The 2023 season was an exciting one for Detroit Lions fans. The Lions secured their first-ever NFC North title after going 12-5 in the regular season and won their first playoff game since 1991.
Ultimately, the season ended in disappointing fashion after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. However, the future is bright for the Detroit Lions, as they have a roster loaded with young talent. They also are in a good spot with their cap situation as they enter the offseason with the eighth most cap space in the NFL.
Detroit Lions Big Picture
Cap Space:
$44,843,386 (8th in NFL)
Effective Cap Space:
$37,814,783 (8th in NFL)
Information Via Over The Cap
Draft Picks:
Round One – Pick 29, Round Two – Pick 61, Round Three – Pick 73 (Via Vikings), Round Three – Pick 92, Round Five – Pick 163, Round Six – Pick 207, Round Seven – Pick 247
Information Via Tankathon
Detroit Lions Free Agents
Josh Reynolds
Position: WR Age: 29 PFF Projection: 2 yrs $10.5m Spotrac Projection: 2 yrs $14.1m
Josh Reynolds has put together a solid NFL career as he has spent time with the Rams, Titans, and Lions in his seven years in the NFL. Reynolds was third on the Lions in both receiving yards (740) and receiving touchdowns (6).
Jonah Jackson
Position: G Age: 27 PFF Projection: 3 yrs $30.75m
Jonah Jackson has started in all 59 games that he’s appeared in with the Lions since getting drafted in the third round in 2020. The offensive line has been a major strength for Detroit in recent years, which is why it’d be a surprise to see them let Jackson go in free agency.
Jerry Jacobs
Position: CB Age: 26 Spotrac Projection: 4 yrs $46.0m (Restricted Free Agent)
Jerry Jacobs has started 29 games in his 40 appearances over the last three years after signing with Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Jacobs is just a restricted free agent, so the Lions will likely be able to retain him.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Position: S Age: 26 PFF Projection: 1 yr $5.13m
C.J. Gardner-Johnson was a part of the Lions’ spending spree last offseason as he was brought in on a one-year, $6.5 million deal. Unfortunately, a pectoral injury in week two kept him sidelined for most of the regular season.
Emmanuel Moseley
Position: CB Age: 27 PFF Projection: 1 yr $4m
Emmanuel Mosley was also a part of the Lions’ spending spree last offseason. Moseley signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Lions. Unfortunately, his season ended after a torn ACL in the season opener. Moseley’s injury history has been very unfortunate, as he’s suffered season-ending ACL injuries in back-to-back seasons
Romeo Okwara
Position: Edge Age: 28 PFF Projection: 1 yr $2.75m
Romeo Okwara is an eight-year veteran in the NFL and has spent his last six seasons with the Lions. Okwara appeared in 19 games for the Lions as part of their edge rusher rotation, recording 330 defensive snaps (third amongst edge rushers).
Brock Wright
Position: TE Age: 25 Spotrac Projection: 3 yrs $13.5m (Restricted Free Agent)
Sam LaPorta emerged as a star tight end in his rookie season, however Brock Wright was still utilized as he played 478 snaps. With the increased use of two tight end sets across the NFL, it’s important to have multiple solid tight ends on the roster.
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Position: WR Age: 24 Spotrac Projection: 1 yr $2.8m
The Lions acquired Donovan Peoples-Jones for a sixth-round pick in October. He was not utilized heavily, as he caught five passes for 58 yards in 10 games for the Lions.
Craig Reynolds
Position: RB Age: 27 Spotrac Projection: 1 yr $1.7m
Craig Reynolds was utilized as a third-string running back this season for the Lions behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. He rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 42 attempts.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Position: G Age: 30
Halapoulivaati Vaitai was drafted by the Eagles in 2016, where he spent four seasons before signing a $45 million deal with the Lions. Vaitai, unfortunately, has been sidelined for much of the last two seasons with injuries as he missed the whole 2022 season with a back injury, and a knee injury limited him to just three games in 2023.
