Follow every signing and trade with The Athletic’s live coverage of 2025 NFL free agency
Free agency is upon us, and the Detroit Lions will look to re-tool a roster that helped them win 15 games and earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year.
Truthfully, the Lions don’t have many immediate needs and starting jobs up for grabs. They have some key free agents who could depart, and if they do, the team will need to address those positions. However, most of their issues last year were due to defensive injuries piling up at an alarming rate. While there might be enough room in the budget to make a run at a high-end free agent, expect the team to prioritize depth, while plugging holes with sensible, short-term options.
“It just made it more evident depth is a huge, critical piece,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said of Detroit’s injuries. “That‘s throughout the entire year. It might not be the first wave of free agency. It might not be the draft. It might be a Pat O’Connor during the summer you add, and you just never know that might be the critical piece that you need from a depth standpoint.”
As things kick off, be sure to follow along here — where we’ll track all of Detroit’s signings and moves.
March 12
Lions RB Craig Reynolds re-signing on 1-year deal: league source
Detroit’s No. 3 RB and a key special teams contributor, Reynolds has been with the Lions since 2021 and will now run it back. Good move for the culture and to keep a tight-knit running back room intact.
Former Lions G Kevin Zeitler is signing a 1-year, $9 million deal, per NFL Network
A bit of a loss for the Lions. Zeitler, 35, provided quality play at right guard, slotting in next to a pair of All-Pros in Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow. After playing on a $6 million deal last year, Zeitler earned a pay bump and will now make just under $10 million playing for the Titans. The interior offensive line is important, as is protecting Jared Goff. Holmes said the team will always invest in the trenches. The Lions have Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany remaining, but it would make sense for the team to add either a veteran who could compete with those two or a quality guard prospect in the draft. The two best get to start, and the No. 3 becomes valuable depth. It’s worth noting the Lions added Zeitler on the sixth day of free agency last year, so there’s plenty of time to add to the room. We’ll see what happens.
Lions signing former Colts LB Grant Stuard to a 1-year deal, per Aaron Wilson
Stuard has the look of true a Jalen Reeves-Maybin replacement. He was a special teams standout with the Colts, playing significant reps on kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage and field goal block. On defense, Stuard was a reserve who played a career-high 229 snaps in 2024. He’s also a high-character individual with an incredibly story, written by The Athletic’s Zak Keefer. Well worth your time.
First-year LBs coach Shaun Dion-Hamilton’s room is starting to round out. With Malcolm Rodriguez recovering from a torn ACL, the Lions have now re-signed Derrick Barnes, Ezekiel Turner and added Stuard to a group that also includes Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone. Expect Anzalone and Stuard to compete for the title of best hair on the team.
Lions re-signing DT Levi Onwuzurike to a 1-year, $5.5 million deal: league source
Quite frankly, this is a steal. Per PFF, Onwuzurike ranked top 15 among all DTs in pass-rush win rate and pressures last season — easily the best of his career as his rookie contract came to an end. Onwuzurike has some real pass-rush juice and even was able to play some edge when the Lions needed him to (with mixed results), so he added some versatility this past season. Given how defensive tackles are getting paid, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Onwuzurike in the range of $8-10 million, possibly more. The former second-round pick is finally ascending after a healthy season. However, that hasn’t always been the case. Onwuzurike missed the entire 2022 season due to a back injury, and didn’t look entirely healthy in 2023, either. Perhaps that played more of a factor in his 2025 market than expected because you have to think a player of his age (only 27) and 2024 production could’ve fetched far more if he had a longer, healthier track record. In the end, this is great news for the Lions. They keep a talented young rotational interior pass-rusher for another year, and Onwuzurike has another year to secure a long-term contract.
March 11
Lions, DT Roy Lopez agree to a 1-year, $4.65 million deal, per NFL Network
Not a splashy move, but considering Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo are recovering from torn ACLs, Levi Onwuzurike could depart in free agency and DJ Reader will turn 31 this year, some depth at DT is never a bad thing. Speaking of Reader, Lopez is a nose tackle much like Reader. Lopez recorded 19 pressures (tied for 59th among DTs, per PFF) and recorded a pass-rush win rate of 8.5 percent (50th – min. 125 pass-rush snaps). A 2021 sixth-round pick, Lopez, 27, will join his third team after playing for the Texans and Cardinals previously. Again, added depth for a room that could use some — particularly if Onwuzurike goes elsewhere. Considering how strong a defensive tackle class is, don’t be surprised if the Lions add at DT in the draft in addition to this move.
