Detroit Lions free agency: Bargain bin offensive line options

Welcome back to Football Guy Al’s Free Agent Toy Barn!

If you missed our first installment, we broke down the best Detroit Lions bargain bin free agent options at running back, wide receiver, and tight ends. Now it’s time to take a look at the big dudes on the offensive front.

The Lions’ road to reloading their offensive line became a little rockier with the recent release of long-time left tackle stalwart Taylor Decker.

The team still has two franchise pillars to build around in Penei Sewell and Tate Ratledge, though where each ultimately lines up long-term remains up for debate.

Beyond them, the Lions have Christian Mahogany and Miles Frazier—players who could develop into capable guards but would represent a risky plan if one were immediately penciled into a starting role. Detroit also has a pair of developmental projects under offensive line coach Hank Fraley in tackle Giovanni Manu and newly acquired center Juice Scruggs, both of whom are entering something of a now-or-never season.

The free-agent offensive tackle market is particularly thin, lacking anyone close to Decker’s caliber. Meanwhile, center is one of the most in-demand positions league-wide, with more teams needing starters than there are quality players available—even if a few solid names are hitting the market.

How Brad Holmes and the Lions balance free agency, the draft, and potentially the trade market to address these needs will be paramount to Detroit’s success in 2026 and beyond.

Interior offensive line bargain bin options

C / IOL – Luke Fortner (New Orleans Saints | 6-4, 307 | Age 28)

Spotrac Market Value: $18.54M / 3 years ($6.18M AAV)
Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A

With the Lions unlikely to outbid teams with massive cap space and young quarterbacks in need of veteran veteran centers bringing composed command of their attack—such as the Raiders, Titans, or Chargers—for the likes of Tyler Linderbaum or Connor McGovern, their sights may be better set on players like Ethan Pocic or Cade Mays.

But if free agency breaks poorly, Fortner could represent a Plan D option—with a potential trade serving as Plan C.

Fortner was a surprisingly solid rookie starter for the Jaguars as a third-round pick in 2022, when Jacksonville reached the divisional round. He again started all 17 games in 2023, though with more struggles, before being benched and largely inactive in 2024.

Fortner was traded to the Saints during last year’s training camp—moving away from former college OC (and brief Jaguars head coach) Liam Coen—and later filled in for injured starter Erik McCoy, starting Weeks 8–18 and experiencing something of a career renaissance.

Though he can still be overpowered at times and occasionally plays high, Fortner has maximized his movement skills and strong hand usage. If he continues trending upward, he could become an above-average starting center over the next few seasons.

Fortner finished last season as PFF’s 18th-highest graded center out of 41 qualifiers. In Detroit, he would likely compete with Juice Scruggs in training camp for the starting job, with Fortner perhaps holding a slight edge due to his more recent success at the position.

C / IOL – Sean Rhyan (Green Bay Packers | 6-5, 321 | Age 26)

Spotrac Market Value: $19.60M / 3 years ($6.54M AAV)
Consensus Big Board Rank: 111

Rhyan was late to football but grew up as both a rugby standout and talented shot putter.

He became a three-year starting left tackle for UCLA—including as a freshman—before converting to guard in the NFL. Rhyan started every game at right guard in 2024, then in typical Packers cross-training fashion stepped in at center for injured Elgton Jenkins beginning in Week 11, holding the role through Green Bay’s Wild Card loss (seven starts).

The big-bodied Rhyan is another younger interior lineman who could compete at multiple spots and may still have his best football ahead of him. At center, Rhyan remains a work in progress as a pass protector and in managing protection calls against blitzes and stunts. However, he checks the boxes of being aggressive, explosive, and forceful in the run game—a solid foundation to build upon.

Rhyan had one of his better performances of the season at center against the Lions on Thanksgiving, something Detroit’s staff and pro personnel department undoubtedly noticed.

C / IOL – Matt Hennessy (San Francisco 49ers | 6-3, 315 | Age 29)

Spotrac Market Value: $1.84M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A

Hennessy follows a similar trend to Scruggs, Fortner, and Rhyan: flashes of quality starting play mixed with inconsistency, experience at guard, and the possibility that his best football is still ahead of him.

