Ranking the Detroit Lions 2026 free agent signings: 17-10

For the most part, over the last month, there’s been plenty of outspoken disappointment and second-guessing surrounding the Detroit Lions’ less-than-splashy free agent approach. Their $50.8M in total contract value ranks 27th league-wide—still more than four playoff teams (Eagles, Packers, Broncos, Jaguars). Notably, only three of the 14 playoff teams from 2025 ranked in the top 14 in spending, with just those three eclipsing $100M. Several successful franchises have taken similarly calculated approaches, even as their fan bases grow impatient.

With the draft less than a week away, this felt like the right time to recap the Lions’ free agent class. More importantly, this exercise reinforces that the front office has insulated the depth chart with viable options, ensuring their hands aren’t tied heading into the draft. They may still have a tendency to address the offensive line—especially with only two top-100 picks and the premium nature of tackle—but the board is open for general manager Brad Holmes to lean into a true best player available approach.

That flexibility is largely thanks to one of the more calculated, cost-effective free agent classes in the league. This group features several players still carving out their roles at the NFL level, with their best football potentially ahead of them. These rankings blend projected role, current ability, future upside, contract value, and a layer of intangible impact.

In this article I’ll rank signings 17-10. The top nine are coming shortly.

No. 17 — Running back Isiah Pacheco | Age 26.1 | $1.81M / 1 year ($1.81M guaranteed)

Isiah Pacheco is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons in Kansas City. Yet he has still somehow landed as the primary backup to Jahmyr Gibbs, received the Lions’ only fully guaranteed deal this offseason, and ranks as the NFL’s 44th-highest paid running back.

The concern is that his recent on-field production hasn’t supported that investment. Over the past two seasons, Pacheco has ranked near the bottom of the league in yards after contact per rush, EPA per rush, and explosive run rate. In 2025, he also finished bottom-five in rushing yards over expected and avoided tackle rate—metrics that point to diminished efficiency and limited playmaking ability.

That’s not exactly the desired skillset to take on a reduced version of the David Montgomery role. The signing feels somewhat like a case of the Lions’ brass being a bit blinded by the player as a person rather than the recent play on the field.

Pacheco has now put together two injury-riddled, underwhelming seasons and is trending toward becoming a depreciating asset at the NFL’s most fragile position—where, more often than not, decline doesn’t reverse course. It’s fair to question whether he can recapture earlier form, especially given long-standing concerns with his vision—at times resembling worse than D’Andre Swift—and a lack of any dynamism.

Even in a situational role, where he may offer some value in short-yardage and pass protection, the usage risks becoming predictable for opposing defenses. Outside of that, there’s limited recent evidence to suggest his other touches will inspire much confidence.

Perhaps the plan is for Sione Vaki to take on a larger role when healthy, or to use a draft asset on a weak running back class. Regardless, for the time being, Pacheco appears to be the most underwhelming expected contributor on what should again be a top-five offense.

No. 16 — Wide receiver Tom Kennedy | Age 29.7 | $1.235M / 1 year ($0.02M guaranteed)

Tom Kennedy, the immortal and inevitable long-tenured Gollum of the roster, earns yet another “precious” training camp opportunity to battle for a coveted spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster and continue proving his value for potential late-season call-ups.

Everyone’s favorite “lax bro” had his career-defining moment last season with three kick returns for 120 yards and a punt return for 21 yards in primetime against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the size disadvantage, Kennedy continues to find ways to hang around—especially through added special teams value.

He remains one of those players who thrives in August competition, looking impressive on air and in 7-on-7s, consistently finding ways to push for WR5 consideration while keeping pressure on the younger fringe players in the receiver room.

No. 15 — Linebacker Trevor Nowaske | Age 27.4 | $1.35M / 1 year ($0.55M guaranteed)

Trevor Nowaske is a trusted depth piece for the Lions’ staff as the last linebacker on the roster. He can function in a stand-up role and, more importantly, serve as the primary backup to Derrick Barnes at SAM linebacker, aligning on the line of scrimmage in five-down fronts.

Nowaske brings maximum effort and is a standout contributor across all phases of special teams. This is a well-earned deal—credit to him for turning that role into a signing bonus and guaranteed money.

No. 14 — Tightend Tyler Conklin | Age 30.7 | $1.3M / 1 year ($0 guaranteed)

Tyler Conklin represents another gray beard addition during an offseason that largely focused on an infusion of youth with external signings. Like the next player on this list, Chuck Clark, both were Day 3 selections in the NFL Draft and now enter their eighth or ninth seasons on their fourth teams, looking to carve out a meaningful late-career role in their 30s.

Conklin is about as steady and affordable as it gets at the position. He has missed just six games across 133 in his career (four of those coming last season). From 2021-24, he recorded at least 51 receptions and 449 receiving yards each year, offering a reliable baseline of production.

