News Lions Team Notes

[Detroit Lions]

Lions News: Ex-Lions coach battling cancer to attend Super Bowl with Patriots

Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams talks to defensive end Josh Paschal during the first half against Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former Detroit Lions coach Terrell Williams will join the New England Patriots at the Super Bowl after stepping away early this fall to be treated for prostate cancer.

In 2024, Williams spent about a year as defensive running game coordinator and defensive line coach before he was hired by the Patriots as defensive coordinator in January 2025. Sadly, head coach Mike Vrabel announced in September that Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer and would be stepping away.

“I unfortunately have to tell you that Terrell Williams was determined to have prostate cancer, and is in the process of treatment and meeting with specialists and figuring out the best plan of attack to be able to attack this and heal it and fix it and allow him to get back to better healthy,” Vrabel said at the time. “You know how much Terrell means to me personally and to the people on this football team. So, again, we want to send our regards and publicly let everybody know that’s what he’s dealing with.”

Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over calling plays for New England in his absence. Vrabel announced Thursday that since leaving about five months ago, Williams is “doing well” and will be making the trip to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX as the Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks.

Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs called Williams a “road warrior” and said his attendance means a lot to the team.

Stefon Diggs called DC Terrell Williams “another road warrior,” saying how much it means to the team for him to be with them during Super Bowl Week as he continues to battle his way back from prostate cancer:

“…This team has been through a lot. A lot of guys have had family… pic.twitter.com/D6F2tN1gE2

— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) January 29, 2026

Though he spent just one season coaching the Lions, he made a big impact on many players. Head coach Dan Campbell called him a “highly intelligent” coach, who understands his players’ personalities.

“Like, to watch him—he treated every player different, man. Some guys he prodded, some guys he loved up, some guys he would just simply walk and whisper in their ear and then watch ‘em go, like, he’s got a knack about understanding how to make people go, and not everybody’s the same, so, unbelievable dude, unbelievable human being, great teacher,” Campbell said of Williams back during last year’s owners meetings.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Once hoping to play in it himself, Lions offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo is down in Alabama coaching the Senior Bowl American Team quarterbacks.

Lions assistant Marques Tuiasosopo was supposed to play in the ⁦@seniorbowl⁩ a quarter century ago. He got hurt and couldn’t go. Now he’s there as a coach, making sure others make the most of their opportunity. https://t.co/474b4pzi0I via @freep

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 29, 2026

• More from the Detroit Free Press—Dave has spent some time speaking with Lions draft prospects at the Senior Bowl.

Video: Nadame Tucker quietly had a huge season for Western Michigan this year. Now, one of the NCAA’s most productive pass rushers is opening eyes at the Senior Bowl https://t.co/XDrgacPJOJ

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 29, 2026

• Ahmed Hassanein is getting in some intense looking offseason workouts.

Detroit Lions EDGE Ahmed Hassanein is putting in WORK this off-season

Looks like he has a future in the UFC too #OnePride pic.twitter.com/487kA5OvIL

— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) January 28, 2026

• A belated happy birthday to the GOAT.

Happy birthday, @DanMillerFox2!

Here are some of his best calls from the 2025 season pic.twitter.com/AZyPOQyCcP

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 26, 2026

63!!!!! Unless I lost track. Which is entirely possible. Thanks. Appreciate ALL of you and your kind words. You guys are the best. https://t.co/00iBZn1Ud3

— Dan Miller (@DanMillerFox2) January 26, 2026

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ms-battling-cancer-attend-super-bowl-patriots

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions signing former Bears tight end to futures deal

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 10: Thomas Gordon #48 of the Chicago Bears looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Soldier Field on August 10, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Detroit Lions have reportedly signed free agent tight end Thomas Gordon to a futures deal, per Aaron Wilson.

Last year, Gordon spent some of the 2025 season—his rookie year—with the Chicago Bears. He signed with the team in August, didn’t make their 53-man roster, signed to the practice squad in December, and was not signed to a futures deal by Chicago after their season ended.

Prior to his time with the Bears, Gordon was a late-season addition to the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas’ squad. He played only one game for them and did not record any statistics.

Before that, Gordon played for the Northwestern Wildcats for six years, starting in 18 games and appearing in a total of 54. While he’s never been a huge receiving threat, he did catch 27 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown in his super-senior year with the Wildcats in 2024.

At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Gordon is built like a blocking-first tight end, but he had varying levels of success in college.

A lot has been made in recent weeks about the Lions potentially playing more 13 personnel with the hiring of Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, which could mean more investment in the tight end position this offseason. Thus far, the Lions have only three other tight ends currently under contract for the 2026 season: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Zach Horton.

As of now, this signing is not yet official, but you can see every Lions player who is under contract for the 2026 season with our tracker here.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...igning-former-bears-tight-end-to-futures-deal

 

[Detroit Lions]

2026 NFL salary cap expected to exceed $300 million

Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes laughs with Miami Dolphins coaches during a joint practice at the Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. | Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFL has yet to finalize the salary cap for the 2026 season, but NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the limit is expected to land between $301.2 million and $305.7 million.

If the salary cap indeed lands between those projected numbers, it would mark the second year in a row that the NFL has exceeded expert projections, as most anticipated the amount to fall short of $300M. Last offseason, the NFL projected the salary cap to land between $277.5M and $281.5M, and the final number for 2025 landed nearly dead in the middle at $279.2M.

At a minimum, that means the salary cap will increase by at least $22M from last season. While that may seem like a significant jump, it closely matches the average increase in salary cap that we’ve seen since the COVID pandemic.

Here’s a look at how the salary cap has changed over the last decade:

• 2016: $155.27M
• 2017: $167M
• 2018: $177.2M
• 2019: $188.2M
• 2020: $198.2M
• 2021: $182.5M (No fan attendance due to COVID restrictions)
• 2022: $208.2M (increase of $25.7M)
• 2023: $224.8M ($16.6M)
• 2024: $255.4M ($30.6M
• 2025: $279.2M ($23.8M)
• 2026: est. $301.2M – $305.7M

As for what this means for the Detroit Lions, it will give them a bit more flexibility in making roster decisions, but overall, an additional $5M to $10M over what was anticipated isn’t going to change things dramatically.

At this stage of the offseason, the Lions are still projected to be roughly $5M to $10M OVER the salary cap allotment. However, the NFL still has to factor in teams’ rollover salary cap from 2025, as well as make any adjustments based on contract bonuses, factoring in things like “not likely to be earned” (NLTBE) and “per-game” bonuses. Once these updates are factored in, the Lions could see their salary cap spending increase by another $20M—which would put them in cap compliance but leave little to spend in free agency and the NFL Draft.

While this may seem troubling, it’s worth noting that there are currently 12 other NFL teams that are also projected to be over the salary cap, including every team in the NFC North. That’s why most beat writers and salary cap experts are projecting the Lions to still work on restructuring some of their existing contracts in order to create more salary cap space in 2026.

We’ll have more information available at Pride of Detroit as rollover amounts and adjustment numbers become available ahead of the League’s new year, which is set to take place on March 11, 2026.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...nfl-salary-cap-expected-to-exceed-300-million

 

[Detroit Lions]

What is the best event of the NFL offseason calendar?

With only the SuperBowl left to play for the NFL’s 2025 season, now feels like a good time to look ahead to what should be a very interesting offseason for the Detroit Lions and the rest of the league. To begin, let’s start by setting the table and looking at some key dates provided to us by our own Jeremy Reisman’s article he wrote earlier in January.

