2026 free agent targets who could fill holes on Detroit Lions' roster

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The Detroit Lions have big holes to fill for the upcoming season.

Following a disappointing 9-8 season where the Lions fell to last place in the NFC North, they will prepare for the 2026 season needing to upgrade the roster to compete within a division where each team had a winning record this season.

Those needs, especially on the offensive line, will be exacerbated should veterans Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow decide to retire.

The Lions can retool for the 2026 season through various methods, including the 2026 NFL Draft in which they currently hold the No. 17 overall pick. But even before the April draft, the Lions will consider upgrades through free agency, which officially opens March 11.

We have previously identified the four most important positions for the Lions to address in the offseason: edge defender, interior offensive lineman, offensive tackle and safety. And with the regular season officially over (and the Lions out of a playoff spot for the first time since 2022), the front office, led by general manager Brad Holmes, can start targeting free agents for potential signings two months from now.

Here are some top 2026 free agents at key positions the Lions should consider signing.

MORE: Dan Campbell: 'Freak' injuries not the fault of Lions training staff

Edge rusher

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) during the second half at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.

Yes, the Lions have been connected to on-the-market pass rushers for over a year, still needing a partner for the newly-paid Aidan Hutchinson. And yes, the same names are coming up, most notably Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals and Jaelan Phillips of the Philadelphia Eagles.

But there's a reason those names are still worth mentioning.

Though Hendrickson recorded just four sacks in an injury-plagued 2025, he recorded 35 between 2023-24, including a league-high 17½ in 2024. He's the best pass rusher on the free agent market, and at 31 years old may not command as high a contract as the four-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Bengals from 2021-24.

Phillips, meanwhile, might be an ideal partner for Hutchinson. At 26 years old, Phillips will be one of the youngest premier free agent pass rushers and has played a big role for the Philadelphia Eagles' defense after his midseason trade from the Miami Dolphins. He also plays the run, a key trait the Lions value.

Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks and Odafe Oweh of the Los Angeles Chargers also fit the same profile as Phillips, but might be more inclined to stay with their respective teams and their top-tier defenses.

Longtime quarterback nightmares Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack will be available at relative discounts considering their age, with Bosa, 30, playing well on a 1-year deal with the Buffalo Bills in 2025.

And if you believe his improvement in 2025 was real, Al-Quadin Muhammad could re-sign in Detroit, though that signing wouldn't be nearly as splashy as other free-agent moves.

Interior offensive line

Derrick Henry celebrates with Tyler Linderbaum, left, and Deandre Hopkins after scoring a Baltimore Ravens touchdown in the third quarter against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Baltimore.

There's only one free agent interior offensive lineman worth serious consideration for the Lions, but he's arguably the player Holmes should be targeting the hardest.

Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum is going to command a massive free-agent deal, and the 25-year-old will be well worth it, our Lions insider Dave Birkett said in his New Year's resolution for the Lions.

A Linderbaum signing might be a two-for-one affair, too, since it might convince Decker to come back for one more year. It could also keep guard Tate Ratledge away from center and help reinvigorate a talented running back tandem in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. It's a no-brainer move ... if the Lions can find the money to make it happen, that is − OverTheCap.com estimates the Lions currently have minus-$12.2 million in effective cap space.

Offensive tackle

Rasheed Walker of the Green Bay Packers walks off the field after a win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit.

The need for a big-time offensive tackle is heavily dependent on Decker's retirement decision, and even if Decker doesn't return in 2026, the Lions might be better off drafting a tackle instead of looking for one in free agency.

Still, there are options for the Lions at the position if needed.

The biggest name is probably Green Bay's Rasheed Walker, who looks to become a free agent after the playoffs. Once a seventh-round draft pick, the soon-to-be 26-year-old Walker has become a three-year starter for the Packers and an indispensable part of quarterback Jordan Love's pass protection.

A short-term solution for the Lions could be Braden Smith, who has spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, or Cleveland Browns' midseason trade acquisition Cam Robinson. Neither would present an upgrade over Decker, especially since both would be over 30 when the 2026 season starts, but they might be better options than a first-round selection who might take a couple years to round into form.

Safety

The situation in the secondary has flipped for the Lions since last winter, when Detroit entered the offseason looking great at safety but needing a lot of help at cornerback. The Lions responded by making cornerback D.J. Reed their biggest offseason signing.

Now that the Lions enter 2026 with a lot of questions at safety (and much fewer at cornerback), are they going to make another splash in signing a high-priced defensive back?

A lot of that will depend on how the team feels about Brian Branch's torn Achilles and Kerby Joseph's knee condition. If they project one or both to return to form in 2026, they might balk at spending on an unimpressive free-agent safety class. But if they want a safety, a few options will be available this spring.

Kam Curl of the Los Angeles Rams has proven to be a versatile defensive back, and Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks has played literally everywhere in the secondary during his four-year NFL career. Ar'Darius Washington of the Baltimore Ravens could also be an interesting signing, though don't be surprised if the Lions run it back with Thomas Harper and a first- or second-round draft pick until Branch gets healthy.

And though the signings would be more for depth rather than to address starting positions, the Lions could bring back Rock Ya-Sin and/or Detroit native Avonte Maddox on one-year free-agent deals, too.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions could look at these 13 NFL free agents in 2026

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