{"id":270279,"date":"2026-03-25T15:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=270279"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:57:05","slug":"detroit-lions-biggest-remaining-needs-best-free-agent-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/03\/25\/detroit-lions-biggest-remaining-needs-best-free-agent-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Lions Biggest Remaining Needs\/Best Free Agent Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first wave of free agency in the NFL has come and gone. Players across the league have cashed in everywhere. Teams have mostly made their \u201cbig\u201d moves and are turning their attention towards next month\u2019s draft. The Detroit Lions have been predictably quiet when it comes to splashy additions. Detroit\u2019s big get was Cade Mays<\/a>, who replaces Graham Glasgow at center. Roger McCreary was signed<\/a> to replace Amik Robertson as the Lions\u2019 new nickelback. Other than that, GM Brad Holmes chose to focus on depth signings. That strategy has left many question marks all over the roster. Luckily, there are still plenty of solid players available. Here are the Detroit Lions\u2019 biggest remaining needs\/best free agent options still on the market:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Left Tackle<\/span><\/h2>\n

Longtime LT Taylor Decker was released by Detroit after the two sides couldn\u2019t agree on a reworked contract. Swing tackle and fan favorite Dan Skipper retired and is now a member of Dan Campbell\u2019s coaching staff.<\/a> Many expected Brad Holmes to make an aggressive move in free agency to find Decker\u2019s successor. He did not, only signing <\/span>Larry Borom <\/a><\/span>from the Miami Dolphins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Borom makes for a fine third tackle. However, left tackle on a team expecting to contend for a Super Bowl title is too important not to find an upgrade. I have the Lions selecting Alabama LT <\/span>Kadyn Proctor <\/a><\/span>in the first round of my latest mock draft. <\/a>While I fully expect the position to be addressed early in the draft, there are still options available in free agency should Holmes choose to add one.<\/p>\n

Best Free Agent Available<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cam Robinson, Cleveland Browns<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

If we\u2019re being completely honest, the best free agent available to replace Taylor Decker is\u2026Taylor Decker. However, it seems extremely unlikely that a reunion will happen. After Brad Holmes missed out (or just passed) on the best tackles available, Cam Robinson is the best of what\u2019s left.<\/span><\/p>\n

I included Robinson on my list of best remaining free agent targets for the Lions after the first week of free agency. Admittedly, there were several better tackles for Brad Holmes to sign. Unfortunately, none of them is on their way to Motown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Robinson is coming off a down year in Cleveland. His PFF overall grade of 48.2 placed 83rd out of 88 qualifying tackles, making him a reclamation project. However, Robinson possesses the physical tools to be successful<\/a> and has over 100 career starts under his belt. The longtime Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> tackle should be available on a relatively cheap one-year deal. At minimum, Robinson, Borom, and a high draft pick can compete for the Lions\u2019 starting LT spot. If Robinson wins the battle, he would serve as a placeholder until the rookie is ready. If the rookie or Borom win, Robinson\u2019s experience makes him a solid backup who can fill in as a starter if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Edge Rusher<\/span><\/h2>\n

After losing Al-Quadin Muhammad to Tampa,<\/a> the Lions\u2019 need for an edge rusher had never been greater. Holmes did well to sign <\/span>D.J. Wonnum <\/a><\/span>from Carolina. Former first-round pick Payton Turner has also been brought into the fold. Turner is a no-risk signing<\/a> and is worth taking a shot on to see if he can finally show the talent that made him a first-round selection. Wonnum is a decent player, but might be a better rotational piece than a starter. More is needed if the Lions want to reach their goals in 2026<\/p>\n

Best Free Agent Available<\/span><\/h3>\n

Jadeveon Clowney, Dallas Cowboys<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

