Draft. Develop. Re-sign.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell live by that as their preferred method of roster building. It's been a theme this offseason for the Lions as the roster building for the new league year continues.
"You don't really know these players," Holmes said last offseason when talking about free agency. "You see what you see on film, but like I've told all of you, that's the easy coherent part. Can a guy come off the football? OK. That's easy. But you don't really know them and that's why you have to be real careful."
So far Holmes has signed veteran cornerback D.J. Reed, defensive tackle Roy Lopez, linebacker Grant Stuard, tight end Kenny Yeboah and quarterback Kyle Allen from outside the organization in free agency. Holmes was deliberate in targeting all five as culture fits on top of being productive, veteran players.
Reed was one of the top cornerbacks on the free-agent market this offseason and fills the void left by Carlton Davis III, who signed with New England. Lopez and Stuard are tough, gritty players who give Detroit good depth along the interior of their defensive line and at linebacker, two areas that were hit by injury last season. Yeboah and Allen are veteran reserves with experience.
The bulk of the work Holmes has done this offseason has been re-signing players he already knows fit in Detroit.
Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Lions during 2025 free agency.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) and Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed with his wife as signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed and his wife meet with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (41) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with Detroit Lions Equipment Manager Tim O'Neill during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions run game coordinator/defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers meets with Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) signing his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes poses for a photo with Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his contract signing the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his son as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) visits Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
What Lions fans should really take from Holmes' strategy this offseason is he believes last year's roster could win a championship had injuries, especially on defense, not been one of the bigger themes of the Lions' 2024 season.
"I just think that we just stay the course and just keep building like we've been," Holmes said in January. "I do think that we're very close. Obviously, I thought that we were very close this year, but nothing is going to alter what our approach has been in terms of trying to continue to improve and keep building.
"Obviously, felt really good about this season, but fell short. We're going to stay committed and stay committed to the process."
And don't forget about the potential contract extensions for players like Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph and how those might have factored into free agency as well. That's on top of the extensions doled out last year to Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill and Jared Goff that totaled a reported $541 million.
Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta, Jack Campbell and Jahmyr Gibbs will be eligible for extensions next offseason. Jameson Williams could be in that conversation for an extension too.
The following is a breakdown of Detroit's free agency so far:
FREE AGENT SIGNINGS:
CB D.J. Reed
Reed allowed 36 receptions on 63 targets with two touchdowns and an opposing passer rater of 87.1, with quarterbacks completing 57.1 percent of their passes on him last season. He's never allowed more than three touchdowns in his coverage area in any season and has given up only two touchdowns in each of the last three seasons.
DT Roy Lopez
Last season Lopez started all 16 games he played, registering 28 tackles, 18 pressures (per Pro Football Focus), four tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, three passes defended, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
LB Grant Stuard
A four-core special teamer with experience playing on defense too. He appeared in 17 games (five starts), totaling 40 tackles (25 solo) and two tackles for loss, including 19 tackles Week 7 in a win over Miami in which Stuard played his most defensive snaps of the season (64).
TE Kenny Yeboah
A very good blocking tight end and special teams player who will compete for a roll as Detroit's No. 3 tight end. He played in nine games, catching five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown last season for the Jets.
QB Kyle Allen
Allen has had stints with Pittsburgh (2024), Buffalo (2023), Houston (2022), Washington (2020-21) and Carolina (2018-19). In 31 career games played (19 starts), he has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 4,753 yards, 26 touchdowns and 21 interceptions for an 82.3 passer rating.
RE-SIGNINGS:
LB Derrick Barnes
Barnes was set to play a key role as the starting SAM linebacker and had 10 tackles before injuring his knee Week 3 in Arizona and missing the rest of the season. He's expected to play a key role in Kelvin Sheppard's defense in 2025.
DL Levi Onwuzurike
Onwuzurike had 28 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and his 47 total pressures ranked Top 15 in the NFL among interior defensive linemen last season.
DE Marcus Davenport
He missed Week 2 with a groin injury after registering a half-sack and four quarterback hits in Detroit's overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. He was ruled out for the season after tearing his triceps in a Week 3 win against Arizona.
WR Tim Patrick
A great fit in Detroit's receiver room with his size and skillset, recording 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns for Detroit last season.
T Dan Skipper
A swing tackle and spot starter that played in 17 games with five starts in 2024, allowing one sack and 12 total pressures all season. Skipper also caught a touchdown Week 15 vs. Buffalo.
LB Trevor Nowaske
A core special teamer who was asked to play a bigger role on defense because of injuries last season and stepped up to the task. Nowaske recorded 23 tackles (15 solo), 2.0 sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss in 14 games (two starts).
LB Ezekiel Turner
A seven-year veteran with 90 career games under his belt that played in nine games for Detroit last season with 12 tackles, a half sack and three quarterback hits.
LB Anthony Pittman
One of the better special teams players in the NFL since joining the league in 2019, Pittman also adds experience and depth on defense with 56 career games under his belt.
DL Myles Adams
Adams split his time between Seattle and Detroit last season, recording seven tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits as a rotational player upfront.
OLB Mitchell Agude
A developing pass rusher with terrific physical tools the Lions would like to continue to develop. In four games last season, he had three tackles and a forced fumble.
