Detroit trades back in Round 1 and gets one of the draft's top pass rushers while finding an offensive tackle in Round 2.

We’re getting closer to NFL free agency opening, and over the next few weeks, you’ll see the Detroit Lions begin to bring back some of their own players on new contracts. With that in mind, we’ll be profiling multiple Lions and discussing whether they’ll be coming back.

Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions did not live up to expectations in the 2025 NFL season, as they missed the playoffs just one season after earning the No. 1 s

In Detroit, everything starts in the trenches. The Lions’ climb to contender status has been powered by brute force up front — and early 2026 NFL Draft projections suggest Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell aren’t done building a bully on the line of scrimmage.

Here are four Lions entering critical offseasons ahead of the 2026 campaign. The Lions traded up in the first-round of the 2024 draft to snag Arnold, who was viewed as one of the best shutdown corners in that year's class. However, his production hasn't quite translated, and injuries have hindered some of his production.