The NFL's free agency period opens next Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m.
Ahead of that signing frenzy, let's take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions roster, starting with the offense.
We'll assess the team's needs by examining the players under contract for the upcoming season and those with expiring deals. We'll also highlight some reasonable free-agent fits to consider as the team prepares to do some offseason shopping.
Quarterback
Under contract: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, Jake Fromm
Expiring contracts: Teddy Bridgewater
Top free agents: Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Daniel Jones
Potential fits: Jarrett Stidham
Analysis: It’s nice to not need a quarterback, right? It’s actually been quite a while since the Lions have been in the market for a starter, going back to 2009, when the team selected Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick. And after signing Goff to an extension that runs through 2028, the Lions should be set at the spot for a while.
The backup situation is also fairly stable, despite the short-term decision to bring back Bridgewater for the playoffs last year. Hooker, with a full season under his belt, presumably continues to be the answer for the role.
On the off chance I’m overestimating the organization’s faith in Hooker, it stands to reason the team would seek a familiar veteran. That could obviously be Bridgewater. Alternatively, the team could look for a tie to new coordinator John Morton. Stidham spent the past two seasons with the coach in Denver, appearing in six games as a backup QB. His production has been modest throughout his career. Still, having played in multiple systems for multiple teams, he could provide a valuable set of veteran eyes to the room for game-planning purposes.
Ultimately, I think the Lions stand pat with their current setup.
Running back
Under contract: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sione Vaki
Expiring contracts: Craig Reynolds
Top free agents: Aaron Jones, Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, J.K. Dobbins, Nick Chubb
Potential fits: Reynolds, Reggie Gilliam
Analysis: Detroit has similar stability at the top of its backfield depth chart. Gibbs's rookie contract has two years and a fifth-year option remaining, and Montgomery signed a two-year extension through the 2027 season. However, the team has off-ramps the two seasons after this one if they decide to change course.
The Lions' immediate concern is the depth beyond that dynamic tandem. Reynolds has admirably filled the role over the past few seasons, including a large special teams workload. He's respected and trusted by the coaching staff, so it would hardly be surprising to see him brought back.
Additionally, the team drafted Vaki to round out the room last year. He remains a work in progress as a ball carrier, having converted from playing safety in college. Still, his extensive special teams contributions keep him active on game days.
I do wonder if the Lions would consider re-adding a traditional fullback to the roster this offseason, either instead of or in addition to Reynolds. Some good ones are expected to hit the market, including five-time Pro Bowler Patrick Ricard. Alternatively, there's Gilliam, who has served as the blocking back in Bufflao the past five seasons while averaging more than 300 special teams snaps the past four. Finally, there's old friend Michael Burton, a fifth-round pick for the Lions in 2015, who was with Morton in Denver the past two seasons.
Wide receiver
Under contract: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell, Antoine Green
Expiring contracts: Tim Patrick, Allen Robinson
Top free agents: Tee Higgins (franchised), Chris Godwin, Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs
Potential fits: Patrick, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Noah Brown, Ben Skowronek
Analysis: Detroit has a little work to do at the position this offseason. Three of their top four receivers remain under contract, including the All-Pro St. Brown and budding star Williams. The four-year extension St. Brown signed last offseason kicks in this year. Williams’ future is less certain. He’s under contract for 2025, and the team holds a costly fifth-year option. An extension might make more sense, especially if he continues to take positive steps on and off the field.
From a depth perspective, Raymond brings versatile reliability. Where Detroit needs help is at the X, which veteran Tim Patrick capably filled a year ago. Joining the roster just before the start of the season, he caught 33 of 44 targets for 394 yards and three scores. He was also an eager and effective blocker on the perimeter, a requirement for that spot in Detroit.
Patrick will turn 32 this year but appeared to have enough in the tank to justify extending the relationship. But suppose the Lions want to go younger with a big-bodied perimeter threat ahead of the draft, at least a few options are scheduled to be available.
Among that group is the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Humphrey, who Denver retained over Patrick last season. He responded with a career-high 31 catches for the Broncos. Not only does he have overlap with Morton from his time there, but Humprhy came into the league with the Saints in 2019, when coach Dan Campbell was still on staff.
As for the 6-foot-3, 224-pound Skowronek, he was scouted by Lions general manager Brad Holmes before being selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Skowronek’s best production came a year later when he caught 39 balls for 376 yards, plus he’s amassed more than 700 special teams snaps across his first four seasons.
These aren’t sexy names, but the Lions aren’t likely looking to spend big money on the position with so many resources tied up into St. Brown and potentially Williams. They need a complement to the corps and can seek a more cost-effective solution in the draft if they desire.
Tight end
Under contract: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright
Expiring contracts: Shane Zylstra
Top free agents: Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson, Tyler Conklin, Zach Ertz
Potential fits: Hunter Long, Eric Saubert
Analysis: Five tight ends took offensive snaps for the Lions last season, with LaPorta and Wright accounting for 88.6% of the workload. Even more lopsided, the tandem was responsible for 96.4% of the position’s receiving production. That’s counting offensive tackle Dan Skipper’s 9-yard touchdown catch as part of a jumbo package.
Those figures set the table for how much the Lions
need a tight end in 2025. Of course, it’s reasonable to expect they’ll carry a third on the roster, but it’s difficult to suggest they’re looking for a type based on how they handled the spot last year.
After a healthy camp competition, the Lions opened the campaign with Parker Hesse, a block-first option. They eventually swapped him out for Zylstra, who is more of an athletic receiving threat.
With a new coordinator and position coach, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some fresh faces. Long, a former third-round draft pick, is intriguing because he offers athletic upside and has been a quality run blocker for the Rams over the past two seasons.
Saubert, a journeyman who has played for six teams during his eight-year career and spent 2024 with San Francisco, also fits this mold.
Offensive line
Under contract: Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Giovani Manu, Netane Muti, Kingsley Eguakun, Jamarco Jones
Expiring contracts: Kevin Zeitler, Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese
Top free agents: Ronnie Stanley, Trey Smith (franchised), Patrick Mekari, Tyron Smith, Drew Dalman, Will Fries, Teven Jenkins
Potential fits: Zeitler, Skipper, Trystan Colon
Analysis: There's a touch of uncertainty with the Lions' front headed into 2025, with that conversation centered around the guards.
Zeitler was outstanding as a stopgap last season, yet it's debatable how much the team needs him back next season with the emergence of Mahogany, who thrived in two spot starts and profiles best as a right guard.
Detroit's other four starters from a year ago remain under contract. However, the team will likely need to replace Graham Glasgow sooner rather than later. He turns 33 in August and is coming off a down year.
Assuming the Lions stick with Glasgow for another season, and opt to run with Mahogany over re-signing Zeitler, they'll need depth across the unit. They started to address it earlier this offseason by re-signing Muti. He was having a stellar camp last offseason before suffering a torn pec.
It also remains to be seen whether Manu has developed enough in one year to be ready to take over the swing tackle job. The team isn't likely to leave this to chance. They'll have veteran competition for the youngster, potentially (likely?) running it back with Skipper.
It also makes sense to add another low-cost, experienced guard in case Muti's longstanding durability issues persist. Someone like Dalton Risner, who has starting experience on both sides, makes sense. If center flexibility is important, Colon has been a capable reserve for Baltimore and Arizona the past five seasons.
