Detroit Lions fans are optimistic about their team’s potential during the 2025 NFL offseason, especially with plenty of cap space to utilize and a roster primed for contention. The Lions have been linked to several high-profile free agents so far, though their strategy has remained unclear until now.

This changed at the NFL Combine. During a press conference on February 25, Lions general manager Brad Holmes disclosed that he had been reviewing footage from their Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals to evaluate one of their offensive free agents.

“I was looking at our game at Arizona in Week 3. We’re looking at a free agent on the offensive side of the ball.” Will Hernandez immediately comes to mind as a strong candidate. The right guard has been consistent for the Cardinals over his three years, but he is set to hit free agency after missing most of the 2024 season.

The Lions are likely to lose their own right guard this offseason as Kevin Zeitler is also heading into free agency after just one season with the team. Hernandez could offer a more affordable solution. He earned $4.5 million per season over the past two years and is recovering from a serious knee injury as he approaches his 30s.

This could make him an ideal fit for the Lions, especially considering they might already have their starting right guard on the roster. Christian Mahogany, who saw limited action as a rookie, performed well in the two starts he had to make.

Signing Hernandez would provide the Lions with depth in case Mahogany doesn’t emerge as the solution, while also being a low-risk investment if Hernandez serves as a backup. Greg Dortch could also be a consideration as Tim Patrick heads to free agency and Khalif Raymond could be released this offseason.

This would create openings at both wide receiver and in the return game, making Dortch a viable option for the Lions. Regardless of the player, this marks the first concrete hint Holmes has given regarding the team’s potential free-agent targets this offseason.