Lions Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more

"The way we operate, we want to avoid windows."

General manager Brad Holmes said that to Rich Eisen ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, in response to a question about whether the Detroit Lions' window was closing up or still wide open. Ahead of free agency, this refrain should be front of mind for every fan wondering just how aggressive, or passive, Holmes plans to be.

They have a lot of major roster needs, namely finding a No. 2 to Aidan Hutchinson. In addition to that, Holmes and the Lions' coaching staff have to locate proper depth at cornerback and safety, a LB replacement for Alex Anzalone if he walks in free agency, and a ton of help on Detroit's offensive line.

Oh, did we mention that Taylor Decker was surprisingly released ahead of free agency, leaving another gaping hole on the Lions' offensive line?

Anyway - with recent news that Detroit is looking to move Tate Ratledge to center, and that they're not looking to spend too much in free agency to try and rectify a ton of their roster holes, we might be in for a quiet kickoff to the new year. Still, if there's anything Lions fans have learned in recent years, it's that even the signings on the margins could matter greatly (see: Legion Of Whom).

Let's get into what's sure to be a pivotal free agency period for Detroit, despite a potentially boring list of acquisitions.

Free-agency snapshot

Cap space remaining: $5,069,788
Biggest signing: Cade Mays, C
Biggest departure: Alex Anzalone, LB
Most surprising move: TBD
Biggest remaining need: Edge rusher
Last updated: 5:00 PM EST, March 9, 2026

We previously had an asterisk on the cap space listed here, and that was because we didn't know when Taylor Decker's release would be made official. The Lions announced it on Monday afternoon, so we've removed the asterisk.

We don't have the full details on how any Lions signings are impacting their cap just yet with one signing coming without details. We do know some details of their center signing, though.

The morning of free agency, we said that the Lions' biggest need was at center. Well, they felt the same, going out and signing Cade Mays to kick off their free agency. Now, their biggest remaining need is signing an edge rusher. They could re-sign Al-Quadin Muhammad, but there are also some really intriguing outside free agency options to consider.

Major Lions signings

Cade Mays, C

The Lions have their starting center for 2026. Mays just signed a very reasonable three year, $14 million deal to come to the Lions from the Carolina Panthers. NFL insider Aaron Wilson was first with the news. Detroit really had to find a center in free agency, but they couldn't afford to swing big on Tyler Linderbaum. They get Mays as a consolation, and a nice one at that.

Mays was a decent starting center for the Panthers this past season, sliding in at that position for the first time in his career and allowing zero sacks through 726 snaps played. Mays provides an answer to Detroit's question of whether to put Tate Ratledge in at center: no need.

Jake Bates, K, ERFA

Ahead of free agency, the Lions tendered Bates a deal to keep him rostered through 2026, per Detroit Free Press's Dave Birkett. The 2nd-year kicker has shown great promise alongside Jack Fox, despite a slight dip in efficiency in 2025.

Major Lions departures

Alex Anzalone, LB (per Adam Schefter)

Adam Schefter reported that Anzalone would be walking for a 2-year, $17 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Anzalone leaving felt like an inevitable result of the Lions' cap woes in addition to how much they like both Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes in their linebacker room.

They'll certainly be in the market to land an additional linebacker to help them against the run in 2026, although their cap situation raises some questions about their ability to really remedy that. Will they look to the draft in order to address this hole? Or, will they make some aggressive restructurings shortly in order to find a replacement for Anzalone?

Read about why this departure matters for a Jack Campbell extension here.

Amik Robertson, CB (per Tom Pelissero)

Robertson is walking for a new deal with the Washington Commanders, according to Tom Pelissero. Robertson was one of the Lions' most reliable cornerbacks, leaving a hole for Detroit to address in their secondary. While he was a backup, given their injury woes throughout the season, he was more like a starter with how much Kelvin Sheppard relied on him.

