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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 drafted Walker at No. 82 overall 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 posted 398 combined tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits. He also had 23 pass defenses, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
During 2023, Walker started six contests before moving into a special teams role in Week 14.
The Lions released Walker one day after NFL.com’s Matt Okada included the safety on a list of potential NFC roster cut candidates.
Lions Save Cap Space With Tracy Walker Release
Detroit could have saved an additional $2.5 million in cap space by releasing Walker after June 1. But parting with Walker now gives the Lions’ an extra $5.5 million to spend when free agency begins in March.
Releasing Walker now could also be considered a courtesy. It will be easier for the veteran to sign with another team at the start of free agency as opposed to in June.
Walker started 34 games from 2019-21, but he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Week 3 of the 2022 season.
This past season, he began the year as a reserve safety, but re-entered the starting lineup after C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a pectoral injury.
Walker started five of the first seven weeks before moving into a reserve role during Week 8. Walker started a sixth game in Week 12, but he played just 4 defensive snaps combined in the final five regular season contests.
In the playoffs, Walker was a healthy scratch.
Third-year player Ifeatu Melifonwu replaced Walker at safety. Melifonwu had 3 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hits, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions in the final five-game stretch of the regular season.
Then in the playoffs, Melifonwu registered 16 combined tackles, 3 quarterback hits and 2 sacks.
The 2024 campaign was supposed to be Walker’s final season of the 3-year, $25 million contract he signed during the 2022 offseason. Before his release, he was scheduled to count as a $12.8 million cap hit.
Tracy Walker Bids Farewell to Lions
Just prior to Birkett’s report, Walker all but confirmed himself his pending departure from the Lions.
“Detroit I want to thank you for welcoming me in as a rookie and accepting me as family,” Walker wrote in an Instagram post. “I want to thank the Ford family for giving me the opportunity to be apart of something special over these last 6 years.
“The future is bright and TTIME is coming harder than ever for Year7.!!”
Without Walker, safety now becomes more of need for Detroit. The Lions have returning starters Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph, but they should add depth in either free agency or the NFL draft.
The Lions could bring back Gardner-Johnson, but he is a pending free agent.
Cornerback is also a significant need for the Lions this offseason. Therefore, the Lions could have several new additions to their secondary.
Cornerbacks Kindle Vildor, Jerry Jacobs and Emmanuel Moseley are all unrestricted free agents in March.
SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit’s John Whiticar argued on February 19 that the Lions need to sign “multiple starting-caliber” cornerbacks before the 2024 season.
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