Fresh off one of the most successful campaigns in franchise history, the Detroit Lions will attempt to add even more talent to their roster during the 2024 offseason, when Dan Campbell’s club will have more than $55 million in cap space.
While the Lions will have the financial wherewithal to re-sign many of their pending free agents, Detroit’s players will undoubtedly have a market around the NFL. Which 2024 free agents will the Lions try to bring back?
Who Are the Detroit Lions’ Upcoming Free Agents?
WR Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds is wrapping up the two-year, $6 million extension he signed with the Lions in 2022. While he’ll never be a star, Reynolds is a solid backup wideout who straddles the line between WR3 and WR4.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, and RB Jahmyr Gibbs will still be ahead of Reynolds in Detroit’s pass-catching pecking order if he re-signs. Lions general manager Brad Holmes was the Los Angeles Rams’ scouting director when they drafted Reynolds in 2017, so there is a fondness that could help negotiations.
S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson intended to use his one-year deal with the Lions as an avenue to a larger contract on the 2024 free agent market, but last season didn’t go as planned. CJGJ went down with a pectoral injury in Week 2 and didn’t return until the regular season finale.
MORE: 2024 NFL Free Agents by Position
While this year’s crop of available safeties is incredibly deep, CJGJ’s versatility and ability to line up in the slot will make him valuable. He might be redundant in Detroit, given the presence of fellow hybrid defensive back Brian Branch. But Gardner-Johnson will have suitors around the league.
G Jonah Jackson
One of the few remaining Lions drafted by the club’s former Bob Quinn/Matt Patricia regime, Jonah Jackson might make sense as an extension candidate.
He’s an above-average guard, and next year’s interior offensive line class is relatively weak. PFN has Jackson rated as the third-best guard on the 2024 free agent market, behind the Miami Dolphins’ Robert Hunt and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kevin Dotson.
However, Jackson has had trouble with injuries, missing four games in 2022 and five in 2023. Detroit is already paying left tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow at market rates, while right tackle Penei Sewell may reset the right tackle market this offseason. Can they afford to extend another lineman?
CB Jerry Jacobs (Restricted Free Agent)
The Lions clearly wanted to improve their cornerback depth chart earlier this year, as they signed ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Cameron Sutton to a three-year deal while adding former San Francisco 49er Emmanuel Moseley on a one-year pact.
Moseley tore his left ACL during the 2022 campaign and spent the first four weeks of this season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Almost unbelievably, Moseley tore his left ACL in his first game back.
MORE: Detroit Lions Depth Chart
As such, Jerry Jacobs — the holdover whom Detroit was nominally trying to replace — remained in the starting lineup. An undrafted free agent in 2021, Jacobs flashed early in the season but lost his starting job down the stretch. The Lions can likely retain him via a right-of-first-refual restricted free agent tender.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
The Lions’ deadline trade for Donovan Peoples-Jones made all the sense in the world. With 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams struggling to adapt to the NFL, Detroit needed a speed threat who could take the top off opposing defenses.
But DPJ posted only five catches for 58 scoreless yards once becoming a Lion. He’ll have to settle for a one-year deal on the open market.
Other Lions 2024 Free Agents
- QB Teddy Bridgewater
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- FB Jason Cabinda
- OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- OT Matt Nelson
- OT Dan Skipper
- G Graham Glasgow
- TE Brock Wright (RFA)
- EDGE Charles Harris
- EDGE Romeo Okwara
- DT Benito Jones (RFA)
- LB Anthony Pittman (RFA)
- CB Khalil Dorsey (RFA)
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- CB Kindle Vildor
- S Will Harris
- LS Jake McQuaide
- LS Scott Daly (RFA)
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
