Detroit Lions' NFL free agency rumor tracker 2024: Latest updates and analysis

Want to follow the Detroit Lions' 2024 NFL free agency moves in one spot? Here is a tracker to follow the Lions' latest reputable rumors and reported deals in real time over the next week.

Unrestricted free agents with a contract expiring can begin negotiating with new teams through their agents Monday, when the legal tampering period starts at noon.

Free agency officially opens Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the start of the new league year, when contracts can be signed and trades can become official.

It's the start of a critical offseason for the Lions as the franchise tries to build on their NFC championship game appearance in 2023 and solidify their standing as a team that can compete in the playoffs annually.

Both starting guards, Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow, are set to hit the open market.

The Lions have already been active re-signing CB Emmanuel Moseley, K Michael Badgley, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and TE Shane Zylstra, while also making a tender offer to pending restricted free agent TE Brock Wright.

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The Lions have around $45 million in cap space and $42 million in effective cap space, ninth most in the league, according to overthecap.com. Much of that will remain untouched to stay available during next season.

A year ago, general manager Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the front office targeted midsize additions in free agency, notably scooping CB Cam Sutton, FS C.J. Gardner-Johnson, RB David Montgomery and Glasgow, and could be looking for more defensive backs after another season of below-par pass defense.

Here are the latest updates from the Lions' free agency. Be sure to follow our Lions beat writer Dave Birkett and Free Press sports on X (formerly Twitter).

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Detroit Lions free agency 2024 latest updates

Note: Newest updates at the top; legal tampering period begins Monday at noon, and free agency opens officially Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Lions most pressing needs

Date: Friday, March 8

Source:Detroit Free Press

Birkett wrote about and ranked the Lions' needs this offseason, putting cornerback at the top of the list. The Lions will have more than a dozen unrestricted free agents and more than a quarter are in the defensive backfield with Kindle Vildor, Jerry Jacobs, Will Harris, Khalil Dorsey, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. (Jacobs was restricted, but will be unrestricted Wednesday, after the Lions declined to tender him an offer, and already tweeted a goodbye message.)

Defensive line is the second most important need, Birkett says, and there are a number of productive free agents they could target. Among the most notable: edge rushers Danielle Hunter (Minnesota Vikings), Jonathan Greenard, (Houston Texans) and Bryce Huff (New York Jets), and inside with Christian Wilkins (Miami Dolphins) and D.J. Reader (Cincinnati Bengals).

The Lions also have holes at both starting guard spots, with Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow lacking a contract.

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A call to the Chiefs

Date: Tuesday, March 5

Source:USA TODAY

The Lions were reportedly one of seven teams who inquired about cornerback L’Jarius Sneed once the Kansas City Chiefs officially designated him their franchise player, and he's top of the market.

We broke down the pros and cons of the Lions trading for him, and the potential cost. Sneed, 27, would make $19.8 million on the tag, but can work out a long-term deal with the Chiefs or a team that deals for him.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' NFL free agency rumor tracker 2024: Latest updates here