Youth and depth.
The Detroit Lions made a point to add both to their roster this offseason after missing the playoffs last fall, and with veteran minicamp now in the books, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he’s happy with how far his team has come in both regards.
The Lions made seven picks in this year’s draft, and all of them have a chance to make the 53-man roster. They got younger and deeper in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve got some really good competition,” said Campbell on Wednesday, June 17, after the Lions’ final workout of spring. “I mean, some of the best we’ve had since I’ve been here in different areas. That’s exciting because there is no greater motivator than the guy who’s pushing you. He’s trying to get what you think is yours. There’s nothing better.”
The Lions hope that competition pays dividends when training camp opens this summer, and for now it’s made it more difficult to project next year’s 53-man roster.
This is my first of probably three roster projections (with the other two to come during camp), and I debated the final roster spots at wide receiver, linebacker, defensive back and on the defensive line.
I have 52 players on my initial 53-man roster because that’s been Brad Holmes’ M.O. the past few years, to leave himself one or more open spots on roster cut day. But there are four or five players not on this list whom I could easily see making the team this summer.
Here’s my way-too-early roster projection:
Quarterback (2)
In: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater.
My thoughts: Goff is a no-doubt starter and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Lions like Bridgewater’s veteran presence as a backup. Undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer is the odd man out in this projection but should get plenty of opportunity to win a job in camp and will be ticketed for the practice squad if he doesn’t. Bridgewater is starting to show his age, but I don’t believe the No. 2 job is in jeopardy for now.
Running back (3)
In: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki.
My thoughts: The Lions have typically carried more than three backs, and Jacob Saylors was a core special teams player last fall. Saylors is probably ahead of Jabari Small and Kye Robichaux if the Lions keep four, and they might need to given Vaki’s injury history.
Wide receiver (5)
In: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy.
IR: Kendrick Law.
My thoughts: Law’s torn ACL opened the door for Kennedy, Dominic Lovett, Cedrick Wilson or someone else to win the No. 5 receiver job. I’m going with Kennedy for now for his kick-return ability, though Lovett probably offers the best overall special teams ability of the group, and the Lions clearly are looking for upgrades after signing four UFL receivers this week. Lucky Jackson, one of those ex-UFL standouts, is one to watch because of his special teams play, but I haven’t seen enough of him to give him a roster spot.
Tight end (3)
In: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin.
My thoughts: The Lions have a host of young, developmental tight ends fighting for back-end roster spots, but it will be hard for any to crack the 53-man roster without an injury to LaPorta, Wright or Conklin. Undrafted rookie Miles Kitselman worked in three tight end sets at minicamp during Conklin’s absence, and Jackson Meeks could push for a job or, at minimum, a practice squad spot after converting from receiver.
Offensive line (9)
In: Penei Sewell, Cade Mays, Tate Ratledge, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Ben Bartch, Miles Frazier.
My thoughts: Nowhere is the Lions’ depth and youth more evident than on the offensive line, where Bartch is the only 30-something in my projected top nine. One of Mahogany, Bartch or Scruggs should win the left guard job, with the other two filling the top interior backup spots. Frazier is an interior lineman who can play tackle in a pinch, though the Lions could keep Devin Cochran or Gio Manu as the ninth or 10th lineman if they desire an extra tackle.
Defensive line (10)
In: Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Levi Onwuzurike, Payton Turner, Jay Tufele, Tyler Lacy, Skyler Gill-Howard.
My thoughts: I had 11 defensive linemen on my initial roster projection and would have kept both Gill-Howard and seventh-round pick Tyre West had I had gone to 53 players. Maybe Holmes does that for the first time since 2023; he’s loathe to cut draft picks, after all. But there are only so many spots for undersized interior linemen like Gill-Howard, West and 2024 sixth-round pick Mekhi Wingo. To be fair, I haven’t seen enough to distinguish Gill-Howard from West this spring, but the Lions took Gill-Howard 17 picks before West, so I’m relying on draft order with this decision. I don’t think all the veteran backups are locks for jobs, but we need to see the pads come on to get separation in the group.
Linebacker (6)
In: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jimmy Rolder, Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark.
My thoughts: Barnes and Rodriguez are starters who will play on special teams, so the Lions don’t need to keep six linebackers, but I think Clark and Nowaske have unique enough skill sets (in coverage for Clark, as a rusher for Nowaske) and will fill big enough roles in the kick game to warrant making the team. Joe Bachie and undrafted rookie Erick Hunter also are vying for jobs.
Defensive back (11)
In: D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw, Roger McCreary, Khalil Dorsey, Keith Abney, Kerby Joseph, Thomas Harper, Christian Izien, Chuck Clark.
PUP: Brian Branch
My thoughts: The Lions have a ton of moving parts in the secondary, which means this projection could look significantly different come August. Branch and Joseph didn’t practice all spring, and while I don’t think Branch will be ready for Week 1, the Lions won’t have an idea of what to expect from Joseph until he hits the field this summer. Arnold continues to have some off-field drama in his orbit that will play out later this summer when six of his associates are scheduled to go to trial on assault and kidnapping chargers; Arnold has not been charged with a crime and has denied any involvement in the case. And I left Avonte Maddox off this projection, though he was a reliable backup last year, and the Lions might want to keep five safeties on their initial roster given the uncertainty with Joseph and Branch.
Special teams (3)
In: Jake Bates, Jack Fox, Hogan Hatten.
My thoughts: This one’s a slam dunk. They’re the only three specialists on the roster and pretty good at their jobs.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions 53-man roster prediction: DL, DB, WR offer biggest debates
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
