The Detroit Lions’ incredible 2023 season finally came to an end after a deep postseason run, and the team is moving on to the 2024 offseason.
The Lions still have 39 players who were on the 53-man roster, practice squad, or injured reserve at the end of the season who are not officially under contract with the team, despite having already signed 12 players to futures contracts.
Let’s examine the four categories into which those 39 players can be categorized, along with the players who fit within each category.
20 free agents without restrictions (UFA)
Players with at least four completed seasons of NFL experience who are on expiring contracts are considered unrestricted free agents.
Detroit is free to discuss a possible new contract at any moment, even if they are not officially under contract with the Lions. The players below may start talks with other NFL teams if they haven’t struck an agreement with the Lions by March 11, 2024, which is when the free agent tampering period starts.
QB Teddy Bridgewater — Retiring, accepted job as a high school coach
QB Nate Sudfeld
WR Josh Reynolds
Graham Glasgow
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE Anthony Firkser
OL Dan Skipper
OT Matt Nelson
OG Jonah Jackson
OG/C Graham Glasgow
OG Halapoulivaati Vaitai
DL Tyson Alualu
EDGE Romeo Okwara
EDGE Charles Harris
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
CB Emmanuel Moseley
CB Kindle Vildor
DB Will Harris
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
K Michael Badgley
LS Jake McQuaide
SFAs, or six street free agents layers who were not offered a futures contract but ended the season on the Lions practice squad are considered street free agents. The Lions practice players will become SFAs on Monday, February 5, as contracts for the practice squad expire seven days following a team’s last game.
SFAs are different from UFAs in that they can begin contract negotiations with any of the 32 clubs right away, but UFAs must wait until March to engage with a different team.
QB David Blough RB Mohamed Ibrahim Facebook Jason Cabinda, TE Michael Schofield Edge Zach Ertz Okwara Julian.
Notably, OT Max Pircher will be rejoining the NFL’s international program after ending the season on the Lions practice squad.
Six RFAs, or restricted free agents
Players with contracts that are about to expire who have only three NFL seasons under their belts are considered restricted free agents. The Lions have the same rights to contract discussions as they do with UFAs and SFAs, but they can also extend an offer of a one-year tender to each of these players.
