Lions Losing Avonte Maddox Would Cause Serious Heartbreak This Offseason
With the Detroit Lions missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022, attention has already shifted toward what promises to be a crucial offseason. Detroit is set to lose several players to free agency and has clear areas to address on both offense and defense.
One unit that will receive heavy scrutiny is the secondary, which battled constant injury problems throughout the 2025 season.
Cornerbacks Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox are all headed for free agency after being forced into larger roles than expected. Among fans, Ya-Sin and Maddox are widely viewed as the top priorities to retain — and Maddox, in particular, should be high on the front office’s list.
When the Lions signed Maddox to a modest one-year, $1.42 million contract last offseason, his roster spot was far from guaranteed due to the depth at defensive back. But the veteran quickly proved his value and became an important piece of the defense when injuries mounted late in the year.
Although Maddox built his career primarily as a slot corner with the Eagles, Detroit asked him to step in at safety in Week 14 after Thomas Harper went down. Playing 80 snaps, Maddox delivered an impressive performance, tallying eight total tackles, breaking up a pass, forcing a fumble, and allowing just three catches for 27 yards on four targets.
His role expanded further once Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles, keeping Maddox in the starting lineup. That decision paid off, as his coverage ability helped stabilize the back end of the defense. In the regular-season finale, Maddox capped his strong finish by intercepting Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and earning an 84.9 Pro Football Focus grade — one of the highest on the team.
Given his strong play, positional versatility, and uncertainty surrounding Branch’s recovery, bringing Maddox back feels like an obvious move. Finding another defensive back capable of playing both slot corner and safety wouldn’t be easy or cheap.
A two-year contract makes sense for both sides, offering Maddox some long-term security while giving Detroit a dependable starter or high-end depth piece in a secondary that still has unanswered questions heading into 2026.
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