That said, Hennessy may be closer to his floor. His last full season as a starting center came in 2021 with the Falcons in Arthur Smith’s offense after apprenticing under Alex Mack as a rookie in 2020.

Knee injuries derailed his 2022 and 2023 seasons, but after joining the 49ers he showed glimpses of renewed form during a few midseason spot starts in 2025.

Hennessy lacks ideal size and length but compensates with athleticism and above-average movement skills when climbing to the second level. He also wore a single-digit practice jersey at Temple—a tradition reserved to honor the program’s toughest players.

OG – Dylan Parham (Las Vegas Raiders | 6-3, 285 | 27)

Spotrac Market Value: $30.19M / 3 years ($10.06M AAV)
PFF Market Value: $39.0M / 3 years ($13.0M AAV)
Consensus Big Board Rank: 84

Parham—along with the next player—may be one of the most intriguing reclamation-project offensive linemen in this free-agent class.

He originally started as a blocking tight end early in his Memphis career, and you can still see that background in his quick feet and ability to wall off defenders to create running lanes.

Focusing on a single position might benefit Parham’s development. He started 51 games at Memphis (28 LG, 12 RG, 11 RT) and 63 games for the Raiders (44 LG, 16 RG, 3 C).

During his four-year NFL career, Parham has dealt with constant instability: three head coaches, four general managers, six offensive coordinators (three fired midseason), and three offensive line coaches. The biggest disaster came last season under Pete Carroll’s son, Brennan Carroll, who oversaw one of the league’s most dysfunctional offensive line units.

A change of scenery could benefit Parham, allowing him to return to the form he showed in 2024 when he started 15 games at right guard and finished as PFF’s 17th-highest graded guard (74.3).

OG – Teven Jenkins (Cleveland Browns | 6-6, 321 | Age 28)

Spotrac Market Value: $2.31M / 1 year
PFF Market Value: $2.75M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: 113

While Parham is more of a finesse guard with a potentially higher ceiling, Jenkins is an anvil—a true power player.

Both players would create a competitive training camp battle with Christian Mahogany at left guard, and Jenkins would fit right in with the dirtbag mentality shared by Mahogany and Tate Ratledge. Like many bargain-bin targets, Jenkins was a Day 2 pick whose original team struggled to map out a consistent development plan.

The Bears began his career at left tackle as a rookie — despite him primarily playing right tackle at Oklahoma State—then moved him to right guard in 2022 and to left guard midway through 2023. He finally settled in during 2024, starting 14 games and finishing as PFF’s 13th-highest graded guard (75.4), just ahead of Trey Smith and Tyler Smith.

Jenkins is a thick, powerful blocker who plays square and looks to bury defenders into the turf. He also has underrated feet but must continue refining his balance, particularly against speed.

OG – Chris Paul (Washington Commanders | 6-4, 323 | Age 28)

Spotrac Market Value: $9.39M / 2 years ($4.70M AAV)
PFF Market Value: $24.0M / 2 years ($12.0M AAV)
Consensus Big Board Rank: 169

Paul entered the league as a converted college tackle and seventh-round athletic project who gradually worked his way into Washington’s lineup.

In his fourth season, he became the Commanders’ starting left guard and showed flashes of improvement—particularly in pass protection, where he used his wide base effectively.

However, he remains a work in progress and struggled at times in the run game due to inconsistent physicality.

Paul is the older brother of Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul and is widely regarded as a high-character presence in the locker room. He already holds an MBA and served as one of two student-athletes on the NCAA’s Football Oversight Committee in 2021.

He could be a low-cost option to throw into the junkyard dogfight at left guard with Mahogany and Miles Frazier.

OG – Daniel Faalele (Baltimore Ravens | 6-8, 370 | Age 27)

Spotrac Market Value: $21.05M / 2 years ($10.52M AAV)
PFF Market Value: $21.0M / 3 years ($7.0M)
Consensus Big Board Rank: 149

The massive Australian—who has Tongan and Samoan heritage and a rugby background—could practically block out the sun. After moving to right guard in 2024, Faalele started the past two seasons there. While he showed promise in 2024, he failed to build on that progress last season and is now likely to hit the open market.

