With DJ Reader agreeing to terms with the New York Giants this week, the Detroit Lions’ have now seen 11 of their own free agents sign elsewhere. You can see the full list of the Lions’ free agency losses and gains here with our 2026 Detroit Lions offseason tracker.
For a team that really values keeping and rewarding their own, it’s been a surprisingly active offseason for Detroit. Much of that was by necessity. The Lions were clearly in savings mode, as only one of their free agency signings—or even
re-signings—averaged more than $5 million per year (Cade Mays). Meanwhile, of the 11 players the Lions lost this free agency, four averaged more than $5 million a year: Roy Lopez (2-for-$10.5M), Alex Anzalone (2-for-$17M), Amik Robertson (2-for-$15M), and Reader (2-for-$12.5M). And while the Lions only handed out a single contract longer than a year (again, Mays), seven of the players they lost got at least two-year deals with their new team.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
What was the Lions’ biggest offseason loss?
My answer: I think it’s Anzalone, and it’s not all that close.
Anzalone received the biggest contract of any of Detroit’s losses, with his deal averaging $8.5 million per year. His value goes well beyond being the team’s best coverage linebacker, too. He had a strong understanding of the defense he’s been under for nearly a decade, he’s a leader in the locker room, and he’s capable of playing pretty much any linebacker position on this defense.
To complicate matters for the Lions, they don’t really have a clear replacement on their roster right now. They did add Damone Clark and Joe Bachie in free agency, but both of those players are most likely best served as depth or special teams contributors. Fourth-round pick Jimmy Rolder has the potential to grow into Anzalone’s role, but given his relative lack of experience as a one-year starter in college, it would be unrealistic to expect him to come in and immediate win a starting job.
Which Lions offseason lost do you believe is the biggest for Detroit? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
