The Detroit Lions have been signaling an unwillingness to make a splashy addition at this point in the offseason. They have other priorities like contract extensions to key players, and they feel like they have enough depth across the board to feel good about their roster. Plus, they don't have the financial means right now for any blockbuster upgrades.
The injury concerns at safety, however, are testing the Lions' depth already. Kerby Joseph's seemingly chronic knee injury remains a big concern, and he remains without a timetable to return. As expected, Brian Branch still needs time to return to practice. He will likely miss some time early in the season as he recovers from an Achilles tear.
The Lions somewhat addressed the safety position in the spring, signing Christian Izien and Chuck Clark, but they presumably didn't think they would both be the presumptive starters for Week 1. The rest of the defensive backfield also consists of newcomers and unproven players, leaving the Lions with more question marks than they would like ahead of the training camp.
Lions should turn to the free agent market for a safety addition
That is why it may be a worthy consideration to try to add a veteran free agent safety. Fortunately, safety is one of the few positions that still has capable free agents available. Among these names, Donovan Wilson stands out as an intriguing target.
One of the longest tenured Cowboys, Wilson's time in Dallas came to an end this spring. The Cowboys' defense was a disaster under Matt Eberflus last season, and the front office made sweeping changes. The 29-year-old safety was one of the players who struggled with the new defensive scheme and hasn't been brought back.
He was bad in 2025, but Wilson has a long track record as an effective safety. More importantly, he has the type of physicality and intensity that the Lions favor under Dan Campbell. Wilson has long been the enforcer for the Cowboys, setting the tone with his hard work and aggressiveness. He was one of the best pass-rushing, run-stuffing safeties in the league for many years.
Along with Harrison Smith, Xavier Woods, and Ifeatu Melifonwu, the former Cowboys defender is one of the best unsigned safeties. Spotrac projects his market value to be at $6.9 million, but considering that he doesn't seem to have generated too much interest in the spring, the Lions should be able to sign Wilson for less.
The Lions have a relatively easy schedule, so they may feel like they can still contend in the NFC North while waiting for Branch and Joseph to return. This may lead them to be more conservative and have more of a wait-and-see approach. Adding another veteran like Wilson into the mix, however, would certainly make Lions fans feel a little better about their defensive depth.
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