Jeremy lays things out in a succintly, breaking events down month by month, from January all the way to the beginning of training camp in July. We have already seen quite a bit of excitement for the various college All-Star games such as the East-West Shrine Bowl and, on Saturday, the Senior Bowl. And soon it will already be February, and teams will begin making their preparations to be in Indianapolis for the annual NFL Combine.

After that, March rolls around marking the beginning of free agency, and the league meetings that take place towards the end of the month. Then of course there is the 2026 NFL Draft in April, mandatory minicamps—it never really stops in the NFL, even if there are no games being played.

That brings us to today’s question of the day—what is your favorite event of the NFL’s offseason?

My answer: Call me old school, but I love the combine, and not because I am a huge fan of events like the 40-yard dash or anything like that. I enjoy hearing the rumors and other news coming out of the event. Rarely are all of the league’s top decision-makers in the same place like they are for the combine, and from what I hear from others—you can learn a lot by being in the right steakhouse on the right evening.

On top of that, I feel like this is when mock drafts begin to hone in on what teams are actually thinking as the draft approaches. What about you? What is your favorite event of the offseason? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-discussion/156490/best-event-nfl-offseason-calendar

 

[Detroit Lions]

2026 Senior Bowl: Live discussion, TV channel, kickoff time

MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 01: A general view of the Reese's Senior Bowl Logo at midfield prior to the start of the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on February 1, 2025 in Mobile, Alabama. The American Team defeated the National Team, 22-19. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** | Getty Images

Many Detroit Lions fans have already turned the page and started looking into the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. For those that may still be lagging behind (see: myself), Saturday afternoon may be a good entry point to get to know this year’s draft class.

Down in Mobile, Alabama, the 2026 Senior Bowl will take place at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game, which is the biggest college all-star game on the circuit, will feature plenty of players the Lions will likely consider selecting during draft weekend in late April in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While the week of practice provides a ton of data for all 32 teams down there, the game itself is a place where these prospects can shine for the public and prove they aren’t just workout warriors.

This post can serve as an opportunity to talk about your favorite prospects, the best performances, and anything else from this week at the Senior Bowl. Simply just scroll down to the comment section at the bottom of the page and join the conversation of all the armchair general managers that are part of our community.

Before the game kicks off, be sure to read our 14 NFL Draft prospects to watch at the Senior Bowl to help guide your viewing experience of the game.

Additionally, if you need information on how to catch the game, here’s everything you need to know:

2026 Senior Bowl​

When: Saturday, Jan. 31 — 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium — Mobile, AL
TV: NFL Network
Streaming: NFL+
Rosters: Click here for every player participating

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-bowl-live-discussion-tv-channel-kickoff-time

 

[Detroit Lions]

Discussion: What was the biggest surprise of the 2025 NFL season?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Rams an NFC Championship NFL football game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is just one more game left to be played in the 2025-26 NFL season. Either the New England Patriots or Seattle Seahawks will walk away as champions.

Both teams are pretty big surprises this year. The Seahawks’ odds to win the Super Bowl before the start of training camp were about 60-to-1. The Patriots were an ever bigger longshot to be here. Odds for them were around 80-to-1. For comparison’s sake, the Lions had the fifth-best odds at 12-to-1.

All of that is to say that it’s been a very surprising year for everyone. Patrick Mahomes missed the playoffs, as did Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, and Dak Prescott.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

What has been the biggest surprise of the 2025 NFL season?​

My answer: I could go in so many directions here. The Chicago Bears winning the NFC North is pretty high on the list, although I had a feeling they would at least compete for the division this year. The Chiefs going 6-11 was certainly shocking, but everyone knew they overachieved last year and were heading in the wrong direction. I’m still having trouble believing that the Jaguars went 13-4 this year.

But I think my biggest shock is that the Seahawks won the Geno Smith trade decisively.

I’ll be honest, I was extremely confused by the Seahawks’ move at the time. It seemed like a rebuilding move when they had a roster capable of contending already. Smith wasn’t outstanding in 2024, but he helped lead the Seahawks to a 10-7 record, threw for over 4,300 passes, and seemed like he could lead Seattle to another competitive season in 2025. Trading away a perfectly capable starting quarterback for just a third-round pick and no clear replacement was shocking at the time.

But the Seahawks smartly outbid everyone for Sam Darnold, and the quarterback upgrade couldn’t have been clearer. Check out the stats between 2025 Darnold and 2024 Smith.

Geno Smith’s 2024 season with Seahawks:

• 407-of-578 (70.4%) for 4,320 yards, 7.5 Y/A, 93.2 passer rating

Sam Darnold’s 2025 season with Seahawks:

• 323-of-477 (67.7%) for 4,048 yards, 8.5 Y/A, 99.1 passer rating

Meanwhile, Smith collapsed completely with the Raiders, throwing just 19 touchdowns to 17 interceptions for an 84.7 passer rating—and now Las Vegas has a new head coach and will likely be looking for a new quarterback.

My perception of the trade from when it happened to what it looks like now is a stark reminder that this game is very hard to predict.

What was the biggest surprise of the 2025 NFL season to you? Share your answers in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...s-the-biggest-surprise-of-the-2025-nfl-season

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions have 6 of ESPN top 100 MVP candidates for 2025

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) takes a selfie with offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) as they exit the field after 52-21 win over Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last week, ESPN’s Seth Walder put together a list of the top-100 MVP candidates for the 2025 NFL season. We already know the five finalists for the actual MVP award—Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, and Christian McCaffrey—and the winner will be announced later this upcoming week at the NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 5.

But Walder’s endeavor is a fun exercise in selecting the 100 players who played the best and arguably had the biggest impact on the 2025 season. And for Detroit Lions fans, this is probably a necessary reminder that their team’s core remains extremely talented.

Walder’s list of 100 players included six Lions, five of whom were listed among the top-50. Here’s where each of those players landed on his MVP candidate list:

• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown — 17
• EDGE Aidan Hutchinson — 22
• RT Penei Sewell — 28
• QB Jared Goff — 33
• LB Jack Campbell — 50
• RB Jahmyr Gibbs — 64

To put those rankings into perspective among their peers, here’s where each player ranked among their position group on Walder’s list:

• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown — 4th among WRs
• EDGE Aidan Hutchinson — 5th among EDGEs
• RT Penei Sewell — 3rd among OTs
• QB Jared Goff — 9th among QBs
• LB Jack Campbell — 1st among LBs
• RB Jahmyr Gibbs — 2nd among RBs

And to put the Lions’ six players in context, here are the number of top-100 players that some other notable teams had:

New England Patriots: 4
Seattle Seahawks: 8
Los Angeles Rams: 6
Denver Broncos: 7
Green Bay Packers: 3
Chicago Bears: 2

The best part about the Lions players on this list is that they are all likely to be around for the long term. Goff, St. Brown, Sewell, and Hutchinson are all signed on for at least the next three seasons, while Gibbs and Campbell are likely to join both of them this offseason. And amongst that group of six, only Goff is older than 26 years old, so Detroit’s core of talented players are both entering the primes of their respective careers and will be in Detroit for that span.

This year is proof that star talent isn’t exactly everything. Still, Detroit’s floor remains extremely high given this talented core. The challenge will be to complement these superstars with a strong supporting cast, and that’s certainly what Lions general manager Brad Holmes will seek out to do this offseason.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...roit-lions-have-6-of-espn-top-100-mvp-seasons

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions’ offseason approach shouldn’t hinge on Taylor Decker’s decision

Nov 27, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell greet each other prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions went through a pretty significant change along the interior of their offensive line in 2025. This upcoming season, it’s likely time for the offensive tackle position to prepare for a transition.

Dan Skipper has already retired, and the Lions await a decision from left tackle Taylor Decker on his football future. But no matter what Decker decides is best for him, the Lions would be wise to approach the offseason with change in mind.