Graham Glasgow
Position: G Age: 31
Graham Glasgow was drafted in the third round by the Lions in 2016. He spent four years with Detroit before signing a $44 million deal with Denver in the 2020 offseason. Glasgow came back to the Lions after signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract last offseason. Retaining Glasgow with a similar price tag would be good value for the Lions.
James Houston
Position: Edge Age: 25 (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
After getting drafted in the sixth round out of Jackson State in the 2022 draft, Houston provided the Lions with a big spark as he recorded eight sacks in just seven games. Unfortunately, a leg injury in week two kept Houston sidelined for most of the 2023 season. Detroit will certainly retain Houston as he is just an exclusive rights free agent.
Benito Jones
Position: DT Age: 26 (Restricted Free Agent)
After signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Benito Jones has developed into a starter. Jones started in 15 of his 20 appearances, as he played 602 defensive snaps in the 2023 season.
Charles Harris
Position: Edge Age: 29
Charles Harris has played in the NFL for seven seasons after getting drafted in the first round in 2017. He has played his last three seasons with the Lions, appearing in 36 games and starting 21 games in his time with Detroit.
Kindle Vildor
Position: CB Age: 26
Kindle Vildor played three seasons with the Bears after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He was signed to the Lions’ practice squad in November and activated the active roster in December, where he ended up starting in weeks 17 and 18, as well as all three playoff games.
Other Free Agents:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, QB Nate Sudfeld, RB Zonovan Knight (ERFA), TE Shane Zylstra (RFA), OT Matt Nelson, Edge Anthony Pittman (RFA), Edge Julian Okwara, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Will Harris, CB Khalil Dorsey (ERFA), LS Jake McQuaide, LS Scott Daly (RFA)
Information Via Spotrac and PFF
Detroit Lions Offseason Needs
The Detroit Lions go into free agency with their star players under contract. However, they do have multiple starters and contributors set to hit free agency. With that being the case, there are a lot of positions they need to either retain their current free agent or upgrade in order to be a Super Bowl-contending roster.
With the number of star players on rookie contracts on this roster that will be up for extensions in the coming years, it’s unlikely that the Lions will commit to bringing in anybody on a big, long-term deal in free agency. However, with their cap space and the position they’re in with this young roster, it would not be surprising to see Detroit emulate its aggressiveness from last offseason in bringing in contributors at a reasonable price.
Guard
With Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai all being free agents, guards are a priority for the Lions this offseason. If they can’t bring back at least two or three of them, the Lions will need to look elsewhere for a starting guard.
Cornerback
Detroit was aggressive in their pursuit of cornerbacks last offseason as they brought in both Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency and drafted Brian Branch in the second round. The good news for Lions fans is Branch had an outstanding rookie season and projects well to be their starting slot corner for years to come. Unfortunately, Moseley, who signed a one-year deal, missed nearly the entire season after a torn ACL in the season opener.
The Lions head into the offseason with a need at boundary corner. There are a lot of intriguing options in free agency at corner. If the Lions want to make a big splash, Jaylon Johnson, L’Jarius Sneed, and Kendall Fuller are all available. The more likely scenario is that they target a veteran on a short-term deal. Stephon Gilmore, Steven Nelson, and Kenny Moore are all solid options.
Edge Rusher
Aidan Hutchinson is a phenomenal player, but Detroit could use a better compliment to him. No edge rusher aside from Hutchinson on the Lions registered more than 24 pressures this season. Luckily, there are a lot of good options for free agent targets at edge rusher available this offseason if the Lions choose to go that route.
Building depth in the edge rusher rotation is also a priority, as James Houston (ERFA), Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara, and Charles Harris are all free agents this offseason.
Defensive Tackle
One position the Lions can look to improve this offseason is at defensive tackle. Alim McNeil was outstanding last year, but they lack an additional defensive tackle who can consistently generate pressure.
The defensive tackle free agency class is also very strong. With players like Justin Madubuike, Leonard Williams, DJ Reader, Grover Stewart, and Teair Tart, there are a lot of strong options available if the Lions decide to invest in a defensive tackle. In the draft, if Johnny Newton or Byron Murphy are still on the board at 29th overall, that would be excellent value for Detroit.
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