Some veteran options remain available, and not every roster in the NFL has hit the offseason’s 90-man limit, but most teams across the league are done making significant moves. All told, more than 300 free agents switched teams since the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
With the dust mostly settled, here’s an offseason check-in on every team the Detroit Lions will play in the 2026 regular season, starting with their NFC North rivals.
Chicago Bears
Biggest addition: S Coby Bryant
Biggest loss: C Drew Dalman
An early and unexpected retirement from Dalman (27 years old), a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, is a devastating blow for the Bears, who ranked fourth in the NFL last season in Expected Points Added (EPA) per rushing attempt (+0.04) and paced the league in rushing success rate (48.5%), according to Next Gen Stats. Bears GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson responded by trading for Garrett Bradbury (New England Patriots) and using the 57th overall pick in April’s draft on Logan Jones, a center prospect who allowed eight pressures on more than 600 snaps in pass protection over his final two seasons at Iowa.
Green Bay Packers
Biggest addition: DL Javon Hargrave
Biggest loss: WR Romeo Doubs
Of the 23 players who recorded at least 500 snaps on offense or defense for the Packers last season, seven are no longer with the team. Doubs (now with the Patriots), linebacker Quay Walker (Las Vegas Raiders), defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare (New York Jets) and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (Carolina Panthers) each left in free agency. Defensive end Rashan Gary (Dallas Cowboys) and defensive tackle Colby Wooden (Indianapolis Colts) were traded. Versatile offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (Cleveland Browns) was released. The Packers, similar to the Lions, only spent more than $5 million annually on one outside-the-building free agent this offseason, inking Hargrave to a two-year deal worth $23 million. Hargrave had 31 pressures and 3½ sacks with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings
Biggest addition: QB Kyler Murray
Biggest loss: DE Jonathan Greenard
The Vikings allowed Hargrave (Packers), defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (Cincinnati Bengals) and wide receiver Jalen Nailor (Las Vegas Raiders) to walk in free agency. But their most significant departure is Greenard, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in a cost-cutting move. Greenard racked up 15 sacks and 131 pressures over his two seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings used four top-100 draft picks to add defensive linemen Caleb Banks (No. 18) and Domonique Orange (No. 82), linebacker Jake Golday (No. 51) and safety Jakobe Thomas (No. 98). Ultimately, the biggest X-factor for Minnesota’s season will be the play of Murray, who the Vikings were able to get on a one-year, minimum deal.
Arizona Cardinals
Biggest addition: RB Jeremiyah Love
Biggest loss: S Jalen Thompson
On paper, the Cardinals have players to be excited about. Love, selected third overall in the draft, can be special. Michael Wilson, still only 26 years old, was a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in 2025. Trey McBride, also 26, led all tight ends in catches, yards and touchdowns last season. But Arizona currently has the worst odds to win Super Bowl LXI for a reason. Questions at quarterback remain, and it wasn’t the splashiest of free agencies for the Cardinals, who splurged on former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo (three years, $31.5 million) but didn’t spend more than $6.5 million annually on any another players.
Atlanta Falcons
Biggest addition: OT Jawaan Taylor
Biggest loss: LB Kaden Elliss
The Falcons allocated more than $5 million annually to one free agent this offseason (former Eagles receiver Jahan Dotson), mostly opting for cheap, one-year fliers on a number of players, like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, running back Brian Robinson, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, tight end Austin Hooper and edge defender Azeez Ojulari. Atlanta also brought in Taylor, a winner of Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs, to replace Elijah Wilkinson, who left in free agency for the Cardinals. Other notable departures include Elliss (New Orleans Saints), defensive linemen Dee Alford (Buffalo Bills) and David Onyemata (Jets), running back Tyler Allgeier (Cardinals) and wide receiver Darnell Mooney (New York Giants).
Buffalo Bills
Biggest addition: WR D.J. Moore
Biggest loss: G David Edwards
Each season from 2020-23, Bills quarterback Josh Allen ranked inside the top seven for passing attempts of 20 or more yards down the field, according to Pro Football Focus. Three of those seasons were inside the top five. Allen’s rate of deep throws has shrunk in recent years, as he finished 12th in the statistic in both 2024 and 2025. In comes Moore, who was targeted 20-plus yards down the field 22 times last season, tied for 20th most in the league. Edwards, who signed with the Saints in March, will be tough to replace at left guard. But the Bills have set themselves up nicely to have competition between Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett.
Carolina Panthers
Biggest addition: DE Jaelan Phillips
Biggest loss: C Cade Mays
The Panthers certainly weren’t afraid to make noise this offseason, dropping $120 million over four years for Phillips and another $42 million over three years for former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. Phillips has been slowed by injuries in two of his last three seasons, but his numbers when on the field are encouraging. He’s produced 28 sacks and 226 pressures across 63 career appearances, and his win rate as a pass rusher in 2025 (18.4%) approached elite territory. How the offensive line holds up will be key to Carolina’s success. The unit is poised to have at least two new starters to begin the season.
