The Detroit Lions entered free agency with some needs on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions went 15-2 and ranked seventh in scoring defense but that was an accomplishment considering 13 defensive players finished the season on injured reserve.
While signing D.J. Reed was the big splash, Detroit was best served building depth. One of those areas was along the defensive line where Alim McNeil’s availability for the start of next season is in question after tearing his ACL in December. Levi Onwuzirike is also a free agent, leaving D.J. Reader as the incumbent starter heading into next year.
The Lions made a move to address that problem on Tuesday night and it may have been fitting that most were sleeping when it was made.
Lions Sign Sleeper Defensive Tackle Roy Lopez In Free Agency
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Roy Lopez on a one-year, $4.65 million contract. Lopez, who will turn 28 during training camp, has modest stats, making 137 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three sacks during his four-year career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals, but has some interesting qualities.
Former #Cardinals nose tackle Roy Lopez is signing a one-year, $4.65 million deal with the #Lions, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2025
Pro Football Focus credited Lopez with 18 total pressures on 242 pass-rushing snaps for a 6.5% pressure rate with the Cardinals last season. Lopez also posted an 8.5% win rate which only trailed McNeil (14.5%) and Onwuzurike (11.9%) from the Lions roster last season.
Lopez also received a ringing endorsement from head coach Jonathan Gannon, who wished he had more players like Lopez on his roster.
“If you had 90 Roys, you would be good to go,” Gannon said during last year’s training camp. “He’s always working on his game. He’s team-first. He’s willing to do whatever you tell him to do. He’s got a smile on his face. Like he’s a phenomenal human being. And…he enjoys coming to work and he gets better at his game. So yeah, I’d love a bunch of Roys.”
"He's a phenomenal human being."#AZCardinals HC Jonathan Gannon re: fourth-year defensive lineman and former Gilbert Mesquite High standout Roy Lopez, who "enjoys coming to work and he gets better at his game."
— Arizona Cardinals Insiders 🎤🎙 (@AZCardsInsiders) August 12, 2024
Gannon added, "I'd love a bunch of Roys."
-@CraigAZSports pic.twitter.com/6vpSpYxtLh
With Cardinals beat writers referring to Lopez as everything from “a perfect Dan Campbell type of personality” to “a badass,” the Lions may have found a sleeper in free agency, making him the perfect midnight signing to add depth for 2025.