Detroit still has a few smaller signings they can make for their secondary in free agency, especially with the pop that their Legion of Whom had throughout the year. While losing Roberston hurts, they might've found a few cheap diamonds in the rough thanks to a down year.

Roy Lopez, NT/DT (per Tom Pelissero)

Lopez is out as he leaves to re-join the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year, $11.5 million deal. This is a doozy, because the Lions need to be adding depth to their defensive line, not losing it. And, Lopez was a great addition to the line in 2025. He was the pop at pass rush that they were missing from Alim McNeill and DJ Reader, and he would've been a great signing assuming Reader walks, as well.

The upcoming draft, at least, presents some options for the Lions at defensive tackle that they should consider, at least on Day 2.

Kyle Allen, QB (per Dianna Russini)

Allen, who basically ended Hendon Hooker's tenure with the Lions by outplaying him throughout the preseason last year, has walked for a new backup job with the Buffalo Bills. The deal, per Russini, is worth two years and $6.1 million. Allen was a great backup to Jared Goff, and that role is only going to grow with importance as Goff ages.

This makes us feel two things about the Lions' offseason approach: there are still plenty of quarterbacks on the market to trade for that could act as great backups to Goff, and the Lions really need to worry about shoring up their offensive line with the hole that now exists behind Goff on the depth chart.

Potential Lions departures to watch

Al-Quadin Muhammad, EDGE, UFA

Muhammad had a really solid season for the Lions on a one-year deal, showcasing his ability to act as a solid run defender as well as a good No. 2 next to Aidan Hutchinson. But, just as it was an issue for Hutchinson, Muhammad's huge games came in bunches and not consistently throughout the year. Still, he could be worth trying to get back for Detroit since they need depth at the position regardless.

The draft offers a path forward for the Lions if Muhammad does walk, though. Per Spotrac, he's due a deal in the range of 2 years, $15.7 million. If Detroit can't woo him back, they'd get a nice compensatory pick for the trouble of losing him. Not a bad return.

DJ Reader, DT, UFA

The veteran defensive tackle is a big name to watch in free agency for Detroit because they need to be building up their trenches on both sides of the ball, not seeing pieces walk. They have a lower cost solution in Roy Lopez they can pay instead of Reader if he does decide to walk, but it'd be a major blow to their run defense in 2026.

Reader, who is set to be 32 at the start of the 2026 season, is projected to earn a new deal valued at 2 years, $7.7 million. That feels a little too good for Holmes to pass up, in addition to bringing back Lopez for depth. But, he will have suitors.

Kalif Raymond, WR, UFA

This might not be as on the radar as other key defensive free agents for Lions fans, but Raymond's return will say a lot about Detroit's trust in Isaac TeSlaa to take a leap in camp and during the 2026 season. TeSlaa is pretty clearly being groomed as Detroit's next WR3, but Raymond is also working with already well-established chemistry alongside Jared Goff.

Raymond, and TeSlaa, are two receivers the Lions should be keeping on the roster if not for a WR3 competition, but for optionality within their special teams unit. Raymond, specifically, would make for an excellent returner. With a projected new deal for Raymond sitting at 1 year and $3.4 million, it'd be silly for the Lions not to bring him back while they still have TeSlaa on a rookie contract.

Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UFA

A re-signing of Davenport would be like hearing an ominous gong reverberating throughout the city of Detroit. Davenport had one more chance to prove that he could be a proper sidekick to Hutchinson this season, and he was thoroughly outshined by Muhammad in addition to being, once again, unreliable thanks to injuries.

Davenport is not going to be worth the squeeze for Holmes, unless they lose Muhammad and panic about their ability to either land another starter in free agency elsewhere.

Maybe he's decent as a depth signing, but he cannot be considered a serious starting option for Detroit any longer. He's projected to be due a 1-year deal, and that might be enticing enough for the Lions to give him a roster spot.

