When you're as good as the Detroit Lions, it can be hard to keep around your free agents. Players want bigger contracts, and 31 teams around the league are desperate to poach your talent. Or at least, that's usually the case.
Things haven't played out like that for the Detroit Lions this offseason. So far they've re-signed 10 of their own free agents, while only five have inked with a different team this offseason. And there are still 11 former Lions who haven't found a new team as the NFL Draft approaches.
Remaining Lions Free Agents
Player | Position | Age | Previous Contract Average |
|---|---|---|---|
Za'Darius Smith | EDGE | 32 | $11.5 million |
John Cominsky | DL | 29 | $4.3 million |
Jalen Reeves-Maybin | EDGE | 30 | $3.8 million |
Emmanuel Moseley | CB | 29 | $2.9 million |
Michael Badgley | K | 29 | $1.3 million |
Allen Robinson | WR | 31 | $1.2 million |
Teddy Bridgewater | QB | 32 | $1.2 million |
Kyle Peko | DL | 31 | $1.2 million |
Ben Niemann | LB | 29 | $1.1 million |
Connor Galvin | OL | 25 | $795k |
Kwon Alexander | LB | 30 | $383k |
This isn't exactly a who's-who of top-end talent, but there are some names on the list that really raise eyebrows.
Za'Darius Smith is the most obvious, though he's also maybe the least surprising player to remain unsigned. At this stage in his career he really doesn't seem to mind simply being a mercenary who could wait out more of the offseason and decide much closer to the season which team gives him the most favorable situation (whether he's looking for money, playing time, or a chance at a Super Bowl ring).
Niemann was one of the Lions' biggest special teams contributors (second on the roster in special teams snaps) and also saw the field for 16.3% of the available defensive snaps. Reeves-Maybin played a similar role.
Neither blew anyone away with their 2024 contributions, but offering veteran depth while also playing a big role on specials is more than enough to carve out roster spots for long, successful NFL careers. Teams may just be waiting to see what holes they have on their rosters after the draft (and addition of undrafted free agents), however, so expect both of these guys to end up on a roster before training camp rolls around.
Then there are guys like Allen Robinson, Teddy Bridgewater, and even Kwon Alexander.
Once hot commodities, these guys may well still be unemployed when Week 1 kicks off. The silence around Bridgewater suggests he may retire again, Robinson isn't an appealing option despite the Lions' lack of WR depth, and Alexander was on the Denver Broncos' practice squad for weeks before injuries drove the Lions to poach him.