Lions contract tracker: Depth chart of signed gamers, free brokers & cap hits

It may be difficult to comply with the Detroit Lions’ roster motion in the course of the offseason. So, to make issues simpler on Lions followers, we’re monitoring each signing, re-signing, tagging, and roster loss in a single handy place.

For this constantly updating piece, we’ll concentrate on the Lions’ 2025 roster heading towards free company and the NFL Draft. This text is organized by place group and can present followers with an outline of the gamers on the roster, injured reserve, or follow squad on the finish of the season.

Inside every part, we’ll present readers with an end-of-season depth chart on the place, determine the roles gamers held, the 2025 contract particulars of the gamers presently signed by the Lions, in addition to a number of key phrases to raised make clear every participant’s scenario. There may even be hyperlinks to different articles for these followers in search of much more depth of protection.

So, bookmark this web page and revisit it as roster updates are made.

Phrases to Know:

UFA: Unrestricted Free Brokers can signal with any workforce in the course of the free company interval starting on March 12 (tampering negotiations start on the tenth). Lions can re-sign these gamers at any time.

RFA: Restricted Free Brokers rights are held by the Lions. If an RFA receives a contract from one other workforce, the Lions can match the supply or doubtlessly obtain draft compensation for permitting the participant to go away.

ERFA: Unique Rights Free Brokers are solely allowed to barter contracts with the Lions until Detroit chooses to allow them to discover free company.

SFA: Road Free Brokers are gamers who have been beneath contract with an NFL workforce in 2024, however not on an energetic roster on the season’s finish. They’re free to signal with any workforce instantly. The most typical SFAs are gamers who have been on NFL follow squads.

Futures contracts are offers given to avenue free brokers earlier than the beginning of free company. They’re known as “futures” offers as a result of whereas presently signed, these contracts don’t rely towards the cap till a “future” date—which is the beginning of free company.

(Word: the Lions have already begun signing gamers to futures contracts)

2025 Cap Hit: How a lot a participant counts towards the workforce’s 2025 wage cap.

Ensures remaining: that is the remaining assured cash owed to the participant over the rest of his contract, not simply 2025. If the Lions transfer on from a participant with assured cash, that quantity will rely towards the Lions’ cap, though the participant is now not on the roster (“dead cap”). Expiring contracts that had VOIDED years additionally fall into this class.

Quarterback

With Goff, Hooker, and Fromm beneath contract, the Lions received’t be pressed to make any hasty selections, and as an alternative, can add one other camp arm as they see match. Bridgewater seems to be headed again to teaching highschool soccer, then might think about one other return after his subsequent highschool championship. If he ever desires a training job within the NFL, he’s certainly have a job ready for him in Detroit, however he’s made clear that’s not what he desires for the time being.

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Operating again

*signifies a fifth-year possibility

Gibbs and Montgomery are locked in to return as arguably one of the best operating again tandem in soccer, Vaki offers them upside insurance coverage on the place, whereas Reynolds and Jefferson are pending free brokers. It’d be shocking to see Reynolds get an RFA tag—contemplating the minimal tender is $3.2 million for one season—however he might get a brand new contract, because the Lions love him of their RB3 function. The truth that Jefferson didn’t signal a futures deal in Detroit signifies both he or the workforce elected to discover different choices.

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Extensive receiver

*signifies a fifth-year possibility

Returning St. Brown, Williams, and Raymond ought to give the consolation on the place, however they’ll enter this offseason in search of a WR-X. Patrick was perfect within the function final season and needs to be one of many Lions’ high priorities in free company, whereas Robinson was valued for his management however may very well be close to the tip of his profession. Can Antoine Inexperienced take the following step and throw his hat into the WR-X combine? Former Michigan Wolverine Ronnie Bell is a perfect system match and will carve out a task, whereas fellow Wolverine Peoples-Jones may very well be in search of one other alternative after not signing a futures contract.

UFA profile:

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Tight finish

Like on the Lions’ different offensive ability positions, their tight finish group additionally returns their high two choices, with the third being a participant they’d certainly wish to deliver again in 2025. Zylstra elevated his sport this previous 12 months and was rewarded for it, and like Reynolds, he appears unlikely to get an RFA tag however needs to be in line for a brand new contract. The Lions might want to replenish the competitors for depth in 2026 however shouldn’t really feel pressed so as to add a participant early in free company or the draft.

