The Detroit Lions’ offseason will immediately begin following their Week 18 game against the Chicago Lions. Whether the Lions win or lose, head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will start figuring out who should or should not be brought back for 2026.
For many Lions fans, they don’t want to see defenders like Marcus Davenport or Amik Robertson back in the Motor City next year, as both guys have been disappointments for various reasons. On the other hand, the fanbase would rather not see veteran defensive lineman Roy Lopez play somewhere else in 2026.
The 28-year-old defensive tackle has been a revelation in his first season with the Lions, who signed Lopez to a one-year, $3.5 million contract this past offseason. Lopez has racked up 30 combined tackles, seven quarterback pressures, five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, and two sacks as a backup.
Before arriving in Detroit, Lopez spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Texans and Cardinals, where he was a starter. Lopez doesn’t have to do that in Detroit due to the talent at DT.
However, with the amount of talent at defensive tackle and Lopez’s upcoming free agency, it's setting the stage for him to be playing elsewhere. According to Spotrac, the veteran defender’s calculated market value is a three-year, $19.1 million deal with a $6.4 million average annual value.
Roy Lopez's Time with Lions Might End After Week 18
In a perfect world, a three-year deal for Lopez doesn’t sound horrible based on how he’s played this season and what he could do going forward in this defense.
However, the Lions aren’t in the best spot financially, as they’re projected to have $4.3 million in cap space in 2026, per OverTheCap. If the salary cap increases, Detroit should have some wiggle room to make some moves this upcoming offseason.
But Lopez might not be at the top of Detroit’s checklist, as they also have to consider paying D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, and Al-Quadin Muhammad. All three guys are paramount to the Lions’ success on defense.
Now, could the Lions decide not to bring back Reader, for example, who will be 32 next season, and instead re-sign Lopez? It’s possible. But you’re putting pressure on a player in Lopez, who has thrived in a rotational role, and exposing him to more snaps, which could hurt your d-line in the long run.
And then, when you factor in Muhammad’s production this season, the Lions absolutely must re-sign him, as they don’t have an in-house replacement that can step in right away and start opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
When you consider all those factors, plus other teams that could offer Lopez a better deal than the Lions, all signs point to Detroit likely making the tough but smart decision to let the veteran defensive tackle walk.