Ranking the 2026 Lions free agent signings: The top 9

Q: Who are the top free agent signings for the Detroit Lions in 2026?

The top free agent signings include Greg Dortch, Avonte Maddox, and Ben Bartch, among others.

Q: What factors were considered in ranking the Lions' free agent signings?

The rankings consider projected role, current ability, future upside, contract value, and intangible impact.

Q: How many draft selections do the Lions have heading into the 2026 draft?

The Lions currently hold nine selections for the upcoming 2026 draft.

Q: What position does Greg Dortch play for the Lions?

Greg Dortch plays as a wide receiver and returner for the Detroit Lions.

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Roger McCreary #21 of the Tennessee Titans defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Continuing the two-part series from this past weekend, ranking the Detroit Lions free agent signings from this offseason, we now flip to the top half of the list after starting with Nos. 17–10—diving into Nos. 9–1. Keep in mind, this isn’t just a ranking of the players or their projected 2026 contributions. These rankings blend projected role, current ability, future upside, contract value, the broader free agency landscape, and a layer of intangible impact. Dive in below for the Lions’ top free agent signings (Nos. 9–1), as this class quietly positions the organization well heading into this week’s draft, where they currently hold nine selections. **No. 9 — Wide receiver / Returner Greg Dortch | Age 27.8 | $1.40M / 1 year ($1.075M guaranteed)** Greg Dortch serves as a stylistic parallel to Kalif Raymond, but the Lions got much younger at the position, as Raymond enters his age-32 season. Dortch shares a lot of similar characteristics with Raymond: an undersized undrafted free agent who bounced around multiple rosters and practice squads before eventually finding a more stable home in , while also providing value as a punt returner. He also comes from Arizona, where he has familiarity with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Similar to Raymond, Dortch offers a scrappy, dependable presence in the passing game, and since 2022 has posted a 75.5% catch rate (third among receivers), a 2.1% drop rate (seventh), and 6.6 yards after catch per reception (fifth), underscoring his efficiency and reliability after the catch. **No. 8 — Safety | Age 30 | N/A** Avonte Maddox, much like , emerged as one of the most consistent and valuable members of the Lions’ defense last season, particularly in a chaotic defensive backfield. After seven seasons with the , Maddox delivered one of his most productive years, taking on more responsibility as a post safety and thriving in that expanded role. He graded out as a top-10 safety per PFF and consistently showed up in key moments, including standout performances in wins over the Cowboys and , where his range and instincts helped stabilize the back end. It was a necessary reunion with the Detroit native, even with the additional pieces added to the defensive back room. His familiarity with the system and versatility give him a clear path to playing time, particularly in the opening stretch of the season. **No. 7 — Guard | Age 27.7 | N/A** Ben Bartch enters a true Super Smash Brothers free-for-all battle at left guard, with the winner of the role having clearly earned it as a key piece of what should be the Lions’ deepest offensive line under Hank Fraley’s guidance. Bartch’s contract details are not yet known, but it is assumed to be a low-risk free agent flier on a player who is still only six seasons removed from being a Division III left tackle—and eight years removed from playing tight end at the DIII level—while continuing to settle into the nuances and consistency required at NFL guard. He brings a fitting amount of size and physicality to the interior, coming off encouraging play in four starts at left guard for the the past two seasons. He now enters a heated competition with and for the starting job in Detroit. **No. 6 — Linebacker | Age 27 | $2.75M / 1 year ($2.70M guaranteed)** Malcolm Rodriguez’s 2025 season was largely defined by his recovery from a 2024 Thanksgiving Day ACL injury, and once he returned, he was a limited player who didn’t resemble his pre-injury impact to earn playing time. A wasted season. In many ways, that would have been an underwhelming and premature endpoint to his time in Detroit—but not a fitting one for a player who has been a locker room fit since Day 1. A true program player, Rodriguez earned a modest pay bump and the opportunity to rebound with the Detroit Lions, competing for the third linebacker role in a system that continues to value his run defense and energy. In 2024, before the injury, Rodriguez was playing the best football of his career. He looked more comfortable in coverage—handling more man assignments—while processing run fits faster than in his first two seasons and consistently detonating downhill with clean tackling form. That version of him was an ascending, higher-impact role player in the front seven especially after went down. If he can regain that form with another year removed from injury, Rodriguez projects as a plus starter alongside and . In that scenario, he would easily outplay the value of his contract and position himself for a stronger free agent market next offseason. **No. 5 — Defensive back | Age 25.8 | $2.00M / 1 year ($1.00M Total Guaranteed)** Christian Izien fits the type of player Dan Campbell has subtly referenced when talking about adding more competition and ferocity to practice and training camp. Like many of the Lions’ external additions, Izien is a hungry, junkyard-dog competitor with the right demeanor to elevate the overall intensity of the room while ensuring nothing in the building is taken for granted and every role has to be earned. One of the more successful undrafted defensive backs of the past few years, Izien has carved out a legitimate role through sheer volume and consistency. His 1,582 defensive snaps over the last three seasons rank fifth among all UDFAs within their first three years in that span, while his 165 total tackles rank sixth in that same group. He brings clear value on a bargain contract, offering the ability to play across the defensive backfield while also contributing on special teams. His game shows a blend of zone coverage experience from his time with the and man coverage traits dating back to college at Rutgers. The result is a versatile, assignment-ready defensive back who can be deployed in multiple roles depending on need—while consistently flying around the football