Author: Adam La Rose

Re-signings:

• Derrick Barnes, LB. Three years, $24MM ($16MM guaranteed)
• Levi Onwuzurike, DT. One year, $4MM ($3.5MM guaranteed)
• Marcus Davenport, DE. One year, $2.5MM ($1.65MM guaranteed)
• Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE. One year, $1.42MM ($918K guaranteed)
• Khalil Dorsey, CB. One year, $1.65MM ($300K guaranteed)
• Kayode Awosika, OL. One year, $1.4MM ($300K guaranteed)
• Pat O’Connor, DE. One year, $1.42MM ($100K guaranteed)
• Shane Zylstra, TE. One year, $1.1MM
• Craig Reynolds, RB. One year, $1.32MM
• Zeke Turner, LB. One year, $1.26MM
• Myles Adams, DT. Practice squad
• Michael Niese, OL. Practice squad
• Anthony Pittman, LB. Practice squad
• Dan Skipper, T. Practice squad

Malcolm Rodriguez’s ACL tear – suffered last Thanksgiving – will see him miss time at the start of the season. With the Lions shorthanded on the second level of their defense as a result, Barnes’ ongoing presence will be particularly critical. A clean bill of health for the former fourth-rounder is being counted on given Detroit’s investment.

Barnes became a full-time starter in 2023, logging over 700 defensive snaps. A similar workload was in store the following year until a knee injury limited him to just three games. With no postseason return being viable, Barnes’ free agent stock was in danger of taking a considerable hit. The choice to remain in Detroit will likely prove to be a sound one if he can avoid any further major ailments, though.

At the age of 26, Barnes should be able to maintain his previous level of play (which included 81 stops and five tackles for loss in 2023) over the course of his new deal. Provided that is the case, a strong trio alongside Rodriguez and Jack Campbell (who is also attached to his rookie contract) should be in store at the linebacker spot. For at least one more year, that unit will be cost-effective even with Barnes’ raise taken into account.

Back issues dating back to college were a talking point in Onwuzurike’s case, especially when he missed the entire 2022 season. The Washington product managed to remain available after that point, logging 16 appearances and 10 starts last season. With only 1.5 sacks but an impressive 22 QB pressures accumulated in 2024, a new (albeit short-term) pact made sense for the Lions to retain Onwuzurike.

Unfortunately, a summer ACL tear will keep the 27-year-old sidelined for the entire season. That will hinder his market next spring and keep the Lions shorthanded along the defensive interior. Alim McNeill is ahead of schedule in rehabbing his own ACL tear, but missed time during the fall is still in store. Especially with Onwuzurike out of the picture as well, the play of Detroit’s defensive front will be an area of concern early on.

A healthy season from Davenport would be welcomed as a result. The former first-rounder played only four games during his NFC North debut with the Vikings in 2023. That was followed up by a Lions season which ended after just 89 defensive snaps. As expected, another one-year deal was in store with a drop in pay accompanying it.

Davenport’s 2024 deal was for $6.5MM, but after spending much of last season on the sidelines he will see a notable drop in earning potential on his second Lions accord. A full campaign would still offer notable value to the team, though, as the 28-year-old could find himself as Detroit’s top complementary option to Aidan Hutchinson along the edge. A multiyear investment from the Lions next spring should be considered unlikely given their other financial priorities in the near future, but Davenport could play his way into one with a new suitor if he could avoid another major injury.

Notable losses:

• Mitchell Agude, LB (waived)
• Teddy Bridgewater, QB
• Carlton Davis, CB
• Jake Fromm, QB (waived)
• Antoine Green, WR (waived-injured)
• Hendon Hooker, QB (waived)
• Tom Kennedy, WR (released)
• Ifeatu Melifonwu, S
• Brodric Martin, DL (waived)
• Netane Muti, G (released)
• Morice Norris, S (waived)
• Kyle Peko, DT
• Frank Ragnow, C (retired)
• Stantley Thomas-Oliver, CB (released with injury designation)
• Kindle Vildor, CB
• Jonah Williams, DT
• Kevin Zeitler, G

Playing through nagging injuries became a constant in Ragnow’s case, especially near the end of his decorated career. He managed to play 15 or 16 games during each of the past three seasons, earning three of his four Pro Bowl nods during that span. In spite of that, Ragnow spent time after the 2024 campaign evaluating his status from a health standpoint and ultimately decided he was unable to continue playing.

Following a stint at guard during his rookie campaign, the Arkansas product established himself as one of the league’s best at his natural position. As such, Ragnow played a central role – literally and figuratively – in helping execute the Detroit rebuild undertaken in 2021. Two years remained on his contract, leading to the expectation at least one more season as an anchor up front would be in store.

