NFL free agency is less than a month away, and the Detroit Lions have plenty of decisions they need to make as they look to get back into Super Bowl contention.
On Wednesday, The Athletic revealed their top 150 free agent rankings, and three of the Lions' impending free agents have made the cut.
Among Lions, linebacker Alex Anzalone ranks the highest at #49, with a projected contract of two-years and $21 million. Anzalone is the third-highest-ranked LB on The Athletic's list. There's been plenty of speculation surrounding Anzalone's future with the Lions. The Lions also have an extension for First-Team All-Pro LB Jack Campbell to worry about as well, which could close the door on the veteran's return.
"Anzalone is a fast, flexible, fluid off-ball linebacker who is slippery when evading blockers in the run game and as a pass rusher. He is a sticky, versatile player in coverage. He wins with speed and athleticism but lacks some physicality as a run defender. Anzalone is a very effective blitzer, and his 29 percent pressure rate was second among all off-ball linebackers. "Daniel Popper
Coming in at #79 is EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, with a projected contract of two years and $18 million. Muhammad is ranked 11th among free agent EDGEs, which means the Lions will have options for an upgrade if they choose to pursue EDGEs in free agency as opposed to the draft. Muhammad had a breakout season with the Lions in a double-digit sack effort, which will certainly garner him attention in free agency.
"Muhammad set a career high with 11 sacks in 2025. He is undersized and does not have premium athletic traits for the position, but he has a real knack for how to get to the quarterback. He stays active through contact, particularly with his hands, to separate late in reps. He was one of the most efficient pass rushers in football last season, finishing 14th in pressure rate among all players with at least 250 pass-rush snaps. He projects as a high-level situational third edge rusher. "Daniel Popper
Last, but not least, is interior defensive lineman Roy Lopez at #107, with a projected contract of two years and $12 million. Lopez ranks seventh among IDL and is a guy the Lions should look to keep, especially if they intend to trade Alim McNeill.
In his one season with the Lions, Lopez had a solid showing, ranking 30th among IDL with a 68.7 grade on Pro Football Focus. Lopez won't be the centerpiece of the interior, but he's proven that he can provide enough support to make a return worth it.
"Lopez is a stout run-stuffing nose tackle who has a strong lower half and quick feet. He has some pass-rush upside and stays moving to find lanes to the outside. Lopez is also a capable pocket pusher. Lopez can cover two gaps, stacking blockers before shedding and making tackles. He can also stand up double-teams in the run game."Daniel Popper
Definitely don't underestimate the possibility that one, if not all three, are back in Detroit come next season. If not, The Athletic's rankings show that the Lions will have their options to replace them or upgrade from them this offseason.
Top potential targets top The Athletic's list
The Lions have notable needs on the offensive line and their pass rush, with popular targets high on this list. Topping The Athletic's list at #1 is a name Lions fans have grown all too familiar with: Trey Hendrickson.
The Athletic projects the elite pass rusher will get a whopping three-year and $99 million deal, which is more years and a higher yearly value compared to most projections that have him earning up to $30 million a year. With a competitive market, it wouldn't be a shock if Hendrickson's deal ends up close to this.
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Another popular free agent among Lions fans and analysts is center Tyler Linderbaum, who ranks 6th on The Athletic's list. The Athletic projects a four-year and $71 million deal. Pricey, yes, but for a Lions team that struggled at the interior of the OL, getting one of the best centers in the league isn't the toughest pill to swallow.
The Athletic's rankings of free agents are exciting, as it shows the various pathways the Lions can improve in 2026. But the Lions still have to do a little spring cleaning first before they decide which free agents to pursue.
Potential contract restructures for quarterback Jared Goff and other Lions could free up a lot of cap space to either bring back guys like Anzalone, Muhammad, and Lopez, or land a top free agent like Hendrickson or Linderbaum. Until those happen, it's unclear what general manager Brad Holmes will do once teams can start negotiating with players on March 9th at noon (EST).