This is way earlier than I expected to be writing about the Lions’ off-season, but here we are. The wound is still fresh and the idea of no meaningful Lions football being played until September still hurts.

There’s no doubt that the Lions’ regular season was remarkable. Going 15-2 with a historic amount of injuries on defense was an incredible accomplishment. However, it’s hard to look back on it positively after the team collapsed in their first postseason game. There was plenty of blame to go around. The entire team on both sides of the ball played horrible. With that said, there’s no choice but to turn the page.

The Lions’ Super Bowl window certainly hasn’t closed. Detroit does not have any super significant players going to free agency and their young core will allow them to play at a high level for years to come. There are a few guys they could consider bringing back like CB Carlton Davis, OL Kevin Zeitler, EDGE Marcus Davenport, and S Ifeatu Melifonwu.

Detroit will need to prioritize defensive depth this off-season and bring in players via free agency to help soften the blow if they lose key players on that side of the ball again next season. I’ll be listing some of the players they likely will target this off-season, starting with a pair of cornerbacks whose teams missed the postseason in 2024-25.

CBs D.J Reed, Charvarius Ward

Rookie first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold showed very promising development this season. He was getting penalized far too often early in the season but cleaned it up and proved he can cover some of the best receivers the league has to offer. With Davis being a free agent, that leaves Arnold, Amik Robertson, and Ennis Rakestraw on top of the Lions depth chart at corner. This is a position I’d like to see Detroit be agressive with through free agency rather than the NFL Draft because this class is weak at the position. Even if they do re-sign Davis, I would like for them to sign one of these guys because of Davis’ injury history.

D.J. Reed was ranked 14th at his position by PFF last season for the New York Jets. He boasted a solid 52.26% lockdown percentage as well. It’s obvious that the Lions could benefit from Reed’s services after allowing 45 points in the postseason.

Charvarius Ward had a bad year both personally and on the field. He tragically lost his two-year-old daughter during the season and is looking for a change of scenery in 2025. He had a great 2023 season where he earned an 86.5 PFF coverage grade, which was the third best at the position that season. If he gets the change of scenery he’s looking for, his numbers will likely improve.

S Talanoa Hufanga

I know what you’re thinking, the Lions are all set at safety. I would say that’s true, but we only think that way because the depth at that position was barely tested this season. Even with all the injuries, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch played in almost every game. I wouldn’t rule out signing a solid safety for depth in case the Joseph/Branch duo were to be impacted by an injury.

Talanoa Hufanga was Amon-Ra St. Brown’s teammate at USC. Since joining the NFL, he has seven career interceptions. He played in just seven games this season, so his numbers weren’t as good on paper as they have been in past seasons. This would be a good addition to a defense that struggled mightily this season.

LB E.J Speed

Linebacker was one of the positions that was ravaged by injuries in 2024. Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Derrick Barnes all suffered significant injuries this season. One positive note was Jack Campbell’s development going well. Barnes, Trevor Nowaske, and Ben Niemann will be free agents this off-season. I would think Detroit could bring them all back if they wanted to.

Although linebacker isn’t a pressing need, E.J Speed would be an affordable player with lots of upside. He’s a great run defender with athletic traits that translate to solid coverage. Speed has 246 tackles in 26 starts, and was ranked the 15th linebacker in run defense grade and number seven in run stop percentage, according to PFF, when he took over a starting job in 2023. He came up with several timely tackles-for-loss as a key defender on the Colts and may take his talents to a contender next season. That contender could be the Detroit Lions.

EDGE Rushers: Josh Sweat, Azeez Ojulari, DeMarcus Lawrence

There are several candidates in free agency for the Lions to improve their pass rush. They will have a good duo on the edge with Aidan Hutchinson’s return and Za’Darius Smith playing in his first full season with the Lions. However, as bad as their pass rush was, they need to have their foot on the gas this off-season and improve in the trenches. They have the money to make some splashes.

It would be nice to get Josh Sweat away from the Eagles, perhaps the biggest threat to the Lions for the next few seasons. The opportunity to play alongside Hutchinson and Smith might be enough to entice him.

Azeez Ojulari earned some money this season by having six sacks in 11 games before a season-ending toe injury. He’s still young and could provide a much needed spark to the Lions’ pass rush.

DeMarcus Lawrence should be an affordable veteran who was producing very well before he suffered a season-ending injury. He only played for a month, but in that time had 14 tackles, three sacks. four tackles for loss, 10 quarterback pressures and a forced fumble.

Honorable mentions: Khalil Mack, Haasan Reddick, Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Malcolm Koonce

IDL B.J Hill

DT Alim McNeil will not be ready for the 2025 season because of the torn ACL he suffered against the Bills, and former second-round pick Levi Onwuzerike will be a free agent. D.J Reader will be playing in the final year of his contract as well. It’s vital that the Lions bulk up on the interior of the defensive line. I want to see them target one of Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, or Derrick Harmon in the first-round of the upcoming draft, but I would like to see them make a splash in free agency.

When healthy, B.J Hill is one of the most disruptive interior defensive lineman in football and would help the Lions’ abysmal pass rush complete a turnaround in 2025.

WRs Keenan Allen, D.J Chark, Tyler Boyd

I think it’s more likely that Tim Patrick re-signs than it is for these guys to sign, but time will tell. If Patrick doesn’t return, these names all make a lot of sense.

The best option, in my opinion, would be Keenan Allen. He would make a perfect WR3 in this offense.

A reunion with D.J Chark would also make perfect sense. He and Jared Goff always seemed to be on the same page. I can see him wearing a Lions uniform again.

Tyler Boyd had been the third option in Cincinnati for a long time prior to moving over to Tennessee, so I’m unsure if he would be willing to sign with a team like the Lions that have their top two WRs set. If he did sign here, he would be very good in a WR3 role.

Honorable mentions: Mack Hollins, Mike Williams.