With no playoffs in sight for the first time since 2022, the Detroit Lions will start gameplanning for what will be a pivotal offseason.
The Lions have a ton of free agents and a few holes to fix on both sides of the ball. One position group that will be under the microscope this offseason, though, is the secondary, which dealt with its fair share of injuries.
Detroit could lose Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox, who all had to step up throughout the season, in free agency. If you asked Lions fans who they would want to keep, most would respond with Ya-Sin and Maddox.
And if you’re the Lions, both guys, especially Maddox, should be a top priority to bring back for 2026.
Lions Can't Let Avonte Maddox Slip Away in Free Agency
When Detroit signed Maddox to a one-year, $1.42 million deal this past offseason, it wasn’t clear if he would make the 53-man roster this summer due to the abundance of talent at the position.
However, the veteran defensive back made his presence felt and did enough to stick around in the Motor City. And little did Detroit know that they would need him late in the season.
Maddox, who predominantly played in the slot with the Philadelphia Eagles, was asked to step in at safety in Week 14 for an injured Thomas Harper, playing 80 snaps. Maddox stepped up to the occasion, recording eight combined tackles, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. He also only gave three completions (four targets) for 27 yards and had a 92.7 passer rating.
The Lions kept the veteran defensive back in the starting lineup after it was revealed that Brian Branch would be out with a torn Achilles that he sustained in Week 14. The decision paid off as it gave the Lions a cover guy at the safety spot.
We saw those coverage skills pay off in the regular season finale as Maddox intercepted Caleb Williams in the second half. He finished the game as the fourth-highest graded on the Lions at 84.9, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t LionsFanReport).
Based on what Maddox put on tape, plus the uncertainty around when Branch will return, and the other pending free agents, it's a no-brainer for the Lions to re-sign him. If you lose him, it's no guarantee that you’ll find a replacement who can line up in the slot but also at safety.
Therefore, a two-year deal for the Detroit native could be a good fit for both sides. It will give Maddox stability, and for Detroit, a reliable option to start the season, or at least be one of their top backups in the secondary.