What’s Next For The Lions After Day One of the Free Agent Frenzy

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Day one of the free agent frenzy is almost over, and it was a day full of new faces in new places in the NFL. The Lions made a solid splash by agreeing to terms with cornerback D.J. Reed, who will be replacing Carlton Davis after he left Detroit to earn $20 million per year with the Patriots.

Brad Holmes made another move, and that was to bring back one of the most popular backups in football. Offensive Tackle Dan Skipper is returning for another season in the Motor City.

So what’s next? What will Brad Holmes do tomorrow? I am highlighting some of the free agents to keep an eye on for the Lions.

EDGE – Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: The former Washington Huskies pass rusher just completed his rookie contract and the Lions are rumored to have interest as a move for a defensive end looms.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Tryon-Shoyinka with the 32nd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after winning the Super Bowl with Tom Brady. Since then, he hasn’t lived up to his first-round selection. He stands at 6’5″ and weighs in at 258 pounds. Although he hasn’t been what the Bucs had hoped for, he has flashed some potential and may need a change of scenery.

One of the positives to look at if the Lions pull the trigger on Tryon-Shoyinka is availability. He didn’t miss a single game throughout the first three years of his NFL career. He missed just two games in the final year of his contract last season. There’s also the potential that the change of scenery allows him to take a big step forward in his game next season. He wasn’t a first-round draft pick for no reason. Perhaps he can have a breakout campaign with the Lions.

His production, or lack thereof, is obviously the biggest concern. He has 15 sacks in his career, with his career high being five in 2023. Last season in 15 games, Tryon-Shoyinka sacked the quarterback only twice. Those stats are not what Lions fans want to see from a pass rusher signing with Detroit due to the Lions’ abysmal performances from defensive ends opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. However, Lions fans may need to come to terms with the fact that the other end of the defensive line may be a rotation of Zach Paschal, a first or second round defensive end, and a player of Tryon-Shoyinka’s caliber.

EDGE – DeMarcus Lawrence: The former Dallas Cowboy hit the ground running last season collecting three sacks in the first four games. That was before hitting a road block. Lawrence suffered a season-ending injury. The veteran was in a position to earn some pretty good cash this off-season, but with his age and the fact that he suffered a big setback with the injury last year, his price should come down.

Lawrence would be a solid rotational piece for the Lions, and if he stays healthy, they could get a steal as he, of course, still looked like a strong pass rusher last season.

Lawrence was once arguably the best pass rusher in football back in 2017-18. He put up big numbers in his career best season that included 14.5 sacks. He then followed it up with 10.5 sacks the following season. After those two big years statistically, that version of him hasn’t returned, but when healthy, he’s been an important piece to the Cowboys’ defense throughout the years.

EDGE – Von Miller: You would think that the end is near for future first ballot Hall of Famer Von Miller, who is 36 years old with a Super Bowl ring… but could he come back in pursuit of one more? If so, the Lions are an obvious fit. Other than bringing his talents with him to the Motor City, his veteran presence would also be a welcomed addition.

Miller is obviously not even close to the level of player he used to be (he once put up 18.5 sacks in a single season), but would still be an upgrade for Detroit in the pass rush category. Believe it or not, Miller’s six sacks last season would have been the second most for the Lions behind Hutchinson, who broke his leg early in the season.

The price would be affordable, and if the Lions are unable to land a big fish at defensive end, then I am okay with them pivoting to Miller.

DL – Levi Onwuzurike: Another former Washington Huskies defensive lineman has made the list. Onwuzurike was part of Brad Holmes’ very first draft class as the Lions general manager. He was Detroit’s second-round pick in 2021, 91st overall.

Levi hasn’t been a consistent presence in the trenches for the Lions throughout his young career. He has suffered quite a few setbacks due to injuries. That is something that GM’s will need to take into consideration.

Onwuzurike has been sneaky good when healthy. He’s never had more than 1.5 sacks in a season but has produced as far as getting pressure on quarterbacks despite not getting them on the ground. He is also a really good run defender.

In my opinion, the Lions having interest in bringing him back is a safe bet. I do believe he could be one of the next signings for Detroit.

OL – Kevin Zeitler: Another Lions free agent that could return is a 13-year veteran on the offensive line. Zeitler earned his first Pro Bowl at 33 years old as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, but he has always been a solid player in the trenches. Ever since the Cincinnati Bengals moved on from Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth, their offensive line has been really bad. Point is, he’s been a key player for every franchise he’s suited up for.

Detroit signed him last season after his Pro Bowl year with the Ravens, and he was a great fit. If Zeitler is good with playing another year, targeting him should be a no-brainer for Detroit as Christian Mahogany continues to develop.

OL – Will Fries: This would be a younger, but much more expensive move for the Lions. Fries might even be too pricey for Detroit, but it’s difficult to gauge his market because he played in just five games last season. In my opinion, Zeitler’s absence, should he not re-sign, wouldn’t be my only concern for the interior of the offensive line. Graham Glasgow has two-years left on his contract, but I’m still a little concerned about the potential of him regressing.

Fries is just 26 years old and would be a member of a very good Detroit Lions offensive line for the years to come. He’s also a highly graded run blocker, and the run game is the motor that drives the Lions offense. That would make him a good fit for this team.

OL – Teven Jenkins: This NFC North rival could be coming to the Motor City if the price is right. Jenkins fought off the injury big and played a career high 14 games last season. Jenkins’ injury history is less than ideal, but Detroit should have comfort in knowing that Mahogany played well when called upon in 2024.

Jenkins has been described as a run mauler on the offensive line. Chicago’s pass protection may have been worse than any team in football, but Jenkins can’t take much blame for that. Caleb Williams was sacked an NFL-high 68 times in 2024, only four were attributed to Jenkins, whose pressure rate allowed is among the best in this free agency class. At a reasonable price, Jenkins would be a good replacement if Zeitler goes elsewhere.

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