Detroit Lions Off-season Primer

The Detroit Lions entered this past season with Super Bowl expectations after three straight winning seasons. They ended with another winning season, but failed to make the playoffs, and fell to fourth in the NFC North. The top priorities this off-season should be to shore up the defense, and add depth to the offensive line. This team should be all in on gunning for a Super Bowl next season after the disappointment of this past season. Let’s dive into the Detroit Lions Off-Season Primer!

2025-2026 Record: 9-8 (2-4 vs NFC North); 4th in NFC North; Missed Playoffs

General Manager: Brad Holmes

Head Coach: Dan Campbell

Offensive Coordinator: Drew Petzing (New coach – Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator last season)

Defensive Coordinator: Kelvin Sheppard

Special Teams Coordinator: Dave Fipp

Expiring Contracts

Projected Cap Space: –$9,641,148 (as of 2/26/26)

Current 2026 NFL Draft Picks (as of 2/26/26):

Round 1 – 17th overall

Round 2 – 50th

Round 4 – 118th

Round 5 – 155th, 180th

Round 6 – 187th, 204th

Round 7 – 223rd

Team Needs (pre-free agency): 

EDGE, DL, OT, C, CB, S

Potential salary cap cuts: 

• OG/C Graham Glasgow (pre-March 15th cut saves $5,562,500)
• P Jack Fox (pre-March 15th cut saves $3,125,000)

Potential contract restructures:

• QB Jared Goff – 2026 cap hit: $69,600,000 … potential 2026 cap savings: $40,275,000
• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – 2026 cap hit: $33,110,000 … potential 2026 cap savings: $21,108,000
• DL Alim McNeill – 2026 cap hit: $19,850,000 … potential 2026 cap savings: $17,088,750
• OT Penei Sewell – 2026 cap hit: $28,000,000 … potential 2026 cap savings: $15,028,000

Notes:

• D.J. Reader, Alex Anzalone and Amik Robertson are most likely at the top of the list of players to re-sign. Reader is on the wrong side of 30, but he provides veteran depth at nose tackle. Anzalone is a team leader and fan favorite, and should be a priority for a franchise that values character and work ethic. Robertson wasn’t great, but he was a valuable piece of the secondary when injuries decimated the unit.
• Backup level free agents the team might be interested in bringing back (at the right price) include Al-Quadin Muhammad, Avonte Maddox, Roy Lopez, and Rock Ya-Sin. Muhammad had a career high 12 sacks, but 8 of them came in three games, and he didn’t make much of an impact week to week in the second half of the season. Still, you can never have enough pass rushers, and you can do worse than Muhammad as a part timer. Maddox and Ya-Sin played a ton down the stretch when injuries claimed every starter in the secondary. Maddox having the versatility to play all over the secondary is very appealing. Lopez is more of a depth or rotational piece, and would only be brought back if the team moves on from D.J. Reader.
• It would have been awesome if the Lions were able to release cornerback D.J. Reed and save a few bucks. He was burnt toast all season – seemingly on the wrong side of every big play given up in the passing game. Unfortunately, releasing Reed would actually cost the Lions money. If they can find a way to unload him via trade somehow, that would make me very happy.
• Detroit is nearly $10 million over the salary cap, and they have until March 15th to fix that. There aren’t many roster cuts they can make that would help, so restructuring contracts looks like the best route. Restructuring Goff’s deal would save about $40 million, so that’s almost a guarantee to get done. At least one other player listed above is going to have to restructure their deal as well, to give the team a little extra wiggle room.
• Of the possible salary cap cuts, I only really see two options: Glasgow and Fox. The Lions aren’t desperate for cap space (like the Cowboys and Vikings), but I can’t see the point of having a punter (Fox) with a $4 million cap hit. Glasgow should be a slam dunk as a cap cut. He is older (34) and didn’t play well this past season. The team could move Tate Ratledge over to center, or look for a replacement this off-season.
• I don’t agree with people listing David Montgomery as a potential cap cut. Yes, his role in the offense took a step back as Gibbs got RB1 snaps, but Monty is arguably the best backup running back in the NFL. An $8+ million cap hit is gross though, and a post June 1st cut would save about $6 million. He would be at the bottom of the list of ways to cut salary cap if I were Brad Holmes. Maybe they declare him a post-June 1st cut and then bring him back on a smaller one year deal, but is that really worth it?