By Blessing 
Lions Take Hits as Dan Campbell Reshapes 2025 Roster
As the Detroit Lions begin laying the foundation for their 2025 season, not everything is going according to plan. Head coach Dan Campbell and his staff have been active in free agency, but several key departures are raising eyebrows—and concerns—about the direction of the team.
Detroit has been busy this offseason, parting ways with some important players in an effort to free up cap space while also bringing in fresh talent to fill roster gaps. While it’s encouraging to see the Lions being aggressive in reshaping their team—unlike some more passive franchises—some decisions haven’t landed well with NFL analysts.
One of the biggest criticisms came after the Lions let go of veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, a move that NFL analyst Mike Payton from A to Z Sports graded as a flat-out failure.
“This was the one guy the Lions needed to make sure they kept to keep the offensive line playing at a top level. They couldn’t do it,” Payton wrote. “You can’t blame them too much because he wanted to be with family, but maybe you up the offer to keep him here?”
Zeitler has since signed with the Tennessee Titans in what some are calling an “underrated move,” and the Lions were hit with a harsh F grade from Payton for letting him walk.
Another loss that drew criticism was the departure of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. Payton wasn’t impressed, giving the team a D grade on that move.
“Ok, if I’m grading this one just by what’s happened after this first week, I don’t like it a whole lot,” he noted. While freeing up cap space is typically a smart move, Payton added, “Freeing up cash was good, doing nothing with that cash feels like maybe you didn’t need to make this move. Maybe this grade changes over time. We’re just reacting to the first week at this point.”
These losses come at a tough time for Detroit, still reeling from their disappointing playoff exit in January. After falling to the Washington Commanders in a shocking upset, Campbell and company had hoped to reload and bounce back stronger. But these early free agency moves may complicate that goal.
Still, it’s not all bad news.
Payton did praise some of Detroit’s additions, particularly the signing of cornerback D.J. Reed, which he graded as an A move. He applauded general manager Brad Holmes for moving quickly after losing Carlton Davis to the New England Patriots on a $60 million deal.
“Inside one hour, the Lions lost Carlton Davis to the Patriots and then turned around and signed Reed to a $48 million deal,” Payton wrote. “Reed is of equal or greater value to the Lions and they got him at a significantly reduced value. Superb work from Holmes.”
Reed, who spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets, brings solid experience to the secondary. Over 46 career games, he’s recorded 220 tackles, 32 pass deflections, seven tackles for loss, and two interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he consistently earned coverage and overall grades above 70 during his time in New York.
Payton also gave high marks for the re-signing of defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, calling it an A+ move. “He had a big year in 2024 and that should continue on. For the Lions to both get him back here and get him at about $15 million less than the projection, what a score,” he added.
So while the Lions have taken some hits, there are bright spots worth celebrating. It’s still early in the offseason, and there’s time for more moves. But if Detroit wants to make a deeper run in 2025, the front office needs to keep making smart plays—and fast.