He brings much-needed competence to the TE3 role—a spot the Detroit Lions lacked last season, particularly when injuries hit Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Beyond the receiving element, Conklin provides dependable blocking in both the run game and pass protection, rounding out his value as a complete depth option.

One thing to monitor entering the draft: all three Lions tight ends are currently set to be free agents after the season, with two coming off injuries. In a notably deep tight end class, that could position Detroit to invest in a younger option even if it’s later on.

No. 13 — Safety Chuck Clark | Age 30.9 | N/A

Chuck Clark gives the Lions another veteran presence in the secondary. A former sixth-round pick who has carved out an nine-year NFL career, Clark was a leader and defensive signal-caller (green dot) on several strong Baltimore Ravens defenses in the early 2020s, and more recently stepped in for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Clark’s value lies in his versatility and reliability. He can align at free safety, play in the box, rotate into the slot (and come in hot on a blitz), or even take snaps near the line of scrimmage. More importantly, he brings a steady, experienced presence across the meeting room and practice field—while offering true “break glass in case of emergency” utility on Sundays. His résumé backs that up: 100+ career games, 80+ starts, over 5,000 defensive snaps, and more than 1,000 special teams snaps.

The additions of Christian Izien, Roger McCreary, and Clark—along with the returns of Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox—give the Detroit Lions legitimate depth across the secondary. They can comfortably go 11-deep without forcing an early draft pick if the board doesn’t align, while still leaving room to inject younger talent.

It’s another example of Brad Holmes positioning the roster to lean into a true best-player-available approach in the draft, regardless of what outside noise suggests.

No. 12 — Defensive end Payton Turner | Age 27.2 | $1.145M ($0 guaranteed)

Payton Turner is a player I thought the Lions might target last offseason as a roll-of-the-dice addition, and they finally take a low-lift chance here. While his biggest issue has been availability, his deal is for the veteran minimum with no guarantees—making it a low-risk flier on a rare physical talent.

Turner remains a prototypical traits bet: a freakish athlete who is still relatively young and has flashed in limited NFL snaps. That profile alone makes him worth a look in a 90-man roster setting, where he can compete with Ahmed Hassanein and Tyler Lacy for one of the final edge spots on the 53-man roster. Worst-case scenario, he isn’t on the team come September and costs the Lions essentially nothing.

On paper—and especially on his athletic profile—Turner fits cleanly into the Lions’ defensive structure as a rotational piece opposite Aidan Hutchinson. If he can provide even 10–20 quality snaps per game, this signing pays off. He’s an imposing, high-end athlete who flashed legitimate pass-rush ability during a stretch in 2024, particularly in matchups against the Atlanta Falcons.

No. 11 — Defensive end DJ Wonnum | Age 28.4 | $3.00M / 1 year ($2.27M guaranteed)

DJ Wonnum may not have been the most inspiring solution at edge defender, especially compared to younger, similarly priced options with higher ceilings and potential compensatory value down the line. That said, the Lions still deserve some credit here. Wonnum is an experienced, capable edge who brings stability at a relatively modest cost, ranking as just the 20th-highest paid free agent edge rusher this offseason.

He also carries some prior market validation, as he’s still the player that landed a multi-year deal from the Carolina Panthers two offseasons ago with an average annual value north of $6M.

Wonnum projects as a functional piece rather than a featured one. He can handle early-down snaps, provide some pocket push on passing downs, and has generally been durable outside of some abnormal ailments in 2024—making him a more reliable version of Marcus Davenport for this defense.

However, you get what you pay for. While Wonnum fits the scheme, he isn’t likely to be a true impact player who shifts the equation up front. The Lions will still need to take swings in the draft to find that difference-maker opposite Aidan Hutchinson and elevate a still-thin edge room.

No. 10 — Linebacker Damone Clark | Age 25.7 | $1.40M / 1 year ($0.75M guaranteed)

Damone Clark’s early NFL career was disrupted by a combination of spinal fusion surgery and unstable defensive environments with the Dallas Cowboys. He dealt with inconsistent defensive line play in front of him and played under multiple coordinators, including Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus, during a stretch that lacked continuity.

Now, Kelvin Sheppard becomes his sixth defensive coordinator in six seasons (including college), but there’s a layer of familiarity here—Sheppard was on staff at LSU when Clark served as a team captain, offering at least some level of continuity as he looks to stabilize his career trajectory.

Clark has still managed to flash stretches of solid play, particularly in 2023 under Dan Quinn. He enters his age-26 season as an extremely athletic linebacker with an ideal character profile and quietly strong durability, having remained available over the past three seasons.

He’ll provide legitimate competition for Malcolm Rodriguez—and potentially a rookie—for the WILL linebacker role. At minimum, Clark offers competent depth with starting experience and special teams value. Like many of the Lions’ one-year, second-contract additions this offseason, he represents a low-cost, upside swing.

Read the full article here