The Detroit Lions were, as easily expected, not all that active in the peak of 2025 free agency. D.J. Reed easily stands out as the headline signing, and other than that the move to release edge rusher Za'Darius Smith stands as the most notable thing that was done.
Regarding the move to release Smith, in light of a lot of bonus money he was due early in the league year, general manager Brad Holmes (however flimsily) said "we couldn't afford it" at the NFL Owner's Meetings this past week. The door seems to be open for Smith to come back, as it should be and as he remains available, but the chance it happens somehow also seems slim.
Holmes is deferring to a number of notable and large contract extensions the Lions have coming as the reason to not be spending in free agency this offseason. While that is certainly a big thing in terms of planning, the biggest money of those upcoming contracts won't be hitting the balance sheet this year, or possibly even next year.
So any further signings of veterans for the Lions, if there even are any, will be in the deepest part of the bargain bin among an already short list of viable options after the peak of free agency.
Proposed free agent fit for the Lions fits their template perfectly
On his list outlining one free agent who can help each NFL team, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox naturally had an edge rusher for the Lions.
"The Detroit Lions are expected to have standout pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson back and healthy in 2025. However, the Lions still lack a high-end complement opposite the 2022 first-round pick."
"Detroit may target its No. 2 pass-rusher in the draft—the B/R Scouting Department recently mocked Georgia's Mykel Williams to the Lions—but it could afford to add more veteran depth to go with Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport now."
"Dennis Gardeck is coming off a torn ACL and appeared in only seven games this past season. In 2023, however, he recorded six tackles (sic) and 20 quarterback pressures."
Gardeck has been the practical definition of a situational edge rusher in his career, never playing more than a 46 percent share of defensive snaps in a season in games he has suited up for. He had three sacks last season, six sacks in 2023 and his career-high for sacks is seven in 2020.
Before free agency Holmes revealed he had been checking out a Cardinals' offensive free agent, in reference to the Lions' Week 3 game against them last season. They signed a free agent from Arizona's defense, with Dan Campbell lauding how defensive tackle Roy Lopez did against center Frank Ragnow in that game. Gardeck had an interception in that game, so maybe he was/still is on the Lions' radar.
If Smith is not brought back, or a different veteran (Von Miller?) isn't signed to help the edge rusher situation, Gardeck (for better or worse) lands as an ideal fit for the Lions.
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I think we can all admit it hasn't been the best few months for the Detroit Lions. After one of the more enjoyable seasons in recent history (/ever?), there was the whole 'lose your first playoff game, at home' thing, followed swiftly by the whole 'lose both coordinators' thing. It was a lot.
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Then free agency arrived, and the Lions ... certainly did things! Moves to bring in guys like DJ Reed, Derrick Barnes, and Tim Patrick weren't necessarily bad, but they didn't do a whole lot to convince Lions fans that the team had figured out how to fix the roster's biggest holes.
[*Dramatic music] But! What if I told you that, actually, the Lions surprised themselves with how well they did in free agency? You'd be supremely underwhelmed? Ah. Well, sorry I guess? Because that's exactly the message that Lions GM Brad Holmes had when he talked about the offseason with reporters last week from the NFL's annual league meetings. If you ask him – which, surprise, people did – the team's outperformed their own expectations through the first few months of the offseason.
The Lions apparently surprised themselves with how well they did in free agency
"Look, I'm more than happy with how free agency went and I say more than happy because we were able to get guys that we really wanted to get," he said. "That's always the case. Like, we don't compromise and get a prospect that we're warm on, so happy with that. But more than happy because we actually were able to do more than what I thought we were actually gonna be able to do heading into it."
It's admittedly not the most inspiring quote, but that's exactly what Holmes has to say. It's not like he's going to publicly bemoan not being able to trade for Maxx Crosby. It'd honestly be more alarming if he came out and was just like, 'yeah we really dropped the ball this year. Lions fans: don't renew those season tickets.' Who among us hasn't turned in a test hoping it was an A all the while being pretty sure it's actually a C? NFL GMs: they're just like us!
