After a disappointing season, the Detroit Lions have already begun to make sweeping changes to the roster.
Trading away David Montgomery and releasing veteran starter Graham Glasgow to save money, the Lions have demonstrated a desire to overhaul the team. General manager Brad Holmes has recently said that they may be willing to take a different approach to free agency this season after spending the last few seasons drafting and developing.
With that in mind, it's not surprising to see the Lions clear out more room on the roster.
On Monday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Detroit isn't placing a tender on defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat, making him an unrestricted free agent. This suggests that more moves may be coming to the defensive line that was already in need of significant upgrades.
Tyrus Wheat's Departure May Be 1st of Many Moves for Lions' Defensive Line
While changes were expected on the defensive line, the decision to move on from Wheat is still surprising.
The 26-year-old defensive end was a restricted free agent that the Lions could have kept on a team-friendly deal. Plus, it's not like the Lions have an embarrassment of riches in the pass rush rotation. Wheat could have been a fine depth piece as he played in 15 games for the Lions after he was claimed off waivers following his release by the Dallas Cowboys.
Detroit's willingness to let Wheat walk could be a sign that bigger changes may be coming. Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad are also unrestricted free agents. The Lions will ideally want to retain at least one of the veteran pass rushers, but their cap situation may complicate things.
Add in the fact that D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, and Roy Lopez are also entering free agency, and the Lions' defensive line may look completely different next season.
There will obviously be reinforcements coming in at pass rush. While the Lions fans' pipe dream remains a trade for Maxx Crosby, it is still as unrealistic as ever. Holmes would need to clear significantly more cap space to fit Crosby, as well as afford extensions for their star 2023 draft picks.
A more likely scenario may be using their first-round draft pick on an EDGE like Keldric Faulk, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr. With the return of Ahmed Hassanein, the Lions could put together a solid pass-rushing group around Aidan Hutchinson.
That may not satisfy Lions fans' expectations, but where this roster stands in terms of the salary cap, there may not be a better option. Whether Detroit's defensive line will be better than last season remains to be seen, but at the very least, it will look very different.