The Lions have released safety Tracy Walker, opening up not only cap space, but apparently more playing time for another young safety.
Walker leaves the Lions after four years in Detroit, having appeared in every game last season, finishing with 59 tackles, two passes defended, a forced fumble and one sack. The move frees up about $5.5 million in cap space.
The former 2018 third-round pick made six starts in 2023, filling in for the injured C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but lost the starting job to Ifeatu Melifonwu, who came on strong at the end of the season and made his case to be the starter heading into next season.
Walker agreed to a three-year extension in March 2022 after a solid start to his career, but missed the majority of that season following a torn achilles.
He posted a farewell message to Lions fans on Instagram Tuesday, saying “I want to thank you for welcoming me in as a rookie and accepting me as family.”
“I want to thank the Ford family for giving me the opportunity to be apart (sic) of something special over these last 6 years,” the post said. “I want to thank my fans and supporters for always having my back through it all. I want to thank the city for holding down for me. It was many ups and downs but that’s life and life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond.”
Tuesday’s move comes a week after the Lions kicked off their offseason by signing Matthieu Betts, the Canadian Football League’s sack leader and defensive player of the year.
The Lions enter the offseason coming off the franchise’s best season in at least three decades, perhaps ever, having won their first playoff game since the 1991 season and reached the NFC Championship, only to see a 17-point halftime lead evaporate.
The team will be tasked with beefing up a defense that lacked at times in 2023, especially in the secondary. With Walker’s release, GM Brad Holmes now has an extra $5.5 million in cap space to put towards that task.