Ranking the Detroit Lions’ 2024 free agents by importance of re-signing
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Detroit Lions had 82 players under contract. Of those, twelve were on injured reserve, seventeen were on the practice squad, and fifty-three were on the active roster. Forty-three players were still under contract going into the offseason; 20 were unrestricted free agents, 6 were street free agents, 6 were restricted free agents, 6 were free agents with exclusive rights, and 1 was a part of the NFL’s international player program.
Here are the Lions players that fit into each of the four possible free agent categories, ranked in the order we think Detroit will give them priority.
Free agents without limitations (20)
The Lions signed six of the 13 unrestricted free agents they had in 2022, and five of them were still on the team at the end of the season. Nine of the 18 unrestricted free agents that the Lions had in 2023 were re-signed. Only five of those nine players remained on the roster at the end of the season.
If these trends continue, the Lions could, at most, only re-sign half of its pending unrestricted free agents and might not end up playing for the entire season.
In light of this, let’s rank our prediction for the Lions’ offseason priorities regarding their unrestricted free agents.
1. Glasgow, Graham, IOL
Glasgow, who was thirty-one years old, came back to Detroit to play with his friends. Although he had to work hard to gain a starting position, Glasgow enjoyed what was maybe his best season to date. He started two and a half games at center and one game at left guard, although he spent the most of the season at right guard.
With All-Pro center Frank Ragnow’s history of injuries catching up to him once or twice a season and the luxury of having a starter-caliber center who can also play on the offensive line, Glasgow’s versatility makes him extremely valuable.
Glasgow and the Lions are both interested in signing again in 2024, but the price and amount of the rise Detroit is willing to provide him may play a role in this choice.
2. G. Jonah Jackson
Jackson, who has a Pro Bowl to his name and is arguably the most skilled of the Lions’ 2024 free agents, may command a high price on the open market. Regretfully, Jackson’s past injury history—he has missed 10 games in the last two seasons due to several problems, including knee, ankle, wrist, and concussions—will probably have an impact on that final cost.
