The Detroit Lions are on a mission to decide the future of some of their players on the roster. And this time, Dan Campbell and his team are considering their kicker, Michael Badgley. “A lotta Love for the City of Detroit.” Although Badgley showed his love for the Motor City in 2023, he wasn’t able to work for the team this past season. Why? Well, his groin injury kept him on the injured reserve list for the entire year. Now, as the franchise has moved in the offseason, Campbell has revealed a major update on him.

During the first week of training camp in 2024, Michael Badgley tore his hamstring. This unfortunate news kept him out of the entire 2024 season. But now a positive update has come out as per reports. But wait… This positive update is not only for the Lions and Badgley. It’s also for the rest of the 31 teams in the league. Why?

Well, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on X, “The #Lions recently cleared veteran kicker Michael Badgley from the groin injury that sidelined him for all of last season, per source.” That’s great news for sure! But the story doesn’t end here. As per Pelissero, now that Dan Campbell’s kicker, who is 29 years old, “has made a full recovery,” he “is an impending free agent.”

That’s a positive update for the rest of the 31 teams. Talking about his stats, Dan Campbell’s placekicker played four games in 2023. And guess what? Michael Badgley made all four of his field-goal tries and 13 of his 15 extra-point attempts. So, now you must be thinking about why the Lions might part ways with him, especially after these good stats. Well, the reason behind this might be Jake Bates.

Dan Campbell’s rookie kicker, Bates, had an impressive 2024 season in Badgley’s absence. Especially his game-winning field goal and a 30-yard kick on Thanksgiving were some of the standout moments during the 2024 NFL season. He made 26 field goals, six of which were from 50+ yards. In total kicking points, he ranked as the fifth-best kicker in the league with 142 points.

Bates’s numbers might make Badgley leave to another team to restart his career after the injury episode. Until then, the Lions are also passing on the franchise tag while deciding on two key weapons.

Dan Campbell and the Lions keep their record live?

The Lions just made things interesting. They didn’t use the franchise tag on some players. So, this means Dan Campbell’s players, like Carlton Davis III, Kevin Zeitler, and others, could hit the open market next week—unless Detroit locks them in first. But as of now, per current reports, they passed on this franchise tag before Tuesday’s deadline.

Davis and Zeitler have been two of the biggest names on the roster. On one hand, the cornerback recorded 42 tackles and 14 assists in 13 games last season. He was the team’s most reliable cornerback before breaking his jaw in December. However, he had an 86.8 overall grade from PFF, and guess what? He was third among all guards. So, it’s true that both will have plenty of suitors. But Dan Campbell’s Lions didn’t see them as franchise tag material. That’s definitely a bold move.

Davis is only 28 and could demand $15 million or more per year. The Lions want him back, but they might look for a cheaper alternative. Zeitler, on the other hand, just turned 35 and started 16 games at right guard last season. His market value? Around $9.2 million per year.

The last time Dan Campbell’s Lions used the franchise tag was in 2018 on Ziggy Ansah. So, they are likely to keep this record for one more year. For now, Detroit has 22 free agents, including a handful of key starters. With free agency right around the corner, it’s decision time. Will the Lions bring them back or move on? What do you think?