Good evening, reporting live as we approach the climax of the 2024 NFL season: Super Bowl 59 will kick off this Sunday between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, capping off a thrilling year of football.
This year’s Super Bowl marks the end of NFL action until the preseason rolls around in August. But before that, the NFL calendar will reset come March, with free agency set to open on March 10—just 29 days after the Super Bowl. Teams will begin scouring the market, looking to strengthen their rosters ahead of the 2025 season.
The Detroit Lions, fresh off an impressive 15-2 regular season and a No. 1 seed in the NFC, will be right in the thick of things. However, it’s unclear how aggressive general manager Brad Holmes will be in approaching the offseason. Despite their strong regular-season performance, the Lions fell short in the divisional round to the Washington Commanders, ending their hopes for a deeper playoff run.
With almost all starting positions secured for the Lions in 2025, a few key spots are up for grabs. Cornerback Carlton Davis, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, and right guard Kevin Zeitler are all slated to become free agents. While the Lions have some cap space to work with, they’ll need to manage it carefully, as they also face significant contract extensions on the horizon.
As always, some of the top players in free agency will come from the Super Bowl teams themselves. The Eagles are dealing with a hefty 17 pending free agents, including notable names like All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun and defensive tackle Milton Williams. Over in Kansas City, the Chiefs have 28 players whose contracts are set to expire, including starting offensive guard Trey Smith, wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown.
The Lions still have gaps to fill, particularly along both sides of the line of scrimmage and at cornerback.
Here’s a look at some potential free agent targets from the Super Bowl teams, as per Spotrac, who could help the Lions bolster their roster:
Eagles Pending Free Agents Who Could Fit with the Lions:
- Right guard Mekhi Becton
- Guard/tackle Jack Driscoll
- Defensive tackle Milton Williams
- Defensive end Josh Sweat
- Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers
- Cornerback Avonte Maddox
(Note: Former Lion Darius Slay, currently a starting cornerback for the Eagles, has recently hinted at playing one more season, but he may not be in Philadelphia due to his contract situation, with one year remaining on his deal.)
Chiefs Pending Free Agents Who Could Fit with the Lions:
- Right guard Trey Smith
- Guard Mike Caliendo (exclusive rights restricted free agent)
- Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton
- Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi
- Defensive tackle Mike Pennel
- Defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu
- Defensive end Charles Omenihu
- Defensive end Malik Herring (restricted free agent)
- Outside linebacker Josh Uche
- Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (restricted free agent)
- Cornerback Keith Taylor (restricted free agent)
With the Super Bowl set to steal the spotlight this weekend, the offseason activity is just around the corner. Teams, including the Lions, will be watching closely to see which key players hit the market—and which will be the next to bolster their rosters ahead of the 2025 season.
