Detroit Lions 2024 offseason FAQ: Cap space and NFL free agency potential targets
The Detroit Lions have their eyes on the ultimate prize in the 2024 season after getting a taste of playoff success this season.
The Lions came excruciatingly short of reaching their first Super Bowl ever, crumbling in the second half vs. the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game, and will now spend the next eight months figuring a way to return to that point and get over the hump, before next season kicks off in September.
The Lions had one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2023. They won a franchise-record 14 games, which included back-to-back playoff victories for the first time since 1957, won the division for the first time since 1993 and advanced in the postseason for the first time since 1991. Despite the success, pain is going to linger for coaches and players because of the final chapter.
The magic of the 2023 season will be hard to replicate, but the outlook remains bright for the foreseeable future. They have a coach and GM duo in Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes they trust and a roster full of young talent from Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta on offense to Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch defensively — all players drafted under the three-year regime. Most of their key players from this season are under contract next year, including six of the seven players who received Pro Bowl honors this season, plus quarterback Jared Goff, who is expected to sign an extension in the offseason.
The first offseason domino to drop was welcome news: offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pulled his name out of the running for head coaching jobs with Washington and Seattle to try to win a Super Bowl in Detroit.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is still scheduled to interview with Washington for the vacancy, however. If Glenn is retained, however, the main parts of the coaching staff will be the same for the third straight season.
I'M NOT LEAVING: Ben Johnson makes Lions early offseason winners: 'One of the best offensive minds'
Here's the Lions' offseason FAQ, with an eye towards cap space and NFL free agency:
When does new league year start for NFL 2024?
The new league year officially begins March 13 at 4 p.m. ET, when free agency and trading begins. Negotiations between teams and agents of pending unrestricted free agents can begin March 11 at noon, but official deals cannot be signed until two days later.
Detroit Lions 2024 free agents
NFL rosters never look the same year to year, and that will be true for the Lions, even with most of the key contributors returning. Dozens of Lions players will be free agents this offseason, including starters on both sides of the ball. Here are some of the key players whose contracts expire — find the full list. Age listed as of Dec. 1, 2024:
Safety C.J. Garnder-Johnson, 26
Defensive end Romeo Okwara, 29
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, 29
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, 28
Guard Graham Glasgow, 32
Guard Jonah Jackson, 27
Guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, 31
Tackle Dan Skipper, 30
Kicker Michael Badgley, 29
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds, 29
Outside linebacker James Houston, 26 (exclusive rights)
Cornerback Jerry Jacobs, 27 (restricted)
Cornerback Kindle Vildor, 26
Defensive tackle Benito Jones, 27 (restricted)
Detroit Lions cap space 2024
The base salary cap for the 2024 NFL season is $242 million, according to OverTheCap, and the adjusted salary cap will be $246 million according to Spotrac. The Lions currently have $183.5 million in active contracts and $1.4 million in dead money, bringing their total cash spending to $184.9 million for 2024. The Lions will have an estimated $61 million in cap space, the seventh-most in the NFL, according to Spotrac. OverTheCap projects the Lions will have $45.2 million in effective cap space, which is a projection of the team's cap space after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to the roster.
[ Lions fans: Celebrate a renaissance 2023 season with this new book from the Free Press, "From Grit to Glory." ]
Detroit Lions potential free agent targets 2024
The Lions are expected to have big paydays on the horizon for Goff and other young St. Brown, Sewell and Hutchinson in the coming years, which could lead the Lions front office to take a selective approach in free agency. Holmes last year brought in help in the secondary and at guard, retained key players like Alex Anzalone, and signed David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams.
Given the Lions' struggles defending the pass once again this season and the potential departures of Gardner-Johnson and the litany of corners who started opposite of Cam Sutton in 2023, more help in the secondary could be on the menu, as well as an interior offensive lineman. These spots could also be targeted in the draft later in April.
Here are three suggestions of players and position groups the Lions could target in free agency. This is not an indication of what the Lions will do, but rather an exercise showing some of the names available at key spots.
CB Chidobe Awuzie: Assuming the price for a top cornerback available like Jaylon Johnson will be above what the Lions will pay for, a player like Awuzie could be a potential target after being a starter on the Bengals since 2021, including their run to the Super Bowl. He was previously on a contract worth $7.25 million per season, and the Bengals have been drafting cornerbacks in recent years, which means Awuzie could be available, likely at a raise or similar rate as his previous deal. Other options at corner outside of Johnson and Awuzie include L'Jarius Sneed, who will cost a premium price, Stephon Gilmore and Kendall Fuller.
Guard Dalton Risner: The Lions will most likely be in the market for another guard this offseason if they don't retain at least two of Jackson, Glasgow and Vatai. One option could be Risner, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal after the season started and started 11 games at guard. Other options include Jacksonville's Ezra Cleveland, Baltimore's John Simpson and Seattle's Damien Lewis.
Edge rusher Leonard Floyd: He will be 32 in September, but produced 10½ sacks this season for the Bills. His projected 2024 contract is two years and $16.2 million, for an average of $8.1 million per year, according to Spotrac. Other defensive lineman the Lions could target include Grover Stewart, Calais Campbell, Javon Kinlaw, Za'Darius Smith and Jadaveon Clowney.
2024 MOCK DRAFT: Experts agree on what Lions need in 1st round
Detroit Lions draft picks 2024
The Lions will enter the 2024 draft, hosted in downtown Detroit, April 25-27, with the 29th selection in each round and have seven picks total, including two in Round 3 (thanks to the T.J. Hockenson trade).
Round 1: No. 29 overall
Round 2: No. 61 overall
Round 3: No. 73 overall (from Minnesota)
Round 3: No. 92 overall
Round 5: No. 162 overall
Round 6: No. 206 overall
Round 7: No. 246 overall
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions offseason FAQ: Cap space, NFL free agency 2024 targets
