2024 Detroit Lions free agents: Targets, NFL draft needs and more as free agency nears
Jack McKessy
One of the best Detroit Lions teams of the Super Bowl era finished their 2023 season just short of a Super Bowl berth. Now, they'll have to focus on re-tooling their roster for 2024 as the offseason begins.
Twenty different Lions players are hitting unrestricted free agency, but Detroit is retaining much of its young core on both sides of the ball going into 2024: receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and others. Still, they will have to face some decisions on their defensive line and in their defensive secondary as some key players become free agents.
The Lions are eighth in the NFL in cap space going into free agency, according to Over the Cap, which gives them some flexibility to spend on free agent players. In addition, they'll bring in some more young playmakers in the 2024 draft.
Here's everything to know about Detroit's free agency situation.
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2024 Detroit Lions free agents
Unrestricted free agents
In order of percentage of snaps played, per Over the Cap:
- IOL Graham Glasgow
- WR Josh Reynolds
- IOL Jonah Jackson
- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
- EDGE Charles Harris
- EDGE Romeo Okwara
- CB Kindle Vildor
- S Will Harris
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
- IOL Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- LS Jake McQuaide
- OT Dan Skipper
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- OT Matt Nelson
- IDL Tyson Alualu
- K Michael Badgley
- QB Teddy Bridgewater
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- TE Anthony Firkser
- QB Nate Sudfeld
Restricted/exclusive rights free agents
- CB Jerry Jacobs
- IDL Benito Jones
- TE Brock Wright
- IOL Kayode Awosika
- LS Scott Daly
- RB Craig Reynolds
- CB Khalil Dorsey
- EDGE James Houston
- RB Zonovan Knight
- LB Anthony Pittman
- CB Chase Lucas
- TE Shane Zylstra
Potential Lions NFL Draft targets
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: Ennis Rakestraw, Jr., CB, Missouri
Middlehurst-Schwartz writes, "Stifling in man coverage, Rakestraw Jr. is exactly the kind of tenacious yet savvy cornerback that Dan Campbell would appreciate."
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Sikkema writes, "He played as an interior defensive lineman his entire college career before losing some weight and playing edge in 2023... his interior background makes him a powerful 5-tech defensive end with pass-rush potential to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson."
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Podell writes, "McKinstry, a 2023 First-Team All-American, has great size at 6-1, 195 pounds. He was also reliable in coverage, not allowing a touchdown on 1,206 career coverage snaps."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Reuter writes, "Robinson's 286-pound frame and quick hands made him a problem in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl. Putting him opposite Aidan Hutchinson is a lose-lose situation for opposing blocking schemes."
Damian Parson, The Draft Network: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Parson writes, "Darius Robinson is a riser and it is well deserved. He went from playing inside to outside in 2023 and did it at a high level."
When does NFL free agency begin?
March 11: The NFL's legal tampering period begins at noon ET. According to the NFL's official operations website, this is when teams are allowed to begin negotiating contracts with players that are set to become free agents.
March 13: NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET. All contracts that end after the 2023 season expire, and teams and players are allowed to execute new contracts. This includes deals agreed to during the tampering period becoming official.
When is the 2024 NFL Draft?
Where: Campus Marius Park at Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan
When: April 25-27, 2024
Cable TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Streaming: NFL+; ESPN+; fuboTV
How to watch:Catch this year's NFL Draft with a Fubo subscription
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