The Detroit Lions made a slew of roster moves after closing out their regular season with a win over the Chicago Bears.
The Lions re-signed three exclusive rights free agents: Jacob Saylors, Michael Niese, and Nick Whiteside. They also inked nine additional players on reserve/future contracts: Jabari Small, Jackson Meeks, Malik Cunningham, Zach Horton, Devin Cochran, Mason Miller, Ahmed Hassanein, Chris Smith and Loren Strickland.
The exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) tag is given to players who have had two or fewer accrued NFL seasons whose contracts have expired. When a team extends an ERFA tender, the player is barred from negotiating with other teams. His only options are to accept the one-year tender—typically at or near the league minimum—or sit out the season. Basically, it’s a cost-controlled way to keep talented young players in-house while continuing to evaluate them.
A Closer Look at the ERFA-Tendered Players
GettyRB Jacob Saylors of the Detroit Lions was re-signed to a future/reserves deal heading into 2026.
Among the ERFA trio, Nick Whiteside was the most impactful contributor during the 2025 season. An undrafted cornerback who has spent multiple seasons cycling between Detroit’s practice squad and active roster, Whiteside appeared in nine regular season games and finished with five tackles and three pass breakups.
Running back Jacob Saylors, who joined Detroit as an undrafted rookie in 2025, played a limited offensive role and finished the season with two carries for 11 yards. In college, Saylors showed versatility as both a runner and receiver, so it’s no surprise the Lions want to keep him around to develop further.
Interior offensive lineman Michael Niese, also undrafted, provided reserve depth at guard and at center. Niese spent much of the year as injury insurance without logging significant snaps.
Detroit Lions 2026 Future/Reserve Signings Include RB Jabari Small & Ahmed Hassanein
The reserve/future signings slated to return include several low-key yet potentially impactful players.
At running back, Jabari Small returns after his his rookie season last year. Small was a productive and durable college runner known for physicality between the tackles, and while he didn’t have a regular season carry in 2025, the Lions likely still want to see what they have in him.
At wide receiver, there’s Jackson Meeks, an undrafted rookie who was elevated twice during the season and saw limited action. Also at receiver, Malik Cunningham appeared in one game in 2025, logging one offensive snap, rushing once for a lone yard. His athleticism and positional flexibility remain the primary reasons Detroit is keeping him in the system.
The Lions re-signed one tight end, rookie UDFA Zach Horton. At 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, Horton brings size, decent blocking skills and special teams value to the table.
Along the offensive line, Devin Cochran and Mason Miller return as developmental depth. Cochran, an undrafted tackle who played nine games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, provides swing tackle insurance, while Miller remains a young interior O-lineman learning multiple positions.
Defensively, the most notable futures signing is Ahmed Hassanein, a sixth-round pick in 2025. Hassanein was productive in college at Boise State, and Detroit will continue to develop him as a rotational edge prospect.
Rounding out the signings, Chris Smith returns as interior defensive line depth, while Loren Strickland, who has appeared in nine games for Detroit over the last two seasons, adds safety depth and special teams value.
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