Detroit Lions Free Agency 2026: Breaking Down the Team’s Biggest Upgrades
The Detroit Lions didn't make a splash in free agency — they made something more dangerous. Quiet upgrades, smarter depth, and a roster built to last. While others chased headlines, Detroit may have built a contender.
Video Transcript
What is going on, everybody?
Adam here.
Ah, beautiful day on the golf course.
First day of spring.
Great weather in Michigan.
Hopefully more to come.
But let's talk some Lions.
Detroit, we've been making plenty of moves.
In fact, we just made another one.
We signed a former Cowboys defensive lineman, Peyton Turner.
Also played for the Saints, also was a former first-round pick in twenty twenty-one.
Very injury-prone, though, so we will see how it works out if he even makes the squad, but there'll be an article coming soon about him.
But I'm here to talk about the upgrades.
Where did we upgrade at?
We've made a lot of moves.
Number one, I'm gonna go Cade Mays.
I think that's clear-cut.
Everyone can agree on that.
Don't really need to talk a whole lot about it.
Cade Mays, you can't get worse than Graham Glasgow last year.
You just simply can't.
He was awful.
He ranked thirty-third in run blocking, thirty-fifth in overall PFF grade.
Cade Mays, near the top twenties in those grades.
respectfully a lot better, younger, eight years younger as well.
He can get some development in as, with Hank Fraley, which is huge.
another guy I think we upgraded that a lot of people are divided on is DJ Wonnum.
We let Al-Qadin Muhammad walk to the, to the Tampa Bay Bucs for a guy named DJ Wonnum, and it seems like Brad Holmes wants a more complete player, a player that could get, a better run-stopping type player.
Wonnum has had eight sacks in two seasons.
Very similar upside to what AQM brings.
AQM, I know he had eleven and a half sacks this last season, but it could very well be a one-season wonder where that's just not who he is.
He's only had f- four or more sacks in one season out of his prior seven before last year.
like I mentioned, Wonnum has had eight sack, two eight-sack seasons over six years, so I like it.
I like it.
And then finally, this one's an interesting one, but Teddy Bridgewater, although Bridgewater probably won't see the field this year because Jared Goff has been an absolute iron man, hasn't missed a game in four years, has only missed three games while playing for the Detroit Lions, Teddy Bridgewater brings a locker room presence.
He is a veteran, a motivator.
He, he's good friends with JMo.
Everyone knows he was his mentor.
JMo was thrilled about him coming back, and despite, you know, maybe not as a, not a better upgrade than Kyle Allen, maybe a smidge, but I think the locker room presence and knowing that our backup quarterback probably won't play a whole lot this season, knock on wood, that we should go out and get a guy that's better fit for the locker room, better, you know, acquainted with the players, knows everyone.
And I'm not saying Kyle Allen doesn't, but Bridgewater, I absolutely love it.
