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.
Middlehurst-Schwartz writes, “Stifling in man coverage, Rakestraw Jr. is exactly the kind of tenacious yet savvy cornerback that Dan Campbell would appreciate.”
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.