The Detroit Lions' offseason has officially begun.
After entering the playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 seed, the Lions couldn't step up when it mattered the most, falling to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round. It's a heartbreaking way to end one of the best seasons in franchise history, forcing head coach Dan Campbell to head back to the drawing board in the coming months.
As with most postseason eliminations, changes are likely on their way to the Motor City. It won't be much longer before free agency and offseason trades begin, meaning there's a good chance that several players just played their final game in a Lions jersey.
With that in mind, here are 11 Lions who are likely leaving Detroit following the disappointing loss.
1. Tim Patrick, WR
The Lions took a gamble on Tim Patrick when they signed him to a practice squad contract back in August. After all, the veteran wide receiver hadn't played meaningful football since the 2021 campaign after missing the two subsequent seasons with torn ACL and Achilles injuries.
Fortunately, the Lions' gamble paid off because Patrick has become one of their more important secondary pass-catchers. Even though it was far from a career year for the 31-year-old WR, he still managed to record 33 receptions for 394 yards and three TDs in 16 games.
After a performance like that, Patrick could garner some serious attention as a free agent this offseason.
Even though the Lions can more than afford to bring Patrick back, he might be looking for a bigger role elsewhere. He managed to have a solid season playing behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, so it isn't absurd to believe that he could be a 600-plus-yard receiver with more playing time and targets elsewhere.
Besides, as solid as Patrick was this season, the Lions can easily find another WR3 through free agency or the 2025 NFL draft.
2. Carlton Davis, CB
According to Spotrac, 23 Lions are set to become unrestricted free agents this season. While each player's importance to the team varies, few are as impactful as cornerback Carlton Davis.
The former Auburn ballhawk was tremendous in his first season with the Lions after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last March. Although injuries limited him to just 13 appearances, Davis made his presence felt to the tune of 42 solo tackles, 11 broken-up passes, two interceptions, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Additionally, the 28-year-old defender ranked highly among fellow CBs on Pro Football Focus in terms of coverage (72.1, 25th) and overall defense (74.5, 21st).
Even though Lions fans would love to see Davis return to the secondary this fall, a re-signing might be easier said than done.
The ex-2018 second-rounder will be looking for another big-time contract this offseason. Spotrac projects that he could earn about $13.8 million annually on the open market and while the Lions have over $69.7 million to spend, they might not want to shell out big bucks for a cornerback who's nearly 30 years old.
If Davis demands too much money, the Lions won't hesitate to let him walk. There's already a mixture of reliable and up-and-coming CBs under contract, meaning Detroit can afford to lose him.
3. Allen Robinson, WR
Veteran wideout Allen Robinson is another player Lions fans might not get to see again.
Like Patrick, Robinson was brought onto Detroit's practice squad last summer to help flesh out the WR depth chart. Even though the former Pro Bowl playmaker is no longer the impactful player he once was, the Lions were hopeful that their younger wideouts could learn from someone with over 7,000 receiving yards and 43 career TDs to his name.
Unfortunately, Robinson never carved out a role for him in Ben Johnson's offense.
Even though he played in 12 games, the 31-year-old receiver was targeted just seven times, converting those opportunities into 30 yards without a score. Considering how he only drew a 55.7 passer rating when targeted, it's safe to say that Allen is no longer the receiving threat he once was.
Now that Robinson is becoming a free agent again, it's tough envisioning him back in the Motor City for the 2025 campaign. Nothing that he did this season made him irreplaceable and the Lions are better off giving his roster spot to someone who can make their presence felt more consistently.
With the way his career is unfolding, Robinson will be lucky to receive anything more than a training camp deal from any team this offseason.
4. Ben Johnson, OC
Just like every offseason in recent memory, Lions fans are wondering what the future holds for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
The 38-year-old offensive guru's name tends to come up whenever a new NFL head coach hiring cycle begins. Johnson has been instrumental in transforming the Lions' offense into one of the league's most lethal attacks, leaving the football world curious to see what he could do leading his own team.
As expected, Johnson has already garnered plenty of attention throughout the playoffs. He's already been interviewed by the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. He even had conversations with the New England Patriots before they decided to go with Mike Vrabel.
In other words, Johnson could field even more interviews now that the Lions' playoff run is over.
As great as his time in Detroit has been, the Lions will eventually need to let Johnson spread his wings. He's too talented to be an offensive coordinator forever and it's only a matter of time before he takes his first shot at a head coaching gig.
5. Jonah Williams, DL
The 2024-25 NFL season was a whirlwind for defensive lineman Jonah Williams, to say the least.
The former 2019 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year opened the season on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad but quickly found himself signed by the LA Rams at the start of October. That run lasted just under two months before Williams was signed by the Lions on Nov. 30.
Much to his dismay, though, Williams failed to make a positive impact anywhere he went.
Playing nine games between the three franchises, the ex-Weber State defender tallied only one solo tackle across 99 defensive snaps. His PFF grades in terms of overall defense (37.7), run defense (32.9), and tackling (27.7) are all, by far, the worst marks of his career.