Instead, Ragnow departed the league with roughly $57MM in career earnings and a legacy as one of the Lions’ most important players of the current era. Replacing his consistent level of play, not to mention his leadership and experience, will be a pivotal challenge for the Lions. The team’s play up front will be a question through the early stages of the 2025 campaign.

Just like D.J. Reed, Davis represented one of the top free agent options not only at his position but throughout the league. The two were also linked in the sense that a departure on the open market was widely expected come March, with both players having signed a three-year second contract helping them remain in good position to land a third while still in their prime.

Davis, 28, served as a full-time starter during his seven years with the Buccaneers. A 2024 offseason trade saw him play out the final year of his second contract in Detroit, and the Super Bowl winner enjoyed a strong campaign. Limited to 13 games due to a broken jaw, Davis posted career bests in completion percentage, passer rating and yards per target allowed. That helped ensure a raise would be in store.

As of late January, no talks on a new Davis deal had taken place. The Lions invested their top two 2024 draft picks on corners (Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw), so spending big in this case would have come as a surprise. After being linked to the Jaguars, Davis ultimately signed with the Patriots. He did so by once again taking a three-year pact, this time worth $18MM per year on average. In other words, Reed will be counted on to serve as Davis’ replacement while playing on a slightly less lucrative pact of the same length.

Ragnow’s departure is of course the most significant change up front for Detroit. Losing Zeitler as well should not be understated, though. The 35-year-old was a key figure up front in 2024, a season in which the Lions led the NFL in total offense and finished second in scoring. A new deal was discussed in Zeitler’s case, but in the end he joined the Titans as part of their renovations up front. The pact will allow the Pro Bowler to move further up the ranks regarding starts and appearances for guards (and offensive linemen in general) on his sixth career team while leaving a notable vacancy in Detroit.

Graham Glasgow is certainly no stranger himself to playing time in league with 122 starts under his belt. That total includes 16 at the left guard spot with the Lions last year, a position which will be manned by Christian Mahogany in 2025. Glasgow, meanwhile, will be tasked with handling center duties as Ragnow’s replacement. His ability to succeed in that role will be key determining the team’s performance up front.

Bridgewater’s late Lions signing seemed to only be a brief return to the NFL. Had the former first-rounder’s coaching plans worked out as he hoped, that would have indeed been the case. Instead, Bridgewater’s suspension following one season coaching at the high school level opened the door to a resumption of his playing days.

The 32-year-old signed with Tampa Bay in August, unseating Kyle Trask as the backup along the way. His Detroit tenure did not last long, but Bridgewater’s moves since it ended have certainly made for one of the more interesting comeback stories of the NFL this offseason.

Bridgewater surpassed Hooker on the Lions’ quarterback depth chart late last season, a worrying sign for his future in the organization. The 2023 third-rounder did not see the field during his rookie season while recovering from the ACL tear which ended his productive run at Tennessee. Last season, Hooker attempted just nine passes as Jared Goff remained healthy. With a stalled development process, team and player agreed to move on. Hooker, 27, has since latched onto Carolina’s practice squad.

Extensions and restructures:

• Extended S Kerby Joseph on four-year, $85MM deal ($21.25MM guaranteed)
• Added $250K in base salary, $750K in incentives to final year of LB Alex Anzalone’s contract

When Antoine Winfield Jr. signed his Buccaneers extension in 2024, it marked the first time the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back was a safety. Since then, the cornerback market has surged back ahead, but Joseph was still able to benefit from the upward movement of both positions when inking his deal. The agreement came as little surprise when it was finalized.

A long-term Joseph pact was mentioned as a priority following Detroit’s playoff elimination. That remained the case in early April, and weeks later a deal had been struck. At the time of signing, the extension was the most lucrative in NFL history for safeties. It was also a reflection of Joseph’s importance to the Lions’ secondary now and into the future.

The 24-year-old has served as a full-time starter since arriving in 2022. Over that span, he has totaled a league-leading 17 interceptions (including nine last season). Joseph also allowed just 19 completions as the nearest defender in 2024, and the former third-rounder will be counted on to remain a standout contributor in terms of ball production and coverage for years to come. Brian Branch has two years left on his rookie deal, so the highly effective tandem with he and Joseph will continue through at least 2026.

Joseph’s pact averages $21.25MM per season (a slight uptick from Winfield’s average annual value), but Kyle Hamilton’s new Ravens pact marks a clear market reset at $25.1MM annually. The Joseph and Hamilton deals stand to benefit Branch down the road.

While his time atop the position’s pecking order has proven to be short-lived, Joseph will be counted on to continue operating as a foundational member of Detroit’s secondary. The unit’s success over the coming years will be determined in no small part by his level of play.

