General manager Brad Holmes is probably itching to clear up some much-needed cap space ahead of this year's free agency. There's plenty of talent for the Detroit Lions to snag on the market, and specifically, players that wouldn't necessary break the bank while filling a huge need.
That's more so the case on defense for Detroit, though, with their offense looking fairly set ahead of 2026. They've got numerous core players on long term deals, with Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs the last two players in that boat that need an extension done. Otherwise, the Lions' free agency class on offense is looking pretty sparse.
That should be great news for Holmes to hear, who likely wants to try and get back a few of those impending free agents as depth pieces. ESPN's Bill Barnwell seems to think that's extremely likely, given that no player on offense for the Lions that are hitting the market are considered either backup talent, or just fringe starting talent.
Lions' impending free agency class on offense looks extremely re-signable
Let's start with the two obvious names that fans might be looking for movement on: Kalif Raymond and Graham Glasgow. Raymond has been the Lions' reliable WR3 since 2021, and he had a breakout second half to his 2025 season.
However, with Isaac TeSlaa needing more reps as to justify drafting him so early last year, Raymond might be allowed to walk. Barnwell categorized Raymond as a "backup likely to earn a roster spot," with an expected deal of $1-2 million per year.
As for Glasgow, we can't ignore that he's a perfect cut candidate. He's obviously not a free agent, but Barnwell identifies him as a cap casualty and a fringe starter - or, at the very least, a decent depth signing.
Other Lions that are considered to just be backup talent by Barnwell, or at least, talent worth rostering, include Kyle Allen, Kayode Awosika, Shane Zylstra, and Trystan Colon. Detroit probably wants to get back Allen, Awosika, and Zysltra at the very least given their needs at those positions.
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Allen firmly won the backup role from Hendon Hooker last season, while Awosika had some decent showings at left guard prior to getting injured. Zylstra might be tasked with a bigger role in 2026 depending on how well LaPorta has recovered from his back injury, which makes keeping him a likely priority for the Lions.
As for Colon, he did not really carve out a decent enough role at center to make an argument for keeping him on board, especially with a draft chock-full of starting caliber center talent.
The Lions have to really hone in on their impending free agency class on the defensive end of the ball, specifically as it pertains to Al-Quadin Muhammad and Alex Anzalone. While Anzalone might be a goner just because of how much he'll command from a new deal, Muhammad is a feasible re-signing and probably a good one, simply for depth in their pass rush room.
Barnwell's labeling of basically all of Detroit's soon to be free agents on offense as, at most, fringe starters, bodes well for the Lions and their campaign to re-sign a few of these depth pieces.