With the NFL offseason almost wrapped up and training camp coming to a close soon, it’s a good time to take a look at each NFL team’s offseason recap as we get just a few weeks away from the start of the regular season. Let’s take a look at the Detroit Lions’ new team and analyze the team’s incoming and outgoing players as they shape up for the 2026 season.
After a few successful years in the Dan Campbell era, the Detroit Lions had a bit of a down year in 2025, going 9-8, which saw them finish last in the NFC North after winning the division title in each of the previous two seasons. The Lions already have an established young core which has proven that they can win games and compete in the playoffs, so the offseason was mainly focused on retooling their defensive unit and improving the offensive line.
The Lions made a number of new moves defensively, with one of the biggest new additions being signing D.J. Wonnum to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million. Wonnum recorded three sacks and 42 total tackles in 16 games with the Panthers last season, and although his best career years were early on during his tenure in Minnesota, the Lions will be hoping Wonnum can have a strong resurgence in Detroit and pair well alongside Aidan Hutchinson on the edge.
The Lions also bolstered their secondary unit, signing defensive backs Roger McCreary, Chuck Clark and Christian Izien all to one-year deals. On the offensive side, the Lions signed former Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal to complement Jahmyr Gibbs after the departure of David Montgomery in free agency. However, Pacheco is currently on IR with a back injury and is now expected to miss at least until December after undergoing back surgery. Detroit also acquired center Juice Scruggs in the Montgomery trade, and Scruggs figures to be the Lions’ starting center for the rest of the season.
As mentioned earlier, Montgomery was traded to Houston for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Montgomery formed a lethal one-two punch with Gibbs and will be missed, especially considering Pacheco being out indefinitely.
The Lions also lost key defensive pieces such as Alex Anzalone, D.J. Reader and Terrion Arnold over the offseason. Anzalone had been one of the main leaders of the Lions’ defense for the past five seasons. He signed with the Buccaneers in free agency and now allows linebacker Jack Campbell, who had a great 2025 campaign, to lead the Lions’ defense. D.J. Reader also signed with the Giants after two seasons in Detroit. The Lions also released former 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold after his arrest on eight felony charges.
Lastly, the Lions lost a few longtime veterans within their offensive line in Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow. Decker had been the Lions’ starting tackle for the last 10 years after being drafted to Detroit in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Glasgow was also in the same 2016 draft class as Decker and was selected by Detroit in the third round, which makes two decade-long offensive line departures for the Lions.
The Lions had seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft and used their first-round pick to select Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller to help fill the gap left by Decker. Miller was in a starting battle with Larry Borom for the right tackle spot before ultimately winning the job and starting at right tackle for the Lions in Week 1 versus the Saints.
The Lions also selected two Michigan defenders in the second and fourth rounds in edge Derrick Moore as well as linebacker Jimmy Rolder. Moore gives Detroit another explosive pass rusher who can rotate in with Hutchinson and Wonnum. He recorded a career-high 10 sacks at Michigan in 2025. Rolder adds some depth to the talented Lions linebacker room, which already includes Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez.
The Lions’ offseason focused on reshaping the roster slightly after the departures of veterans such as Montgomery, Decker, Anzalone and Glasgow, but they were able to retain their most important young stars and added some considerable depth through free agency and the draft.
Their offense should be in good shape to create some problems for opposing defenses. Jahmyr Gibbs, who is entering his prime after a phenomenal season with Detroit in 2025, will be the lead back and could put up some whopping all-purpose yards this season. Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown have been a terrific duo together and all signs point to their connection and numbers being just as good in 2026. Although the Lions’ offense is shaping up very well, the only thing to keep an eye out for is the new additions of Blake Miller and Juice Scruggs, who are replacing longtime starters in Decker and Glasgow. Miller is now starting at right tackle, while Penei Sewell has moved to left tackle.
The Lions’ defense made some significant changes over the offseason, but they were able to bring in Wonnum and second-round pick Derrick Moore to help out Hutchinson on the edge. While the Lions have plenty of depth at linebacker, their new secondary unit could be cause for concern. Although the Lions did win their Week 1 matchup against the Saints, quarterback Tyler Shough did throw for 410 yards and three touchdowns as well as two picks. Allowing 410 yards to a young starter in Shough doesn’t exactly inspire optimism for the Lions’ secondary, but there’s potential for their unit to improve as the year continues.
The Lions are in a good position to get back to their winning ways of 2023 and 2024, and will likely be one of the top offensive teams in the league led by Goff, Gibbs and St. Brown. The Lions should be expected to be playoff contenders in the NFC, but the quality of performances from their secondary unit and pass-rushing group will truly determine how dangerous the Lions will be this season.
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