11 Lions Whose Time in Detroit Will End After Divisional Round Loss

Detroit's quest for a Super Bowl title officially ended this weekend. As a result, these 11 Lions likely won't return to the Motor City next season.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) warms up before the game between San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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8. Patrick O'Connor, DL

Patrick O'Connor is another Lions defender who had an underwhelming 2024 campaign. The veteran defensive lineman was drafted 250th overall by Detroit in 2017 but only lasted five months in the Motor City before being signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.

But after seven years in the Sunshine State, O'Connor returned to the Lions on a one-year contract last offseason.

The ex-Eastern Michigan product wound up playing 12 games in his return to Detroit, recording a personal-best five solo tackles while adding a sack. He spent the majority of the campaign bouncing between roles, playing 236 defensive snaps with another 160 being played in special teams situations.

If that wasn't underwhelming enough, O'Connor also played to 47.9 run defense and 55.3 pass rush grades, further highlighting his inability to excel at any area on defense.

If he can't stop the run or successfully attack opposing QBs, there isn't a real reason to re-sign O'Connor this offseason. It doesn't help that he's also firmly in his 30s, meaning his play will likely trend in the wrong direction going forward if this season was any indication.

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