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3 Lions Who Must Be Cut This Offseason

If the Detroit Lions are looking to free up some money and roster spots this offseason, don't be surprised if these three players are cut in the coming months.

By Devon Platana

Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) stretches during warm-ups at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) stretches during warm-ups at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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3. Kalif Raymond, WR/ST

Several Lions had memorable performances last season, including wideout/ST Kalif Raymond. The ex-Holy Corss playmaker paced the NFL with 413 return yards on 30 punts while even returning one attempt for a touchdown, earning him All-Pro second-team honors for the second time in three seasons.

But while Raymond was one of the league's most dynamic special teamers, his pass-catching performance wasn't anything special. In his 12 appearances, the 30-year-old WR caught 17-of-22 (77.3%) targets for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 17.9 receiving yards per game marked his worst average since moving to the Motor City in 2021.

As good as Raymond is as a returner, the Lions might want to replace him with someone who can add more to the passing game. If GM Holmes is looking to replace the former undrafted WR, Detroit can save about $3.2 million by cutting him before June 1 and those savings will jump up to $4.8 million after that date.

In other words, there isn't a rush to make a final decision. Instead, it'll likely be up to Raymond to prove to the Lions this offseason that he's still worth the $6.3 million cap hit and 53-man roster spot.

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