Let’s get into it in our latest Detroit Lions positional recap and offseason preview.

Previously:

• QB recap: Jared Goff still in the prime of his career
• RB recap: Breaking down 2 huge decisions for Lions
• TE recap: 2026 is a pivotal offseason for TEs
• WR recap: Lions face just 1 offseason question

Lions 2025 recap: Offensive tackles​

• Taylor Decker stats (14 games):
  • 67.9 PFF grade — 40th out of 86 qualifying OTs
  • 69.5 pass blocking grade — 39th out of 82
  • 62.1 run blocking grade — 56th out of 86
• Penei Sewell stats (16 games):
  • 95.1 PFF grade — 1st out of 86 qualifying OTs
  • 80.3 pass blocking grade — 8th out of 82
  • 96.8 run blocking grade — 1st out of 86

• Dan Skipper (12 games, 5 starts):
  • 50.5 PFF grade — Did not qualify
  • 69.3 pass blocking grade
  • 47.5 run blocking grade

Penei Sewell continued to have an incredible season in 2025, despite him believing it wasn’t his best year. He’s earned First-Team All Pro yet again, and he’s up for the inaugural Protector of the Year Award, which will be announced later this week.

Decker battled a shoulder injury all season. It required him to miss the majority of practices each week and an intense routine of rehab and prehab. Despite the physical struggles, Decker still produced an above-average season. He did have his lowest-graded season since 2017 and worst pass blocking grade (69.5), but that speaks more to how underappreciated he’s been. He’s still very capable of being a reliable, solid left tackle in this league.

But throughout the season, Decker talked about his thoughts on retirement. The shoulder injury clearly took a toll mentally, as he pondered his future with his family. At the end of the year, Decker made it clear if he were to make the decision right away, his football career would be over. But he wanted to remove himself from the emotional moment, gather more information on his health, and a make a decision on his future at a later time.

“If that’s what my future is going to be to continue to play—that’s not something I’m willing to do. Because I’m not willing to put my family through it,” Decker said after the Lions’ final season. “I’m not willing to be distant and not be a present father, because your kids are only little once, and, God willing, we have more. I want to be able to play with them. I want to be able to throw the ball with them. I mean, I can’t throw a football right now. No way. But could I (play in 2026), given the right set of circumstances? Maybe. But I need to go through that process.”

Manu didn’t take the jump to be OT3, as some were hoping. Instead, he battled injuries, missing the final three months of the season with a knee injury.

2026 for outlook​

Currently under contract:

• Penei Sewell (signed through 2029)
• Taylor Decker (2027)
• Giovanni Manu (2027)
• Devin Cochran (2026)

Pending free agents:

• Jamarco Jones (unrestricted)
• Chris Hubbard (street free agent, can sign now)
• Dan Skipper (retired)

While the Lions, in theory, could be fine in 2026 with Sewell, Decker, and Manu as their top three tackles, the potential retirement of Decker—plus the already-announced retirement of Dan Skipper—should change Detroit’s strategy immediately.

Last year, the Lions found themselves somewhat unprepared at the center position after Frank Ragnow’s retirement after the draft. They may have been able to patchwork things with Graham Glasgow at center and rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard, but the interior offensive line didn’t hold up. The Lions can’t afford to make the same mistake twice.

Detroit needs to prepare for Decker’s retirement this offseason, whether it ends up happening or not. That means, at the very least, adding a starting tackle in free agency. Sure, they could (and should) consider an offensive tackle with their first or second-round pick, but they cannot just wait to see if their preferred option falls to them in the draft. Rather than aggressively going up to get their guy in the draft and spending valuable draft resources, or taking the risk to see if he falls to them, they need a Plan A to ensure their flexibility in the draft.

To be fair, finding a starting tackle in free agency is no easy task. Teams don’t generally let great starting offensive linemen just walk for nothing in free agency. But there are some intriguing players that do admittedly come with some questions, including Jonah Williams, Rob Havenstein, and Jermaine Eluemunor.

If Decker ends up sticking around, yeah, it’ll be a little weird to have another starter on the roster—especially one that may have signed with the expectation to start. But for the Lions, it still makes sense to have that contingency plan and have another strong depth option with Skipper now retired. In short, offensive tackle needs to be a high priority regardless of Decker’s decision.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ldnt-hinge-taylor-deckers-retirement-decision

 

[Detroit Lions]

2 Detroit Lions DL will remain under contract in 2026 due to little-known rule

Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell with defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike signed a one-year deal last offseason, meaning the traditional expectation is that he’ll face free agency in 2026 when the new league year starts in March.

However, that’s not actually how things will unfold with Onwuzurike this offseason.

Due to a lesser-known rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Onwuzurike’s one-year contract will toll over to 2026, meaning he’s under contract in Detroit and will remain so when the new league year hits.

Let me explain.

As you may remember, Onwuzurike re-signed with the team last March, just before free agency started. But before Onwuzurike could even practice in training camp, Lions coach Dan Campbell announced that Onwuzurike was out for the year with a torn ACL. The Lions opted to put him on the Physically Unable to Perform reserve list, not the injured reserve list. That distinction turns out to be critical.

Because there is a stipulation in the CBA that a player who is on the final year of his contract, and spends the entire season on the PUP/reserve list, will see their contract toll over to the next year. In essence, Onwuzurike’s contract was paused in 2025 and will now carry over to the 2026 season.

Here is the provision, in Article 20, Section 2 of the CBA:

Section 2. Physically Unable to Perform

Any player placed on a Physically Unable to Perform list (“PUP”) will be paid his full Paragraph 5 Salary while on such list. His contract will not be tolled for the period he is on PUP, except in the last year of his contract, when the player’s contract will be tolled if (i) he is still physically unable to perform his football services as of the sixth regular season game; and (ii) he is not reinstated to the Club’s Active/Inactive List during that regular season or postseason. For the avoidance of doubt, if the player returns to practice, but is never reinstated to the Club’s Active/Inactive List during that regular season or postseason, his contract will toll.

UPDATE: Lions defensive end Josh Paschal also remains under contract due to a very similar rule, this time regarding the Non-Football Injury list (Article 20, Section 3, Part B):

A player on N-F/I who is in the final year of his contract (including an option year) will have his contract tolled. However, if the player is physically able to perform his football services on or before the sixth regular season game, the Club must pay the player his negotiated Paragraph 5 Salary (pro rata) for the balance of the season in order to toll such player’s contract. If such player is taken off N-F/I during the period when such action is allowed by League rules, his contract will not be tolled.

So, as it appears over on Over The Cap, Onwuzurike is essentially under contract for the 2026 season on a one-year deal, $1.5 million contract—just above the league minimum—with an opportunity to gain more money on per-game roster bonuses.

It’s one more opportunity for Onwuzurike, who has seen his career largely derailed by injury. After missing the entire 2022 season and much of 2023 with a back injury, Onwuzurike appeared to put it all behind him for a promising 2024 season. But the ACL injury threw another wrench into his young career. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Onwuzurike has played in 41 games (10 starts) and accumulated 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, and a forced fumble.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...der-contract-in-2026-due-to-little-known-rule

 

[Detroit Lions]

The entire NFC North may suffer from ‘brain drain’ in 2026

Jan 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to reporters during his introductory press conference at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

For the past few seasons, the Detroit Lions have had to worry about their coaching staff getting poached by other teams. This year, it appears the rest of the NFC North is going through similar struggles, while the Lions have yet to lose a single coach to another vacancy.

Detroit showed last year that the “brain drain”—regression due to losing key coaches—is certainly a believable thing, and now it could be coming for their rivals.