There just isn't a good reason to believe that the Lions would be interested in bringing Williams back next season. He's also hitting free agency in March and unless the coaching staff sees something in him that the rest of Detroit doesn't, he's likely on his way out the door.
6. Michael Niese, OL
A lot of the Lions' success had to do with a reliable offensive line that ranked among the league's best units. Having said that, offensive lineman Michael Niese didn't exactly do much to contribute to that success.
The 6-foot-5 blocker joined the Lions in 2023, however, he only played one game that season. That changed this time around as Niese suited up in a backup role for all 17 of Detroit's regular-season contests. Unfortunately, he didn't make the most of his opportunities.
Although he was a decent pass blocker, Niese struggled to excel as a run blocker with a grade of 40.7. In an offense like the Lions' where there's a huge emphasis on the run, there's no use for a player like that.
Detroit holds Niese's exclusive-rights free agents this offseason, but that doesn't mean the franchise will give him a qualifying offer. He simply isn't good enough to be a part of the Lions' offensive line and will likely look to continue his NFL career elsewhere.
7. Kyle Peko, DT
Kyle Peko's first season with the Lions was a bumpy ride, to say the least.
The former Oregon State defender opened the 2024 campaign on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster in mid-September. Peko only managed to play five games in a Detroit jersey, though, before tearing a pectoral muscle against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, effectively ending his seventh NFL season.
It's going to take a lot of convincing from Peko and his agent if he wants to return to the Lions next season. The 31-year-old defensive tackle barely made an impact when healthy, recording just one solo tackle across 86 defensive snaps before winding up on the injured reserve.
His 36.8 run defense grade on PFF was also the second-worst mark of his career. Given that he's turning 32 years old in July, it's unlikely that his situation will improve going forward.
Look for Peko to attempt to get his career back on track in a new destination next season, assuming that any team is willing to roll the dice following his significant injury.
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.
9. Shane Zylstra, TE
The 2024 campaign marked Shane Zylstra's fourth year with the Lions. The former WR-turned-TE spent the entire 2023 season on the IR with a knee injury, leaving the Detroit faithful feeling hopeful that he could bounce back before becoming a free agent in March.
Try as he did, Zylstra barely made his presence felt this season. Despite suiting up in 12 contests, the former Minnesota State pass-catcher was only targeted once while being limited to 109 offensive snaps. He was often used as a blocker, which he struggled at proven by his horrific 19.5 pass block grade — the worst performance among 124 TEs last season, regardless of of their snap count.
Considering how Brock Wright and James Mitchell were both better blockers than Zylstra, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Lions let the former walk as a UFA this offseason. Simply put, he doesn't have what it takes to contribute to the best offense in the NFL.
Zylstra, 28, is still young enough to spend a few more seasons in the league, but they likely won't be played in Detroit. The Lions only have room for the most reliable players at their respective positions and it's clear that the inconsistent TE doesn't fit that description.
10. Kevin Zeitler, OG
The Lions sought to reinforce their offensive line when they signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year contract in 2024. The veteran blocker was coming off his first-ever Pro Bowl campaign with the Baltimore Ravens and the hope was that he could replicate that showing in the Motor City.
While some offseason deals don't always pan out, Zeitler has proven to be one of last offseason's biggest steals. The ex-Wisconsin Badger was, once again, one of the best players at his position, ranking inside the top three on PFF in terms of both run blocking and overall offensive play.
Even though he'll be turning 35 years old in March, it's clear the Waukesha, WI native still has plenty of juice left in the tank at this stage of his career.
The Lions will more than likely want to re-sign Zeitler, however, the final result will likely depend on what he's looking for. Detroit doesn't want to overpay for a mid-30s OL, especially when his play could fall off a cliff at any given point. With that said, he'll likely be back in town if he's willing to take a team-friendly deal.
However, if Zeitler is looking for one last huge payday before retiring, the Lions might not be willing to open up their checkbook. That's just too risky of a move for a franchise looking to remain in Super Bowl contention for the foreseeable future.
11. Levi Onwuzurike, DT
Drafted 41st overall by the Lions in 2011, Levi Onwuzurike is someone whose potential has been limited by injuries. The former Washington defender missed the entire 2022 campaign due to a back injury, forcing him to play a smaller role in 2023.
After having last offseason to focus on fully healing, Onwuzurike finally showed what he was capable of this season.
Playing 16 games for the first time since his rookie year, the 26-year-old edge rusher racked up career-highs in solo tackles (16) and sacks (1.5) while also forcing a fumble. Onwuzurike displayed his versatility by finishing as a top-30 exterior defender regarding run defense and pass rushing, leaving Lions fans wanting more of the same in 2025 and beyond.
Whether or not the Lions re-sign Onwuzurike in free agency remains to be seen. As effective as the fourth-year defensive playmaker was, there's a good chance that interested suitors will be willing to pay him above his market value. If his asking price rises beyond an unreasonable number, the Lions won't hesitate to walk away from negotiations.
As great as Onwuzurike was, it makes sense that the Lions might be hesitant to award a long-term, big-money contract to a player who's missed 25 games in the last three seasons.