If you came here looking for big spender signings, you came to the wrong place. If you’re a football nerd searching for potential heirlooms from the scrap heap, then you’re in the right place.
I despise the word splash this time of year—great movie—but the Detroit Lions already have a roster full of young blue-chip players. For the most part, what they need now is to insulate the roster with solid contributors and depth who can outperform their contracts. It’s essential to trim the margins and unearth
players who unexpectedly step up with quality production, just as they did last offseason with Roy Lopez, Avonte Maddox, and Rock Ya-Sin.
To provide context for the players being evaluated, I’ve included—where possible—the Spotrac and Pro Football Focus market value projections, along with a top-200 Consensus Board compiled by Acme Packing Company’s talented Justis Mosqueda.
This edition focuses on potential skill position value signings. Offensive line is coming soon.
So hurry—come on down and save a buck buck buck at Football Guy Al’s Free Agent Toy Barn.
Running back
An immediate need emerged when the Lions dealt David Montgomery so he could pursue a true RB1 role elsewhere before age begins to diminish his skills.
Jahmyr Gibbs remains one of the most dynamic, game-breaking backs in the NFL. However, he still needs a complementary runner who can spell him, handle short-yardage situations, and operate effectively behind what the Lions hope will be a revamped offensive line.
Sione Vaki hasn’t been available enough to fully develop as a running back. Jacob Saylors faces an uphill battle to make the roster based solely on special teams value. Meanwhile, Craig Reynolds could return to Detroit but remains a free agent at this time.
J.K. Dobbins (Denver Broncos | 5-10, 212 | Age 28)
- Spotrac Market Value: $5.1M / 2 years ($2.5M AAV)
- PFF Market Value: $5.5M / 1 year
- Consensus Big Board Rank: 89th overall (6th RB)
Dobbins is supremely talented but has battled a multitude of injuries, landing on injured reserve in each of the past five seasons. His 2025 campaign ended in November with a Lisfranc injury that required foot surgery.
When healthy, however, Dobbins packs a punch. He ranked sixth among running backs with a 52.3% rushing success rate and sixth with an 11.1% explosive run rate.
As a cherry on top, he ranked tied for 15th among running backs with 3.17 yards after contact per carry—one spot ahead of David Montgomery—demonstrating his ability to fight through defenders and churn out extra yardage.
Ball security has also been excellent. Dobbins hasn’t recorded a fumble since his rookie season in 2020, spanning more than 500 touches. (Fellow free agent Tyler Allgeier, coincidentally, has started his career with 737 touches and zero fumbles.)
Emanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers | 5-10, 226 | Age 27)
- Spotrac Market Value: N/A
- PFF Market Value: N/A
- Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A
Wilson shares similarities with Dobbins. He’s an efficient, decisive, compact back with good contact balance who consistently finds daylight and punishes defenses.
Wilson shredded the Bears in Week 16’s overtime thriller when Josh Jacobs was limited, and he arguably looked like the more effective back that night.
Over the last two seasons, Wilson actually leads all running backs with an impressive 53.1% rushing success rate. For context, Montgomery and Gibbs ranked ninth and 12th respectively. Wilson also tied for 12th in explosive run rate at 8.3% during that span.
An expanded role in Detroit’s offense could allow Wilson’s skill set to flourish even more as a complement to Gibbs.
Like Dobbins, Wilson takes care of the football. He has just one fumble over the past two seasons—and the Packers recovered it.
Sean Tucker (Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-10, 205 | Age 25)
- Spotrac Market Value: N/A
- PFF Market Value: N/A
- Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A
It was announced this week that the Buccaneers surprisingly will not apply a restricted free-agent tender to retain Tucker, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Tucker first gained notoriety for his entertaining social media recaps during his Syracuse days. But NFL fans took notice after his shocking breakout performance in Week 6 of the 2024 season when he erupted for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Every fantasy football manager in America immediately put in a waiver claim.
Tucker has been productive in limited opportunities during his three seasons in Tampa Bay while sitting behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White and cycling through three different offensive coordinators.
He only went undrafted due to medical red flags that surfaced during the NFL Scouting Combine—issues that were later cleared.
Tucker fits the mold of the other backs mentioned here: a compact runner with excellent burst. He’s also a former state champion sprinter with top-tier acceleration that allows him to hit daylight quickly.
He has scored six goal-line touchdowns on 11 carries inside the 5-yard line over the past two seasons. His 52.0% rushing success rate in 2024 ranked ninth among running backs with at least 50 carries—directly behind Montgomery and Gibbs, who ranked seventh and eighth.
Tucker could also provide additional value with his kick return experience.
