The following is the opinion of Senior Writer Tim Twentyman and not of the Detroit Lions football personnel.
The official start of the new league year and free agency is one week away, and that's when the retooling of Detroit's 2025 roster can officially begin for Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.
Holmes said after the season his goal in free agency is to first focus on re-signing his own players, reiterating that at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. The Lions have recently signed some core pieces to big extensions (Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Alim McNeill) with more potentially coming due this offseason and in the near future with players like Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, and Jameson Williams.
That might limit how big of players Holmes and the Lions pursue in the unrestricted free-agent market, but there could be room under the cap to do both. The NFL increased the salary cap for the 2025 season by $23.8 million to $279.2 million per team, which gives general managers like Holmes some added flexibility.
"There are a lot of decisions that we have to make because we're at the point, we're at the juncture with our roster right now that we have identified a lot of young core pieces that we want to keep around and unfortunately that's the tough part is that you got to make decisions on other players contractually that you might not be able to keep that you want to keep," Holmes said at the Combine last week.
"So it's not more so due to you don't want to have the players anymore but you just can't have everybody."
With that being said, here is my list of 10 potential free agents that could interest the Lions:
Note: This list does not include current Lions set to become free agents who could re-sign with the team.
DT Milton Williams
Williams was the best player upfront on defense during Philadelphia's playoff run to a Super Bowl title. He had 5.0 sacks and 10 quarterback hits as a rotational player during the regular season and two more sacks in the playoffs. The only problem is he's set to have a big market at only 26 years old and could potentially cost more than the Lions are willing to spend in free agency this offseason.
OLB/Edge Khalil Mack
The 11-year veteran can still get after the quarterback and stop the run. Mack would be part of a pass-rush trio in Detroit alongside Hutchinson and Za'Darius Smith where he won't be asked to play every down at 34 years old. He proved last year he could still make a difference (6.0 sacks and 15 QB hits) and could make a run at Super Bowl with Detroit on a short-term deal.
G Brandon Scherff
Scherff, 33, has been a model of consistency over the last three years in Jacksonville, starting all 17 games for the Jaguars each season. He didn't allow a single sack in over 1,000 snaps last season and would be a plug-and-play veteran addition that is still one of the best pass-blocking players at his position if veteran free agent Kevin Zeitler doesn't return to Detroit.
Edge Dayo Odeyingbo
The Lions loved the idea of signing a big edge rusher in Marcus Davenport opposite Hutchinson last year to collapse the pocket. Odeyingbo is 6-foot-6, 286 pounds and has 11.0 sacks and 34 QB hits combined over the last two seasons.
CB Darius Slay
Slay, 34, is set to be released by the Eagles in a cost-cutting move, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, and the veteran cornerback has said publicly he still wants to play at least one more season. He could provide veteran leadership and depth to Detroit's young cornerback room on a likely cost-friendly deal. Teams completed just 54.7 percent of the passes thrown his way and he only gave up two touchdowns in 14 starts. He can still play.
DL Sebastian Joseph-Day
The veteran turns 30 this month and has carved out an six-year career, playing for a number of different teams at nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end. He played in 17 games (12 starts) last year for the Titans with 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. His versatility to play anywhere upfront is his biggest asset.
OLB/EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Ojulari could provide some position versatility in Kelvin Sheppard's defense as a SAM linebacker and rotational edge rusher if the team can't re-sign free agent Derrick Barnes. He had 6.0 sacks in 11 games for the Giants last season and has 22.0 sacks in 46 career games.
WR Josh Palmer
St. Brown and Williams are the clear No. 1 and No. 2 in Detroit and punt returner Kalif Raymond is a nice option in the passing game, too. But the Lions could stand to add another reliable veteran option and probably a young draft pick if they can't re-sign Tim Patrick. The 25-year-old Palmer has recorded at least 500 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons for the Chargers and his frame (6-foot-1, 210) gives the Lions a little more size at the position.
DT Javon Kinlaw
The former San Francisco defensive tackle had his best season with the Jets on a one-year deal last season, recording 40 tackles (27 solo), 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. He's played in all 17 games the last two seasons after dealing with injuries in 2021 and 2022. He's 6-foot-5, 319 pounds and would offer a little different skill set than McNeill and DJ Reader as a rotational piece inside.
S Talanoa Hufanga
Joseph and Brian Branch are the starters at safety for the Lions in 2025, but if Ifeatu Melifonwu isn't re-signed, they are a little short on depth there. Hufanga was an All-Pro in 2022 but has struggled through injuries the last two seasons. He could be a nice box-safety option and provide some depth at the position overall.
