We talk an awful lot about what the Detroit Lions could do, should do, and shouldn’t do. We don’t often talk a lot about what they just probably won’t do. Today, we’ve got five things that we feel very comfortable about saying the Lions won’t do. Let’s talk about them and also talk about why.

Sign Tyler Linderbaum

There is no doubt that the Lions need a center. They need it more than anything this offseason. There is no better center on the board than Linderbaum. The problem is he’s not really on the board and will probably never make it to the board.

The confusing thing is that the Ravens didn’t pick up his fifth-year option, and from the outside, that looks like the team is not going to bring him back. In reality, it’s the Ravens doing some cap gymnastics. They don’t want to pick up that option because offenisve line options are the same for every position. So you’ve got a center with a left tackle cap hit in 2026 if they went with it.

So instead of paying that, you just make him the highest-paid center in the league before free agency starts, and that’s that. Make it up to him on the contract. The Lions might want him, but they’ll probably never have a shot unless there’s some sort of falling out with the Ravens in the negotiations.

Trade for Maxx Crosby

If the Raiders want a Micah Parsons-like haul, the Lions should be the last team to give it to them. Not only would they sell their future drafts down the river, but they would also take on a contract that’s going to make life hard for them in the next few years.

You can restructure the deal in 2026, but then you’re handcuffing yourself to the idea that you have to extend him in 2027 just to spread out the cap even more. It’s a constant kicking of the can down the road for a player who’s going to be 29-years-old before he plays his first down in Detroit.

Look, if the Lions somehow pull this off without the crazy Parsons haul thing and they just take the hit in 2026, it makes sense. But I don’t think the Raiders are even thinking about trading him and I don’t think the Lions would be the team to trade for him.

Extend Sam Laporta and Brian Branch

The Lions have been good about getting their guys paid, but with both LaPorta and Branch’s status for 2026 up in the air, the Lions would be wise to push off their extensions for one more year. I’m fully ready to be wrong about this one, but with money kind of tight, it just makes sense to push this one off.

Restructure Alim McNeill’s contract

The Lions could do a restructuring with McNeill’s deal and open $17 million, but then the Lions don’t have an out until 2028. The thought process here is that the Lions need to find out if McNeill is the guy he was before the ACL tear or if he’s the guy he was once he came back. He struggled in 2025. It’s fair to give him another year to see if he can get back on track. Don’t make a move with him till you know the answer.

Use the franchise tag

Pretty simple. The Lions haven’t used it since 2018, when they franchise-tagged Ezekiel Ansah. They’re not going to use it this year because there really isn’t a player worth using it on.

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