Roundtable: Best-Case Scenarios for Detroit Lions' 2026 Free Agency

Allen Park, Mich.—With the 2026 league year set to open, the Detroit Lions face a pivotal stretch that could determine whether they remain in the NFC’s championship tier or slide toward the pack. Members of the Detroit Lions on SI staff convened to map out what a best-case free-agency period would look like, and every scenario begins with the same mandate: create cap space, then spend it wisely on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Christian Booher, who covers the team daily, opened with a blunt assessment. “The Lions need to find a starter for both the offensive and defensive line for it to be a successful free agency,” he said. “It starts with restructuring contracts to give them the opportunity to do that.” Booher pointed to the recent uncertainty surrounding veteran tackle Taylor Decker as the catalyst for urgency up front.

The dream addition, according to Booher, would be Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum, whom he ranks as the Lions’ top realistic target. “If they could pair Linderbaum with their existing interior pieces, the offensive line would go from question mark to exclamation point overnight,” he argued. On defense, Booher floated Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson as the swing-for-the-fences signing, acknowledging the odds remain long. “One of those two would be a very nice addition,” he conceded.

Vito Chirco, a five-year NFL beat veteran, offered a more conservative but equally specific checklist: restructure quarterback Jared Goff’s deal, plug the center and edge-rush vacancies, and secure running back Jahmyr Gibbs on a long-term extension before his price climbs. “If Brad Holmes accomplishes those three things, it’s a productive free-agency period,” Chirco said. “It also sets up the draft so you’re not reaching for need in April.”

Both writers cautioned against splurging on big-name misfits. Booher singled out Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker as an ill-fitting luxury. “He doesn’t fill an immediate need and isn’t a schematic fit,” Booher noted, adding that resources would be better allocated to defensive end or off-ball linebacker depth. Chirco advised avoiding former Jets tackle Mekhi Becton, whose 35.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 ranked third-worst among 81 qualified interior linemen. “Steer clear of the soon-to-be 27-year-old,” he warned.

The conversation pivoted to the one that got away: Las Vegas pass rusher Maxx Crosby, traded to Baltimore for a package including a 2026 first-round pick. “It’s a bummer for Lions fans who begged Holmes to make that move,” Booher said. “Detroit had the chance to create one of the NFL’s best pass-rush tandems.” Chirco echoed the disappointment, labeling Holmes’ reluctance to part with premium draft capital “another sign of a conservative approach that could leave the roster a step short.”

As for Hendrickson, both writers put the likelihood of a Detroit landing at “slim to none.” Booher cited Holmes’ historical preference for mid-tier bargains over headline splashes and noted Hendrickson’s 2025 injury history. Chirco predicted the front office will instead chase a second-tier edge such as Seattle’s Boye Mafe, a profile that has “Brad Holmes written all over it.”

The roundtable closed with a warning about the broader NFC arms race. The Rams, fresh off acquiring Trent McDuffie, remain aggressive under GM Les Snead. “Detroit needs a strong free-agent cycle or else it risks falling out of contention,” Booher said. Chirco went further, urging Holmes to consider parting with valuable draft capital if it means returning to the Super Bowl conversation. “Whatever it takes,” he said, “even if it breaks character.”

For the Lions, the best-case scenario is clear: restructure now, sign at least one difference-maker in the trenches, extend Gibbs, and avoid the expensive mistakes that have derailed other cap-strapped franchises. The clock is ticking, and the rest of the conference isn’t waiting.

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