The Detroit Lions boast one of the deepest rosters in football, as general manager Brad Holmes has done a fantastic job building a squad with very few weaknesses and solid depth.
With Detroit having a stacked roster, it can lead to the team shockingly cutting ties with impactful players. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes the Lions could release wide receiver and returner Kalif Raymond ahead of the 2025 season.
"Tim Patrick emerged as Detroit's third wideout behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams last season, and the Lions re-signed Patrick before drafting Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett. Raymond's punt-return ability might be enough to save his roster spot in 2025, but if another returner emerges, Detroit could save $3.6 million in cap space by cutting the 30-year-old," Knox wrote.
Raymond has been a valuable player for the Lions since joining the team in 2021. The veteran was a solid contributor in the receiving game from 2021 to 2023, but he took a step back in 2024.
The 30-year-old's true value comes on special teams, as he's an excellent punt returner who led the league in punt return yards last year. Raymond earned second-team All-Pro honors for his special teams play in 2022 and 2024.
Though he didn't do much for Detroit's offense last season, the Lions should keep Raymond around. The Holy Cross product is on a cheap deal and his versatility has been a huge asset. Additionally, Raymond has been through the entire rebuild in Detroit, and his selflessness fits Campbell's culture perfectly.
At the end of the day, the NFL is a business. The Lions may cut Raymond before the season and allocate their money elsewhere. However, he is still an effective player, and moving on from him would make Detroit worse.
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