Now that the roster cutdowns are settled in, it’s time to take a look around the NFL and see where some old friends who used to play in Detroit are now. Everyone knows Matthew Stafford is in Los Angeles, but how is he faring in his new Rams uniform? We’ll check on the guy who left early in free agency too.
Stafford: The new Rams starting QB did not play in the preseason. Stafford is even getting some fringe MVP buzz in his new home.
Kenny Golladay: Golladay signed with the New York Giants as a big-ticket free agent, but there is already some uneasiness and buyer’s remorse as Golladay continues to deal with injuries that kept him out of the preseason.
Marvin Jones: Jones followed former Lions offensive coordinator and interim head coach Darrell Bevell to Jacksonville. Jones will start at WR for the new-look Jaguars, though he suffered a shoulder injury in the final preseason game that could sideline him for a bit.
Jamal Agnew: Like Jones, Agnew headed to Jacksonville. As was the case in Detroit, Agnew will primarily be the Jaguars’ return specialist. He will also serve as the backup slot WR and occasional gadget player.
Mike Ford: The cornerback was the only Lions player cut in the last two weeks who was added to another team’s active roster right away. Ford was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos.
Duron Harmon: The veteran safety signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s earned a starting role but is also mentoring the young secondary around him in Atlanta too.
Kerryon Johnson: The Lions let Johnson go earlier this offseason out of concerns over the running back’s ability to stay healthy. That proved prescient; Johnson was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles with injury designation. He has not been signed elsewhere as of Sept. 6th.
Mohamed Sanu: He had but a brief run in Detroit in 2020. Now the veteran wideout is in San Francisco. Sanu will be the No. 3 receiver, and perhaps the punt returner, for the 49ers when they visit Ford Field in Week 1.
Chase Daniel: The Los Angeles Chargers signed Daniel to be their “in case of emergency, break glass” backup quarterback.
Oday Aboushi: Aboushi also found his way to the Chargers. The veteran offensive lineman is penciled in as the starting right guard after a decent summer. As a bonus, one-time Lions OT Storm Norton is the Chargers’ swing tackle.
Jahlani Tavai: As nearly the entire football universe predicted, Tavai found his way to New England after the Lions dumped the 2019 second-round linebacker. He’s on the Patriots practice squad to start 2021.
Jesse James: After fizzling as a free agent TE signing in Detroit over two years, James took his talents to Chicago. James is the Bears’ backup tight end.
Jayron Kearse: After starting seven games in Detroit in 2020, Kearse is now the No. 3 safety in Dallas and was also a fixture on special teams in preseason.
Breshad Perriman: While he’s not officially been added to the Bears roster just yet, Perriman has agreed to sign with Chicago. The Bears are still in the process of figuring who to cut to add Detroit’s biggest free agent disappointment of 2021.
Jake Hausmann: One of the first cuts by the Lions this summer, Hausmann is now on the Giants practiced squad. The rookie tight end from Ohio State was also one of the Giants quick cuts.
Miles Killebrew: The hybrid LB/S is now the top backup safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Danny Shelton: One of Detroit’s starting defensive tackles in 2020, Shelton is now the No. 3 DT in the rotation with the Giants.
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