The Detroit Lions are right in the thick of their Super Bowl window, trying to keep it propped open for at least a couple more years. That’s life in the NFL—championship windows can slam shut just as quickly as they swing open.
Detroit is also in the middle of change. Both coordinators are gone, and several key players are set to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason.
With that in mind, here are five Lions who could be heading into their final season in Detroit.
Graham Glasgow
Glasgow is the only player on this list who’s technically under contract beyond 2025, but that’s exactly what lands him here.
His cap number sits at $7.4 million this season and climbs to $8.4 million in 2026. The bigger issue is that Jared Goff’s cap hit is about to double, adding a whopping $37 million in money Detroit has to account for.
As it stands, the Lions are projected to be $32.7 million over the 2026 salary cap. At some point next offseason, they'll begin chipping away at that number via restructures and cuts.
That means tough decisions are coming. The Lions have already had a ton of turnover in their interior offensive line. More could be coming.
They used their second-round pick in this year's draft on Tate Ratledge out of Georgia. Ratledge is old for a rookie, already 24, but looks ready to play right away. And that's exactly what the Lions need.
Glasgow is steady, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and past his peak years. Releasing him after the season would free up $5.6 million in space—savings that might be too important to ignore.
D.J. Reader
Another position the Lions are experiencing a lot of turmoil at is defensive tackle. Alim McNeill tore his ACL last December and is still working his way back. McNeill and the Lions have said he's ahead of schedule, but still might not be back until October or early November.
Detroit used its 2025 first-round pick on defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, partly because of their attrition up front, but also as a long-term replacement plan. The Lions are battling injuries and positional turnover, and expect Williams to step in and contribute right away.
The Lions would love to keep Reader, but Williams is nearly a decade younger and much cheaper. They also have the depth to replace Reader in the years to come. They have six or seven players on this year's roster who could play defensive tackle in some capacity. Three of them were drafted in the last two years.
From a team-building standpoint, the decision is pretty clear when it comes to Reader's future in Detroit. The salary cap crunch is real.
Marcus Davenport
Unlike defensive tackle, the Lions are super thin at defensive end heading into the season. Their starters are Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson. They are both talented players (especially Hutchinson, who was on track to win the Defensive Player of the Year last season), but both are coming off significant injuries.
The depth is lacking behind them as well. Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat are the backups. That doesn't exactly instill confidence in the defensive end rotation when Davenport and Hutchinson need a break.
Davenport is back in Detroit on a one-year, prove-it deal after appearing in just two games last season due to an elbow fracture in Week 3. He's only played in six games combined over the last two years due to injuries.
However, this reunion works for both sides if Davenport can stay healthy. And that's a big if.
The Lions know they can’t keep him long term, while Davenport is betting on himself to recapture the form he showed in 2021 when he notched nine sacks. If he does, he’ll try to cash in on the open market next spring.
Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin
Cornerback is in transition for the Lions. Unlike the other question marks on the interior of the offensive line, however, the Lions are in a prime position thanks to the talent they've acquired in recent seasons.
They spent high draft capital on Terrion Arnold (first round) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (second round) in 2024, hoping the pair will lock down the position for years to come. They also made a splash in free agency this offseason by signing D.J. Reed to a three-year deal.
The coaching staff has been singing the praises of Arnold throughout training camp and believes they have something special in him. He struggled during his rookie year, but a large part of that was because he was forced into the fire.
Reed is a stud. He was a high-profile free agent and will start immediately. He will play the role of lockdown corner and mentor to the younger players at his position.
The recent additions via the draft and free agency mean there won’t be room for everyone.
Robertson, who came over from Las Vegas last season, was solid in the slot and should stick around this year—especially with Rakestraw Jr. sidelined for the season. Still, Detroit will want to evaluate its younger corners by this time next year.
The Lions will have to make some difficult decisions at the position. That may mean moving on from Robertson if he outperforms his contract and wants a raise in the future.
As for Ya-Sin, his role is primarily on special teams. His cap hit is minimal, but he’s replaceable, and the Lions are likely to move on once the season ends.