During the NFL offseason, the headlines tend to be a little more relaxed compared to the regular season, when injuries and major trades usually dominate the conversation. In that lighter spirit, the Detroit Lions shared some fun news on Wednesday, April 15, involving two of their standout players.

That same day, the first fully licensed Topps NFL trading card collection in a decade officially hit store shelves. The long wait was largely due to a shift in licensing rights. A while ago, Fanatics secured exclusive trading card agreements with both the NFL and NBA, taking over from Panini America. According to The Athletic, Fanatics’ NFL partnership officially began on April 1.

The debut product from that agreement is the 2025 Topps Chrome Football set, a modern collection that has already generated significant buzz among collectors. Demand was strong even before the cards were released, with prices climbing ahead of launch. Now, two Lions players are among those highlighted in the new collection.

The Detroit Lions announced on social media that wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs are both featured in the freshly released Topps Chrome packs.

Fans quickly reacted with excitement online. One supporter commented that pulling a one-of-one card featuring Gibbs would be incredible, while another joked that getting such a rare card would feel like a life achievement.

Seeing two Lions stars included in the set is a nice moment for the team and its fanbase. Clay Luraschi, senior vice president of global product development at Fanatics Collectibles, spoke with The Athletic about the effort that went into the release.

Luraschi explained that the launch was the result of a massive amount of work behind the scenes, with many people contributing to bring the product together. The goal, he said, was not only to make the launch successful but to create the strongest possible debut for the brand’s new NFL trading card era.

Meanwhile, attention around the league is beginning to shift toward the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Lions only have a few days left to finalize their strategy before the event takes place from April 23 to April 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In a mock draft released on April 15, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN projected that Detroit could select Monroe Freeling, an offensive tackle from University of Georgia, with the No. 17 overall pick. Freeling stands 6-foot-7 and weighs about 315 pounds, and his length and agility help him neutralize pass rushers with strong hand usage and quick movement.

Although he has only made 18 collegiate starts, Kiper believes the Lions would still be thrilled to land him in the middle of the first round. He also noted that Detroit ranked near the bottom of the league in pass block win rate last season at just 55.5%, making offensive line help a priority.

Detroit may soon need a long-term successor for veteran tackle Taylor Decker on the left side of the line. Freeling, along with depth options such as Larry Borom, could help fill that need. With Detroit frequently linked to offensive tackles in draft projections, Freeling has become one of the names most often associated with the team as the draft approaches.