Even at 33 years old, Jadeveon Clowney<\/a> is still a highly productive player. The Lions still need a lot of help at edge, and Clowney could be the guy to provide it. At this point in his career, the former top overall pick is a mercenary.<\/a> Detroit should be the next team to acquire the hired gun\u2019s services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clowney spent 2025 as a member of the Cowboys. In his lone year in Dallas, Clowney recorded 8.5 sacks. His 79.2 overall PFF grade was good for 18th amongst 115 edge rushers. In 13 games, Clowney was credited with 40 QB pressures and still provided his usual solid defense against the run. There is obviously still a lot left in his tank. Brad Holmes would be wise to coax the veteran to come to Detroit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lions still should draft an edge rusher with one of their first two picks in next month\u2019s draft. Even with a highly-touted rookie in tow, Clowney would still be the favorite to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson. His presence would allow the rookie to develop before being thrust into such a pivotal role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are other productive edge options in Joey Bosa and Cam Jordan still on the market. However, I believe Clowney\u2019s overall game makes him the best fit in Detroit. An edge group of Hutchinson, Clowney, Wonnum, Turner, plus a highly regarded rookie, would transform the position from a desperate need to a strength for the Lions\u2019 defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Safety<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Lions are entering 2026 with much uncertainty at the back of their defense. Brian Branch is set to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season after tearing his Achilles. Branch\u2019s partner in crime, Kerby Joseph, is dealing with a chronic left knee injury that cost him much of the 2025 campaign. It is still unknown how much Detroit will be able to rely on Joseph in 2026 and beyond. The Lions have gone from having the best safety duo in the NFL to needing immediate help at the position.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best Free Agent Available<\/span><\/h3>\n

Avonte Maddox, Detroit Lions<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fortunately for Brad Holmes, the best option available isn\u2019t too far away. Avonte Maddox exceeded all expectations,<\/a> filling in for both Branch and Joseph in 2025. Holmes should do everything in his power to keep Maddox in-house for 2026. Frankly, it is somewhat shocking that re-signing Maddox hasn\u2019t been more of a priority for the Lions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maddox, who will turn 30 at the end of March, was PFF\u2019s 10th-highest rated safety in 2025. The eight-year veteran also has plenty of experience at cornerback. Versatility like that makes a player very valuable, especially for a team like Detroit. The Lions\u2019 secondary is always a work in progress, and retaining Maddox brings stability to the group. Maddox can either start or provide excellent depth at multiple positions. He has certainly earned a raise over his $1.42 million salary in 2025, but he still won\u2019t break the bank. Maddox is an extremely valuable player who should have already been locked up for 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

If Maddox does not return to Detroit, former Lion Ifeatu Melifonwu is still out there. Watching him on his patented safety blitzes would be a welcome sight for Lions\u2019 fans.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Linebacker<\/span><\/h2>\n

Alex Anzalone\u2019s departure<\/a> has left big shoes to be filled. Anzalone has been a productive leader for Detroit\u2019s defense since his arrival in 2021. That void needs to be filled before it is too late. The biggest (and most expensive) linebackers have already found their new homes, but there are still solid ones left. Holmes was smart to bring back Malcolm Rodriguez,<\/a> but \u201cRodrigo\u201d is at his best as the team\u2019s top reserve LB. Unfortunately for the Lions, they currently only own two picks in the top 100 of the 2026 draft. With other positions expected to be his early targets, it is unrealistic to think Holmes will be able to draft a day-one starter at LB.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best Free Agent Available<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n

Germaine Pratt, Indianapolis Colts<\/span><\/h3>\n

If the Lions sign Germaine Pratt, their linebacker corps would remain extremely formidable. There were rumors of the Lions being interested in Pratt<\/a> before last season, but the veteran eventually signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. His time in Vegas was short, however. Pratt was released after only four games and would find a home with the Indianapolis Colts.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Colt, Pratt returned to his productive ways.<\/a> In 12 games, he racked up 101 total tackles. PFF gave him an overall grade of 63.0, which ranked 39th out of 88 linebackers. Pratt, although not the player he was in 2022, is still effective. His run defense continues to be solid, and he still shows decent coverage skills. The 2019 third-round pick has excellent size at 6\u20193 and 250 pounds. Pratt will turn 30 in May, but would provide the Lions with an immediate starter at a position currently in need of one. Holmes should be able to ink Pratt to an affordable, one-year deal while still finding a linebacker in the middle of the draft for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to hear what you think in the comments. Who do you believe the Lions should be targeting in free agency? We still have a month to go before the 2026 draft, though it is coming up quickly. Expect a few more signings from Brad Holmes before the draft begins.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Lions still have several needs after two weeks of free agency. Will Brad Holmes make any other notable signings before the draft?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5722,"featured_media":270361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,6431],"tags":[33883,9225,1273,8472,1473,33028],"class_list":["post-270279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lions","category-nfl-teams","tag-2026-nfl-free-agency","tag-avonte-maddox","tag-cam-robinson","tag-germaine-pratt","tag-jadeveon-clowney","tag-malcolm-rodriguez"],"modified_by":"Drew Crabtree","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5722"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270279"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270364,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270279\/revisions\/270364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}