The Rams signed Stuard to a two-year contract worth up to $5.05 million Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The 27-year-old linebacker is a foundational piece on special teams, which was a major area of struggle for the Rams last season. Only 12 players logged more snaps on special teams last season than Stuard, who finished with 19 tackles (six solo) across 17 regular-season contests.
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Buccaneers' Al-Quadin Muhammad: Signs with Tampa Bay
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The Bucs signed Muhammad to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Muhammad turns 31 years old later this month and is coming off a career year with the Lions. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games and finished with 25 tackles (15 solo), including a by-far career-best 11.0 sacks, on just 41 percent of the defensive snaps. Seeing all one-on-one matchups working opposite Aidan Hutchinson certainly worked in Muhammad's favor, and he'll try to build on the big output with Tampa Bay alongside Yaya Diaby.
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Josh Paschal: Dumped by Detroit
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The Lions released Paschal (back) on Wednesday.
The move clears close to $1.8 million for Detroit. The 26-year-old Paschal missed the entire 2025 campaign with a back injury after appearing in 14 regular-season games the previous season. Paschal has 5.0 career sacks across 36 regular-season contests.
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Cowboys' Tyrus Wheat: Staying in Dallas
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Wheat is slated to sign a one-year deal with the Cowboys, Jane Slater of NFL.com reports.
Wheat is in a similar position to 2025, when he signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys as an exclusive-rights free agent. As an unrestricted free agent, the defensive end has decided to stay in Dallas once again. The 26-year-old likely will maintain his role as a depth piece for the defensive line as well as a consistent special-teams contributor.
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Lions' Rock Ya-Sin: Re-ups with Lions
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Ya-Sin is in line to sign a one-year, $4 million contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Ya-Sin briefly tested the market but chose to return to the Lions instead of heading to his sixth team in six years. The 2019 second-round pick was a dependable corner for the Lions in 2025, handling 35.6 defensive snaps per game while recording 47 tackles and nine pass breakups through 17 games. The current terms of his contract likely mean he's headed for a similar role in 2026.
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Lions' Malcolm Rodriguez: Staying with Detriot
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Rodriguez agreed to a contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
Rodriguez played in just seven games for the Lions during the 2025 season after opening the campaign on the reserve/PUP list following a November 2024 ACL tear. Rodriguez was primarily eased back in on special teams, logging just 70 defensive snaps. The 26-year-old could fill a similar role in 2026, although a more extensive role is possible now that Rodriguez is well over a year removed from his injury.
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Cardinals' Roy Lopez: Heading to Arizona
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Lopez signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Cardinals on Monday that includes $7 million guaranteed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Lopez served in a rotational role on the defensive line for the Lions in 2025, but the 2021 sixth-rounder could serve in a larger role with the Cardinals if Calais Campbell -- who is an unrestricted free agent -- does not return. Lopez recorded 30 tackles (11 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass defense across 17 regular-season games for Detroit in 2025. It'll be his second stint in Arizona, having played with the Cardinals from 2023 to 2024.
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Commanders' Amik Robertson: Agrees to two-year pact with WAS
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Robertson agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Commanders on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Robertson's contract, which can be made official at the start of the new league year Wednesday, includes $9.3 million in guaranteed money. He appeared in all 17 games for the Lions in 2025, notching 52 tackles (43 solo) and 12 passes defensed. Robertson is expected to take on a prominent role in the secondary for Washington.
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Buccaneers' Alex Anzalone: Agrees to two-year deal with Bucs
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Anzalone (concussion) agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract with the Buccaneers on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Anzalone's deal can be made official when the new league year begins Wednesday. He has recovered from a concussion that sidelined him down the stretch in 2025. The 31-year-old linebacker had 95 tackles in 16 games for the Lions prior to the injury in 2025, and he notched 490 tackles across five regular seasons in Detroit after posting only 123 tackles in his first four NFL regular seasons with the Saints.
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Lions' Marcus Davenport: Injury-riddled 2025
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Davenport logged 14 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks, across eight regular-season games in 2025.
Davenport missed Week 3 through Week 12 with shoulder and pectoral injuries. The rotational defensive end was a consistent contributor when healthy, participating in between 34 percent and 78 percent of defensive snaps in the games he suited up for. The 29-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in March.
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Lions' Tyleik Williams: Available through rookie year
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Williams ended the 2025 regular season with 18 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four passes defensed over 17 regular-season games.
Williams did not miss a game this season. The 2025 first-round defensive tackle was a reliable rotational piece behind starters Alim McNeill and DJ Reader, often sharing snaps with fellow defensive lineman Roy Lopez. With Reader becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Williams has the potential to seize a starting role in the Lions' defense for 2026.
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Lions' Daniel Thomas: Makes 23 stops
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Thomas recorded 23 tackles (10 solo) and one pass defended across 12 games with the Lions in 2025.