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Offensive sort out

Like most ERFAs, Galvin will most definitely be prolonged a league minimal supply, and since he can’t negotiate with one other NFL workforce, he’ll most likely return in 2025. That would depart Skipper as the one 2024 offensive sort out not beneath contract for subsequent season. Whereas Skipper has actually carved himself out a task because the workforce’s sixth offensive lineman, there’s room for the workforce to contemplate making an improve at OT3. Is Manu prepared? May Sorsdal take the 12 months three leap and step into the function? Or will the Lions pursue an outdoor possibility?

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Inside offensive line

Solidifying their offensive line needs to be a high precedence for the Lions each offseason and re-signing Zeitler might do this for 2025. Nevertheless, each Zeitler and Glasgow are sufficiently old that Detroit wants to start planning for a future with out them, and whereas Mahogany ought to fill a kind of roles, including one other guard within the offseason may very well be necessary. Niese ought to return on an ERFA deal, whereas Awosika—like most RFAs—would want a brand new contract.

UFA profile:

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Inside line of defense

With McNeill coming off damage, Reader being in a contract 12 months, and Onwuzurike and O’Connor pending free brokers, the Lions have lots of work to do on the inside line of defense. What occurs with Onwuzurike figures to be one of many extra fascinating selections the Lions make this offseason. Will his damage historical past impression his free company, or will Detroit get a deal accomplished with him forward of time? O’Connor and Peko may very well be simple re-signs to assist in giving the Lions insurance coverage whereas they wait on Martin’s improvement.

UFA profile:

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Edge rushers

*signifies a fifth-year possibility

Hutchinson is on observe to return in full for subsequent season however who begins reverse him is an unknown. Paschal and Smith completed the season as starters however the Lions will possible need extra move speeding choices. Plus, there’s no assure Smith will return along with his contract, as he has a big quantity of assured cash that can come due if the Lions elect to maintain him on the roster in 2025.

Right here’s the CliffsNotes model of Smith’s contract: Whereas Smith’s present cap hit is barely $5.7 million in 2025, the escalators that can come due over the following six months might find yourself costing the Lions one other $5.25 million in 2026 (when he’s not on the roster), with $9.5 of the overall being assured. Nevertheless, in the event that they elect to launch him earlier than March 15, they will achieve this with no cap penalties and no future cap prices.

Count on the Lions so as to add/return at the very least one high-upside edge rusher this offseason and it wouldn’t be shocking in the event that they added a number of move rushers.

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Linebackers

*signifies a fifth-year possibility

Final season, then-defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn launched an expanded function for the SAM linebacker, which featured Derrick Barnes. Now, with Glenn in New York and Barnes a free agent, it’s truthful to marvel how a lot of his scheme will stay beneath new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. With Sheppard’s background being at linebacker, it’s logical to assume the Lions might hold the SAM function in place—however Shep can also look to place his personal twist on issues.

Sheppard’s philosophy with the SAM will straight impression how a lot the Lions worth retaining Barnes, or buying one other participant along with his ability set. Nowaske suits the invoice and needs to be a straightforward retain with an ERFA tag, however he’s nonetheless rising into the place.

Pittman, Niemann, and Turner are all primarily particular teamers and all or any of them may very well be retained for competitors.

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Cornerback

*signifies a fifth-year possibility

The Lions solely have half their cornerbacks from 2024 beneath contract in 2025, and whereas they might most likely work with Arnold, Robertson, and Rakestraw as starters, this room wants lots of depth and possibly at the very least one different participant who might problem for a beginning function.

Davis is strictly what the Lions need in a beginning nook they usually’ll certainly discover if they will afford to retain him in 2025. Vildor is strong depth and price retaining, whereas Dorsey is arguably the workforce’s finest non-kicking particular teamer. Bringing Moseley again may very well be a tough promote.

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Security

The Lions have arguably one of the best security tandem within the NFL and including Melifonwu to the combination offers them a ton of vary. Nevertheless, Melifonwu has a protracted damage historical past that has saved him off the sector which makes his subsequent contract an fascinating debate. Can they belief him to remain wholesome and at what price will his retention demand?

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Particular groups

Fox made the Professional Bowl, Bates efficiently made virtually 90% of his subject objectives, and Hatten proved to be a dependable lengthy snapper with the vary to get downfield and make tackles. The Lions have their particular groups trio.

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2025 Lions roster at a look

Word: Gamers with no background shade are set to be free brokers