The Detroit Lions’ front office is already deep into planning for the 2026 season, with general manager Brad Holmes and his staff beginning the process of evaluating which pending free agents should remain part of the team’s long-term plans.
Even with the regular season having ended only recently and the new league year still weeks away, the Lions are turning their attention to one of the most challenging parts of the offseason — determining which players can continue to help the team win, and how much the organization can reasonably afford to spend to keep them.
The evaluation comes as the Lions continue building on their recent success, making upcoming retention decisions especially important as expectations around the franchise continue to rise. With salary cap constraints always a factor, Holmes must balance keeping key contributors in place while maintaining flexibility to address other roster needs.
“That’s hard to say without being faced with the dynamics of who the players are. It’s a lot that goes into those decisions,” Holmes said when discussing offseason roster planning. “A lot of the things that we’ll look at, and a lot of the changes and tweaks and adjustments we will make, probably won’t come with the headline.”
Evaluating the Lions’ key 2026 free agent decisions
As the Lions look ahead to the 2026 offseason, several pending free agents stand out as more consequential decisions than others, based on role, production, and positional importance.
Veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone is widely viewed as one of the most significant names in this group, given his consistent role in the defense and his importance within the locker room. Edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad also ranks near the top among the Lions’ pending free agents, known as a meaningful contributor within the pass-rush rotation.
A second tier of players presents a different set of considerations. Cornerback Amik Robertson and wide receiver Kalif Raymond have provided versatility and situational value, including on special teams, but their future in Detroit will likely depend on how the Lions weigh that flexibility against positional depth and contract cost.
Aside from the most recognizable names, the Lions must also assess several role players and depth pieces whose contributions may not always show up prominently on the stat sheet but factor into overall roster balance. How the players are ranked internally will play a major role in determining where the organization prioritizes continuity and where it is willing to accept turnover.
Key factors influencing retention decisions
Several factors will shape the Lions’ approach to retaining free agents ahead of the 2026 season, beginning with individual performance and role within the roster. The front office must assess not only how productive a player was, but whether that production aligns with how the position is expected to be used moving forward, particularly as roles evolve year to year.
Positional depth also plays a massive role in evaluations. In areas where the Lions have younger players under contract or expect reinforcement through the draft, retaining veterans at market value becomes a more difficult calculation. Conversely, positions lacking proven depth may elevate the priority of keeping certain contributors, even if those decisions come at a higher cost.
Detroit’s financial picture adds another layer to those decisions. The Lions are projected to have about $13.5 million in cap space entering the offseason, a number that leaves little margin for error once required costs are factored in. And that reality puts a premium on value when determining which players to retain.
Planning ahead of the free agency period
The Lions are already well into their offseason evaluation process, a reflection of how early the front office begins planning once the season ends. Rather than waiting for the free agency window to open, Detroit uses this period to sort internal priorities, assess roster needs, and determine which decisions will require the most attention in the weeks ahead.
Starting the process early gives the organization flexibility when contract talks begin while allowing the Lions to be more selective, particularly in a market that can move quickly and drive up prices once players become available.
“I’m always going to look inward… Early stages, but already started to identify some things that I can definitely do better,” general manager Brad Holmes said during his end-of-season media availability, highlighting that the evaluation process was already underway as the team shifted its focus to 2026.
By laying that groundwork now, the Lions position themselves to move with clarity rather than urgency, especially when deciding which players to prioritize and where flexibility may be required.
Roster construction, chemistry, and continuity
Beyond individual performance and contract value, the Lions must consider how roster turnover affects leadership, communication, and overall team cohesion.
Under Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, internal culture has been treated as part of roster construction as opposed to a separate concern, making character and locker-room presence relevant factors in retention decisions.
Considerations intersect with positional depth and roster balance — the front office must determine where experience and familiarity provide stability, and where turnover can be absorbed through player development or the draft without weakening a position group.
Continuity carries particular weight for players who have developed within the organization and grown into defined roles. Familiarity with Detroit’s schemes, expectations, and standards can reduce transition risk as roster turnover occurs.
Monitoring the market and finalizing priorities
Detroit’s recent on-field results place greater emphasis on precision as the organization looks ahead to the 2026 season. With the Lions now operating as a contender, roster decisions will be shaped by prioritization rather than wholesale change.
Compared to league norms, the Lions have generally operated in the middle range of free agency spending in recent years, avoiding the aggressive, top-of-the-market approach used by some teams while still making targeted investments to support the roster. This gives us information on how Detroit approaches negotiations, particularly when deciding whether outside options represent a clear upgrade over players already in place.
The coming weeks will be critical as the Lions determine which players warrant early attention and how resources will be allocated once the market opens.