Let’s take a closer look at how the division has shifted thus far, with still some shuffling to come in the upcoming weeks.

Chicago Bears​

• LOST: Assistant GM Ian Cunningham to Falcons’ GM job
• LOST: RB coach Eric Bieniemy to Chiefs’ OC job
• LOST: Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to Ravens’ OC job

As of Monday, the Bears had not replaced any of these three losses among their staff. There are some internal options, but Chicago will certainly have to try and rebound from these somewhat significant losses.

Losing a key member of the front office is never easy, and Cunningham was largely considered an up-and-comer. There’s also the extra sting that due to a technicality—the Falcons GM job does not have final roster say—the Bears will not receive draft pick compensation related to the Rooney Rule.

As for losing Bieniemy and Doyle, it certainly could hurt the Bears. But with Ben Johnson still running the show on offense, I don’t think anyone is realistically expecting a huge step back on offense in 2026.

Minnesota Vikings​

• FIRED: GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
• LOST: DB coach/pass game coordinator Daronte Jones to Commanders’ DC job
  • Replaced by former Steelers’ DB coach Gerald Alexander

The Vikings didn’t lose all that much, and—most importantly—they were able to retain defensive coordinator Brian Flores despite his contract running out and several head coaching opportunities. Flores is reportedly getting a massive $6 million a year deal in Minnesota.

The Commanders settled for the next best thing when they made Daronte Jones their new defensive coordinator, but the Vikings swiftly replaced him with the well-respected Gerald Alexander.

But Minnesota made the odd decision to fire general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah a few weeks into their offseason. The Vikings announced they will not conduct a GM search until after the draft, and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski will lead the personnel side until then.

Green Bay Packers​

• LOST: DC Jeff Hafley to Dolphins’ head coach job
  • Replaced by Jonathan Gannon
• LOST: LB coach Sean Duggan to Dolphins’ DC job
• LOST: DB coach Ryan Downard to Dolphins’ secondary coach job
• LOST: Defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley
  • Replaced by Bobby Babich
• LOST: Defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis to Dolphins
• LOST: Defensive analyst Nathaniel Hackett to Dolphins’ QB coach job
• LOST: QB coach Sean Mannion to Eagles’ OC job

After two successful years as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Hafley landed the Dolphins head coaching job and he’s taking at least four Packers coaches with him. This feels like a pretty significant loss for a Packers defense that took a big jump since their Joe Barry years. Jonathan Gannon, the team’s new defensive coordinator, is a well-respected defensive mind who led a strong Eagles squad in 2021-22, but he also had an immense amount of talent.

To make matters even worse, the Packers lost Sean Mannion on the offensive side of the ball. At 33 years old, he is an up-and-comer, which is always nice to have on the coaching roster.

Among all of these teams, Green Bay seems most likely to suffer from “brain drain,” particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...nfc-north-may-suffer-from-brain-drain-in-2026

 

[JJ]

OH BOY where do I even start with this one?!

Look, I gotta be honest - as a Bills fan first and foremost, seeing Josh Allen as an MVP finalist makes my heart sing. But let's talk about what REALLY shocked me this season...

THE PATRIOTS IN THE SUPER BOWL?! Are you KIDDING me?! 80-to-1 odds and they're playing for a championship?! I literally had to check if I was having a fever dream when they made the AFC Championship. Drake Maye must be doing something special up there because that roster was NOT supposed to be competing this year.

But honestly? The Chiefs going 6-11 is absolutely WILD. I know everyone says they were due for regression, but Mahomes missing the playoffs entirely? That's the kind of thing you'd get laughed out of a bar for predicting back in August. The dynasty is DONE, folks!

The Seahawks-Darnold thing is interesting but let's be real - Darnold has always had the talent, he just needed to get away from Adam Gase's ghost. Some QBs just need the right situation.

For you Lions fans specifically - losing Goff, Stafford, Burrow, AND Jackson from the playoffs is absolutely brutal for the "elite QB" narrative. Your core is still STACKED though. Jack Campbell being the #1 LB in that top 100 is no joke, and Sewell is a generational talent.

The brain drain stuff hitting the whole NFC North is fascinating timing. Green Bay losing Hafley AND all those defensive coaches? *chef's kiss* Couldn't happen to a better franchise!

What's YOUR biggest surprise?

 

[Detroit Lions]

Ranking the Detroit Lions offensive roster into tiers

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 21: A rear view of Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions as he huddles with his teammates during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field on December 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Detroit Lions heading into free agency with plenty of needs on the horizon and a challenging amount of resources both in free agency and the NFL Draft. But before the Lions can go on a shopping spree to make a run at the Super Bowl next season, they need to properly assess their own roster. Self-scouting is an essential part of the process in order to decide which players should return in 2026 and which positions need a serious upgrade.

So on this week’s PODcast, we do the same. We evaluate the Detroit Lions’ players on offense, placing them into seven different tiers:

• Solidified All-Pro talent
• Good player, could be elite
• Starter
• Depth, could challenge for starter
• Depth, nothing more, nothing less
• Developmental depth
• Time to move on

This wasn’t an exhaustive list of players on the Lions’ offensive roster, but we discuss the futures of players like Giovanni Manu, David Montgomery, Graham Glasgow, Kalif Raymond, and Miles Frazier and how Detroit’s decisions on those players will shape their entire offseason plan. We also have more fun, but less meaningful, debates like: Does Jared Goff belong in the same tier as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Penei Sewell? Does Tate Ratledge have “elite” potential?

In the end, this is the tier-list we came up with:

You can make your own tier list here, and be sure to share it with us on social media or in the comment section below!

Other topics on this week’s PODcast include:

• Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal are back! Is this good news, and how does it impact the Lions’ offseason?
• Debating whether the Lions will win any NFL Honors awards
• The NFC North brain drain may be coming for the Vikings, Packers, and Bears

You can listen to the entire show in the embedded player below or by searching “Pride of Detroit” on your favorite podcasting platform.

If you want to catch the video version of the PODcast, head to our YouTube page or Twitch channel.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...detroit-lions-offensive-players-tiers-podcast

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions connections in Super Bowl 60: Patriots vs. Seahawks

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 18: Carlton Davis III #7 of the New England Patriots stands on the field during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sunday is the Super Bowl, and for Detroit Lions fans, there are no clear rooting interests. I imagine a lot of people have a hard time rooting for the New England Patriots given their wild amount of success in the 2000s. However, the Seattle Seahawks have been the source of a lot of pain to Lions fans over the year, so they aren’t a particularly fun team to want to root for either.

So if you’re stuck, this post will list all of the Lions connections in the coaching staffs and rosters. Perhaps there’s a former Lions player you were particularly fond of that you’d like to see get a Super Bowl ring.

Let’s take a look at the Detroit Lions connections playing in Super Bowl 60.

Seahawks​

• S Quandre Diggs (practice squad)

Diggs was drafted by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and quickly became a fan favorite and one of Detroit’s biggest draft steals in the modern era. He was aggressive in the run game, had enough ball skills to tally several interceptions, and had a fun attitude that was easy to like. Unfortunately, he clashed with coach Matt Patricia and was traded to Seattle for far lower than his worth. At this point in his career, he’s played more games for the Seahawks than the Lions, which is just a sad thing to see.

Diggs likely won’t be playing in the Super Bowl, as he’s on the practice squad and has only been elevated one for a handful of special teams snaps. Many Lions fans may be offput by the fact that Diggs didn’t want to be plucked from the practice squad by the Lions this season, but I imagine most fans still love him.