Thomas has primarily been a contributor on special teams throughout his career, and that was the case again for much of 2025. However, he played a combined 78 defensive snaps across Detroit's final two games and accounted for 14 of his 23 stops in that span. Thomas will become a free agent this offseason and will likely sign a modest, short-term deal to serve as a special-teamer.
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Lions' DJ Reader: Appears in all 17 games
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Reader logged 28 tackles (11 solo) across 17 games with the Lions during the 2025 regular season.
Reader played in every regular-season game for the first time since 2018, and his 578 defensive snaps were his highest since 2019. He wasn't overly impactful on the stat sheet, but he still played a key role along Detroit's defensive line. Reader is set to hit free agency this offseason, and he'll likely have to settle for a short-term deal with a low average-annual value.
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Lions' Roy Lopez: Plays rotational role in 2025
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Lopez recorded 30 tackles (11 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass defensed across 17 regular-season games with the Lions in 2025.
Lopez signed a one-year deal with Detroit before the 2025 season, and he retained a comparable role relative to the rest of his career. He logged over 400 defensive snaps for the second straight campaign while reaching at least 30 tackles for the fourth time in his five-year career. Lopez is set to become an unrestricted free agent again this offseason, and he should land another short-term deal.
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Lions' Avonte Maddox: Logs 32 tackles
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Maddox recorded 32 tackles (23 solo) with four passes defensed, inclusion one interception, and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games with the Lions in 2025.
Maddox primarily played special teams to begin the season and was sidelined for two games by a hamstring issue. However, his role expanded for the final four contests of the campaign due to injuries in the Lions secondary, and he logged over 300 defensive snaps for the second straight year. Maddox is set to hit free agency and should be able to land a deal as a depth option.
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Lions' Amik Robertson: Most productive season yet
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Robertson recorded 52 total tackles (43 solo), two forced fumbles and 12 passes defensed, including an interception, over 17 games during the 2025 regular season.
Robertson was able to play in all 17 regular-season contests for the fourth consecutive year, setting new career highs in total tackles, solo stops and passes defensed. The slot cornerback has more than lived up to his fourth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he's been rather productive over the last two campaigns in Detroit. Robertson is set to become a free agent this offseason, and he'll likely be a hot commodity if he hits the open market.
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Lions' Rock Ya-Sin: Reliable option for Detroit in 2025
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Ya-Sin recorded 47 total tackles (27 solo) and nine passes defensed over 17 games during the 2025 regular season.
Ya-Sin was one of the few Lions defensive backs that was able to make it through the season unscathed, compiling a career-high nine passes defensed while playing all 17 regular-season contests for the first time in his seven NFL campaigns. The cornerback had combined to play just 311 defensive snaps over the two previous years with the Ravens and 49ers, but due to Terrion Arnold (shoulder) missing nine contests, Ya-Sin was able to log 604 snaps on defensive in 2025. Ya-Sin is set to enter free agency in the offseason, and whether it's Detroit or elsewhere, he proved he can still be a starting option for a team moving forward next season.
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Lions' Al-Quadin Muhammad: Game-wrecker in 2025
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Muhammad produced 25 total tackles (15 solo), including 11.0 sacks, over 17 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Muhammad stepped into a starting role in 2025, and he rewarded the Lions by producing a career-high 11.0 sacks, which tied for 11th in the NFL. The 30-year-old had recorded just 15.0 sacks total over his previous seven seasons in the league, and he appears to have developed into quite the complement to Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line. Muhammad is set to become a free agent in the offseason, but the Lions will likely look to keep him in Detroit for 2026.
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Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: Raised production in healthy 2025
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Hutchinson recorded 54 total tackles (36 solo), including 14.5 sacks, while also adding four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed, one of which was an interception, over 17 games during the regular season.
Hutchinson was able to take advantage of a healthy 2025 campaign after being limited to just five games in 2024 due to a broken left tibia and fibula. The defensive lineman set new career highs in total tackles, sacks and forced fumbles while playing all 17 regular-season contests for the third time in his four years in Detroit. Additionally, Hutchinson registered at least 1.0 sacks in each of the team's final four games of the season, securing 6.0 sacks over that stretch, and his 14.5 sacks on the year ranked fourth in the NFL. The 25-year-old already inked a fresh four-year, $180 million contract extension in October, and he'll look to help lead the Lions back to the postseason next year.
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Lions' Derrick Barnes: Resurgent 2025 campaign
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Barnes recorded 78 total tackles (40 solo), including 4.0 sacks, while also adding three passes defensed, one of which was an interception, over 17 games during the 2025 regular season.
Barnes was able to return to form in 2025 after being limited to just three contests in 2024 due to a knee injury. The linebacker was able exceed 70 total tackles for the second time in his five-year career, while his 4.0 sacks matched his previous four years combined. Additionally, he was able to secure his first career interception in the team's Week 14 win over the Cowboys. Barnes will now enter the second season of his three-year contract with Detroit in 2026.
