The Detroit Lions front office continues to make calculated personnel moves as the organization methodically constructs its offseason roster framework.
Per reporting from Dave Birkett, the Lions organization elected to withhold tender offers from restricted free agents Trevor Nowaske and Tom Kennedy, signaling a deliberate shift in roster prioritization.
The immediate consequence of this organizational decision elevates both players to unrestricted free agent status, granting them full autonomy to negotiate and sign with any franchise across the league.
Trevor Nowaske's time in Detroit
A proud Michigan native who built his collegiate foundation at Saginaw Valley State, Nowaske carved out a meaningful presence in Detroit's defensive scheme, suiting up for 15 contests throughout the 2025 campaign.
Surveying his complete NFL tenure, the linebacker has accumulated meaningful contributions across 31 appearances, highlighted by the following production markers:
- 25 total tackles
- 3.0 sacks
- 9 solo tackles in 2025
Throughout his tenure with Detroit, Nowaske carved out a defined role as a core special teams contributor and rotational presence along the linebacker corps — the kind of versatile depth piece that championship-caliber rosters quietly depend upon.
Tom Kennedy's role with the Lions
Kennedy's Lions tenure epitomized the grind-it-out journey of a professional depth receiver, navigating multiple transitions between the active roster and practice squad while establishing himself as a reliable personnel option within Detroit's wide receiver depth chart.
The Bryant University product compiled a respectable résumé across 30 career games, posting the following receiving totals:
- 18 receptions
- 231 receiving yards
- 0 touchdowns
In his most recent 2025 season, Kennedy appeared across six games, contributing four receptions for 36 yards — modest numbers that nonetheless reflect his value as a situational weapon and practice-week asset.
What it means for Detroit
From a roster management and salary cap perspective, declining to tender either player represents a fiscally disciplined approach — one that preserves financial flexibility as Detroit's front office pursues higher-impact acquisitions to address more pressing positional needs heading into the new league year.
With Nowaske and Kennedy now free to explore opportunities across the full landscape of NFL franchises, the Lions shift their attention toward identifying and securing upgraded depth solutions at both the linebacker and wide receiver positions — roles that will be critical to sustaining the organizational momentum Detroit has built in recent seasons.
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