Lions Players Who May Not Return in 2024
Now that the Detroit Lions have been ousted from the postseason, Brad Holmes and the team's front office will have plenty of time to look ahead to the offseason.
Holmes & Co. should be busy not only adding players for another playoff run, but also retaining individuals that were key to this year's postseason success.
Holmes will also have to make a variety of tough decisions and part ways with some current members of the organization.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five Lions players who may not return to the team in 2024.
WR Josh Reynolds
During the regular season, Reynolds proved to be one of Jared Goff's most reliable targets (40 catches, 608 yards and five touchdowns). He and Goff established a strong rapport during their time together with the Rams (2017-2020), which certainly carried over for the two of them during the past three seasons in Detroit.
Unfortunately, Reynolds won't be remembered for any of that, though. He'll be remembered for letting the Lions down big in the NFC title game, most notably dropping a pass from Goff on a fourth-down conversion attempt in the third quarter. It was the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for Detroit in the quarter, and Goff & Co. never recovered.
Reynolds ended up dropping three total passes in the playoff contest, and earned a dismal PFF overall mark of 51.6 for his subpar effort.
The veteran wideout will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so this very well could've been his last game with the Lions.
LG Jonah Jackson
Jackson has been one of the core members of the Lions’ offensive line since being drafted by the organization in 2020.
However, he's set to be a free agent this offseason, and his time in the Motor City could very well be running out.
Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2021, saw his production regress this past season, as he suited up for a career-low 12 games and 798 total offensive snaps. Also, after recording PFF run-blocking grades north of 70.0 in 2021 and 2022, he recorded a career-worst 58.2 run-blocking mark in 2023. He also allowed eight quarterback hits and 24 total pressures, en route to earning a dismal overall grade of 59.7 from PFF.
To me, this production fall-off from Jackson might mean that the Lions will have a new starting left guard in 2024.
OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Vaitai hasn't been able to stay healthy since day one in the Motor City.
However, the injury bug has especially reared its ugly head for the veteran lineman over the course of the past two seasons. In 2022 and 2023 combined, he suited up for a total of just six games, and he failed to log a single snap in ‘22.
In his defense, he did record respectable overall grades of 68.4 and 68.3 in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Yet, with him set to be a free agent this upcoming offseason, I don't envision there being a better time than now for Holmes to part ways with the big-bodied lineman.
OL Graham Glasgow
Glasgow was a solid under-the-radar, free-agent acquisition made by Holmes last offseason.
The veteran offensive lineman, who spent the first four seasons of his career in Detroit, returned to Motown in 2023 for a second stint with the Lions. He spent the previous three seasons in Denver.
Glasgow was an excellent plug-and-play piece along the interior of the offensive line, logging snaps at center and both guard spots. Most notably, he replaced the oft-injured Halapoulivaati Vaitai as Detroit's full-time starter at right guard, and stabilized the position.
In 1,061 total offensive snaps, he allowed just two sacks, and excelled in opening up running lanes for the Lions’ backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. For his run-blocking efforts, he earned a 82.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. He also received an overall mark of 75.1 from the popular analytics site.
I'm sure the Lions want him to be a part of their 2024 roster. However, Holmes inked him to only a one-year deal last offseason. So, there's no guarantee that the savvy guard will be back with Detroit next season.
DB Ceedy Duce
Duce, who came to the Lions as C.J. Gardner-Johnson, struggled to stay on the field in what may end up being his lone season in the Motor City. He signed just a one-year deal last offseason, and didn't truly live up to the bill in 2023.
The veteran defensive back tore his pectoral muscle in Week 2 vs. the Seattle Seahawks, and failed to play another snap until the Lions’ regular season finale against the Vikings.
In his limited playing time (just three regular season games), Duce amassed a single interception and three passes defensed, plus earned a 72.7 overall grade from PFF.
Those numbers weren't too shabby. However, he laid an egg against Deebo Samuel and the 49ers in the conference championship game. He missed three tackles, picked up a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against Samuel and produced a team-worst 33.9 PFF overall grade. Worst yet, he engaged in a war of words with Samuel leading up to the game, and came up short in the battle on the field with the do-it-all receiver.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Holmes & Co. decide to move on from Gardner-Johnson this offseason.
