As the Detroit Lions transition into the 2026 offseason, roster evaluation becomes the front-and-center priority. In total, 48 players who ended the season under team control, whether on the 53-man roster, practice squad, or injured reserve, are not currently under contract heading into 2026.
Those players fall into four categories: Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA), Restricted Free Agents (RFA), Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA), and Street Free Agents (SFA).
Below is the full breakdown of every Lions free agent entering the offseason.
Unrestricted Free Agents (25)
These players are free to negotiate with any team once free agency opens.
- Alex Anzalone (LB)
- Kyle Allen (QB)
- Ezekiel Turner (LB)
- Anthony Firkser (TE)
- Amik Robertson (CB)
- Arthur Maulet (CB)
- Avonte Maddox (DB)
- Dan Skipper (OL)
- Daniel Thomas (S)
- DJ Reader (DT)
- Grant Stuard (LB)
- Jalen Mills (S)
- Josh Paschal (EDGE)
- Kalif Raymond (WR)
- Kayode Awosika (OL)
- Levi Onwuzurike (DL)
- Malcolm Rodriguez (LB)
- Marcus Davenport (EDGE)
- Rock Ya-Sin (CB)
- Roy Lopez (DT)
- Shane Zylstra (TE)
- Trystan Colon (OL)
- Zach Cunningham (LB)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (EDGE)
- Jamarco Jones (OT)
Restricted Free Agents (3)
Detroit can issue qualifying tenders that give the team the right to match any outside offer.
- Tom Kennedy (WR)
- Trevor Nowaske (LB)
- Tyrus Wheat (EDGE)
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (4)
If the Lions offer these players a minimum contract tender, they cannot negotiate elsewhere.
- Jacob Saylors (RB)
- Jake Bates (K)
- Michael Niese (OL)
- Nick Whiteside (CB)
Street Free Agents (16)
These players were not on an active contract at season’s end but spent time with the organization during the year.
- Ahmed Hassanein (EDGE)
- Chris Hubbard (OL)
- Chris Smith (DT)
- C.J. Beathard (QB)
- Damontae Kazee (S)
- Devin Cochran (OL)
- Giovanni Ricci (TE)
- Jabari Small (RB)
- Jackson Meeks (WR)
- Keenan Garber (CB)
- Loren Strickland (S)
- Malik Cunningham (WR)
- Mason Miller (OL)
- Myles Adams (DT)
- Pat O’Connor (DL)
- Zach Horton (TE)
What this means for Detroit
The Lions enter the offseason with major depth decisions across all phases, most notably:
- Multiple starting-caliber contributors on defense hitting the market
- Several special-teams and rotational players requiring evaluation
- Contract strategy choices that will shape the 2026 roster identity
Expect Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell to prioritize core defensive pieces, trench depth, and special-teams stability while balancing cap flexibility.
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