the player shows well and signs elsewhere next year generating a pick. High end playmakers will get the multiyear deals if their is competition from other teams.
You’re right, but he’s had a few deals like this already. Just hard for middle of the pack safeties to stick long term unfortunately.