As the salary cap becomes tighter and tighter, there are fewer opportunities for the Detroit Lions to splurge in free agency. The Lions will certainly make free agent signings, but they are not expected to compete with the big ticket players that will garner league-altering deals. That being said, that does not mean that the Lions will be afraid to spend to address a need or two.
The lone “splash” signing made by Detroit in 2025 was cornerback D.J. Reed, coming in with a three-year deal worth $48 million. The first year of that deal left a lot to be desired, both in terms of injuries and play. It was hard to fault the Lions for making that move, as a cornerback was a glaring need across from Terrion Arnold. Will a deal like that leave a sour taste in the mouth of general manager Brad Holmes?
The Lions have multiple needs entering the offseason. Some of these will be filled by internal re-signings, while others will come from the draft. However, someone has go down as the Lions’ biggest free agent contract—at which position could that be?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Which position will be the Detroit Lions’ most expensive free agent signing?
My answer: Center.
In my mind, there are seven starting positions up for grabs entering the offseason, though that number could certainly fluctuate with potential retirements and roster cuts on the horizon. Of those seven, I think that offensive tackle and defensive end will not be positions that Detroit breaks the bank on.
If Taylor Decker returns for 2026, that temporary solves the tackle problem, but a rookie tackle could still be in the cards for Detroit—not only as a way to solidify the depth chart after no signs of progress from Giovanni Manu, but also as a way to bring in a starting-caliber player on a cheap deal. As for defensive end, starters are coveted on the free agent market, so barring an overspend on a guy like Al-Quadin Muhammad, I doubt that an edge emerges as the Lions’ top free agent signing—they simply do not have the cap space to spurge.
A strong contender for the Lions’ most expensive signing could very well be at cornerback, and that cornerback could very well be Amik Robertson. The fit and interest are certainly there, but how much would outside teams be willing to spend on a corner that struggled in 2025? The Lions may emerge as Robertson’s best free agent destination, which could shrink the cost if other interest fails to materialize. Even then, I’m not sure any team would be willing to pay him over $10 million per season.
I think the Lions would be wise to invest at center in free agency. Graham Glasgow was unfortunately a disappointment in what could be his final year in Detroit. Although Tate Ratledge could transition to center, would the Lions truly feel comfortable handing the reins to him? Detroit can ill-afford to waste another season with subpar center play, and banking on Ratledge to be that guy—a guy with no college or professional experience at the position—would be a big question mark.
Signing a veteran seems like the best course of action to right the ship. As we learned between 2024 and 2025, having a capable center is crucial for an offensive line to succeed. Not only is it a bad year for center prospects, but I think that center is a position where the Lions need experience over raw talent. Two names to keep an eye on are Connor McGovern (Buffalo Bills) and Cade Mays (Carolina Panthers). Spotrac has their projected average annual value (AAV) at $16.2 million and $12.2 million, respectively, though looking at the center salary leaderboard, that might be a bit high for two centers not considered elite. Detroit could afford to pay a center north of $10 million per year, and I wager they could find an extra few million if a bidding war dictated it—for such an important position to their offense, the Lions cannot afford to pinch pennies.
The contract that Tyler Linderbaum receives this offseason, whether from the Baltimore Ravens or another team, will undoubtedly cause a trickle down effect for centers like McGovern or Mays. If Linderbaum resets the center market, not only will the price for starting centers go up, but the teams that missed out on him will be looking at the next-best options. I do not expect the Lions to be in on Linderbaum, but I expect them to keep an eye on his decision—and perhaps make a move before he inks his new deal.
At which position will the Lions spend the most in free agency? Let us know in the comments below.