Detroit Lions

Chuck Clark

S

Clark spent last year with the Steelers, where he totaled 51 tackles (31 solo), three pass defenses and one forced fumble across 15 regular-season appearances. That marked the veteran safety's lowest tackle total since 2018, and he also took a step backward in terms of pass coverage. He now stands to handle a rotational role in with the Lions, behind starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee).

Penei Sewell

OT

Sewell's last time primarily playing left tackle came back in 2019 with Oregon, when he earned Outland Trophy honors as the best collegiate offensive lineman, per Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. While Sewell also did start the first eight games of his NFL career at LT in 2021 as an injury fill-in, he's since operated at RT and emerged as arguably the league's top player at the position. Following the departure of longtime LT Taylor Decker, however, having Sewell guard QB Jared Goff's blind side could be the anchor the Lions' new-look O-line requires to thrive.

Jake Bates

PK

Bates has either inked an new contract with the Lions or officially signed the exclusive rights free-agent tender extended to him by the team in early March. In any case, he's positioned to stick with Detroit for the 2026 campaign. Through two seasons in the NFL, Bates has converted 53 of 63 field-goal attempts (84.1 percent) and 118 of 123 extra-point tries (95.9 percent).

Ben Bartch

G

Bartch appears fully recovered from the foot sprain that forced his 2025 campaign with the 49ers to come to an early end last December, and he'll now provide depth along the interior of the Lions' offensive line. The 27-year-old guard has started 24 of 55 career regular-season appearances.

Payton Turner

DE

Turner was the 28th overall pick in the 2021 Draft by the Saints but recorded just 5.0 sacks across 31 regular-season games with New Orleans. He spent the 2025 campaign with Dallas but missed the entire season on injured reserve with a ribs injury. Turner will compete for a job in Detroit.

Myles Adams

DE

Adams spent the entire 2025 season on Detroit's practice squad after he failed to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 28-year-old has appeared in 30 career regular-season contests, notching 34 tackles (12 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass breakup.

Greg Dortch

WR

Dortch served as a regular pass catcher in the Cardinals offense the last four seasons, averaging 35.5 catches (on 47 targets) for 323.8 yards and 2.5 touchdowns in 15.3 games per campaign during that span. While he'll handle a similar tertiary role in Detroit as he reunites with his offensive coordinator (Drew Petzing) from the past three years, he may make his biggest impact as a returner after reeling off 811 yards on 31 kick returns and 185 yards on 16 punt returns in 12 regular-season contests in 2025.

Damone Clark

LB

Clark appeared in 14 combined regular-season games between the Cowboys and Texans in 2025, totaling 28 tackles (14 solo) across that span. He'll spend the offseason competing for a depth role with the Lions. Clark's ability to contribute both as a reserve linebacker and on special teams could boost his odds of carving out a depth gig with Detroit.

D.J. Wonnum

LB

Wonnum spent the past two seasons with Carolina following four campaigns with the Vikings. He started 37 of his 39 regular-season games over the past three seasons, recording 15.0 sacks and 10 defensed passes. Wonnum could compete for a starting job with Detroit, though such a role isn't guaranteed.

Christian Izien

S

The terms of the deal are yet to be announced, but Izien will head to Detroit after calling Tampa Bay his home for the last three seasons. He played a prominent role in the Buccaneers' defense in 2023 and 2024 but saw his snaps on defense dip in 2025, finishing with 25 tackles (16 solo) and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games. Izien will look to earn an expanded role on defense with the Lions, and he could get some starts early in 2026 season if one or both of Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) are not available.

Roger McCreary

CB

McCreary opened the 2025 season with the Titans before being traded to the Rams in late October. He missed four games while on injured reserve due to a hip injury and finished the regular season with 37 tackles (23 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses (one interception) across 14 games. McCreary operated mostly in a rotational role in the secondary for the Rams and figures to reprise that same role with the Lions while also contributing on special teams.

Tyler Conklin

TE

Conklin is expected to compete for backup snaps with Brock Wright (neck) behind Sam LaPorta (back). After recording 1,622 receiving yards across three seasons with the Jets, the 30-year-old tight end posted just seven catches for 101 yards with the Chargers in the 2025 regular season.

Tom Kennedy

WR

Kennedy exited the Lions' 2025 regular-season finale due to a ribs injury, but his new deal with the team suggests he's moved past the issue. The 29-year-old from Bryant played a minor role in Detroit's offense last season, catching all four of his targets for 36 yards while accumulating 447 kick-return yards across just six appearances. Expect Kennedy to remain a depth option in the Lions' receiving corps for the 2026 season.

