It took until the late hours of Day 2 in the free agent negotiating period, but the Detroit Lions finally bolstered their defensive line.
On Tuesday, the Lions agreed to a one-year deal with Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Roy Lopez. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the contract is worth $4.65 million.
Lopez, a sixth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2021, has started most of the past two seasons in the middle of Arizona’s defensive line. He recorded 28 tackles and one sack, playing a key role in the Cardinals’ run defense, where he logged roughly half of his defensive snaps (216 out of 440).
With the release of Za’Darius Smith and several key free agents like Levi Onwuzurike, Pat O’Connor, and John Cominsky, the Lions had a pressing need to strengthen their defensive line.
Lopez, 6 feet 2 and 318 pounds, should fill at least a rotational role at defensive tackle this fall for a Lions defense that finished fifth in the NFL against the run (98.4 ypg) in 2024.
As a pass rusher, Lopez had 12 pressures in 223 pass rush snaps (5.4%) last season, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats, and ranked eighth among Arizona’s 10 defensive linemen in pass rush get-off time at 1.18 seconds. O’Connor, for comparison, led all Lions interior linemen in get-off at .98 seconds in 120 pass-rush snaps.
The Lions have made just two additions so far in free agency, with the 2025 league year set to open at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
On Monday, following the loss of cornerback Carlton Davis III at the start of the free agent negotiating period, the Lions signed former New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed to a three-year contract to fill the gap.
The team also re-signed defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebacker Derrick Barnes ahead of free agency, but is still seeking additional help at defensive end.
Top edge rushers still available in free agency include Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Von Miller, who was released by the Buffalo Bills.
At the NFL Combine, Holmes mentioned that the Lions “probably” wouldn’t be able to add a top-tier pass rusher to play alongside Aidan Hutchinson and, eventually, McNeill once he recovers from his torn ACL. Two of the top names have already appeared to come off the market, with Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett both securing contracts with their respective teams.
