The 2025 season will be the Detroit Lions' 96th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fifth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. The Lions will attempt to defend their NFC North title, match or improve their league-best 15-2 record from the previous year, and return to the playoffs for the third straight year.
Player movements
Free agents
| Position | Player | Free agency tag |
Date signed | 2025 team | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Myles Adams | RFA | March 12 | Detroit Lions | [1] |
| OLB | Mitchell Agude | ERFA | March 17 | Detroit Lions | [2] |
| G | Kayode Awosika | RFA | |||
| K | Michael Badgley | UFA | |||
| ILB | Derrick Barnes | UFA | March 10 | Detroit Lions | [3] |
| QB | Teddy Bridgewater | UFA | |||
| DE | John Cominsky | UFA | |||
| DE | Marcus Davenport | UFA | March 10 | Detroit Lions | [4] |
| CB | Carlton Davis | UFA | March 13 | New England Patriots | [5] |
| CB | Khalil Dorsey | UFA | March 20 | Detroit Lions | [6] |
| T | Connor Galvin | ERFA | |||
| S | Ifeatu Melifonwu | UFA | March 13 | Miami Dolphins | [7] |
| CB | Emmanuel Moseley | UFA | |||
| DE | Al-Quadin Muhammad | UFA | March 19 | Detroit Lions | [8] |
| G | Netane Muti | UFA | January 22 | Detroit Lions | [9] |
| ILB | Ben Niemann | UFA | |||
| C | Michael Niese | ERFA | |||
| ILB | Trevor Nowaske | ERFA | March 13 | Detroit Lions | [10] |
| DT | Pat O'Connor | UFA | March 18 | Detroit Lions | [11] |
| DT | Levi Onwuzurike | UFA | March 13 | Detroit Lions | [12] |
| WR | Tim Patrick | UFA | March 14 | Detroit Lions | [13] |
| DT | Kyle Peko | UFA | |||
| OLB | Anthony Pittman | RFA | March 13 | Detroit Lions | [14] |
| RB | Craig Reynolds | RFA | March 18 | Detroit Lions | [15] |
| WR | Allen Robinson | UFA | |||
| T | Dan Skipper | UFA | March 10 | Detroit Lions | |
| ILB | Ezekiel Turner | UFA | March 10 | Detroit Lions | [16] |
| CB | Kindle Vildor | UFA | March 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | [17] |
| DE | Jonah Williams | UFA | March 17 | New Orleans Saints | [18] |
| G | Kevin Zeitler | UFA | March 13 | Tennessee Titans | [19] |
| TE | Shane Zylstra | RFA | March 18 | Detroit Lions | [20] |
Additions
| Position | Player | Previous team | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Ronnie Bell | San Francisco 49ers | January 21 | [21] |
| DT | Roy Lopez | Arizona Cardinals | March 13 | [22] |
| CB | D.J. Reed | New York Jets | March 13 | [23] |
| LB | Grant Stuard | Indianapolis Colts | March 13 | [24] |
| QB | Kyle Allen | Pittsburgh Steelers | March 14 | [25] |
| TE | Kenny Yeboah | New York Jets | March 15 | [26] |
| CB | Rock Ya-Sin | San Francisco 49ers | March 20 | [27] |
| CB | Avonte Maddox | Philadelphia Eagles | March 21 | [28] |
Trades
- On March 13, the Lions acquired cornerback Carlton Davis, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which Tampa Bay used to select Jalen McMillan.[29]
- On November 5, the Lions acquired defensive end Za'Darius Smith and a 7th round pick in the 2026 NFL draft from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 5th and 6th round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.[30]
Releases
| Position | Player | 2025 team | Release date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Za'Darius Smith | March 10 | [31] | |
| LB | Jalen Reeves-Maybin | March 12 | [32] |
Draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | ||||
| 2 | 60 | ||||
| 3 | 92 | Traded to the New York Jets[A] | |||
| 102 | 2020 Resolution JC-2A selection[B] | ||||
| 4 | 130 | ||||
| 134 | Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles[C] | From Eagles[D] | |||
| 5 | 164 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns[E] | |||
| 6 | 196 | From Buccaneers[F] | |||
| 204 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns[G] | ||||
| 7 | 228 | From Cowboys[H] | |||
| 244 | |||||
Draft trades
- ^ The Lions traded a third-round selection to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round selection (126th overall).[33]
- ^ The Lions received a Resolution JC-2A third-round selection in both the 2025 and 2026 drafts as compensation for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn being hired as the head coach of the New York Jets.[34]
- ^ The Lions traded a 2023 seventh-round selection and RB D'Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round selection (134th overall) and a 2023 seventh-round selection.[35]
- ^ The Lions traded a fourth-round selection (134th overall) and 2024 fifth- and sixth-round selections (164th and 201st overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2024 fourth- and sixth-round selections (132nd and 210th overall).[36]
- ^ The Lions traded a fifth-round selection and a 2026 sixth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for DE Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round selection.[37]
- ^ The Lions traded a 2024 third-round selection (92nd overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round selection, a 2024 sixth-round selection and CB Carlton Davis.[38]
- ^ The Lions traded a sixth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for WR Donovan Peoples-Jones.[39]
- ^ The Lions traded 2024 first- and third-round selections (29th and 73rd overall) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a seventh-round selection and a 2024 first-round selection (24th overall).[40]
Staff
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| |||||
Current roster
Preseason
The Lions' preseason opponents and schedule will be announced in May, in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.