Miami Dolphins
Biggest addition: QB Malik Willis
Biggest loss: DE Bradley Chubb
With a new regime in place (GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley came over from the Packers), the Dolphins chose to shed salary this offseason, releasing Tagovailoa (Falcons), Chubb (Bills), fullback Alec Ingold (Los Angeles Chargers), wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Indianapolis Colts), offensive lineman James Daniels and kicker Jason Sanders (Giants). Miami, with an eye toward the future, largely stayed on the sideline during free agency, though it did add Willis on a three-year commitment worth $67.5 million. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for draft picks, furthering the exodus of talent.
New England Patriots
Biggest addition: WR Romeo Doubs
Biggest loss: DE K’Lavon Chaisson
Credit to the Patriots for spending money while their quarterback remains on his rookie deal. Drake Maye, who is primed to stay under team control for another three seasons, has a new first option, as New England ponied up for Doubs (four years, $68 million), the most productive contributor in Green Bay’s crowded receiving corps over the last four seasons. The Patriots also gave $14 million annually to offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (Jets) and selected Utah’s Caleb Lomu in the first round of the draft. Maye’s supporting cast has been upgraded, and a trade for Eagles star A.J. Brown could be on the horizon.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest addition: WR Jordyn Tyson
Biggest loss: CB Alontae Taylor
There was no shortage of options for biggest addition here. Edwards ($15.25 million, Bills), running back Travis Etienne ($12 million, Jaguars) and Elliss ($11 million, Falcons) each received contracts worth north of $10 million annually, and Tyson, arguably the draft’s most explosive athlete at receiver, was selected with the eighth overall pick. Taylor (Tennessee Titans), who spent most of his time at the nickel spot in 2025, and veteran linebacker Demario Davis (Jets) were the two most significant departures of the offseason. Elliss slides in as a replacement for Davis. In the slot, look for the Saints to potentially lean on veterans Julian Blackmon and Jordan Howden or rookie Lorenzo Styles Jr.
New York Giants
Biggest addition: LB Arvell Reese
Biggest loss: DL Dexter Lawrence II
The Giants underwent a serious makeover this offseason, hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach and signing a handful of former Baltimore Ravens to come along with him, like tight end Isaiah Likely (three years, $40 million) and fullback Patrick Ricard (two years, $7.63 million). They also paid notable amounts for linebacker Tremaine Edmunds ($12 million annually, Bears), cornerback Greg Newsome ($8 million, Jaguars) and former Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader ($6.25 million), the latter of whom was added to help supplement the loss of Lawrence, who was dealt to the Bengals for the draft pick that was used to acquire rookie offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. Reese, chosen five spots ahead of Mauigoa, has on- and off-ball flexibility.
New York Jets
Biggest addition: QB Geno Smith
Biggest loss: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Former Lions defensive coordinator and current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, in tandem with GM Darren Mougey, made a concerted effort to upgrade New York’s defense, spending for Davis, Enagbare, edge defender Joseph Ossai (Bengals), cornerback Nahshon Wright (Bears) and safety Dane Belton (Giants). They also used a couple of top-50 draft picks to add defenders, in pass rusher David Bailey (Texas Tech) and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana). Four of the offensive line’s five starters are returning, and Dylan Parham (Raiders) was paid well ($16 million over two years) to step in at left guard and protect Smith, who’s back with the Jets after the sides split nearly a decade ago.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest addition: DE Rueben Bain Jr.
Biggest loss: WR Mike Evans
The Buccaneers, who desperately needed some pass-rush help across from Yaya Diaby (62 pressures, seven sacks in 2025) benefited from one of the draft’s most surprising slides, as Bain, once viewed as an option for the Jets at No. 2 overall, slipped all the way to Tampa Bay in the middle of the first round. The Buccaneers also addressed their pass rush by adding former Lions standout Al-Quadin Muhammad on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Linebacker Alex Anzalone, another former Lions defender who still excels against the pass, might have the biggest immediate impact of Tampa Bay’s offseason additions. His passer rating against in 2025 (88.8) was in the top 20% of the league at his position, according to PFF.
Tennessee Titans
Biggest addition: DL John Franklin-Myers
Biggest loss: TE Chig Okonkwo
No team in the NFL spent more money in free agency this offseason than the Titans, who handed out 20 contracts with annual values above $1.215 million (around league average). Those 20 deals were for more than $318.5 million in total value, according to Over The Cap. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll brought four players over from the Giants — wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson ($17.5 million annually), cornerback Cor’Dale Flott ($15 million), tight end Daniel Bellinger ($8 million) and center Austin Schlottmann ($3.5 million) — and Tennessee spent the most money on adding Franklin-Myers ($21 million), who posted 96 pressures and 14½ sacks over his last two seasons with the Broncos.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Biggest offseason moves for every team on Lions’ 2026 schedule
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