Faalele has battled leverage, balance, and quickness issues while working in the phone booth on the interior. However, his flashes show legitimate game-changing ability from a size and physicality standpoint.

If some of the rumors are true and Tate Ratledge moves to center, the Lions could consider sizing up with Faalele next to Penei Sewell—potentially creating the most imposing right side of an offensive line in football. He could also represent an outside-the-box flier at right tackle if Sewell were to move to the left side, returning Faalele to the position he originally entered the league playing.

OG Spencer Burford (San Francisco 49ers | 6-4, 300 | Age 26)

Spotrac Market Value: $3.39M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A

Burford—the cousin of former Lion LaAdrian Waddle —was a Day 1 starter for the 49ers in 2022, playing the majority of games at right guard during his first two seasons before being benched late in their Super Bowl run in his second year.

He returned to the lineup this past season, starting at left guard beginning in Week 9 due to injury, though he unfortunately has yet to finish a season graded inside PFF’s top 50 guards across his three NFL seasons with significant playing time.

Burford has also repped as Trent Williams’ primary backup at left tackle over the past two seasons. In college, he made 23 combined starts at both tackle spots across his final two seasons (along with 21 starts at left guard during his first two years at UTSA), which could offer some swing tackle potential.

Burford still needs refinement with his technique and leverage, but he’s an efficient mover on pull blocks and does a good job targeting defenders at the second level.

Honorable Mention

New York Giants — C Austin Schlottman
Miami Dolphins — IOL Cole Strange
Cincinnati Bengals — OG Cordell Volson

Offensive tackle bargin bin options

OT Jamaree Salyer (Los Angeles Chargers | 6-3, 321 | Age 26

Spotrac Market Value: $1.83M / 1 year
PFF Market Value: $1.5M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: 188

The former national champion left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs lacks ideal length but has filled in admirably on Justin Herbert’s blindside when Rashawn Slater (and occasionally Joe Alt) has missed time over the past few seasons. However, Salyer struggled when given the opportunity to start at right guard in 2023.

Salyer was actually a revelation at left tackle as a rookie in 2022, when he finished as PFF’s 38th-highest graded offensive tackle (69.8).

He uses his broad frame, football intelligence, and strong hand placement to maximize his abilities and can effectively wall off rushers in pass protection. However, his athletic limitations and lack of functional strength are more apparent in the run game.

OT Yosh Njiman (Carolina Panthers | 6-7, 314 | Age 30)

Spotrac Market Value: $1.04M / 1 year
PFF Market Value: $1.50M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A

There’s a reason quality offensive tackles rarely reach free agency. Attempting to replace Taylor Decker on the open market is already difficult—doing so in the bargain bin is even more challenging.

Still, despite never being a long-term starter with either the Packers or Panthers, the 30-year-old Nijman offers some intriguing upside. With 29 career starts across both tackle spots, Nijman could serve as a capable swing tackle option—a more traditional backup than Dan Skipper, who is a massive presence but tends to thrive more often as a run-blocker than pass protector.

Larry Borom (Miami Dolphins | 6-5, 325 | Age 27)

Spotrac Market Value: $2.43M / 1 year
Consensus Big Board Rank: N/A

Borom, the Detroit native, spent the entirety of his rookie contract as a utility offensive lineman for the Bears, making 27 starts at every position except center.

He finally settled back into his natural position at right tackle—the spot he played at Missouri — making 11 starts there for the Dolphins last season.

From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Borom quietly graded as PFF’s 35th-highest graded offensive tackle (70.3). That mark was 10 spots ahead of Jamaree Salyer, 13 spots ahead of Taylor Decker, and six spots behind Yosh Nijman during that stretch.

Borom does have some length limitations at right tackle, but he’s a dense, sturdy athlete with a powerful upper body who brings plenty of force as a drive blocker. He still needs to rein in some control issues, but his punch timing and placement in pass protection have improved enough to take advantage of his natural power.

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