Other departures

Graham Glasgow, C

Glasgow was released by the Lions ahead of free agency, clearing up $5.5 million cap space. The teams' 2025 starting center was thrown to the wolves (lions?) last year, being asked to slide from guard to center after Frank Ragnow's shocking retirement. The result was porous pass protection and run blocking throughout the year, which completely bogged down the Lions' offense.

Glasgow was a good sport about it, and thanked the team for all the opportunities they'd granted him over his career. It doesn't sound like he's returning to the NFL this season after such a struggle-filled season.

David Montgomery, RB

Montgomery was traded to the Houston Texans right before free agency for several draft picks and center Juice Scruggs, ending the Sonic and Knuckles experiment and stripping the team of a big cog within their offense. It's obvious that Jahmyr Gibbs is the RB1, though, and Montgomery is talented enough to be one, too. So, he was granted his wish to land with the Texans.

The trade gave about $3.5 million back to the Lions' cap, and cleared the runway for a Gibbs extension.

Taylor Decker, LT

Decker's request for a release (and the Lions' probably honoring of that request) comes as a surprise, to be sure, but Decker's time was ticking with Detroit since the end of the 2025 season. Even though he decided not to retire, head coach Dan Campbell gave really interesting thoughts on Decker ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine that probably raised some eyebrows.

Detroit is now in need of a starting left tackle. That's huge. Perhaps Penei Sewell can swing into that spot, while we're going about reshuffling the Lions' current starters on the line into positions of need.

Best targets remaining

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens

We already know that the Lions' cap situation probably prohibits them from taking a huge swing on someone like Linderbaum - although, even just restructuring Jared Goff's deal would open up enough money to sign Linderbaum to a 2-year deal based on his market value. Linderbaum is a top free agent this offseason, not just a top center, and that means he's about to get seriously paid.

Still, it just doesn't sound like this is about to be a busy free agency for Holmes, and that means we should expect Detroit to try and snag linemen with a smaller price tag.

Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Detroit could use some additional help in their linebacker room if Anzalone walks, and Lloyd is a great compliment to Jack Campbell if he's willing to move to the WILL position. That'd create a trio of Lloyd, Campbell, and Derrick Barnes, and that's a strong tackling trio with awesome blitzing capabilities.

He's also an interception generating linebacker, which could really help a Detroit defense that was one of the worst in the league in turnovers forced. His overall grade of 89.1 amongst linebackers in the league last year was good for 3rd overall - Campbell was 2nd overall.

Cam Jordan, EDGE, New Orleans Saints

The longtime Saints defender is officially a free agent. Ahead of Monday's kickoff to the chaos, Jordan and the Saints couldn't come to an agreement on a new deal, making him open to signing with a different team for the first time in his career. He's got ties to Dan Campbell from the head coach's days in New Orleans, and he's an ever-reliable edge.

Jordan might be 37 to begin the 2026 season, but he's still putting up some ridiculous numbers. He just finished up his 14th season in the league with 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He'd basically be a perfect sidekick to Hutchinson on a short-term deal. If the Lions see Muhammad leave and they really don't want to give Davenport another shot, Jordan is their guy.

Braden Smith, RT, Dallas Cowboys

If the Lions are looking for a steady presence on their offensive line, and a potential tackle to replace Penei Sewell on the right side of the line, they should take a look at Smith. With Decker's departure, Sewell could slide into the left tackle role, which opens the door for someone like Smith.

The 29 year old right tackle posted a 71.9 pass blocking grade in 2025, allowing just one sack all season. His projected $13.5 million AAV is a lot more digestible compared to other top tackles on the market.

Smith is also a very healthy option on the line for Detroit, a nice change compared to the injury bug-infected lineman they were used to in 2025. He's only missed time for Covid-19, and a concussion this past season.

Depth signings and minor moves

Larry Borom, T: contract terms unknown

Borom is a swing tackle who can backup whoever the Lions have at left or right tackle in 2026. He seems like a good Dan Skipper replacement, especially given the Lions' seeming lack of faith in Giovanni Manu's development.

More Lions free agency coverage

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