Best remaining players for the Lions after two weeks of free agency

After two weeks of free agency, there are still some good players the Lions could grab at positions of need like edge eusher, safety and defensive tackle

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Two weeks of free agency are down for the Detroit Lions, and it’s not over yet. Technically, it never really ends, right?

There are still some really good players left on the market for the Lions and even some guys who can start at positions of need. Here are the best remaining players for Detroit:

Note: Some of these are excerpts from previous articles about the best remaining free agents

Edge Rusher

Cameron Jordan

This one just makes too much sense. Jordan is finally about to leave New Orleans, and the best place for him to go, in my opinion, is Detroit. A defense that knows how to use him and is built based on Dennis Allen’s defense in New Orleans. The Lions could do a one-year deal, and Jordan can put up numbers as he did in 2025, while also being a guiding light for the rookie edge the Lions are expected to draft.

Jadeveon Clowney

He’s become a gun for hire in the last decade, playing for seven different teams since he was the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He’s still playing really well at every stop. Last season in Dallas, he had 40 pressures and nine sacks for the Cowboys. He’s a perfect candidate for a one-year deal.

Joey Bosa

In my opinion, I don’t like the fit here. But to bring up Reisman again, he believes Bosa is one of the best fits for the Lions. He had 54 pressures and 3.5 sacks last year. He can be had on a one-year deal worth $11.5 million.

Von Miller

Miller is 37 years old, but he had a strong season in 2025 with 36 pressures and 10 sacks. A stronger run defender than Martin, but also seven years older. He can be had on a one-year deal worth $10 million.

Safety

Ifeatu Melifonwu

How about a reunion for the Lions and Iffey? He can be a solid depth piece for the Lions at this point, and if the Lions want to bring back that safety blitz, Melifonwu can still very much provide that for Detroit.

Other safeties to watch

  • Xavier Woods
  • Rayshawn Jenkins

Interior Defensive Lineman

DJ Reader

This one makes a lot of sense. Reader recently said he was open to returning to the Lions and that his agent was working to possibly make it happen. I know Reader did not turn out to be the elite nose tackle he was for the Bengals in Detroit, but he was a more than capable starter and would be a solid part of the Lions’ rotation with Tyleik Williams.

Other IDL’s to watch

  • Benito Jones
  • Sam Roberts

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