and filling up the stat sheet with active production. That flexibility matters in Detroit, where he can factor in at safety amid uncertainty around and , while also providing insurance and depth at nickel. Durability is another calling card—he’s played in 93.7% of possible games across his college and NFL career over the past seven seasons, reinforcing his profile as a dependable, ready-to-roll depth piece. **No. 4 — Right tackle | Age 27 | $5.00M / 1 year ($4.90M guaranteed)** Larry Borom didn’t have the most stable start to his career with the , but he still exceeded expectations as a fifth-round pick, making 27 starts across four different spots on the offensive line. Notably, he hadn’t seen consistent work at right tackle—his natural position—since midway through the 2022 season. That changed in a resurgent second act last year with the , where he found real runway with 11 starts on the right side and played some of his best football. From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Borom posted a 70.3 PFF overall grade (35th among 92 qualifying tackles), while his 82.1 pass-blocking grade ranked sixth among all offensive tackles in that span. Brad Holmes clearly valued that stretch of proven production and upside at a premium position, moving to secure Borom at the 48th-highest paid offensive tackle in football (tied with fellow free agents and ). While his 3.71% pressure rate last season ranked sixth-best among right tackles. Borom brings a stable floor in pass protection with the ability to contribute in the run game as he continues to settle into his natural position. With the possibility of shifting to left tackle, Borom could pair with to form a physical, ascending right side of the offensive line—potentially giving the Lions enough stability there to avoid immediately addressing an early draft pick at tackle. **No. 3 — Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin | Age 29.8 | $3.20M / 1 year ($2.64M guaranteed)** Rock Ya-Sin proved to be a massively underrated signing for the Lions’ front office last season. Despite toggling between cornerback and safety during training camp, he ultimately settled in at corner and played all 17 games with six starts amid a wave of secondary injuries. The result was a career-resurgence season: a career-high 47 tackles and nine passes defended, along with several clutch plays that helped stabilize the position group in key victories. He also delivered strong value on special teams, finishing as the Lions’ highest-graded special teamer per PFF (85.1, 22nd among all NFL players). One of the better tackling outside corners in football, Ya-Sin is a high-effort competitor who played his best ball down the stretch, posting a 70.0 coverage grade from Weeks 11–18 (33rd among 113 cornerbacks). While his $3.2M deal is the most he’s earned since joining the in 2023 ($4M for one year), he still ranks only 59th among NFL cornerbacks in salary—despite producing like a much higher-paid starter in stretches last season. In many rooms, he would be more than just depth. He now projects as a steady floor piece behind starters and , giving the Lions a reliable rotational option with starting-caliber snaps when needed. **No. 2 — Defensive back Roger McCreary | Age 26.1 | $1.40M / 1 year ($0.987M guaranteed)** A clear replacement for the recently paid , Roger McCreary brings a similar scrappy demeanor, positional versatility, durability, and play style—despite overcoming historically short arms (28 7/8″). Not long ago, he was a second-round investment by the Tennessee Titans and later deemed worth acquiring by the at last year’s trade deadline as they looked to bolster a postseason push. His 2023 campaign—his second in the league—remains his most complete season to date. In his first year transitioning to the nickel, McCreary finished as PFF’s 12th-highest graded slot defender (71.3), while showcasing his run defense and tackling ability with 33 defensive stops (seventh among all cornerbacks). He also posted career highs in tackles (86) and tackles for loss (6), while adding six passes defended. That version of McCreary is what the Lions are betting on rediscovering. He also offers outside flexibility, dating back to his time at Auburn, as a rookie, and flashing again in a brief stint with the Rams—particularly during the playoffs. That versatility ties into a broader theme across the Lions’ defensive back additions: optionality. New defensive coordinator now has the ability to mix and match personnel, contributing to what may be the deepest secondary of the Detroit Lions era under Dan Campbell—with room to add more in the draft. McCreary will now be playing under his sixth defensive coordinator in eight football seasons, underscoring the instability he’s navigated early in his career. Still, at just 26, this is a classic low-risk, high-reward swing. He brings stout play strength and a physical edge that can make him an irritable presence for opposing receivers, giving the Lions another tone-setter in the secondary. **No. 1 — Center | Age 26.9 | $25.0M / 3 years ($14.0M guaranteed)** Mays made 21 starts over the past two seasons, including 12 last year, helping stabilize ’s pocket while opening rushing lanes for and during ’ first postseason run since 2017. His path hasn’t been linear—three regimes in four years, a brief stint on the ’ practice squad, and positional movement between fullback and both guard spots—but he’s finally settled in at center and found his footing. In 2024, Mays led all centers with an 87.5 PFF gap-blocking grade—the third-highest mark at the position since 2018. Across his 21 starts at center over the past two seasons, he didn’t allow a single sack and posted just a 3.0% pressure rate (t-eighth among centers). Mays brings a burly, physical presence to the position and represents the Lions’ most cost-effective solution at center. His AAV came in well below his projected $12.3M and far beneath ’s $27M mark. He should help fortify the interior, easing the burden on the guards, providing stability for coming off a war-torn 2025 season full of dirty pockets, and creating more interior runway for . For new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, it’s a plug-and-play upgrade that allows the offense to hit the ground running. More broadly, Mays represents the kind of needle-threading move this front office prioritized—landing a long-term answer at center in an inflated market, without forcing the issue in a draft class that may not offer a top-75-caliber option at the position. In doing so, they’ve stabilized a spot left unsettled since the early-career exit of franchise pillar .