• Defensive assistant/linebackers coach Josh Bynes

Bynes is a bit of a blast from the past. After four successful seasons with the Ravens, the Lions signed Bynes to be significant contributor back in 20214, and he gave Detroit three good years. Though he was mostly a special teamer, he did start 11 games for the Lions in 2015 (and eight in 2016).

He ended up making a strong career out of himself, playing 12 years in the NFL. Now he’s transitioned to coaching, where he’s been a defensive assistant for the Seahawks for the past two years, using his connection to Mike Macdonald to parlay that into a post-playing career.

• Assistant special teams caoch Devin Fitzsimmons

Fitzsimmons served the exact same role for the Lions from 2014-18 under special teams coordinators John Bonamego and Joe Marcino. He did briefly hold an interim tight ends coach role with the Lions in 2015 after Ron Prince moved to offensive line coach following the firing of Jeremiah Washburh.

When Marciano was fired in the middle of 2018, Fitzsimmons took over most of the coordinator duties, but in 2019 they opted to bring back Bonamego, instead, and Fitzsimmons jumped to Vanderbilt.

Patriots​

• QB Joshua Dobbs

Dobbs has literally been on a one quarter of the NFL teams at this point in his decade-long career, and his time with the Lions was the shortest of them all. He signed to the taem’s practice squad in December of 2022 and never saw the field for Detroit. He now serves as Drake Maye’s primary backup.

• RB Craig Reynolds (injured practice squad)

Reynolds is another fan favorite, after an unconventional rise to Detroit’s RB3 spot after being a late addition during the 2021 offseason. He earned the nickname “Netflix” because he was on the couch before Detroit added him, but a strong preseason performance won him a roster spot. He’s been dependable on offense and a strong special teamer since, but roster maneuvering cost Reynolds his spot on the team, and he signed to the Patriots practice squad in late November. Unfortunately, he lasted just a couple weeks before being placed on the practice squad injured reserve. He won’t play Sunday.

• LB Jahlani Tavai

Tavai is notoriously one of the biggest busts of the Bob Quinn era. Considered a very big overdraft in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Tavai only lasted two seasons before he was cut by the team under new management (Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell). Despite his failings under Patricia, Tavai went to the New England Patriots and carved out a strong career. He’s started 51 games over five seasons, and is currently considered a rotational player for the Patriots defense. He’s played in 43 snaps on defense in the playoffs, so you should see at least some of him on Sunday.

• CB Carlton Davis

Davis was the Lions’ top cornerback last year, after Detroit traded a third-round pick to acquire him during the 2024 offseason. There was mutual interest in a return this past season, but contractual negotiations broke down. Per Davis, there was some language he “wasn’t really fond of” in the Lions’ offer, but holds no grudges to the team or management.

After signing a three-year, $54 million deal with the Patriots, Davis has had a strong season alongside Christian Gonzalez. While Davis has been flagged more than any other defensive back in football, he has posted a solid 74.2 PFF grade, good for 16th in the NFL. He also posted two interceptions in the team’s Divisional Round game against the Texans.

• WR coach Todd Downing

Waaaaaayyy back in 2009, Downing served as a quality control coach, before moving to assistant quarterbacks coach (2010-11), and eventually taking the quarterbacks coach role over in 2012-13. So he was in charge early of Matthew Stafford’s development. When the Lions transitioned from Jim Schwartz to Jim Caldwell, Downing was not retained. He lands in New England after serving as Mike Vrabel’s defensive coordinator from 2021-22 with the Titans.

• Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams

One of the best stories of Super Bowl 60 is the return of Terrell Williams, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year and hasn’t been on the team’s sideline since Week 1. After being declared cancer-free this postseason, he’ll rejoin the Patriots on sidelines this Sunday.

Williams had a very high reputation when the Lions hired him as defensive line coach/run game coordinator in 2024. He only lasted a season, because the opportunity to re-join Vrabel was too good to pass up for Williams, and now he’s a defensive coordinator for the first time in his coaching career that dates back to 1998.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ections-in-super-bowl-60-patriots-vs-seahawks

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions RB David Montgomery offers hope for 2026 return, talks ‘special’ duo with Gibbs

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Jacob Hester and David Montgomery speak at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on February 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM) | Getty Images for SiriusXM

If you’re looking for a little bit of optimism that Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery will stick around in 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

Montgomery is in California for the media blitz that is Super Bowl week, and while joining NFL Network’s coverage, he talked about being in a running back duo with Jahmyr Gibbs. It certainly sounded like that was something he views as pretty important to him.

“The really good teams have the rarity of having two really good guys (at running back), and Jahmyr is one of, if not the best, running backs in the league, and I believe I’m a damn good back myself,” Montgomery said. “Every chance I get to showcase myself, I will.

“I just think having us both together and us both being as selfless as we are, I think it’s really important. It’s something special to be a part of.”

"Jahmyr [Gibbs] is one of, if not the best running backs in the league and I'm a damn good [running] back myself."

David Montgomery on the Sonic and Knuckles duo that makes up the @Lions backfield pic.twitter.com/4HnqENLSKq

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 4, 2026

There’s been some rumormongering this offseason about Montgomery’s future with the team, with some suggesting Montgomery may want out where he can be featured more. While he remains under contract through the 2027 season after signing an extension in 2024, his role diminished this past season after the Lions ran the ball less frequently and featured Gibbs more. Lions general manager Brad Holmes added fuel to the fire when he admitted there were some things the two sides needed to talk through regarding Montgomery’s future with the team.

“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so, yeah, would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”

At this point, there have been no reports that Montgomery has requested a trade nor are that the Lions are shopping him. But with a new run-heavy offensive coordinator in town and some hopeful words from Montgomery, it’s possible the running back duo of Sonic and Knuckles return in 2026.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-for-2026-return-talks-special-duo-with-gibbs

 

[Detroit Lions]

SB Nation Reacts Survey: Who will win Super Bowl LX?

Jan 29, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks helmets with Super Bowl Vince Lombardi trophy. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Throughout the offseason, SB Nation will host surveys for NFL fans. Often, the survey questions you’ll find at Pride of Detroit focus solely on the Lions, but occasionally, fans will also encounter more general questions about the League, as is the case this week.

In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we look ahead to the final game of the 2025-26 season, and wonder:

• Who will win Super Bowl LX?

The New England Patriots (14-3) and Seattle Seahawks (14-3) will meet in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8 (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. This will be the second time these two teams have met in the Super Bowl; the previous meeting was Super Bowl XLIX (following the 2014 season), with the Patriots winning 28-24 after cornerback Malcolm Butler secured the victory with a goalline interception off Russell Wilson.

The STUNNING conclusion of Super Bowl XLIX — #Seahawks and #Patriots

Marshawn Lynch is stopped at the one, setting the stage for one of NFL history's most shocking moments

Seattle eschews the run and Russell Wilson's pass is picked off by rookie Malcolm Butler

February 1, 2015 pic.twitter.com/ZfPkNuzw0H

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 1, 2024

Nostalgia aside, this year’s Super Bowl pits arguably the two best-performing teams of the 2025 season against each other. Both teams ranked in the top 4 in scoring offense and scoring defense during the regular season, but their paths through the postseason have been very different.

The Patriots easily took care of the Chargers in the Wildcard round of the playoffs, then dispatched the Texans after forcing five turnovers. They struggled with the Broncos in the Conference Championship, despite Denver needing to rely on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, but found a way to advance through a second-half snowstorm. While their defense has been very good in the playoffs, their offense has been anything but smooth.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks looked fresh coming off a Wild Card round bye and dismantled the 49ers in one of the most lopsided playoff wins in a decade. They faced a tough Rams team in the Conference Championship round, but their balance carried them through, finding ways to score and showing up on defense when it mattered.

