Why Detroit Lions should re-sign every exclusive-rights free agents

One of the easier decisions an NFL team makes in the offseason is the fate of their exclusive-rights free agents, or ERFAs. Simply put, ERFAs are players on expiring contracts who have played fewer than three seasons in the NFL (Note: You only accrue a season if you were on the roster or an injury list for six or more games).

The decision to retain—or tender—an ERFA is a unique one, because teams can offer these players a one-year contract at the league minimum cost. If a team tenders one of those offers, the players will then have just two options: Sign the one-year tender or sit out the entire season.

In most cases, the team offers the tender, and the player signs it. In some rare cases, the team and player part ways. But this year, the Detroit Lions should have no problem retaining all four of their ERFAs. Let’s take a look at each.

OT Connor Galvin

Galvin joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad. He was elevated to the gameday roster one week where he played seven snaps on special teams. Unfortunately for Galvin, he tore his MCL in Detroit’s opening preseason game in 2024 and missed the entire year.

While Galvin is unlikely to compete for a starting—or even the primary backup job—at tackle, he’s a player the Lions liked enough to keep around for two years and could eventually develop into depth.

G Michael Niese

After spending the 2023 offseason with the Buccaneers, the Lions nabbed Niese to their practice squad for the rest of the season and liked him enough to re-sign him in 2024. He was active and played special teams in every single game this past season. Capable of backing up both guard and center, the Lions clearly value Niese as depth, so this should just be a formality.

EDGE Mitchell Agude

Like Niese, Agude was added early during the 2023 season to the practice squad and re-signed with Detroit for 2024. Agude had a relatively strong preseason, leading the Lions in tackles (12) and tackles for loss (2).

But even when the Lions suffered losses at EDGE and the SAM linebacker position, Agude didn’t get much playing time this year, appearing in just four games toward the end of the season. Still, Agude will turn 26 next week and has an intriguing skillset. No reason to give up on that for the bare-minimum cost.

LB Trevor Nowaske

Nowaske is very well liked by the Lions, so retaining him will feel like a true bargain. Detroit had to make him a tough cut in the middle of the 2023 season, and ended up losing him to the Cardinals via the waiver wire before they could re-sign him to the practice squad. The Lions were able to reclaim him in August 2024, and he made 14 game appearances for them this past season. A four-phase special teamer, with some potential at SAM (he nabbed an interception and two sacks last year), tendering Nowaske will be Detroit’s easiest roster decision this year.