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Two Free Agents the Lions Should Consider Signing Before the 2026 NFL Season
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- Two Free Agents the Lions Should Consider Signing Before the 2026 NFL Season
The Detroit Lions weren't the most active team in NFL free agency earlier this offseason, but general manager Brad Holmes was still able to make some solid signings , including center Cade Mays , running back Isiah Pacheco , and edge rusher D.J. Wonnum .
Mays will serve as Detroit's starting center, while Pacheco will provide quality depth behind Jahmyr Gibbs . Wonnum could also earn a starting spot as the No. 2 edge rusher, but he'll compete for the role with rookie Derrick Moore .
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Despite inking a plethora of deals with free agents over the last few months, the Lions still have $14.7 million in cap space entering training camp. It would be wise for Holmes to take a look at the market one last time and consider adding more talent to a roster that has Super Bowl aspirations in 2026.
Lions Remaining Free Agent Targets
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Lattimore was cut by the Washington Commanders in March and has yet to find a new home. The veteran corner appeared in nine games last season, tallying an interception and seven passes defended before tearing his ACL and missing the rest of the year .
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Certainly, the weight of Terrion Arnold and his arrest for multiple counts of kidnapping and armed robbery is heavy, and Lattimore's arrest in January on a weapons charge might cause some hesitation on the part of the Lions.
In the games he played in 2025, Lattimore struggled with penalties and didn't look like the elite shutdown corner he once was with the New Orleans Saints . However, the 30-year-old also allowed just a 54.5% completion rate on 33 targets , so all may not be lost for Lattimore.
The team will have a new No. 2 corner on the boundary opposite D.J. Reed , that's for sure. Rock Ya-Sin , rookie Keith Abney II, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. are expected to compete for that role, but why not take a flier on Lattimore and see if the four-time Pro Bowler can win the job in camp?
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Lattimore and head coach Dan Campbell spent four years together with the New Orleans Saints , as Campbell was the assistant head coach under Sean Payton from 2017 to 2020, which happened to be Lattimore's best professional seasons.
Due to his recent injury and arrest at the beginning of the calendar year, the Lions could avoid Lattimore, but with the cornerback room in an uncertain state outside of Reed, it wouldn't hurt to sign the former Saints first-round pick to a cheap deal and add more competition to the position group.
EDGE Von Miller
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Jul 24, 2025; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders outside linebacker Von Miller (24) speaks with the media after practice on day two of training camp at OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesImagn Images
Edge rusher is also a position with a lot of questions for the Lions. Aidan Hutchinson will return as the top pass rusher, but behind him are Wonnum and rookie Derrick Moore.
Wonnum and Moore are currently slated to battle for the No. 2 edge spot in camp , but even if one of them emerges as a productive force opposite Hutchinson, Detroit needs to have a dynamic arsenal of pass rushers to compete for a Super Bowl.
Miller is past his prime, but the future Hall of Famer is coming off a nine-sack season with the Commanders in 2025 and still has plenty left in the tank. The Lions could sign Miller to a team-friendly contract to play a rotational role on the defensive line and provide valuable playoff experience.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
