Each offseason carries its own unique atmosphere, especially since Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes took over their roles with the Detroit Lions in 2021.
That first offseason was marked by the trade of Matthew Stafford, the franchise’s most prolific quarterback, signaling a full rebuild. In the second offseason, Holmes had the draft resources to be aggressive, using the No. 2 overall pick to secure top pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and then trading up to get Jameson Williams at a discount due to his injury in the National Championship game.
The following offseason saw more flexibility, with Holmes moving around the draft to find key players like Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch.
At the same time, he made big moves in free agency, bringing in Cam Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Emmanuel Moseley to strengthen the secondary. Last offseason, Holmes continued his draft maneuvers, focusing on retooling the secondary with younger players, drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the 2024 draft, signing Amik Robertson, and trading for proven No. 1 corner Carlton Davis.
Now, Detroit faces a different challenge after an early exit in the Divisional Round, leading to both roster and coaching staff rebuilds. For more on the coaching changes, check out Erik Schlitt’s breakdowns of potential candidates for both offensive and defensive coordinator.
But here, we’re focused on the roster. Detroit is looking to finally solve its cornerback issues, but with a mostly familiar group, the question becomes, where do they all fit? What’s the plan for the defensive line and who will start opposite Hutchinson? Will Brodric Martin see the field? On offense, the interior of the offensive line also remains a concern.
The Lions have significant needs this offseason, beyond just improving depth. Here are the four most pressing positions of need ranked:
4. Defensive tackle
It’s time for Holmes to make a significant investment in the defensive line. Levi Onwuzurike is a pending free agent, and given what another team might offer him, it’s hard to see him returning on terms that would work for Detroit. He had some strong performances in his third season, including three games with five or more pressures—highlighted by a nine-pressure game in Week 18 against the Vikings. But he also struggled, posting fewer than two pressures in nine of his 16 games. Despite some inconsistency, Onwuzurike did show that his body can handle a full season, playing 635 defensive snaps in 2024, the 31st most by an interior defender. With questions about Onwuzurike and John Kaminsky’s futures, Holmes will likely need to be aggressive in retooling the interior defensive line, which is why EDGE is a bigger priority than both cornerback and defensive tackle.
5. Guard
To keep the Lions competitive next season, the key is reinforcing their commitment to the offensive line. Last offseason, the line just needed a small tweak at guard, which they addressed by replacing Jonah Jackson with veteran Kevin Zeitler. However, as the season progressed, the line showed signs of wear, and some poor play played a role in the Lions’ loss to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.
At 32, Graham Glasgow had more pressures per snap at left guard (45 pressures on 632 pass-blocking snaps) than he did at right guard in 2024 (46 pressures on 735 snaps). His run-blocking also took a step back, dropping from an 82.1 grade in 2023 (fifth-best among all guards) to a 60.1 in 2024 (42nd out of 73). Detroit can save $2.13 million in cap space if they cut Glasgow, and with a $7.43 million cap hit, he’s slated to be the 11th-highest-paid left guard in 2025. His ability to fill in at center doesn’t justify such a high cap hit.
Zeitler, who will turn 35 before the 2025 season, played exceptionally well in 2024, allowing only 18 pressures on 577 pass-blocking snaps. If Zeitler wants to return on another one-year deal like the one he signed last offseason, it could make things easier for Detroit.
Colby Sorsdal, who has bounced between guard and tackle, played mostly as a gameday inactive this season. Kayode Awosika, a restricted free agent, could return as depth, though he’s no longer a developmental prospect. As things stand, the Lions have at least one guard position open, depending on Zeitler’s free-agent status, and they need to upgrade over Glasgow’s performance last season.
While rookie Christian Mahogany showed promise when filling in for Glasgow and Zeitler late in the season, it wouldn’t hurt to invest in the guard position again, especially given Zeitler’s age and Detroit’s lack of depth there.