While it wasn't a rampant issue like it was in 2024, injuries were a significant thing for the Detroit Lions again this season. In the secondary, multiple key players missed time and the "Legion of Whom" couldn't always hold up.
Safety Kerby Joseph dealt with a knee issue all season, and it's evolution into what appears to be a chronic issue kept him off the field after Week 6. His running mate in the back end of the Lions' defense, Brian Branch, suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 that naturally has his status for a big chunk of next season up in the air.
Even if general manager Brad Holmes wasn't ready to publicly acknowledge it until there's better clarity on the health of Joseph and Branch, the Lions are absolutely in need of some reinforcements at safety this offseason.
A big investment doesn't have to be made, and it isn't coming anyway, but adding another starting-caliber safety is an order.
Free agent the Lions simply must retain has been further proven
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus has named one free agent each NFL team can't afford to lose this offseason
For the Lions, Locker went with Avonte Maddox.
"The Lions couldn’t entirely replicate their recent string of success in 2025, due in part to another slew of defensive injuries and an offensive line that regressed. Despite the team's down season, Maddox stood out."
"The former Eagle filled in admirably as safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch combined to play only 1,062 snaps. In his first season operating primarily as a safety since 2018, Maddox compiled a 79.1 PFF overall grade with 75.0-plus marks in coverage and run defense. Admittedly, there was a lot of variance across his 342 snaps — with three games above an 83.0 and two below a 42.0 — but the general results are promising."
"Amid Branch’s unknown status entering next season following a Week 14 Achilles tear and Joseph's ongoing recovery, Maddox figures to be a prudent depth signing for general manager Brad Holmes."
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Maddox stepped up late in the season when injuries decimated the Lions' safety depth chart, and turning to him for a bigger role really should have come sooner as Joseph missed time.
Starting with Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, Maddox played 275 defensive snaps over his last four games (he missed Week 17). In three of those games, he posted an overall PFF grade over 84.0 with coverage marks of at least 76.9. Since he played 20-plus defensive snaps in just two other games, blowout wins for the Lions by the way, that late sample is more meaningful.
The Lions value familiarity and fit above practically anything else. They won't be dipping into the high-end of the free agent market at safety anyway, so Maddox is a perfect fit to provide a contingency plan to injury concerns around Joseph and Branch.