The Detroit Lions did not tender contract offers to restricted free agents Trevor Nowaske and Tom Kennedy, leaving both clear to sign with other teams.
Nowaske and Kennedy join 23 other Lions who became unrestricted free agents at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 11.
Six of those players – linebacker Alex Anzalone, cornerback Amik Robertson, defensive tackle Roy Lopez, receiver Kalif Raymond, quarterback Kyle Allen and defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat, who also was non-tendered as a restricted free agent – already have agreed to deals with new teams.
Nowaske and Kennedy still could return to the Lions on contracts that pay them less than the minimum tender offer of $3.547 million. Had the Lions tendered either at that level, they would have had the right to match any contract they signed as a free agent.
Nowaske, 27, has three sacks in 31 career games with the Lions. He has played mostly on special teams since signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State.
Kennedy, 29, has been with the Lions in some capacity since 2019. He caught four passes for 36 yards in six games last season and handled kick-return duties late in the season.
Lions players who became free agents on Wednesday*
- QB Kyle Allen (will sign with Buffalo Bills)
- LB Alex Anzalone (will sign with Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- OL Kayode Awosika
- OL Trystan Colon
- LB Zach Cunningham
- DE Marcus Davenport
- TE Anthony Firkser
- OL Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- DT Roy Lopez (will sign with Arizona Cardinals)
- DB Avonte Maddox
- CB Arthur Maulet
- DB Jalen Mills
- DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
- LB Trevor Nowaske
- WR Kalif Raymond (will sign with Chicago Bears)
- DT DJ Reader
- CB Amik Robertson (will sign with Washington Commanders)
- OT Dan Skipper (retired, joined Lions coaching staff)
- LB Grant Stuard
- S Daniel Thomas
- LB Ezekiel Turner
- TE Shane Zylstra
*CB Rock Ya-Sin and LB Malcolm Rodriguez also are free agents, but will re-sign with the Lions.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions do not tender RFAs Trevor Nowaske, Tom Kennedy