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Detroit Lions free agency news tracker: Live updates, rumors, analysis
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- Detroit Lions free agency news tracker: Live updates, rumors, analysis
Roster reconstruction is underway in the NFL for next season.
2025 NFL free agency begins on Wednesday. Teams, including the Detroit Lions , can officially bring in new players or move on from existing players when free agency begins, marking the start of the new league year. The Lions entered the week top 10 in cap space at around $50 million .
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Teams can officially begin negotiating with players from other teams on Monday, during the league's legal tampering period, but deals cannot become official until Wednesday. Teams can negotiate with their players before the start of free agency, like the Lions re-signing linebacker Derrick Barnes to a three-year contract on Friday.
ANALYSIS: Lions offseason to-do list: What should team prioritize in free agency, draft?
The Lions, entering Year 5 of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell running the team, have needs all over the defensive line , and have an opening at guard and No. 3 wide receiver.
And big names are potentially on the market, with the Bengals granting NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade , the Chargers set to cut Joey Bosa and Eagles set to cut Darius Slay .
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TRENDING: Trey Hendrickson new big name on DE trade market — and there's a Lions connection
Here are the latest updates Friday from the Lions during 2025 NFL free agency:
Lions NFL free agency updates
Lions re-sign LB Derrick Barnes to a 3-year deal
Barnes, one of GM Brad Holmes' first draft picks in 2021, re-signed on a three-year deal worth $25.5 million total, including $16 million guaranteed. Barnes missed most of the 2024 season after he tore the MCL and PCL in his right knee in Week 3.
He was a key part of the early season success on defense last season as the on-the-line linebacker in former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn 's scheme. Barnes also secured the divisional round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an interception off Baker Mayfield to advance to the 2024 NFC championship game. Barnes will remain with the Lions under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard , his old position coach at linebacker.
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Lions pending free agents
Here are all the players set to hit free agency either as unrestricted, restricted or exclusive rights. The Lions have 21 unrestricted free agents after signing Barnes:
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CB Carlton Davis .
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OG Kevin Zeitler .
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DL Levi Onwuzurike .
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DB Ifeatu Melifonwu .
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WR Tim Patrick .
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OT Dan Skipper .
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DE Marcus Davenport .
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DE John Cominsky .
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CB Khalil Dorsey .
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DE Pat O'Connor.
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DE Al-Quadin Muhammad .
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LB Ben Niemann .
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CB Kindle Vildor.
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CB Emmanuel Moseley .
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QB Teddy Bridgewater .
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K Michael Badgley .
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DT Kyle Peko .
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WR Allen Robinson .
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LB Ezekiel Turner .
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DL Jonah Williams .
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LB Kwon Alexander .
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RB Craig Reynolds .
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TE Shane Zylstra .
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OG Kayode Awosika .
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LB Anthony Pittman .
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DL Myles Adams .
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LB Trevor Nowaske .
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OG/C Michael Niese .
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DE Mitchell Agude .
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OT Connor Galvin .
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S Morice Norris.
Stay tuned for the best Lions coverage all year long at freep.com/sports/lions .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions rumors and free agent tracker: Live updates, news, analysis