Anzalone made it known at the outset of training camp he was “disappointed” by the fact no talks had taken place on a new contract. Days later, a report confirmed no extension is forthcoming in the 30-year-old’s case. Anzalone worked out a compromise which could result in up to $1MM in new earnings for 2025. His free agent market will depend on how the coming season plays out, but in any event a short-term boost will be welcomed by a player who has operated as a first-team mainstay through four Lions campaigns to date.

Trades:

• Sent WR Tim Patrick to Jaguars for 2026 sixth-round pick

Patrick’s value was on the rise based on strong Broncos seasons in 2020 and ’21. The former UDFA’s career was then derailed by injuries, though. Patrick suffered ACL and Achilles tears in consecutive training camps, threatening his NFL future. 2024 saw him remain healthy with the Lions, and a complementary role resulted in a 33-394-3 statline.

Patrick was retained on a one-year, $2.5MM deal in March. That pact was a far cry from the $10MM-per-year extension he once landed with Denver, but it marked a raise from his 2024 Lions accord. Patrick’s compensation is guaranteed in full, but it will now come from a Jaguars team which renovated much of its receiving corps in the first spring with James Gladstone and Liam Coen at the helm. The Jags have Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown in place at the WR spot; Patrick will add a veteran starting-caliber presence to that mix.

Detroit, meanwhile, still has Amon-Ra St. Brown on the books through 2028 thanks to his massive extension signed last offseason. Jameson Williams is set to reprise his role as the No. 2 option and one of the league’s top deep threats. Kalif Raymond has one year remaining on his pact, and while his snap share has decreased over each of his three Lions campaigns the Patrick trade — which came about after multiple teams showed interest — could result in a WR3 role for 2025.

Draft:

• Round 1, No. 28: Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State) (signed)
• Round 2, No. 57 (from Rams through Panthers and Broncos): Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 70 (from Jaguars): Isaac TeSlaa (WR, Arkansas) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 171 (from Cowboys through Patriots): Miles Frazier (G, LSU) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 196 (from Buccaneers): Ahmed Hassanein (OLB, Boise State) (waived-injured)
• Round 7, No. 230 (from Cardinals through Panthers and Broncos): Dan Jackson (S, Georgia) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 244: Dominic Lovett (WR, Georgia) (signed)

Finding productive contributors through the draft has been a staple of the Holmes-Campbell era. The Lions have not hesitated to prioritize non-traditional positions early in the draft, but 2024 saw needs receive the most attention. Early impacts on both sides of the line of scrimmage will be sought out.

Prior to the Williams selection, efforts were made to trade up. An edge rusher was the target of such a move, which comes as little surprise given Detroit’s depth issues showcased when Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport were lost to injuries in 2024. With no swap being worked out, the Lions stood pat at No. 28.

Doing so allowed them to make Williams the fifth defensive tackle selected on Day 1. The four-year Buckeye only started during his junior and senior campaigns, but during that span Williams became a key figure along the defensive front. He only totaled 5.5 sacks in 2023 and ’24, but the All-Big Ten producer showcased a high-end ability to defend against the run with 18 tackles for loss. Williams should have a rotational role available right away with Levi Onwuzurike out for the season and Alim McNeill set to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign.

McNeill is attached to a long-term accord, but Onwuzurike’s status as a pending free agent means Williams could replace him now and in the future. D.J. Reader is also entering the final year of his contract. A full-time starting role – particularly on early downs – should be in store no later than 2026 in Williams’ case.

Detroit’s first-round selection in PFR’s mock draft, Ratledge remained on the board well into Round 2 but nevertheless wound up in the Motor City. The 24-year-old missed a total of 20 games during his tenure at Georgia, but when on the field he was among the top interior blockers in the country. Ratledge worked as the Bulldogs’ right guard from 2022 onwards after being limited to just one game the previous campaign.

The interior of Detroit’s O-line will be a talking point early this season in particular. Ratledge acclimating to the NFL quickly – something which will of course be aided by playing next to Penei Sewell – would be critical for the Lions’ offense. A first-team All-SEC blocker and first-team All-American selection in 2024, he could serve as a mainstay up front for years to come (whether at guard or center) if he reaches his potential.

A no-star recruit, TeSlaa began his college career at Division II Hillsdale. A strong transition from high school quarterback to wideout at the collegiate level was followed by a transfer to the SEC. Two seasons with the Razorbacks did not result in eye-catching production but it did cement his status as one of the more intriguing developmental WR prospects. He prompted the Lions to trade up 32 spots in Round 3, highlighting big plans for the rookie.

TeSlaa enters a situation with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta entrenched as central pass-catching figures. Kalif Raymond departing next spring could create a vacancy for a regular complementary receiver role, though. TeSlaa will have plenty of time to develop given the options above him on the depth chart.

