5 players who could be cut by the Detroit Lions this offseason

4. RB Jamaal Williams

Williams had a solid first season with the Lions, with 601 rushing yards, 26 catches and three rushing scores in 13 games. He signed a two-year deal in free agency last offseason, and he’ll almost surely be back in 2022.

But there is a path that may shift the thinking for the Lions. Craig Reynolds proved worthy of a roster spot in his run as the lead back this season, and Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson may stick around. It’s also worth wondering how much drafting a running back will be on the radar, even if it’s most likely to be a mid-round pick at best. For how good D’Andre Swift has been, he hasn’t been a great picture of durability over his first two seasons.

From a financial standpoint, the Lions can clear $2.75 million of Williams’ $4.375 million cap hit but cutting him, with the remainder left behind in dead money. It’s relatively small potatoes all the way around, and there’s no real steam behind the idea of Detroit cutting Williams. But there’s a non-zero percent chance it happens.