Complete Lions Offseason Guide: Draft Picks, Free Agents, What Comes Next
The Detroit Lions are gearing up quickly for the 2026 season.
Detroit wrapped up the Draft with seven additions, and were active in adding free agents prior to that. Though they have plenty of returning contributors, the roster will have a new feel with the loss of several key veterans.
With the Draft in the rearview mirror, the Lions are now focused on offseason workouts. They will get on the field in late-May for organized team activities, and that will continue through the end of mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
Here's a complete look at the Lions' offseason activity and what comes next for the organization following the NFL Draft.
Free agent additions
C Cade Mays
OT Larry Borom
RB Isiah Pacheco
QB Teddy Bridgewater
DB Christian Izien
TE Tyler Conklin
CB Roger McCreary
DE D.J. Wonnum
LB Damone Clark
WR Greg Dortch
DE Payton Turner
OL Ben Bartch
S Chuck Clark
Free agent losses
LB Alex Anzalone – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Amik Robertson – Washington Commanders
DT Roy Lopez – Arizona Cardinals
QB Kyle Allen – Buffalo Bills
WR Kalif Raymond – Chicago Bears
DE Tyrus Wheat – Dallas Cowboys
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB Grant Stuard – Los Angeles Rams
S Daniel Thomas – Cleveland Browns
OL Kayode Awosika – Los Angeles Chargers
OT Taylor Decker – Released, unsigned
C Graham Glasgow – Released, unsigned
DE Josh Paschal – Released, unsigned
Draft picks
1-17: Clemson OT Blake Miller
2-44: Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore
4-118: Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
5-157: Arizona State CB Keith Abney II
6-205: Texas Tech DT Skyler Gill-Howard
7-222: Tennessee EDGE Tyre West
Undrafted free agent signings
USF CB De'Shawn Rucker
Tennesee TE Miles Kitselman
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer
Rutgers EDGE Eric O'Neill
USC EDGE Anthony Lucas
Notre Dame DL Aidan Keanaaina
Illinois G Melvin Priestly
Morgan State LB Erick Hunter
UNLV DB Aamaris Brown
What's next
The Lions canceled their rookie minicamp, instead opting for their rookies to go through a development program. The biggest change from previous years is the fact that the Lions have typically signed a player or two who come to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
This year, they will not do that. The Lions could still bring veterans to Allen Park for workouts, but it won't be in the same setting as in years past. As it stands, the Lions currently have 85 players on roster counting the nine reported undrafted free agent signings.
Detroit could elect to fill the remaining voids by adding to their UDFA tally, or target players who have gone unsigned through veteran free agency.
Two potential targets could be veteran defensive linemen Isiahh Loudermilk and Jay Tufele, both of whom visited the Lions before the draft and remain unsigned.
The Lions are currently in Phase 1 of the offseason program, where they can only hold strength and conditioning workouts and meetings. Phase 2 opens next week, where the Lions will have three weeks of position drills, group drills and walkthroughs. When the Lions begin OTAs on May 27, they will be in Phase 3 and can run both seven-on-seven and team drills.
The Lions will have nine OTAs practices this offseason. They are separated into three three-day sections, with the first set for May 27-29. They will also host OTAs June 2-4 and June 9-11 before finishing their offseason workouts with mandatory minicamp June 16-17.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi as Complete Lions Offseason Guide: Draft Picks, Free Agents, What Comes Next.
Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 12:02 PM.