According to the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites in this game.

With that, please vote in the survey below, share your feedback in the comments, and check back later this week for the results.

---

Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. If you want to get these surveys emailed to you weekly, you can sign up here.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...tion-reacts-survey-who-will-win-super-bowl-lx

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions promoting internally for new tight ends coach

Detroit Lions assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver walks off the field after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, July 24, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions have a new tight ends coach. It’s a promotion from within, but maybe not the one you were expecting. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions are promoting assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver to tight ends coach rather than assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan.

Oliver takes over for Tyler Roehl, who left the team after just one season to become Iowa State’s new offensive coordinator under Jimmy Rogers.

Oliver has been with the Lions for five seasons. First, he started as a quality control coach in 2021, then he got the promotion to assistant offensive line coach under Hank Fraley in 2023. He’s helped Detroit put together one of the strongest offensive lines in the league in 2023 and 2024, before the unit took a step back last year following the losses of Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t Oliver’s first time coaching tight ends. Prior to his time with the Lions, Oliver served as the tight ends coach at Idaho (2019) and the University of San Diego (2020).

Now, he’ll have a key role on the Lions’ staff. Not only will he be in charge of continuing the development of All-Pro Sam LaPorta, but under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, there is an expectation for Detroit to utilize two and three-tight end sets more often—even though Detroit already utilized some of those formations higher than league average.

This is just the latest of several changes made in the Lions’ offensive coaching staff. Here’s what we know so far:

• Drew Petzing hired as the new offensive coordinator
• Mike Kafka hired as a “high-ranking” offensive coach role
• Steve Oliver promoted to TE coach

As of right now, there are no other known changes to the Lions’ coaching staff, but Detroit often announces all of their changes at once.

You can follow along with all the latest Lions coaching news here.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...promoting-internally-for-new-tight-ends-coach

 

[Detroit Lions]

2026 Lions Mock Draft Roundup 5.0: Defense dominates pre-Super Bowl projections

AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 11: Keldric Faulk #15 of the Auburn Tigers lines up against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a month of 2026 NFL Mock Drafts heavily projecting the Detroit Lions to select an offensive lineman in the first round, there was a dramatic shift towards defense over the past week of projections.

Some of this could be associated with two strong defense teams competing in the Super Bowl this weekend, but we could also see NFL Draft analysts simply shaking things up. Regardless of the reason, of the 27 mock drafts we explored this week, 18 paired the Lions with a defensive player, exactly twice as many as projected offensive linemen.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions this week.

Offensive linemen​

Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5, 300)
Source: Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz)

“The Lions have already seen Dan Skipper retire, and with Taylor Decker considering retirement, Dan Campbell may need to reload on the offensive front. Spencer Fano can instantly jump in at either tackle position after playing both at Utah, allowing the team to decide where they want to play Penei Sewell.” — Rome

Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 360)
Source: Jacob Camenker (AI Chatbot via USA Today), Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone), Sam Dehring (SI Fans), Cody Carpentier (Roster Watch), Chris Gregory (Rotoballer)

“The Detroit Lions could use another starter on the offensive line. The future of left tackle Taylor Decker seems to be unclear, and one huge reason why the Lions have been one of the better teams in the NFL in recent years is due to the top-tier offensive line.

“Lions GM Brad Holmes has also largely done a masterful job in the NFL Draft. There are so many quality players on the roster that Holmes found. Detroit should be able to bounce back in 2026. The defensive side of the ball underperformed in 2025, but a lot of that was due to the roster just not being able to stay healthy.

“Health goes a long way – the defense is probably more talented than you think, and in today’s NFL, teams can more easily ‘build’ a defense through free agency. Offensively, it’s more about drafting and developing.

“So the Lions do just that and take Kadyn Proctor from Alabama. If Proctor can’t work out as a tackle, he could have a future along the interior as a guard.” — Scataglia

Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia (6-foot-7, 315)
Source: Justin Melo (Draft Network), AJ Schute and Tyler Forness (A-to-Z Sports), Andy (AndyNFL)

“Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling was among the surprise declarations for the 2026 NFL Draft. Freeling is raw, but possesses ideal length while being a plus-level athlete on the edge. The Lions would be a terrific landing spot as a Taylor Decker replacement.” — Melo

Erik’s Thoughts:

Proctor remains the most projected offensive lineman connected to the Lions, as his unique physical traits align well with the Lions’ projected offensive scheme. Meanwhile, Freeling, who surprised some analysts by declaring for the draft, is gaining momentum as analysts dig into his game tape and realize his upside as an NFL LT.

Consider me a big fan of Georgia LT Monroe Freeling — easily a top-32 prospect for me in this class. Are we sure he isn’t OT1? pic.twitter.com/00tqiSpOmf

— William Herman (@_williamherman) January 18, 2026

Defensive Tackle​

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-foot-3, 315)
Source: Jacob Infante (Pro Football Reference), Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report), Chris Perkins (Sun Sentinel)

“Peter Woods is an explosive defensive tackle with refined hands, a high motor, excellent agility for his position, and a high football IQ. He’s an effective two-gapping defensive tackle against the run, and he also brings plenty of value on passing downs. That combination alone should make him highly sought after.” — Infante

Erik’s Thoughts:

I firmly believe drafting another defensive tackle may not be the best use of resources—with Alim McNeill on a second contract and drafting Tyleik Williams in the first round last offseason—but there is no doubting the appeal of adding a player like Woods to the Lions’ interior rotation. With the disruption that interior pressure can create on the quarterback’s passing pocket, I’m not ruling out the addition of Woods, who could do a lot of damage playing alongside McNeill, Williams, and Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

Edge rusher​

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 275)
Source: Matt Miller (ESPN), Joseph Hoyt (Dallas Morning News), Ben Standig (Last Man Standig), Matty Kiwoom (Player Profiler)

“Frequent readers of mock drafts know that the Lions are often projected to use high picks on pass-rushing defensive linemen to draw attention away from Aidan Hutchinson. They’ve resisted that urge in recent drafts, picking run-stopping defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round last year. But this could be the time for the Lions to finally add a defensive end with the talent to draw attention from both interior linemen and offensive tackles.

“Faulk has the versatility to play inside or outside at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, and the power he generates would keep offensive lines honest. His two sacks last season were a disappointment after a seven-sack campaign in 2024, but Faulk has fans around the league who see him as an ideal hybrid defensive lineman.” — Miller

Akheem Mesidor EDGE, Miami (6-foot-2 1/2, 273)
Source: Trevor Sikkema (PFF), Cody Williams (Fansided), Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone)

“‘But Trevor, he’s old!’

“Yes, but for the Lions, I don’t really care — and they shouldn’t either. Mesidor will be 25 years old on draft night, but he’s a ready-made NFL pass rusher, having earned a 94.2 PFF pass-rush grade versus true pass sets in 2025, in addition to generating a 20.8% pass-rush win rate. Being ready to slot in immediately makes Mesidor worthy of a first-round pick for a team in a winning window.” — Sikkema

T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-foot-4, 263)
Source: Tarringo Basile-Vaughan (NFL Mocks), Brad Menedez (Draft Countdown)

Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (6-foot-5, 262)
Source: Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

“Bully deluxe! When it comes to energy, attitude and block destruction, Young is that guy — and he has rush upside with more development.”— Zierlein

Erik’s Thoughts:

The bulk of this week’s projections land on the edge rusher position—which has been a theme overall—and Faulk and Mesidor certainly look like two very realistic candidates for the Lions to deploy opposite Hutchinson. Faulk seems to be dropping in most mock drafts of late, and some analysts have significantly lowered their projections of where he’ll be drafted since before the season. As far as Mesidor, I align my thinking with Sikkema in that his age won’t matter to the Lions, who need a ready-made contributor on the edge.

