The NFL free agency period starts on Wednesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. ET, but the legal tampering phase has been bustling for the past 48 hours. A wealth of talent is still on the market, yet many of the top free agents are already signing with new teams for the 2026 season. This situation provides a perfect opportunity to assess the Detroit Lions’ early successes and setbacks from this initial wave of free agency.
Many Lions fans feel disappointed with the team’s early moves, as they appear to have lost more players than they’ve signed. However, it’s important to recognize that national perceptions of the team’s future remain relatively stable.
For instance, FanDuel Sportsbook indicates that the Lions’ Super Bowl odds have shifted from +1600 in February to +1700 in March, holding steady at +1700 following the first 48 hours of free agency. Their odds of winning the NFC North have slightly increased from +160 to +170, yet they still lead the pack, with the Packers at +180, Bears at +360, and Vikings at +600.
With this context in mind, let’s evaluate who has emerged as beneficiaries and who has faced challenges as a result of the Lions’ initial free agency decisions.
One of the happiest players currently is Tate Ratledge. He not only recently tied the knot but also benefited from the Lions signing Cade Mays as the starting center, indicating that Ratledge will likely remain at right guard. After Frank Ragnow’s retirement, the Lions rapidly sought a center and had considered moving Ratledge, which was a tough transition for him.
Fortunately, the Lions quickly secured Mays, allowing Ratledge to focus on his natural position where he showed considerable improvement last season. If he continues on this trajectory, he could be on the path to a Pro Bowl selection sooner than expected.
The Lions’ second acquisition during the tampering phase was offensive tackle Larry Borom. Following the release of Taylor Decker and retirement of Dan Skipper, Borom is expected to start next to Penei Sewell. However, the Lions are likely to draft another offensive tackle, which could lead to competition for the starting job between Borom and the new draftee.
