6 Detroit Lions free agents who will not be back in 2024

2. CB Emmanuel Moseley

The Lions took a one-year flier on Moseley last March, as he was working his way back from a torn left ACL the previous season with the San Francisco 49ers. Reports of a second "cleanup" procedure on that injured knee were eventually confirmed, and a hamstring injury was another setback in his recovery progress.

After spending the requisite four games on the PUP list, Moseley made his Lions' debut in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. Two plays in, he tore his right ACL and was done for the season.

The one-year flier on Moseley just didn't work out, due to a couple setbacks in his ACL recovery and sheer bad luck when he was able to play. It's no one's fault, but it's also patently unlikely the Lions do it again.

1. EDGE Romeo Okwara

A second surgery to repair his Achilles' tear from Week 4 of the 2021 season lengthened the elder Okwara's return to full strength last season, and outside of one game it showed.

This season (presumably far closer to fully healthy) his playing time was very hit-and-miss, and his production correlated to that. He had two sacks in December though, his only two of the regular season, and it was a positive sign that his second-highest snap total of the season came in Week 18. Then his highest snap count over any two-game span all season came in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but those two sacks stood as his only of the season.

Okwara took a noticeable pay cut last offseason to stay with the Lions, which made sense given his situation. His mini-surge late in the regular season could get the Lions' attention just enough for them to consider bringing him back as a rotational edge rusher, but there's a slim chance that happens. It's far more likely his time in Detroit, with the ups and downs he has had, is simply over.

ESPN's Dan Graziano recently outlined the likelihood Okwara will be gone.

"Once a big free agent signing for Detroit, Okwara has just five sacks over the past three seasons. His contract voids after the Super Bowl, and the Lions will be looking to upgrade their pass rush this offseason after tying for 23rd in sacks (41)."

That Achilles' tear significantly derailed Okwara's career, obviously. He is now absolutely replaceable, and the Lions will surely let him hit the market in March.