Parker is a bit behind the above duo in my early rankings, but I see the appeal, while Young is a player I like for the Lions more in the second round. He’s certainly talented and a scheme fit, but there are several off-the-field questions that I need answered before he climbs into my first round rankings.

Defensive backs​

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-foot-0, 195)
Source: Daniel Belton (Cat Scratch Reader)

“It takes a lot for a player to miss an entire season and still be a potential first round pick. That’s how good McCoy was in 2024 before tearing his ACL. He is a dynamic player with scheme versatility, athleticism, and ball skills similar to a Darius Slay. If he can get the stamp of approval from the medical staff, he could be a steal this late in the first round.” — Belton

Avieon Terrell, CB/NB, Clemson (5-foot-11, 180)
Source: Eric Edholm (NFL.com), Curt Popejoy (Draft Wire), Vincent Parise (Bears Wire)

“Terrell projects inside, and his play style fits what the Lions seek in defenders. Even with Brian Branch already in house, he’s coming off a torn Achilles. The Lions must accumulate defensive depth and talent.” — Edholm

Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina (6-foot-0, 190)
Source: Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports)

“Cisse is a versatile corner who can consistently lock down receivers in press-man coverage and showcases elite athleticism, with explosive downhill speed and next-level change-of-direction ability. Whether he’s driving on quick routes from off coverage or playing in press, he’s consistently in position for pass breakup opportunities. He’s also one of the best run-defending CBs in this entire class.” — Wilson

Erik’s Thoughts:

When considering the best player available at pick No. 17, McCoy could be in the conversation if his 2025 ACL injury causes him to fall. Still, I maintain that selecting an outside corner is not a great use of resources, given the Lions’ heavy investments in D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold.

Edholm raises an interesting suggestion of moving Terrell inside to nickel, but that only makes sense if the Lions plan to adjust their defensive scheme. Last year, the Lions only used their nickel defensive back around 50% of defensive snaps, not an ideal percentage for a first-round pick. However, if the Lions elect to move on from linebacker Alex Anzalone and instead shift to two-linebacker sets, thus increasing the nickel defensive back role to a full-time position, there is an argument to be made that drafting Terrell makes a lot of sense.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-defense-dominates-pre-super-bowl-projections

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions free agent profile: Avonte Maddox is much-needed insurance

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 04: Avonte Maddox #29 of the Detroit Lions intercepts a pass in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 04, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Just a year ago, the Detroit Lions’ safety situation looked set for the future. With Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch playing at All-Pro levels and still both younger than 25, Detroit looked set on the back end.

Unfortunately, life can come at you fast in the NFL. With both players dealing with injuries for the majority of the 2025 season, their futures remain uncertain in both the short and long-term. But the Lions can help mitigate that issue in 2026 by ensuring they don’t lose one of their best safety insurance policies: Avonte Maddox.

Let’s dig into Maddox’s free agent profile in the second installment of our roster-wide series.

Previous Lions free agent profiles: LB Malcolm Rodriguez

Avonte Maddox​

Expectations heading into 2025​

Expectations were relatively low for Maddox, considering his exit with the Philadelphia Eagles. After years of up-and-down play, Maddox was surpassed by rookie Cooper DeJean. At 29 years old, Maddox appeared to be nearing the end of his career, but his versatility in playing outside corner, nickel, and even some reps as a dime safety.

But with a cornerback room that featured Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Rock Ya-Sin, and Khalil Dorsey, Maddox faced an uphill battle to even make the roster, let alone find time on the field.

However, when training camp started, Maddox began getting reps at safety, as the Lions were much thinner over there. With only Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph clearly ahead of him on the depth chart, it became clear Maddox likely had a path to the 53-man roster, despite his limited experience at the position.

Actual role in 2025​

Note: PFF rankings reflect a minimum 20% snaps at that position.

Season stats:

• 14 games (3 starts): 32 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble
• 342 defensive snaps, 88 special teams snaps

PFF defensive grade: 79.1 (10th out of 107)
PFF run defense grade: 75.8 (28th out of 107)
PFF coverage grade: 75.0 (t-12th out of 107)
PFF special teams grade: 67.3

Maddox, indeed, made the team, although he was challenged for the primary backup safety spot by waiver wire pickup Thomas Harper. When Kerby Joseph went down early in the year, it was Harper who stepped in. But a month later, when Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles, it was Maddox’s turn to step up.

Forced into the game against the Cowboys, Maddox was outstanding, totalling eight tackles, a pass defense, and a 90.3 PFF grade in 80 snaps despite not going into the game as a starter.

“Maddox went in there for him the other day, and we thought he did a hell of a job, he really did,” Dan Campbell said after the game. “I mean, he played his tail off, which is why he’s here, because he’s a football guy. He’s got versatility, nickel that can play safety. Man, he put out a lot of fires back there for us, made quite a few plays.”

While Maddox didn’t continue that extremely high level of play the rest of the season, he was pretty darn reliable, posting a PFF grade of 83 or higher in two of the other three starts he made.

Outlook for 2026​

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Pros of re-signing​

First of all, the Lions need safeties. With Joseph’s future unknown and Branch likely to miss the start of the season, Detroit could theoretically have both starting jobs open in Week 1 of 2026. Maddox now has experience in Detroit’s scheme and proof of reliability in a starting role.

Additionally, Maddox has demonstrated he’s a team player worthy of the Lions’ culture. Not only did he go through a position change, but he also played a healthy dose of special teams, something that not every veteran is willing to do.

Cons of re-signing​

There aren’t many. I suppose the Lions could invest their resources into a younger option who could provide more long-term stability at the safety position, but signing Maddox wouldn’t prevent that from happening.

Is there interest from both sides?​

I would think so.

For one, Maddox is a Detroit native and seemed to enjoy his time with the team. Seeing as there’s an opportunity for playing time and hopes for a Super Bowl, it’s hard to imagine any other destination more ideal for Maddox.

From the Lions’ side, they clearly were impressed by his level of play last year.

Cost?​

This should be another benefit of re-signing Maddox: he’ll come relatively cheap.

Last year, he signed with the Lions at the vet minimum with just over $1 million guaranteed. I believe he’s earned a raise this year, but he should still be considered a cost-effective signing somewhere in the $2-3 million range. That is exactly the type of signing the Lions love to make, and it allows them to focus on bigger areas of need.

Conclusion​

To me, this is one of the bigger no-brainers when it comes to the Lions’ decisions with their own free agents. Maddox is a local, he proved he can be a starting safety in this scheme, he’s low-cost, and if everything works out with Detroit’s health at safety, you’d love to still have Maddox there as reliable depth.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of the first re-signings the Lions take care of before free agency even opens up.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...rofile-avonte-maddox-is-much-needed-insurance

 

[Detroit Lions]

2026 offseason preview: Detroit Lions need to finally invest at EDGE

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 04: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on December 4, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Our 2025 Detroit Lions recap and 2026 offseason preview moves to the defensive side of the ball. With the change at offensive coordinator already this offseason, the defensive side of the ball has been a little ignored thus far. But don’t get it twisted, there’s still a lot of work to do on that side of the ball, and it starts—yet again—with the edge position.

