The Detroit Lions certainly have a strategy and an approach. Aside from raw skill, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell seek players who fit beyond their position on the depth chart. Campbell said it after the NFC title game loss, and Holmes reiterated it during his season-ending press conference: “Everyone can’t play for the Detroit Lions.”
Certain areas of need for the Lions may necessitate a significant investment in free agency this offseason, but Holmes would never admit it. Cap space will not impede such a move, but the Lions have several players due for contract extensions this offseason and in the near future.
The Lions have a core group of players who are expected to stick around for the foreseeable future. The emphasis is on retaining their own, as Holmes has just reiterated. However, reconfiguring things around that core will always occur, and given the success of the last few seasons, free agents will want to play in Detroit.
The Lions have 20 players that are set to become unrestricted free agents. Some will return until something unexpected happens, while others are more questionable to some degree, and it would be a great surprise if some others returned.
On the latter front, these six Lions free agents will not return next season.