Dolphins, Ifeatu Melifonwu agree to 1-year deal: report
The Dolphins are reportedly signing former Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to a 1-year, $4 million deal, per ESPN. Drafted in 2021 with a pick gained from the Matthew Stafford trade, Melifonwu made the switch from cornerback to safety in his career. He’s a better fit stylistically there, where he can use his athleticism to blitz and size to roam the field, but Melifonwu simply couldn’t stay healthy during his time in Detroit. It seemed like every time he made strides, they were negated by injuries. This past season, Melifonwu spent much of the year on IR for an ankle injury, returned for a day in November, and landed on IR with a finger injury. Expect the Lions to look for a rotational third safety in free agency or the draft after the departure of Melifonwu, who becomes the first Holmes draft pick selected in the first three rounds to leave.
March 10
Lions, D.J. Reed agree to 3-year, $48 million deal, according to a league source
The Lions lost Carlton Davis, and they didn’t take long to replace him with Reed. Reed, 28, spent three seasons opposite Sauce Gardner on the Jets, and he now joins a Detroit team that needed help at the position. The Lions are expected to continue playing man coverage at a high rate under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Reed played 31.1 percent of his snaps in man coverage (45th among CBs, per PFF). For reference, his new running mate in Detroit — Terrion Arnold — played 46.2 percent of his snaps in man. However, Reed earned a coverage grade of 66.1 in man, which was tied for 28th among CBs last season (min. 150 coverage snaps).
The 28-year-old was No. 9 on The Athletic’s top 150 updated free-agent rankings and was the second-highest-rated cornerback on the market, behind Charvarius Ward. Reed was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent two years with San Francisco and two years with the Seattle Seahawks before inking a three-year deal with the New York Jets in 2022.
Carlton Davis agrees to 3-year deal with the Patriots, per sources
Per The Athletic’s Mike Silver, the Lions made a late push to retain Davis, but he’s off to New England. A reunion always seemed unlikely, given Davis’ recent comments about not settling for less than he’s worth. In his one year with the Lions, Davis was an excellent man cover corner — and has been for some time. The Lions traded a 2024 third-round pick for his services last offseason, entering the final year of his contract. He provided the team with above-average play at a position they’d been looking to fill for years. The opportunity to play for a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Vrabel, be reunited with former Lions DL coach Terrell Williams — now the Patriots DC — and line up opposite of Christian Gonzalez had to be appealing to Davis, on top of the money he’s getting.
Lions to re-sign LB Derrick Barnes
Barnes, coming off a knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign in Week 3, was one of the question marks heading into free agency. A 2021 fourth-round pick who quietly developed into a versatile, quality linebacker was set to be a free agent as his rookie contract expired. But there’s nothing to question anymore. The Lions have re-signed Barnes and are giving him a three-year, $25.5 million deal. Truthfully, there is no player on Detroit’s roster who can do what Barnes can do. He mans the SAM linebacker role in Detroit’s defense — an important one, given what’s asked of the position. Barnes is Detroit’s most versatile linebacker, with the athleticism to drop into coverage, rush the passer and play in the box on a given defensive series. The Lions played the highest rate of three-linebacker sets in the league last season, per TruMedia. Considering this, and the fact that Barnes is an excellent locker room presence and given his youth (turns 26 in May), he’s a young player worth keeping around. Have to think new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard did not want to lose a player he helped develop over four years.
Lions to re-sign LB Ezekiel Turner
Added almost out of necessity last year with so many injured linebackers, Turner proved capable of providing depth on defense and can be a contributor on special teams at a reasonable price. He also felt like a good locker room presence.
March 9
Lions release edge Za’Darius Smith
A surprise to some, Smith was the most obvious cap casualty on Detroit’s roster. He was due a $2 million bonus on March 15, and had the Lions kept him on the roster, they would’ve been responsible for Smith’s contract. Instead, a clean split with no money owed. The Lions saved roughly $5.7 million with this move for 2025 and $5.2 million in dead cap next year — about $11 million over two seasons — but it leaves an opening in the starting lineup. Smith totaled nine sacks (18th in the NFL) and 63 pressures (10th) with a win rate of 18.7 percent (8th — min. 100 pass-rush snaps) as a member of the Lions and Browns in 2024, per PFF. That won’t be easy to replicate at Smith’s relatively inexpensive price tag. Perhaps the Lions feel they can upgrade — either in free agency or the draft. Davenport is back, but with his extensive injury history, you can’t count on him to last a full season playing a starter’s workload. We’ll see how the Lions go about filling Smith’s role. It’s an important one.