Previously:

• QB recap: Jared Goff is still in the prime of his career
• RB recap: Breaking down 2 huge decisions for Lions
• TE recap: 2026 is a pivotal offseason for TEs
• WR recap: Lions face just 1 offseason question
• OT recap: Offseason approach shouldn’t hinge on Taylor Decker’s future
• iOL recap: Center is the first and most important offseason decision

Lions 2025 recap: Defensive end​

• Aidan Hutchinson stats (17 games, 17 starts): 54 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FF
  • 91.9 PFF grade — 4th out of 119 qualifying EDGEs
  • 92.2 pass rush grade — 4th
  • 70.6 run defense grade — 28th
• Al-Quadin Muhammad stats (16 games, 9 starts): 25 tackles, 11.0 sacks
  • 74.2 PFF grade — 30th
  • 71.9 pass rush grade — 32nd
  • 59.3 run defense grade — DNQ (only 83 snaps)
• Marcus Davenport stats (8 games, 3 starts): 14 tackles, 1.0 sack
  • 52.4 PFF grade — 103rd
  • 55.8 pass rush grade — 102nd
  • 51.9 run defense grade — 99th
• Tyler Lacy stats (10 games, 4 starts): 21 tackles, 1.0 sack
  • 58.5 PFF grade — DNQ
  • 51.3 pass rush grade
  • 65.2 run defense grade

Let’s start with the good news. Aidan Hutchinson was back from his injury and didn’t miss a step. While there were pockets when he’d disappear for stretches, the entirety of his year was still borderline elite. Despite facing the fourth-highest rate of chips among all defensive linemen, Hutchinson finished the season with the most pressures, both according to PFF and NFL Pro. His 14.5 sacks ranked fourth in the NFL, and his four forced fumbles were tied for second-most. No surprise he’s nominated for two post-season NFL Awards: Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

Al-Quadin Muhammad also had a career year as a pass rusher. The veteran pass rusher came into the season with just 15.0 sacks in his seven-year career. He managed to hit 11.0 sacks in 2025, an impressive total considering he played just 457 snaps. By comparison, Hutchinson played 1,005 snaps. However, the Lions predominantly used him as a pass rusher, as he logged just 83 snaps on running plays.

Instead, the Lions spent much of the season searching for an early-down edge defender they could trust opposite Hutchinson. With Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal out for the season and Marcus Davenport again missing time to injury—and not looking great when he returned—Detroit turned to Tyler Lacy early and often. While he can set an edge decently and is above average in the run game, he provided very little pass rush. In 113 pass rush snaps, he produced just six total pressures, per PFF.

As a team, the Lions did have a lot of sacks (49, t-fourth) and pressures (234, sixth), but that can be attributed at least partially due to their coverage, which forced quarterbacks to hold onto the ball longer. Per NFL Pro, quarterbacks took the fourth-longest to throw against the Lions (2.92), and Detroit’s pressure took the third-longest to get there (2.86 seconds).

2026 for outlook​

Currently under contract:

• Aidan Hutchinson (2030)
• Josh Paschal (2026)
• Tyler Lacy (2026)
• Ahmed Hassanein (2026)

Pending free agents:

• Marcus Davenport (unrestricted)
• Al-Quadin Muhammad (unrestricted)
• Tyrus Wheat (restricted)
• Pat O’Connor (street free agent, can sign anywhere now)

Note: I’ll talk more about Onwuzurike in the defensive tackle article, even though he will likely get looks at EDGE.

The Lions are left with Hutchinson in the cabinet and not much else. Paschal saw his contract toll for another year in Detroit, but given his lack of production in his four rookie contract years, he should not be considered a guarantee to make the roster. Lacy could stick around as a rotational player, and Hassanein will essentially be entering 2026 as rookie season 2.0 after missing most of 2025. Any production outside Hutchinson should be considered minimal for the group they currently have.

Muhammad should be considered one of Detroit’s bigger re-signing priorities, but it’s hard to know what the market will be for a 31-year-old defensive end who just produced his first season with more than 6.0 sacks in Year 8 of his career. Even if they agree to a reasonable contract with Muhammad, they would still be in the market for a three-down player that can provide pass rush while staying disciplined in the run game.

I believe the ship has likely sailed on Davenport after two attempts at a career revival, so it’s time for the Lions to get serious about adding a starting edge. Detroit could go the all-in route of trading for Maxx Crosby or signing Trey Hendrickson or Jaelan Phillips, but those moves will severely impact their ability to manage the salary cap, and in the case of Crosby, it would deplete valuable draft resources, as well. A move like that has a chance to transform the entire defense, though, so I get the temptation.

Free agency also offers some second-tier players, who will come cheaper but may not be the massive fix Lions fans are looking for—players like A.J. Epenesa, Dante Fowler, or Derek Barnett.

The Lions will need to add at least a player or two in free agency, but the NFL Draft likely provides a better, cheaper, and longer solution to the problem. As early as the first round, the Lions could be interested in players like Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Missouri’s Zion Young, or my early favorite Illinois Gabe Jacas.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-detroit-lions-need-to-finally-invest-at-edge

 

[Detroit Lions]

Jets hire Lions position coach as their passing game coordinator

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) practices as assistant wide receivers coach Seth Ryan watches during OTAs at Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn is tapping back into his Detroit Lions roots, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as Detroit’s former defensive coordinator is hiring Lions assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan as his new passing game coordinator.

This move not only signifies a reunion for Ryan and Glenn but also marks Ryan’s return to New York, as he finished his high school football career in New Jersey while his dad, Rex, was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2009 to 2014.

After high school, Ryan would go on to play wide receiver for Clemson (2013-16), but it wasn’t long before he followed his father’s (and uncle Rob’s) footsteps by entering coaching. In 2019, Ryan was hired by Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn as an offensive quality control coach. When Lynn joined the Lions as their offensive coordinator in 2021, Ryan followed him to Detroit as an assistant wide receivers coach.

While Ryan worked directly under wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El (current Bears’ WR coach and assistant head coach) from 2021-2024, he was also given special assignments from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Bears head coach), including the creation and incorporation of trick plays. Here’s Johnson sharing his thoughts on Ryan and a few other position coaches in 2024:

“I think we’ve got position coaches that are future coordinators and future head coaches, and I think we’ve got some really good young coaches that are going to be ready to be position coaches sooner rather than later, and I’m saying all that because when I see a play like the one we had in the game last week not only come to life and get executed like it did, but get the publicity that it did, really (Assistant WRs Coach) Seth Ryan, (Assistant OL Coach) Steve Oliver and (Assistant QBs Coach) J.T. Barrett, they’ve been in charge of our specials for not just this year, but for the last few years, and there’s a reason why we have probably a little higher success rate for those special plays, and they’re a big reason why. They have a ton of creativity, they bring a lot of ideas to the table, so I really wanted to start off here today by giving them a shoutout. They’ve been doing a great job here for the last three years, and they’re certainly deserving of more responsibility, not only here, but maybe elsewhere as well, wherever that opportunity unfolds.”

In 2025, the Lions shifted Ryan to assistant tight ends coach to further diversify his resume. When tight ends coach Tyler Roehl left to become the Iowa State offensive coordinator this offseason, Ryan was considered on a short list of possible replacements. The Lions ended up hiring Oliver as their new tight ends coach.

While it’s not clear whether Ryan opted for New York over the Lions TE job or accepted the job after the Lions promoted Oliver, in the end, it’s not really an important detail, as both coaches have been on track for greater responsibilities for some time now, as noted by Johnson above.

As of right now, the Lions only appear to have a few spots open on their coaching staff—most notably assistant offensive line coach (Oliver’s old job) and assistant tight ends coach (Ryan’s previous position)—but it’s possible they already have people in mind for those roles. The Lions often announce all of their changes at once, so stay tuned for more updates as they come in, and you can follow along with all the latest Lions coaching news here.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ition-coach-as-their-passing-game-coordinator