4 potential June 1st cuts the Lions could add to their roster as early as Tuesday who can make a difference
Detroit Lions could be active as early as Tuesday after June 1st cuts open the door to veteran additions, with a Super Bowl standout among potential impact options and multiple teams clearing over $12M in cap space.
Today is June 1st. In the NFL, that is a big day because this is the time of year when teams can save a ton of money on post–June 1st cuts. That means a bunch of veteran players are likely to become available to the Detroit Lions.
Keep in mind that if those players are vested veterans, they are immediately free to sign wherever they want. If they’re not, they are subject to waivers, and the Lions will have to put in a claim. The latter isn’t super likely to happen since non-vested veterans don’t usually account for a ton of cap space.
With that in mind, here are five potential veterans who could be hitting the market and make a big difference for Detroit:
Seahawks edge Uchenna Nwosu
Nwosu had a pretty big season for Seattle last year. He put up 55 pressures and nine sacks and notably had an interception in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win. But he’s 30 years old, and the Seahawks can save nearly $12 million in cap space with a post–June 1st cut. In Detroit, Nwosu could immediately jump in and rotate into the Sam linebacker role and can rotate with D.J. Wonnum and Derrick Moore opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Jets DT Mazi Smith
The Lions aren’t getting a starter out of the former Michigan Wolverine and first-round pick, but what they do get is something they need right now: some extra depth on the interior of their defensive line. Smith fits well in the rotation as a run stuffer and space eater.
Colts DT Grover Stewart
The Colts could save $12 million by letting Stewart go. He may not be a viable starter anymore at 33, but that’s OK. That’s not what the Lions need. They need someone who can rotate and be a run stuffer and nose tackle. That’s exactly what Stewart can bring to Detroit in short order. He’s the potential missing piece this interior defensive line really needs.
Raiders S Isaiah Pola-Mao
I’m not totally sold on the idea that the Lions desperately need to go find some safety help with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch’s statuses up in the air right now. I think Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, Christian Izien, and Avonte Maddox are a really good group. With that said, Pola-Mao is an interesting addition because he’s a strong run defender, and the Lions are heavily invested in stopping the run right now.
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