The Detroit Lions have spent the last few years being the NFL's feel-good story, but the 2026 offseason is starting to feel a bit like a hangover. After years of drafting perfectly and hitting on every big contract, Brad Holmes is finally staring at a real numbers game. It's tough. Most people are focused on the massive extensions for the "big three"—Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, and Jared Goff—but there's a quieter conversation happening about the guys who helped build this thing. Specifically, we're talking about Kalif Raymond.
Raymond is the definition of a "grit" player. Dan Campbell loves him. The fans love him. But as we head into the 2026 free agency period, it's looking increasingly likely that his time in the Motor City is coming to a close. Honestly, it’s kinda heartbreaking when you look at how much he’s given this team since arriving as a relative unknown in 2021.
What Most People Get Wrong About Kalif Raymond
There’s this weird perception that Raymond is just a "special teams guy" or a "speed merchant" who can't do much else. That’s just wrong. If you’ve actually watched the tape over the last few seasons, you’ve seen a guy who consistently bailed out Jared Goff on third-and-long.
In 2022, he put up 616 receiving yards. That wasn't just fluff; he was a legitimate WR2 for a large chunk of that year when the depth chart was thin. He’s one of the best punt returners in the league, sure, but his value as a "safety valve" receiver is what made the Lions' offense so multiple. He runs routes with a level of precision you don't expect from a guy who’s 5'8".
But here's the reality: the 2025 season was a bit of a reality check. His snap counts started cratering toward the end of the year. In Week 17—a game the Lions absolutely had to have—he only saw the field for six offensive snaps. That's a loud message. When a veteran who knows the system inside and out isn't getting on the field during "winning time," the writing is usually on the wall.
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The Isaac TeSlaa Factor
Why did the snaps disappear? It wasn’t necessarily because Raymond regressed. It was because the Lions found a cheaper, younger alternative. Isaac TeSlaa, the Hillsdale product who flashed massive potential in the 2025 preseason, basically took Raymond’s lunch money by December.
TeSlaa offers something Raymond doesn't: size. At 6'4", TeSlaa gives Ben Johnson (or whoever is calling plays in 2026) a different dimension on the outside. When you already have Amon-Ra St. Brown dominating the intermediate middle and Jameson Williams—who just signed a massive three-year, $83 million extension—taking the top off the defense, the Lions don't necessarily need another small, shifty receiver. They need a red-zone threat. They need a blocker. They need TeSlaa.
Why the 2026 Lions Free Agent Wide Receiver Market is So Complicated
The salary cap is a monster that eventually eats everyone. For the 2026 season, the Lions are projected to be roughly $10.5 million over the effective cap. That's a scary number for a team that still needs to figure out what to do with guys like Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson’s eventual historic payday.
Raymond is scheduled to be an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA). His last deal had an Average Annual Value (AAV) of about $5.25 million. In a world where the cap is rising, he might think he’s worth $6 million or $7 million on a short-term deal. The Lions? They probably see that money and realize they could sign three undrafted free agents and a veteran on a league-minimum deal for the same price.
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- Amon-Ra St. Brown: Locked in through 2028 with a 2026 cap hit of $33.1 million.
- Jameson Williams: Extension kicks in soon, making him a cornerstone through 2029.
- The Depth: Tom Kennedy and Dominic Lovett have shown enough to be "good enough" for WR4/5 roles at a fraction of the cost.
It’s a business. It sucks, but it’s the truth. Brad Holmes has built this roster by being ruthless about "value." Is a 31-year-old receiver/returner a "value" at $5 million-plus when his offensive role has shrunk to almost nothing? Probably not.
The Special Teams Hole
The biggest argument for keeping Raymond is the return game. He’s been a rock there. But even that is becoming replaceable. With the new NFL kickoff rules, teams are looking for different types of returners—guys who can break tackles like running backs rather than just pure speedsters.
We saw Tom Kennedy take more reps back there late in '25. We've seen younger players in camp show they can handle the fair catch duties. If the Lions decide that Raymond's value as a returner doesn't justify a roster spot for a guy who doesn't play 20+ snaps on offense, he’s gone.
What Really Happened with the Lions Receiving Corps in 2025
The 2025 season was supposed to be the year the Lions' offense became unstoppable. On paper, it was. They ranked near the top of the league in points. But the "Ground and Pound" identity took a hit because of shaky offensive line play and injuries.
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When the run game struggled, the offense became one-dimensional. In those moments, you'd expect a veteran like Raymond to be the steady hand. Instead, the Lions leaned harder on Sam LaPorta and the "Sun God." Raymond became a luxury they couldn't find a use for.
Honestly, the chemistry between Goff and Raymond always seemed elite. They had this unspoken timing on those 12-yard out routes. But as Jameson Williams matured into a true WR2—hitting over 1,000 yards in 2025—the "scrappy veteran" role just became redundant. Williams is now the guy getting those targets.
The Landing Spots for Raymond
If Raymond hits the open market, he won't be unemployed for long. There are plenty of teams that need a reliable veteran presence in the locker room and a sure-handed punt returner.
- The Tennessee Titans: They’ve struggled with special teams consistency for years. Bringing back a guy who started his career there as a "pro's pro" would make a lot of sense.
- The Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid loves versatile players who don't make mistakes. Raymond fits the "Dave Toub" mold of a special teams ace who can fill in on offense in a pinch.
- The Houston Texans: With C.J. Stroud entering his prime, giving him a veteran who can play multiple spots and provide insurance for younger receivers is a smart move.
Actionable Insights for the Lions Offseason
The Lions shouldn't just let Raymond walk and do nothing. If they are moving on, they need a clear plan to replace his 2022-2023 production and his leadership.
- Prioritize a Big-Bodied WR3: If TeSlaa is the guy, fine. If not, the Lions should look at the draft—specifically the mid-rounds—for a receiver with a "X" profile to complement St. Brown and Williams.
- Restructure the Big Contracts: To even think about keeping a veteran like Raymond, the Lions must restructure Jared Goff's massive $69.6 million cap hit. Converting some of that to a signing bonus could free up $20 million+ and give them breathing room to keep their "culture guys."
- Identify the Next Returner Now: Don't wait until August to find out who is catching punts. If Raymond is out, they need to give those reps to someone like Lovett or a designated rookie immediately.
The 2026 offseason is going to be the first real test of the "Lions' Way." It’s easy to stay together when you’re rising. It’s a lot harder when you have to start saying goodbye to the players who helped you get there. Kalif Raymond might be the first difficult goodbye of many. He’s been a great Lion, but the math just doesn't seem to add up anymore. He deserves a chance to be a WR3 somewhere else rather than a WR5 in Detroit.