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The Detroit Lions entered the 2025 NFL offseason with a clear goal: build on last year’s success without overreacting to one disappointing loss. After a 15-win regular season ended with a shocking playoff defeat to the Washington Commanders, head coach Dan Campbell didn’t let the sting of that early exit distract from the bigger picture.
“You go right into it. You don’t have time to really digest all those things — the last game,” Campbell said during the annual league meetings. “What I do know is that you have to be careful. If you say, if you come out of it and say, ‘Man, what’s wrong? What’s wrong with us?’ We did it right. We had 15 wins. End of season.
“We played bad at the wrong time. Careful tweaking things, what you got is good enough. We just got to play better in that moment. But it also means we can’t stay the same. We all know that. That’s not good for anybody.”
A Disciplined Approach
Detroit stayed away from major trades or splashy signings, choosing instead to focus on keeping their core players. The team re-signed key contributors like defensive end Marcus Davenport, linebacker Derrick Barnes, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, and wide receiver Tim Patrick.
The biggest outside move was signing cornerback D.J. Reed from the New York Jets to a three-year, $48 million deal, replacing Carlton Davis III, who signed with the New England Patriots.
Other than that, the Lions are mostly running it back with the same group that won 15 games in 2024. They believe the foundation is strong and the pieces are already in place to compete for a Super Bowl.
“Look, I’m more than happy with how free agency went and I say more than happy because we were able to get guys that we really wanted to get,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes also said during the annual league meetings. “That’s always the case. Like, we don’t compromise and get a prospect that we’re warm on, so happy with that. But more than happy because we actually were able to do more than what I thought we were actually gonna be able to do heading into it.”
Budgeting for the Future
Holmes said the team couldn’t afford to spend big this offseason with major contract decisions looming. All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph and star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson are in line for extensions, and the team plans to pick up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Jameson Williams.
“You have financial responsibilities. You’ve a mortgage, or your kid’s college fund, your 529, your insurance you have to pay. You know you have to pay those things, but that might require you can’t take the vacation you really want right now, this summer. So, that’s kind of where we are right now,” Holmes said, “is that we have so many of these young players that have been on rookie deals. And we’ve been kind of enjoying that impact that they’ve all been bringing but now a bill is coming and what you spend this year, it’s gonna impact next year and it even impacts 2027. “So, that’s the discipline that we have to adhere to.”
Keeping the Core Together
Campbell and Holmes have worked closely this offseason, agreeing on which players to re-sign and which positions to target. With most big moves already made, any future additions will likely be for depth and competition.
Instead, the Lions will look to the NFL Draft, where they hold the 28th overall pick in the first round. Under this regime, the team has prioritized re-signing homegrown talent and building long-term continuity.
“Look, there’s a reason why we draft the guys that we do. It’s because they fit us. The hardest thing about free agency is not knowing guys. You don’t have a history with them,” Campbell said. “You don’t know how they are when they have an injury or how it pertains to practicing, what they’re like after losses, what they’re like after wins, what they’re like when they do something wrong and you get after them. All these things.
“But your guys that you pick and drafted for a reason, you’re with them three, four, five (years). That’s huge. That’s huge,” he said. “So absolutely we’re going to sign those guys back. They’re us. They’re our guys, and so I think if anything, it just helps you see the future.”
Health Will Be Key
Injuries played a major role in derailing Detroit’s postseason hopes last year. By December, the Lions had a league-high 21 players on injured reserve, including 16 on defense — the most in the NFL.
As the team moves forward, they’re evaluating how to better manage health and recovery throughout the season.
“We’re looking at all that stuff. The training staff. Do we need to dial back practices at different times later in the season?” said Lions president and CEO Rod Wood. “I’m really pushing (NFL VP of Broadcast Planning) Mike North to give us a mid-season bye this year so that we don’t have to play 14 games in a row without a break. So, there’s all those kind of things that we’re looking at.”
The Lions aren’t chasing headlines this offseason — they’re sticking with what works. And with a healthy roster and a focus on development, Detroit believes 2025 could be the year it all comes together.
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This report used information from ESPN.
