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Lions Part Ways With Veteran Starter After 6 Seasons

The Detroit Lions said goodbye to one of their longest-tenured defensive players on February 20 — safety Tracy Walker.

The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett reported that the Lions are releasing Walker to save about $5.5 million in cap space.

The Lions selected Walker with the 82nd pick in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The 29-year-old has never played for another organization. In six seasons, Walker started 43 of 79 games for the Lions. He made 398 total tackles, of which he recorded 16 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits. He also recorded 23 passes defensed, four sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Walker appeared in six contests throughout 2023 before moving to a special teams role starting in Week 14. The Lions released Walker a day after NFL.com’s Matt Okada listed the cornerback as a candidate for roster reduction in the NFC.

Lions save cap space by releasing Tracy Walker

Detroit could save an additional $2.5 million in cap space by releasing Walker after June 1. However, parting ways with Walker will give the Lions an additional $5.5 million to spend when free agency begins in March.

It would be polite to release Walker now. It would be easier for a veteran to sign with another team at the start of free agency than in June.

Walker started 34 games in 2019-21, but suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 3 of the 2022 season. Last season, he started the season as a backup cornerback, but returned to the starting lineup when C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a pectoral injury.

Walker was a starter in five of his first seven weeks and moved into a backup role in Week 8. Walker started Game 6 in Week 12, but played only four defensive snaps in the final five games of the regular season.

Walker remained healthy during the playoffs. Walker was replaced by third-year safety Ifetu Melifonwu. Melifonwu had three tackles, five quarterback hits, three sacks and two interceptions in the final five games of the regular season. Melifonwu totaled 16 tackles, three quarterback hits, and two sacks in the playoffs.

The 2024 season was supposed to be Walker’s final season on a three-year, $25 million contract he signed during the 2022 offseason. Prior to his release, his cap hit was set at $12.8 million.

Tracy Walker bids farewell to Lions

Shortly before Burkett’s report, Walker had all but confirmed his impending departure from the Lions. “Thank you, Detroit, for accepting me as a recruit and as a member of your family,” Walker wrote in an Instagram post. “I would like to thank the Ford family for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something special over the past six years. “The future is bright and in year 7, TTIME is harder than ever!!”

Without Walker, Detroit’s safety becomes even more important. The Lions have returning starters in Melifonwu and Kirby Joseph, but are expected to add depth either through free agency or the NFL Draft. The Lions could bring back Gardner-Johnson, but he’s not yet a free agent.

Cornerback is also a big need for the Lions this offseason. So the Lions could have some new features in the secondary.

Cornerbacks Kindle Wildor, Jerry Jacobs and Emmanuel Moseley will become unrestricted free agents in March. John Whitaker of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit said on Feb. 19 that the Lions need to sign “a few top-notch defensive backs” before the 2024 season.