It can be challenging to follow the Detroit Lions’ roster movement during the offseason. So, to make things easier on Lions fans, we’re tracking every signing, re-signing, tagging, and roster loss in one convenient place.
For this continuously updating piece, we will focus on the Lions’ 2025 roster heading toward free agency and the NFL Draft. This article is organized by position group and will provide fans with an overview of the players on the roster, injured reserve, or practice squad at the end of the season.
Within each section, we will provide readers with an end-of-season depth chart at the position, identify the roles players held, the 2025 contract details of the players currently signed by the Lions, as well as several key terms to better clarify each player’s situation. There will also be links to other articles for those fans looking for even more depth of coverage.
So, bookmark this page and revisit it as roster updates are made.
UFA: Unrestricted Free Agents can sign with any team during the free agency period beginning on March 12 (tampering negotiations begin on the 10th). Lions can re-sign these players at any time.
RFA: Restricted Free Agents rights are held by the Lions. If an RFA receives a contract from another team, the Lions can match the offer or potentially receive draft compensation for allowing the player to leave.
ERFA: Exclusive Rights Free Agents are only allowed to negotiate contracts with the Lions unless Detroit chooses to let them explore free agency.
SFA: Street Free Agents are players who were under contract with an NFL team in 2024, but not on an active roster at the season’s end. They are free to sign with any team immediately. The most common SFAs are players who were on NFL practice squads.
Futures contracts are deals given to street free agents before the start of free agency. They’re called “futures” deals because while currently signed, these contracts don’t count against the cap until a “future” date—which is the start of free agency.
(Note: the Lions have already begun signing players to futures contracts)
2025 Cap Hit: How much a player counts against the team’s 2025 salary cap.
Guarantees remaining: this is the remaining guaranteed money owed to the player over the remainder of his contract, not just 2025. If the Lions move on from a player with guaranteed money, that amount will count against the Lions’ cap, even though the player is no longer on the roster (“dead cap”). Expiring contracts that had VOIDED years also fall into this category.
Quarterback
With Goff, Hooker, and Fromm under contract, the Lions won’t be pressed to make any hasty decisions, and instead, can add another camp arm as they see fit. Bridgewater appears to be headed back to coaching high school football, then could consider another return after his next high school championship. If he ever wants a coaching job in the NFL, he’s surely have a job waiting for him in Detroit, but he’s made clear that’s not what he wants at the moment.
Gibbs and Montgomery are locked in to return as arguably the best running back tandem in football, Vaki gives them upside insurance at the position, while Reynolds and Jefferson are pending free agents. It’d be surprising to see Reynolds get an RFA tag—considering the minimum tender is $3.2 million for one season—but he could get a new contract, as the Lions love him in their RB3 role. The fact that Jefferson did not sign a futures deal in Detroit indicates either he or the team elected to explore other options.
Returning St. Brown, Williams, and Raymond should give the comfort at the position, but they’ll enter this offseason looking for a WR-X. Patrick was ideal in the role last season and should be one of the Lions’ top priorities in free agency, while Robinson was valued for his leadership but could be near the end of his career. Can Antoine Green take the next step and throw his hat into the WR-X mix? Former Michigan Wolverine Ronnie Bell is an ideal system fit and could carve out a role, while fellow Wolverine Peoples-Jones could be looking for another opportunity after not signing a futures contract.
Like at the Lions’ other offensive skill positions, their tight end group also returns their top two options, with the third being a player they’d surely like to bring back in 2025. Zylstra elevated his game this past year and was rewarded for it, and like Reynolds, he seems unlikely to get an RFA tag but should be in line for a new contract. The Lions will need to replenish the competition for depth in 2026 but shouldn’t feel pressed to add a player early in free agency or the draft.
Like most ERFAs, Galvin will most likely be extended a league minimum offer, and because he can’t negotiate with another NFL team, he’ll probably return in 2025. That would leave Skipper as the only 2024 offensive tackle not under contract for next season. While Skipper has certainly carved himself out a role as the team’s sixth offensive lineman, there’s room for the team to consider making an upgrade at OT3. Is Manu ready? Could Sorsdal take the year three leap and step into the role? Or will the Lions pursue an outside option?
Solidifying their offensive line should be a top priority for the Lions every offseason and re-signing Zeitler could do that for 2025. However, both Zeitler and Glasgow are old enough that Detroit needs to begin planning for a future without them, and while Mahogany should fill one of those roles, adding another guard in the offseason could be important. Niese should return on an ERFA deal, while Awosika—like most RFAs—would need a new contract.
With McNeill coming off injury, Reader being in a contract year, and Onwuzurike and O’Connor pending free agents, the Lions have a lot of work to do on the interior defensive line. What happens with Onwuzurike figures to be one of the more interesting decisions the Lions make this offseason. Will his injury history impact his free agency, or will Detroit get a deal done with him ahead of time? O’Connor and Peko could be easy re-signs to help give the Lions insurance while they wait on Martin’s development.
*indicates a fifth-year option
Hutchinson is on track to return in full for next season but who starts opposite him is an unknown. Paschal and Smith finished the season as starters but the Lions will likely want more pass rushing options. Plus, there’s no guarantee Smith will return with his contract, as he has a significant amount of guaranteed money that will come due if the Lions elect to keep him on the roster in 2025.
Here’s the CliffsNotes version of Smith’s contract: While Smith’s current cap hit is only $5.7 million in 2025, the escalators that will come due over the next six months could end up costing the Lions another $5.25 million in 2026 (when he’s not on the roster), with $9.5 of the total being guaranteed. However, if they elect to release him before March 15, they can do so with no cap penalties and no future cap costs.
Expect the Lions to add/return at least one high-upside edge rusher this offseason and it wouldn’t be surprising if they added multiple pass rushers.
*indicates a fifth-year option
Last season, then-defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn introduced an expanded role for the SAM linebacker, which featured Derrick Barnes. Now, with Glenn in New York and Barnes a free agent, it’s fair to wonder how much of his scheme will remain under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. With Sheppard’s background being at linebacker, it’s logical to think the Lions could keep the SAM role in place—but Shep may also look to put his own twist on things.
Sheppard’s philosophy with the SAM will directly impact how much the Lions value retaining Barnes, or acquiring another player with his skill set. Nowaske fits the bill and should be an easy retain with an ERFA tag, but he’s still growing into the position.
Pittman, Niemann, and Turner are all primarily special teamers and any or all of them could be retained for competition.
The Lions only have half their cornerbacks from 2024 under contract in 2025, and while they could probably work with Arnold, Robertson, and Rakestraw as starters, this room needs a lot of depth and probably at least one other player who could challenge for a starting role.
Davis is exactly what the Lions want in a starting corner and they’ll surely explore if they can afford to retain him in 2025. Vildor is solid depth and worth retaining, while Dorsey is arguably the team’s best non-kicking special teamer. Bringing Moseley back could be a hard sell.
The Lions have arguably the best safety tandem in the NFL and adding Melifonwu to the mix gives them a ton of range. However, Melifonwu has a long injury history that has kept him off the field which makes his next contract an interesting debate. Can they trust him to stay healthy and at what cost will his retention demand?
