NFL Trade Rumors
Projected Cap Space: $43 million
Draft Picks: 8
Notable Free Agents:
1 – Edge Rusher
This was one of the positions hit the hardest by injuries for the Lions last year and it started in camp when Cominsky went down for the season. Davenport was one of Detroit’s more significant free agent signings to man the spot across from star DE Aidan Hutchinson, but he lasted just two games before going down and wasn’t able to return. Hutchinson had 7.5 sacks in just five games and was an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year before breaking his leg and missing the rest of the year.
The good news for the Lions is Hutchinson should be back with no lingering effects from his injury and his presence alone should put the Lions in the top half of the league in terms of strength on the edge. Now they just have to keep building the room around him. They traded for veteran DE Za’Darius Smith at the deadline last year but he’s due around $11 million in cash for 2025 and it’s not clear if the Lions value him at that sum. Davenport and Cominsky could be back but only in depth roles. Cominsky isn’t a full-time starter, and Davenport hasn’t shown he can stay healthy.
While the Lions are in a great position in terms of cap space this year, ranking ninth in projected effective cap space, that drops all the way to 29th in 2026 as several big deals hit the books. That will color how the Lions proceed this offseason and how big of a splash they are willing to make at edge rusher, especially with a massive deal for Hutchinson coming down the pipe in the next two years.
2 – Guard
A key part of the Lions’ success on offense the past three years has been the offensive line and ensuring that position group remains strong. Detroit landed Zeitler on a one-year deal to replace departed G Jonah Jackson last year and might have upgraded. However, Zeitler turns 35 in March, so there are longevity concerns as well as contractual ones to sort through.
Veteran G Graham Glasgow is under contract on the other side but he turns 33 this offseason. Detroit has a couple of young linemen it’s been developing like Awosika and 2024 sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany, but more attention to the pipeline at minimum is...
