The Detroit Lions' 2024 season ended unceremoniously in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, as the Washington Commanders were simply the better team in all facets.
Now the Lions will look toward the offseason earlier then they wanted to, with some key free agency decisions to be made. The core of the roster is in place, and will remain that way as others get notable contracts, but the pieces around that core will always change every offseason.
The Lions have some notable free agents, many of which they'd surely like to have back. But we also know general manager Brad Holmes will pivot quickly when necessary (see David Montgomery for Jamaal Williams two years ago), and the Lions are going to continue to be a team free agents want to sign with.
Some of these are easy, and a couple are more nuanced. But one way or another, these five Lions players feel sure to not be back next season.
5 Lions players who won't be back next season
5. DT Levi Onwuzurike
Onwuzurike was finally healthy this year, playing in 16 of 17 regular season games (10 starts) and totaling 698 snaps played (including the playoff game). Some of his surface stats weren't eye-popping (28 total tackles and 1.5 sacks during the regular season), but he did have 13 quarterback hits and he was tied for 24th among defensive tackles in overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
With Alim McNeill's status for the start of next season up in the air due to a torn right ACL, the Lions may be compelled to re-sign the first defensive lineman they took in the 2021 draft. But Onwuzurike should have a decent market in free agency after showing what he can do when healthy. He also may have priced himself out of what the Lions would be willing to do to bring him back, and if so it'll be easy to turn toward cheaper options to fill his role.
It's great that Onwuzurike was healthy this year and performed well. But that also made it turn strongly toward unlikely he remains a Lion next season, unless he takes less than what he could get elsewhere (in years and money) to stay.