Five Upcoming Free Agents The Detroit Lions Should Retain

The NFL’s new league year is almost here. On Wednesday, March 11, at 4 pm ET, free agents can officially sign contracts with new teams. Many of those deals will have been reached during the “legal tampering” period, beginning Monday, March 9, at 12 pm ET. That is when teams can begin to negotiate with pending free agents. Most of the hype comes from players switching teams. I have already made my shopping list of the five free agents the Detroit Lions should sign from other teams. The best teams, though, make smart decisions when keeping their own. It’s time for me to pick the five upcoming free agents the Detroit Lions should retain.

Free Agency Is A Feeding Frenzy

Hundreds of players will soon be on the move. It is a feeding frenzy, and undoubtedly one of the most exciting times to be a football fan. Free agency can change the landscape of the entire league. All 32 fanbases experience it one way or another. Many get to feel the happiness and hope that their team is entering a new era of success. Others have to watch as their favorite team says goodbye to franchise cornerstones.

The Detroit Lions are in a unique spot. GM Brad Holmes has spent five years building a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl. The Lions’ core is filled with stars who are both young and talented. Many of those stars are now expensive, having signed lucrative contract extensions over the last couple of years.

With many holes needing to be filled across the roster, Holmes is facing a very important offseason. With limited cap space (as of now), Detroit must be smart with its money. While new players will certainly be signed, the Lions’ success in 2026 starts with keeping their own. Plenty of Lions are set to hit the market, and Holmes must make the right calls on whom to retain.

Detroit Lions’ Cap Situation

I won’t get into all of the specifics of Detroit’s financial situation. They are included in my previous article, if you want a refresher. Long story short, the Lions currently have about $5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. This number will be changing as players become cap casualties and others have their contracts restructured. 

In fact, the Lions can create up to $128 million in new cap space by utilizing simple restructures, just converting a player’s salary into a signing bonus and spreading the cap hit over multiple years. The Lions won’t create that much space, of course, but will have the freedom to make the moves they want. That starts with retaining their own free agents. Here are the five that I believe are the most important to keep:

1. Rock Ya-Sin, Cornerback

Rock Ya-Sin came to Detroit last year on a one-year deal. Originally thought to be a mere depth piece, the versatile corner wound up having a much bigger role than expected. Injuries to both D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold had Ya-Sin thrust into the starting lineup. He held up well, earning a 64.7 overall grade from PFF (50th out of 121 CBs).

With Arnold potentially facing a suspension due to his legal problems in Florida, Detroit must prioritize keeping Ya-Sin. Ya-Sin is an experienced veteran who brings stability to the CB room. Keeping him wouldn’t alter the Lions’ long-term plans for the secondary, as they will almost certainly look to both free agency and the draft for upgrades. 

Having a player like Ya-Sin allows the Lions to avoid desperation. With him in tow, Detroit would not be forced into overpaying for another free agent or needing to place a potential rookie into a role he may not be ready for. Ya-Sin is good enough to compete for a starting spot, but he makes for an extremely valuable reserve. Cornerback is one of the most important positions in the NFL, and having trustworthy players like Ya-Sin on the roster is imperative.

2. Avonte Maddox, Safety

Staying in the secondary, Avonte Maddox is another player the Lions can’t afford to let leave the building. Like Ya-Sin, Maddox was forced into the starting lineup due to injuries. With star safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph still on the shelf, keeping Maddox is of the utmost importance. 

PFF’s 10th-highest rated safety in 2025 (79.1), Maddox exceeded expectations in every way. Bringing a calming presence to a depleted secondary, the 29-year-old out of Pitt must be brought back. Despite playing at a high level, Maddox is expected to remain quite affordable. The Lions will definitely be without Branch for much, if not all, of the 2026 season. Joseph’s injury may be even more concerning, as his chronic left knee is raising concerns of shortening his career.

I have the Lions taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round of my latest mock draft. Keeping Maddox would not prevent the Lions from investing heavily in the position, but would give Detroit the peace of mind knowing it has a player like Maddox in the fold. A tandem of Thieneman and Maddox manning the back of Detroit’s defense would allow Branch to fully heal before returning. If Joseph recovers from his injury, Maddox would be a high-end third safety who can also play corner if needed.

3. Roy Lopez, Defensive Tackle

The Lions believe that you win in the trenches. Brad Holmes has consistently committed to improving the defensive tackle position. However, with both Roy Lopez and D.J. Reader entering free agency, Holmes will need to further that commitment. Alim McNeill will hold down his spot in the middle of the line, and Holmes drafted DT Tyleik Williams in the first round last year to pair with him.

You don’t draft someone that high if you don’t view him as a starter. With Williams ready for a bigger role, that leaves Reader as the odd man out. He will just be too expensive to be a backup.

Luckily for Detroit, Roy Lopez is an ideal DT3. A stout defender against the run who also has some pass-rushing juice, Lopez can easily play 20-25 snaps per game in any situation. Lopez has immense value for the Lions, who love rotating their DTs. Despite earning a raise from his last deal, Lopez will be worth every penny. A two-year, $12 million deal should be able to keep him in Detroit. Having a solid stable of their top 3 DTs locked up will allow the Lions to focus elsewhere in the draft.

4. Malcolm Rodriguez, Linebacker

After the Lions drafted “Rodrigo” in the sixth round in 2022, he instantly became a fan favorite. His big personality, along with his energetic play, made him a big part of the Lions’ revival. Rodriguez is an elite depth linebacker who can start if needed. His absence after an ACL tear in 2024 was clearly felt all over the defense.

With longtime LB Alex Anzalone looking like his days in Detroit are over, the Lions cannot afford to lose Rodriguez as well. An expected one-year deal at around $3 million makes Rodriguez an affordable retention for Detroit, and flexibility to play multiple LB spots (and special teams) adds to his value. Even if the Lions sign or draft a higher-profile LB, they should not allow Rodriguez to leave the organization.

5. Al-Quadin Muhammad, Edge