Regular season
2025 opponents
Listed below are the Lions' opponents for 2025. Exact dates and times will be announced in May.[41]
| Category | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Division opponents (NFC North) |
Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings | |
| Conference opponents (NFC East) |
Dallas Cowboys New York Giants |
Philadelphia Eagles Washington Commanders |
| Conference opponents (based on 2024 division placement) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Interconference opponents (AFC North) |
Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers |
Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals |
| Interconference opponent (based on 2024 division placement) |
— | Kansas City Chiefs |
References
- ^ "Report: Detroit Lions re-signing DL Myles Adams". prideofdetroit.com. March 11, 2025.
- ^ "Report: Detroit Lions re-sign depth defensive end". prideofdetroit.com. March 17, 2025.
- ^ "Lions re-sign LB Derrick Barnes to contract extension through 2027 season". detroitlions.com. March 10, 2025.
- ^ "Davenport looking to prove himself after injury-shorted season". detroitlions.com. March 10, 2025.
- ^ "Patriots Make A Series of Roster Moves". patriots.com. March 13, 2025.
- ^ Riesman, Jeremy. "Detroit Lions re-sign 'incredible' special teams cornerback". Pride of Detroit. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ "Dolphins Sign Melifonwu". miamidolphins.com. March 13, 2025.
- ^ Reisman, Jeremy (March 19, 2025). "Report: Detroit Lions re-signing another veteran DL". prideofdetroit.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (January 22, 2025). "Lions re-sign G Netane Muti". nbcsports.com.
- ^ "Lions' Trevor Nowaske: Re-signs with Detroit". CBSSports.com. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "Report: Detroit Lions re-sign another defensive line reserve". prideofdetroit.com. March 18, 2025.
- ^ Reisman, Jeremy (March 14, 2025). "Levi Onwuzurike contract details: Lions offer guarantees, plenty of incentives". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ Risdon, Jeff. "The Lions sign WR Tim Patrick a day after he pleads to return to Detroit". Lions Wire. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ Reisman, Jeremy (March 7, 2025). "Detroit Lions reportedly re-signing LB Anthony Pittman". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "Lions re-sign RB Craig Reynolds, DL Pat O'Connor". NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ^ "Detroit Lions re-signing another special teams linebacker". prideofdetroit.com. March 7, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Scott (March 13, 2025). "Bucs Sign Former Lions CB Kindle Vildor". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with DE Jonah Williams". NewOrleansSaints.com. March 17, 2025.
- ^ Wyatt, Jim (March 13, 2025). "Titans Sign Veteran Guard Kevin Zeitler". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "Shane Zylstra to re-sign with Lions". NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ^ "Lions sign former Michigan WR to a reserve/future contract". Lions Wire. USA Today. January 21, 2025.
- ^ Lions sign unrestricted free agent DL Roy Lopez DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025
- ^ Lions sign unrestricted free agent CB D.J. Reed DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025
- ^ Lions sign unrestricted free agent LB Grant Stuard DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025
- ^ Lions sign unrestricted free agent QB Kyle Allen DetroitLions.com, March 14, 2025
- ^ Lions Sign TE Kenny Yeboah Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2025
- ^ "Lions sign unrestricted free agent CB Rock Ya-Sin". detroitlions.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ "Detroit Lions sign unrestricted free agent CB Avonte Maddox". detroitlions.com. March 21, 2025.
- ^ "Lions acquire CB Carlton Davis III via trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers". detroitlions.com. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ Za'Darius Smith Traded to Detroit Lions Sports Illustrated, November 5, 2024
- ^ "Report: Lions to release edge rusher Za'Darius Smith". prideofdetroit.com. March 9, 2025.
- ^ "Report: Detroit Lions to release Jalen Reeves-Maybin". prideofdetroit.com. February 27, 2025.
- ^ Twentyman, Tim (April 27, 2024). "Lions trade up, draft offensive lineman Giovanni Manu". detroitlions.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Williams, Charean (January 22, 2025). "Lions will receive a third-round pick in the next two drafts for losing Aaron Glenn". NBCSports. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Twentyman, Tim (April 27, 2024). "Lions trade up, draft running back Sione Vaki". detroitlions.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (April 29, 2023). "Lions trade RB D'Andre Swift to Eagles after drafting Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs in Round 1". NFL.com.
- ^ "Lions agree to terms with Cleveland Browns to acquire DL Za'Darius Smith via trade". detroitlions.com. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Scott (March 13, 2024). "Bucs Trade Carlton Davis to Lions, Add Third-Round Pick". buccaneers.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Lions agree to trade terms with Cleveland Browns for WR Donovan Peoples-Jones". Detroit Lions. October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (April 25, 2024). "Lions trade up to select Alabama CB Terrion Arnold at No. 24 overall in 2024 NFL Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "2025 Opponents Determined". NFL Football Operations. January 6, 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2025.