Other:

• Exercised DE Aidan Hutchinson’s $19.87MM fifth-year option, WR Jameson Williams’ $15.49MM option
• Extension talks with Hutchinson progressing
• No reunion imminent with DE Za’Darius Smith
• Placed CB Ennis Rakestraw on season-ending IR following shoulder surgery
• Placed LB Zeke Turner on season-ending IR following suspected Achilles tear
• Claimed S Thomas Harper off waivers (from Rams)
• Signed 10 UDFAs

The Jaguars’ decision to take Travon Walker first overall in 2022 has looked better after consecutive 10-sack seasons. Still, criticism aimed at Jacksonville’s since-expelled regime has been based largely on Hutchinson’s quick ascent into one of the game’s top defenders. The No. 2 pick was the runner-up in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting before landing a Pro Bowl nod in 2023.

Hutchinson picked up where he left off early last season, piling up 7.5 sacks in less than five full games. That Defensive Player of the Year bid came to an abrupt end due to a fractured leg, but as expected it has done little to change Detroit’s view of him in terms of financial planning. The Michigan product, who still led the Lions in sacks last season despite only finishing four games, is under contract through 2026 thanks to the option decision.

Making sure Hutchinson is in place well past that point has been discussed several times this offseason. Upon receiving full medical clearance, the 25-year-old has increasingly become the focus of contract talks. The Lions spent big on in-house players last year and maintaining their core will require further lucrative investments. Hutchinson is chief among the players on that list.

General manager Brad Holmes is well aware of that fact, and he noted in April the rising pass rush market would drive up the price of a second Hutchinson contract. Indeed, the EDGE benchmark has moved from $34MM per season at the start of the offseason all the way to $46.5MM annually thanks to the Packers extension Micah Parsons signed following his blockbuster trade from the Cowboys. Hutchinson stands to benefit from that development whenever his new Detroit deal is finalized.

Williams’ future, on the other hand, has seemed far less certain in recent months. His connection to a gun incident in 2024 was the subject of an internal police review but did not lead to charges or a suspension. That was of course welcomed news given the Alabama product’s past bans for gambling and PED usage. Prior to his option being picked up, rumors about a potential trade swirled in this case.

Holmes was quick to shoot down the thought of dealing Williams, something evidenced by the fact he too will be in place for at least another two seasons. By the time he was recovered from the ACL tear which ended his college career, Williams did not have the opportunity to make an impact as a rookie. An 11-game follow-up season offered promise as a deep threat, though, and last season he finished sixth in the NFL with a 17.3 yards-per-reception average.

Williams, 24, managed to crack 1,000 yards in 2024 while adding seven touchdowns. Another campaign with similar production would increase the value of a potential Lions extension or at least the chance of a lucrative pact coming from another team. Much of Detroit’s offensive nucleus already has a big-ticket contract or (in the case of Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta) will need one in the near future. Whether or not room ends up existing for Williams as well will be interesting to see starting next offseason.

Smith hinted at a Lions trade shortly after Hutchinson went down, so it came as little surprise when one was worked out. The three-time Pro Bowler posted four sacks in eight regular-season contests with Detroit and expressed a desire to remain in place for 2025. Talks on a re-signing have taken place, but at this point no agreement is expected. Smith remains one of the most experienced and accomplished pass rushers still on the market days before Week 1.

Top 10 cap charges for 2025:

1. Jared Goff, QB: $32.6MM
2. Taylor Decker, LT: $23.01MM
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR: $13.91MM
4. D.J. Reader, DT: $12.93MM
5. Aidan Hutchinson, DE: $11.36MM
6. Penei Sewell, RT: $9.54MM
7. David Montgomery, RB: $8.28MM
8. Alex Anzalone, LB: $7.45MM
9. Graham Glasgow, C: $7.44MM
10. Kalif Raymond, WR: $6.95MM

Thanks to their respective 2024 extensions, Goff, St. Brown and Sewell are in line to see their cap charges soar in 2026. That will of course be an important factor in future financial planning, especially since Hutchinson is not alone as a prime candidate for a massive Lions extension. Between dead money charges and the implications of various injures, Detroit’s 2025 books already account for roughly $36MM in cap hits from players who will not be on the field this year.

The Lions’ regular-season schedule includes 11 games against 2024 playoff teams, tied for the most with the Eagles. Getting past the Super Bowl champions at some point in the postseason could very well prove necessary after the two teams were denied a matchup last year due to Detroit’s upset loss to Washington. Changes up front and a combination of new and lingering injuries on defense will need to be navigated in the meantime.

As long as Campbell remains in place and the Lions continue to find success in the draft, a strong core should be present in the Motor City. Regression on at least one side of the ball would come as little surprise given the exodus amongst the coaching staff, however, and the play of Detroit’s offensive line will be a question mark. Even so, another strong campaign as well as a run to the Super Bowl is not difficult to envision with this group.