The Detroit Lions just enjoyed their best season in almost 30 years, and they want to build on it and become a constant Super Bowl contender. Many people expected offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to go, but he’s staying. The excitement for the upcoming season in Detroit is palpable, but one area that requires significant improvement is their secondary. The Lions are having to face painful decisions, as they have released safety Tracy Walker.
Tracy Walker made 59 total tackles for the Lions this season, including one sack and one forced fumble. He did not have any interceptions this season. He played his whole NFL career in Detroit. However, the Lions opted to release Walker on Tuesday, and he left a lengthy message for the citizens of Detroit.
“Detroit “I want to thank you for welcoming me in as a rookie and accepting me as family,” Walker wrote on Instagram. “I’d want to thank the Ford family for providing me the opportunity to be a part of something great over the past six years. I’d like to thank my followers and supporters for always having my back through it all. I’d like to thank the city for holding down for me. There were many ups and downs, but that’s life, because life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. With that said, the future seems bright, and TTIME is approaching Year7 faster than ever before. GOD BLESS TIME OUT.
If the Lions make the appropriate moves this offseason to improve their secondary, they should be one of the best teams in the NFL again. The team had several obvious issues this season, yet they were still leading by 17 in the second half of the NFC Championship game. Detroit has the potential to be really successful next season.
Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator, will return to Detroit next season and is already making some difficult decisions. Tracy Walker is an experienced player, and it had to be difficult to let him go. However, the Lions must do what is best for the team.
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After six seasons, the Lions parted ways with their veteran starter.
On February 20, the Detroit Lions said goodbye to one of their longest-tenured defensive players, safety Tracy Walker.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are releasing Walker to free up approximately $5.5 million in salary space.
In the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, the Lions selected Walker at No. 82 overall. The 29-year-old has never played for another organization.
Walker started 43 of the Lions’ 79 games over six seasons. He recorded 398 total tackles, including 16 for loss and 7 quarterback hits. He also recorded 23 pass defenses, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Walker started six games in 2023 before going to special teams in Week 14.
The Lions dismissed Walker one day after NFL.com’s Matt Okada listed him as a likely NFC roster cut candidate.
