Following several successful seasons, the Lions regrettably needed to determine which players would remain and which would enter free agency. In total, 10 of those free agents joined other teams for the 2024 season, warranting a closer examination of their performances since they donned the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
DeShon Elliott
Elliott joined the Lions in 2022 on a one-year deal after playing several seasons with the Ravens. He was designated as the starting free safety for Detroit and concluded the season with 96 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. Following his departure from the Lions at the season’s conclusion, Elliott agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins and subsequently signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he still plays today. With Pittsburgh, he is achieving career highs with 108 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception to conclude the 2024 NFL season.
Jamaal Williams
The ex-4th round selection departed from the Green Bay Packers in 2021 to sign with Detroit and enjoyed a standout season in 2022. During that season, he surpassed the Lions’ running back touchdown record established by Barry Sanders in 1991, achieving 17 touchdowns. The following year, he inked a three-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, where injuries plagued him, preventing him from replicating his breakout season, as he managed just two touchdowns in two years.
Evan Brown
Brown, a seasoned journeyman, was promoted from the Lions practice squad in 2020 and designated as the backup center for Detroit in the 2021 season. Following a season-ending injury to starter Frank Ragnow, Brown was given the chance to start 12 games, and because of his success, he was re-signed in 2022 where he once again started due to injuries. In 2023, he departed from the Lions to join Seattle, where he secured the starting position, and later moved to the Arizona Cardinals, where he is currently.
Chris Board
Board, an ex-undrafted linebacker, arrived in Detroit during his fifth season. He recorded 21 tackles and one forced fumble in his only season with the Lions. The following season, he went to the Patriots and ultimately returned to where he began in Baltimore.
Austin Bryant
The previous two-time College Football Playoff National Champion from Clemson was selected in the fourth round by Detroit. Bryant possessed great potential but experienced four somewhat underwhelming seasons with the Lions. He subsequently joined the San Francisco 49ers, participating in just two games and has not appeared on an official roster since.
Mike Hughes
Selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, Hughes joined Detroit in 2022 following his standout season in Kansas City. During his single season with the Lions, Hughes tallied 51 total tackles. He subsequently signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he secured the starting cornerback position in 2024.
Amani Oruwariye
Ourwariye was selected by Detroit in 2019 as a cornerback and remained with the Lions through the 2023 season. His most successful year occurred in 2021 when he achieved 57 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 6 interceptions. He stayed on practice squads until the 2024 season, at which point he joined the Dallas Cowboys.
Josh Woods
Woods, a linebacker, went undrafted but was later signed by the Chicago Bears for two years before settling with Detroit in 2021. His two years with the Lions were largely forgettable, and he left in 2022. He subsequently joined the Arizona Cardinals in the 2023 season, achieving his career-best year with 61 total tackles and one forced fumble. He is presently with the Atlanta Falcons.
DJ Chark
Chark was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Jaguars, where he earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2019. The wide receiver subsequently inked a one-year deal with Detroit in 2022, accumulating 502 yards and three touchdowns throughout the season. Since then, he has primarily played for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Carolina Panthers.
CJ Garner-Johnson
One of the most controversial free agents the Lions have recently lost is C.J. Garner-Johnson. The safety played his solitary season with Detroit in 2023 after sharing the interception lead with the Philadelphia Eagles the previous year. Nonetheless, the 2023 season was disappointing for Garner-Johnson and the Lions since he only played three games with Detroit due to injury. With that noted, following Garner-Johnson’s departure from the Lions, he returned to his former territory in Philadelphia and enjoyed another outstanding season, recording 59 total tackles, one forced fumble, six interceptions, and a Super Bowl ring.