Jared Goff

QB

Goff's restructure is among moves being made by Detroit to free up salary cap for free agency, including the team's decision to trade David Montgomery to the Texans and ink Isiah Pacheco to a team-friendly deal. As Goff prepares to contend in a tough NFC North division in 2026, one challenge he will have to adapt to is a revamped O-line that has already replaced LT Taylor Decker and C Graham Glasgow with new signees Larry Borom and Cade Mays. Those adaptations will be eased by Goff's elite returning pass-catching corps, led by wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, plus Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield. It will also be to Goff's benefit to have TE Sam LaPorta (back) retake the field in advance of training camp.

Rock Ya-Sin

CB

Ya-Sin briefly tested the market but chose to return to the Lions instead of heading to his sixth team in six years. The 2019 second-round pick was a dependable corner for the Lions in 2025, handling 35.6 defensive snaps per game while recording 47 tackles and nine pass breakups through 17 games. The current terms of his contract likely mean he's headed for a similar role in 2026.

Teddy Bridgewater

QB

Bridgewater previously spent time in Detroit as the backup to Jared Goff in 2023, and he returned to the NFL in 2025 to provide depth behind Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers. Last year, across four regular-season appearances, Bridgewater completed eight of 15 pass attempts for 62 yards without a touchdown. He also carried the ball three times for four yards. The 33-year-old signal-caller will provide the Lions with stability in the event that Goff misses any time in 2026.

Malcolm Rodriguez

LB

Rodriguez played in just seven games for the Lions during the 2025 season after opening the campaign on the reserve/PUP list following a November 2024 ACL tear. Rodriguez was primarily eased back in on special teams, logging just 70 defensive snaps. The 26-year-old could fill a similar role in 2026, although a more extensive role is possible now that Rodriguez is well over a year removed from his injury.

Isiah Pacheco

RB

Pacheco fits into the Lions' backfield alongside superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs, replacing David Montgomery. In his first two seasons with Kansas City, Pacheco averaged 4.7 YPC and scored 12 rushing TDs in 31 regular-season game as a bruising between-the-tackles runner. In part due to injuries, however, the 2022 seventh-round pick has now logged back-to-back seasons with less than 500 rushing yards and under 4.0 YPC, with only two rushing scores in 20 regular-season contests. Pacheco could rebound in Detroit with opposing defenses honing in on Gibbs, but he may not see the same touch volume that Montgomery did.

Larry Borom

OT

Borom will shore up the offensive tackle position for the Lions in the wake of Taylor Decker's release. That said, the veteran lineman may be better suited to a depth role than slotting in as a starter, leaving Detroit with further work to do in free agency and/or April's draft. Borom has started 38 of 63 regular-season appearances across five years in the NFL.

Sione Vaki

RB

Vaki was scarcely used during the 2025 campaign, logging just two offensive snaps over 11 games, turning his only carry into a four-yard gain. With primary backup David Montgomery being dealt to the Texans on Monday, Vaki currently sits as the most experienced reserve option behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit's backfield. The Lions will almost certainly bring in competition for the 2024 fourth-rounder in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, but he will have his clearest path toward playing time ahead of his third season with the Lions.

Juice Scruggs

G

Scruggs suited up for all 17 regular-season games (one start) with Houston in 2025 but struggled in that span, making it unlikely that Detroit plans for him to play more than a depth role. The 2023 second-round pick has experience at both center and guard, so at the very least he stands to provide the Lions with versatility along the interior O-line.

Jahmyr Gibbs

RB

Gibbs has significantly outpaced Montgomery in back-to-back seasons despite the tandem sharing work out of the Lions backfield, but the 28-year-old veteran's departure ushers in a new era for the ground game in Detroit. Since joining the team as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs has consistently operated in a split backfield and manufactured dominant production via explosiveness, efficiency and pass-catching chops rather than overwhelming volume. It's worth noting that in 2025, Montgomery averaged five fewer touches per game while Gibbs managed to total 1,839 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns while handling a career-high 320 touches and suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Nonetheless, it would be surprising if the Lions don't bring in another complementary backfield option in free agency or April's draft.

Brock Wright

TE

questionable

Colby Sorsdal

OT

questionable

Kye Robichaux

RB

questionable