Lions 2025 NFL free agency targets after disappointing playoff run against Commanders

The The Detroit Lions’ exciting 2024 campaign came to an abrupt end in the divisional round of the playoffs. Without much time to dwell on the loss, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has an uphill battle to climb in the 2025 offseason. NFL free agency the market.

Despite Dan Campbell’s meteoric rise, the Lions will endure a tough road to build on that success in 2025. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have received significant interest from coaches around the league. Both could leave the team during the offseason, which would be detrimental to the system and the chemistry Campbell has built over the years.

In addition to the coaching concerns, Detroit will see a large portion of its locker room depart over the summer. Twenty-three members of the Lions’ current roster will become unrestricted free agents. Holmes would like to keep them all, but only a few will be gifted to Honolulu Blue in the fall.

Amid the uncertainty, Holmes must lead the Lions to a near-perfect free agency offseason if they are to return to title contention in 2025.

The Lions must look for Charvarius Ward in 2025 free agency

One of Holmes’ first orders of business should be re-signing Carlton Davis III, who should become one of the best running backs on the market. Davis was one of Glenn’s 2024 defensive captains and a leader of the secondary. Few players are a better fit for this team than Davis, especially in a defense that follows man coverage as much as the Lions in 2024.

If they can’t agree to an extension with Davis — or even if they can — the Lions need to look to Charvarius Ward. Davis and Ward will be the two best guards available, and Detroit will be one of the few teams that can land both. The Davis-Ward tandem would easily be one of the best duos in the league.

The San Francisco 49ers would hate to see Ward leave their team, but the decision is ultimately out of their hands. Ward was open about his upcoming decision and he admitted that the recent loss of his daughter made life in California difficult for him. Taking his word for it, no amount of money could ever lure him back to Golden State.

From a purely business standpoint, Ward will be an expensive signing, but one that fits the needs of the Lions. Few players are better than Ward in man coverage right now. Signing a player of his caliber would certainly ease the pain of losing Glenn, which seems imminent.

Will Hernandez should be on Brad Holmes’ radar

Right behind Davis among the Lions’ free agents will be Kevin Zeitler, who signed a one-year contract in 2024. Despite coming off his age-34 season, Zeitler remains one of the best running backs in the league and a key piece for Holmes to prioritize.

However, unlike Davis, the Lions may not have the cap space to extend Zeitler. There’s no proper way to trade a player like Zeitler, but Arizona Cardinals running back Will Hernandez fits Detroit’s needs. Even in the case of Zeitler’s extension, Graham Glasgow looked very replaceable at left-back.

Since entering the league with the New York Giants in 2018, Hernandez has been one of the most underrated players in the league. After a $9 million deal with the Cardinals, he will get a raise, but will still be well within Holmes’ budget.

Although he missed most of 2024 with a knee injury, Hernandez was quietly one of the league’s elite guards before going down. Through the first five games, he earned a player rating 69.3 from Pro Football Focus, making him one of the top-rated guards in the NFL. If anything, Hernandez’s injury makes him more affordable for the Lions in free agency.

Whether or not Zeitler returns, signing Hernandez would likely solidify the Lions’ offensive line as the best in the league.

Diontae Johnson is a good fit for the Lions’ offense

Several players had a rougher in 2024 than Dionta Johnson did. The veteran started the year with the Carolina Panthers and was expected to be Brice Young’s No. 1 target, but was traded before the quarterback broke through in his second year. Performances with the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans only made his disastrous campaign worse.

After all the mayhem, Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent just two years after signing a $36 million extension. He’s still only 28 years old, but he’s nowhere near the same value in 2025. Some may see him as an unnecessary gamble, but others may see him as one of the top buyout candidates in free agency.

Before the whole 2024 fiasco, Johnson had 700 receiving yards in the previous four seasons. Drops have been a constant problem for him, but Johnson has established himself as one of the best receivers in the league with a sharp run. His target share was consistently elite with the Pittsburgh Steelers, proving how quickly he earned the trust of his quarterbacks.

Johnson may no longer be No. 1, but with Detroit, he wouldn’t have to be. His play style fits perfectly with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in the attack where he could achieve the greatest success in his career.

If Ben Johnson leaves the Lions this offseason, they will need more weapons to compensate for his departure in creativity. Diontae Johnson is the type of player who could turn an already impressive receiving corps into one of the best in the NFL.