Cap space is a fickle thing.
The Detroit Lions know this all too well. They’re headed into 2026 with a precarious cap situation unfolding in front of them, and with several key extensions still left to dole out. Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, and Jack Campbell highlight that group.
Aside from those extensions, there are a mountain of free agents that Detroit will have to decide on pursuing or letting walk. Most will likely end up splitting for another team given the Lions’ cash issues, while some might be worth trying to bring back on team-friendly deals for depth purposes.
While the Lions have yet to take the first snap of their Week 18 contest against the Chicago Bears, we’ll dive into all of the teams’ free agents heading into 2026, and the notable names to monitor as potential candidates for a return next season.
Lions’ free agents heading into 2026
Bolded are players that are predicted to walk this offseason:
D.J. Reader
Alex Anzalone
Amik Robertson
Levi Onwuzurike
Kalif Raymond
Roy Lopez
Marcus Davenport
Josh Paschal
Grant Stuard
Daniel Thomas
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Avonte Maddox
Kayode Awosika
Kyle Allen
Arthur Maulet
Jalen Mills
Zeke Turner
Zach Cunningham
Trystan Colon
Rock Ya-Sin
Dan Skipper
Anthony Firsker
Jamarco Jones
Shane Zylstra
Tom Kennedy
Tyrus Wheat
Trevor Nowaske
Jake Bates
Malcolm Rodriguez
Michael Niese
Nick Whiteside
Jacob Saylors
Amongst EDGE rushers, it feels obvious that Muhammad has stamped his place on this roster thanks to an 11-sack season alongside Aidan Hutchinson. While he might not be as “explosive” as Hutchinson, Muhammad was at least consistent. You cannot say the same about Davenport, who kept going up and down from the starting lineup thanks to injuries. It feels like this is his last season with the Lions as a result.
As for the teams’ depth on their offensive line, Roy Lopez stood out as one of the only offensive linemen that, when called upon, had a solid few games. However, the rest of the Lions’ impending free agents on the O-line – Awosika, Skipper, and Colon – really didn’t show enough to garner confidence from fans that they could step it up in 2026 and beyond.
Awosika could be a fringe selection, though, considering the team may be bringing him back to create competition at center.
The biggest loss likely impending is that of Anzalone, one of the Lions’ best defenders this year and one of the very few that stayed healthy for an entire season. Entering camp, there was a ton of speculation about whether the Lions would even be interested in extending Anzalone, let alone offering him a new deal headed into 2026.
With Campbell’s emergence as a top linebacker, though, they may not have the money to keep both him and Campbell on. Rodriguez, as a result, feels like a natural re-signing at that position in order to remediate the loss of Anzalone.
Detroit still has several extensions to hand out before even getting into the nitty-gritty of this impending, large free agent class. But, given their cash situation, it’s beginning to look like they’ll need to restructure almost every single unit headed into the next year in order to keep their window open.