Honorable Mention
- Washington Commanders — Jeremy McNichols
- 2024 Rushing Success Rate: 55.2% (3rd – RBs with min. 50 carries)
Wide receiver
The Lions are already heavily invested in their top three receivers and may also have roster-worthy players in Dominic Lovett or Jackson Meeks—plus the immortal Tom Kennedy can always be brought back cheap.
Because of that, the team likely only needs to either bring back Kalif Raymond or find an affordable depth receiver who may also provide return ability.
Greg Dortch (Arizona Cardinals | 5-7, 180 | Age 28)
- Spotrac Market Value: $1.63M / 1 year
- PFF Market Value: N/A
- Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A
Dortch is an undersized gadget player who has familiarity with Drew Petzing designing touches for him.
After going undrafted, Dortch bounced between four teams via waivers and practice squads before carving out a role with the Cardinals.
He provides immense value as both a punt and kick returner and shares many similarities with Kalif Raymond as a space player capable of creating explosive plays.
Honorable Mentions
- Minnesota Vikings — Jalen Nailor
- San Francisco 49ers — Kendrick Bourne
- Pittsburgh Steelers — Calvin Austin III
- Kansas City Chiefs — Tyquan Thornton
Tight end
It’s not ideal that Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta is recovering from a back injury entering the final season of his rookie contract. Brock Wright is also recovering from a neck injury in a contract year and has not consistently played up to the level of a top-30 highest-paid tight end.
Even if Drew Petzing utilizes more 11-personnel and less 13-personnel than he did in Arizona, Detroit still needs more capable tight ends with translatable NFL skill sets than the likes of the Firksers, Zylstras, Dwelleys, and Riccis of the world. Ideally, Wright is better suited for a TE3 role.
The players listed below follow a clear theme: capable blockers—not power slot receivers masquerading as tight ends.
Charlie Kolar (Baltimore Ravens | 6-6, 252 | Age 27)
- Spotrac Market Value: $1.66M / 1 year
- PFF Market Value: $1.75M / 1 year
- Consensus Big Board Rank: 99th overall (7th TE)
I’ve mentioned Kolar as a Lions target for months, but recently more media outlets have begun identifying him as a hidden gem in this free-agent tight end class. It feels like your favorite band just sold out and went mainstream—and the ticket prices aren’t what they used to be.
If Kolar—Baltimore’s third tight end for the past four seasons—can still be signed for just a few million dollars per year, he would be an ideal addition for Detroit. Kolar has played behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely but logged a career-high 402 offensive snaps last season. He also contributed 291 special teams snaps across all four core units. Dave Fipp would certainly take notice.
Kolar’s blocking ability would help unlock Detroit’s offense. Petzing wouldn’t need to hide deficiencies in the play design and would have the full playbook available.
The three-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection also offers dependable hands, with just two career drops on 55 targets. At 6-foot-6 with 34.5-inch arms (94th percentile for tight ends), he maximizes his opportunities as a receiver. His 2.67 yards per route run in 2024 led all tight ends with at least 10 targets—just ahead of George Kittle, Dallas Goedert, Trey McBride, and Brock Bowers.
His skill set still feels undervalued and could greatly outperform the cost of his second contract.
Adam Trautman (Denver Broncos | 6-5, 255 | Age 29)
- Spotrac Market Value: $5.61M / 2 years ($2.80M AAV)
- PFF Market Value: N/A
- Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A
Though Trautman began his career as a quarterback at a basketball school (Dayton), the Michigan native has developed into a serviceable blocker who typically contributes around 200 receiving yards per season.
The connection here is straightforward: Trautman was drafted in the third round by the Saints and spent his rookie season (2020) in Dan Campbell’s position room.
He’s also been extremely durable. Trautman hasn’t missed a game over the past three seasons and has missed only six games in his entire career. He profiles as a true Y tight end with translatable in-line strength.
Ko Kieft (Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-5, 265 | Age 28)
- Spotrac Market Value: N/A
- PFF Market Value: N/A
- Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A
Ko Kieft looks like the mascot for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Picture a Scandinavian seafarer having a fanciful chance encounter with Captain Jack Sparrow—one that ends with Sparrow uncomfortably squirming out of a jam while Kieft stands there, unable to comprehend or be amused.
That’s more or less how Kieft plays as well.
The Buccaneers drafted Kieft in the sixth round four years ago despite him recording just 12 career catches in college. His job is blocking.
Kieft’s role diminished in 2024, and he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 of 2025. However, he has experience lining up inline, in the slot, in the backfield, and in motion. The Lions could use a few more people-movers at tight end.
Honorable Mentions
- Indianapolis Colts — Mo Allie-Cox
- Pittsburgh Steelers — Connor Heyward
- Green Bay Packers — John FitzPatrick
