NEWS FLASH: Detriot Lions attempting to fire him after the trade is completed.
Let’s take a look at which Lions players fall into each of the four potential free agent categories and rank them in the order we believe Detroit will prioritize them.
Unrestricted free agents (20)
In 2022, the Lions had 13 unrestricted free agents and re-signed six of them with five finishing the season on the roster. Of the Lions 18 unrestricted free agents in 2023, the Lions re-signed nine of them. Of those nine, just five finished the season still on the roster.
So if these patterns hold, that means the Lions, at best, will likely only re-sign half of their pending unrestricted free agents, and not all of them will finish the season on the roster.
With that in mind, let’s rank how we think the Lions will prioritize their unrestricted free agents this offseason.
1. Graham Glasgow, IOL
At 31 years old, Glasgow returned to Detroit to play with his buddies, and while he had to earn a starting role, he ended up having arguably the best season of his career. While he played the majority of the season at right guard, he also played two and a half games at center and one game at left guard.
That versatility makes Glasgow incredibly valuable, as All-Pro center Frank Ragnow’s injury history inevitably catches up with him once or twice a season, and having a starter-level center also playing on the offensive line is an immense luxury.
Both Glasgow and the Lions have mutual interest in re-signing in 2024, so this decision may come down to price, and how much of a raise Detroit is willing to give him.
2. Jonah Jackson, G
Arguably the most talented of the Lions 2024 free agents, Jackson has a Pro Bowl to his credit and could demand a significant price tag on the open market. Unfortunately for Jackson, his injury history will likely impact that overall price tag, as he has missed 10 games over the last two seasons due to multiple injuries, including wrist, ankle, knee, and a concussion.
With a lot of money already tied up in the offensive line, it’s fair to wonder if the Lions would be willing to make a heavy investment in Jackson, knowing his injury history. The Lions will have the next month to hash out that conversation with Jackson’s camp, but if he reaches free agency, he’ll likely receive some big offers on the open market.
3. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DB
For all Gardner-Johnson’s smack-talking and boisterous confidence, he shares a team-first mentality that the Lions look for in a leader. The biggest questions surrounding Gardner-Johnson this offseason will be price tag and opportunity.
While Gardner-Johnson is a positional versatile talent with Pro Bowl upside, the Lions don’t have a clear path to an open starting role at any of the positions he plays. With the rise of Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph at safety and the emergence of Brian Branch in the slot, the Lions may prefer to keep their homegrown talent in high-contributing roles.
4. Josh Reynolds, WR
There are going to be a lot of Lions fans still bitter at Reynolds for his drops in the NFC Championship, but he has been a very reliable target during his time in Detroit, and his last performance is more of an anomaly than a problematic situation.