March 8
Lions to re-sign edge Marcus Davenport
This move won’t be universally received since Davenport managed just two games last year before a tricep injury ended his season. He’s averaged 6.7 missed games per season in his career and has only played six of a possible 34 regular-season games over the last two seasons. A year ago, the Lions signed Davenport to be a starter and it backfired tremendously, as injuries once again wiped out his season. However, in the games he did play, he flashed the style of play the Lions want opposite of Hutchinson. He can crush a pocket, set an edge and clean up plays that are funneled his way. At this point in his career, Davenport shouldn’t be counted on to play a starter’s workload. However, in a rotational/depth role where his snaps are limited, this could be a sneaky good move. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions are giving Davenport a one-year deal worth up to $4.75 million, which implies there are incentives involved and his base salary is less.
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March 7
Lions to re-sign Anthony Pittman
Pittman, 28, had been a mainstay in the locker room before signing with the Washington Commanders last offseason. But the Commanders waived Pittman before roster cuts, and he spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad before the Lions added him back late in the year. The team is now set to bring him back on 1-year deal, per reports. Pittman is a trusted special teamer in Detroit, and should help account for the snaps lost by releasing Reeves-Maybin.
Feb. 28
Lions release LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
The Lions released Reeves-Maybin, a former team captain and special teams ace, in one of their first moves of the offseason. Drafted by the Lions in 2017, Reeves-Maybin signed with the Texans for the 2022 season before returning to Detroit the following two years. Viewed as a quality special-teamer (earned an All-Pro nod as a special teamer in 2023), the Lions signed Reeves-Maybin to a two-year extension ahead of the 2024 season. However, a neck injury suffered last year limited him to just 10 games. Detroit made the decision to part ways with the 30-year-old linebacker during the combine, saving roughly $2 million in cap space.
Positions to monitor
Edge: Smith is out, Davenport is back, but what will the rest of the room look like? Are the Lions targeting a bigger move with some of the cap space saved from releasing Smith? Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson is available via trade, but he wants a new contract, and Holmes told reporters at the combine that the Lions probably can’t afford to pay two high-end pass rushers. They’re in the planning stages of a Hutchinson extension. Would a veteran like Khalil Mack be open to taking less than what he could command to join a contender like the Lions? What about his former running mate in Joey Bosa? Hard to say, but it doesn’t feel like the Lions are done here.
Za’Darius Smith’s release from the #Lions frees up $5.7M of space. The 32-year-old had a $6.99M option bonus due March 14th.
Detroit acquired him at the deadline in exchange for a 5th & 6th round pick.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 9, 2025
External free agents worth watching: Khalil Mack, Malcolm Koonce, Dayo Odeyingbo, Chauncey Golston, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, Derrick Barnett.
Offensive line: Kevin Zeitler, who just turned 35 this month, is one of Detroit’s top free agents. Despite his age, Zeitler can still get it done at a high level. He was a Pro Bowl guard in 2023 and had the resume of one in 2024. If Zeitler is looking to win and money isn’t an object, the Lions remain an attractive landing spot. He can slot in next to a pair of All-Pros in Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow — something most teams can’t offer him. The Lions boast one of the league’s best rosters and won 15 games in an injury-plagued season. Running it back would make sense for both parties, but perhaps the Lions would like to get younger at the position. Christian Mahogany looks like he’s ready for a starting gig. Or maybe Zeitler believes he can get more money in the open market. We’ll see what happens. If Zeitler isn’t back, the Lions could look to bring in competition for Graham Glasgow and Mahogany, either in free agency or the draft.
External free agents worth watching: Will Hernandez, James Daniels, Brandon Scherff, Evan Brown.
Defensive tackle: Levi Onwuzurike is coming off his best season as a professional, and the timing lines up for him to get paid. He recorded 45 pressures (tied for 15th among DTs) and a pass-rush win rate of 12.5 percent (tied for 13th among DTs — min. 130 pass-rush snaps). PFF projects Onwuzurike to land a two-year deal worth $16.5 million. Is that in Detroit’s range? Or would they rather look to replace Onwuzurike in what appears to be a deep and talented DT draft class?
External free agents worth watching: Poona Ford, Calais Campbell, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines.
(Top photo of Marcus Davenport: Junfu Han / USA Today)
