For some within the NFL, particularly those with a well-built resume and a proven track record of success, training camp is a chore — a slogging tune-up that must be completed before the regular season begins in September.
For others, it’s an invaluable opportunity to prove worthy of a larger role.
With the Detroit Lions beginning training camp Wednesday, here are five members of the roster (excluding rookies) with the most to gain over the next month. These players aren’t currently starters, and they may not be at any point in 2026. But with a strong showing at camp, they can position themselves to become integral contributors.
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Rakestraw finished the 2024 NFL Draft process rated as the 40th overall prospect on Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had the Missouri standout tabbed as the 49th player in the class. In reality, Rakestraw, a slender cornerback who thrived in college while playing man coverage, slipped to No. 61, ostensibly because of his injury history (torn ACL in 2021, groin issue in 2023).
Injury woes have followed Rakestraw to the NFL. He was limited to 46 defensive snaps over eight appearances as a rookie because of a lingering hamstring strain, and a season-ending shoulder injury suffered midway through last year’s training camp ended his second campaign before it could begin.
With Terrion Arnold no longer with the team, though, one of Detroit’s starting spots on the outside is up for grabs, and Rakestraw enters camp as a top contender, alongside veteran Rock Ya-Sin, who stepped up in a significant way last season when D.J. Reed and Arnold were sidelined.
Given his recent success in Detroit’s system, it’s fair to call Ya-Sin the favorite in the CB2 race. But don’t discount Rakestraw, who still possesses early-round talent but absolutely needs to stay healthy heading into Year 3. It’s make-or-break time for the former second-rounder.
OL Miles Frazier
Another player whose first season with the Lions was disrupted with an injury, Frazier, selected in the fifth round of last year’s draft, started the 2025 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to an issue with his knee. Frazier was activated in November and went on to make five appearances down the stretch. He played 46 snaps on offense, including 26 in his debut.
Frazier played multiple positions across the offensive line while at Florida International (2020-21) and LSU (2022-24), though nearly all of his reps with the Tigers came at guard, where the Lions drafted him to play. He allowed one sack and 19 pressures in 1,053 snaps as a pass blocker over his final two seasons at LSU, according to Pro Football Focus.
The competition at left guard is among the most intriguing for the Lions this offseason. Christian Mahogany went through the spring as Detroit’s starter at the position, but his spot isn’t guaranteed after a shaky performance in 2025, which included a broken bone in his leg midway through the campaign.
Mahogany and Frazier, along with veterans Ben Bartch and Juice Scruggs, each figure to be on the short list of candidates at left guard, as well as third-year man Giovanni Manu, a tackle who could see some opportunity on the inside. Mahogany is in the driver’s seat, but Frazier, now healthy ahead of his second season, has the chance to impress.
S Thomas Harper
An addition made through waivers in late August, Harper wound up becoming a major piece in Detroit’s secondary in 2025, starting nine of the 12 contests he appeared in and playing 482 total snaps on defense. His overall defensive grade from PFF from Week 6 through the end of the season (77.8) was tied for 13th among the 94 safeties in the NFL who recored at least 200 reps over that stretch.
Asked in June what he thought of Harper’s performance last season, and how confident he is in Harper’s ability to be in the mix this season with Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) recovering from injuries, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he’s looking for Harper to become more consistent on a down-to-down basis.
“He did some good things for us (last year). … There were some really good things, and there were some things that weren’t as good,” Campbell said June 11. “It was just a little inconsistent, which is what comes with a young player. … We like him, we like the ability, we like some of these things he is able to do. … We just need to know that you’ll do it time in, time out, every play … and that comes with reps.”
Whether it’s one or two starting positions available at safety come Week 1, Harper, 25, has as good of a chance as any of Detroit’s other options (Chuck Clark, Christian Izien, Dan Jackson, Avonte Maddox and Loren Strickland) at being on the field for the season’s first snap.
RB Sione Vaki
Carving out an early-career role on offense always was going to be an uphill battle for Vaki, who mostly served as a safety in college and, more importantly for his position on the depth chart, played behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery for his first two seasons in Detroit.
But with Montgomery traded to the Houston Texans in March, the Lions suddenly have about 150 carries to replace. Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was signed after Montgomery’s exit and is expected to be the top backup to Gibbs this season, but Vaki has all the opportunity to prove he’s the better option, or at least show he’s deserving of split responsibilities with Pacheco.
Vaki, who has seen only seven rushing attempts with the Lions, was an efficiency machine when the ball was in his hands at Utah in 2023, averaging 9.8 yards on 53 total rushes and receptions. He recorded six designed rushes of at least 15 yards, according to PFF, and six of his 11 catches went for a first down.
Barring injury, there isn’t a world where Vaki becomes a starter in 2026, like there is for Rakestraw, Frazier and Harper. But he can certainly become a more important piece to Detroit’s operation on offense, expanding his value beyond the impact he already makes on special teams.
DE Ahmed Hassanein
Similar to Vaki, envisioning Hassanein as a starter in 2026 is far-fetched. That’s barring injuries, of course. Aidan Hutchinson proved to still be dominant in 2025 after coming back from his broken leg, and the Lions invested in the defensive end position opposite of him, drafting Michigan’s Derrick Moore in the second round and inking veteran DJ Wonnum to a one-year deal with a cap hit of just under $3 million, according to Over The Cap.
Beyond those three players, however, the competition at edge is wide open, with Hassanein among those battling it out. Defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers in June described Hassanein as “a pleasant surprise this spring,” adding the team was in the process of transitioning Hassanein from a traditional rush end to a big end.
The “big end” spot in Detroit’s defense, which is typically aligned inside of the strong-side linebacker, was often manned by Tyler Lacy during OTAs and mandatory minicamp this offseason. Others expected to compete for reps at the position include Levi Onwuzurike and rookie Tyre West.
Hassanein, a raw prospect coming out of college who produced 22 sacks and 115 pressures as a starter at Boise State from 2023-24, missed nearly all of last season with a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in the preseason. Showing growth from Year 1 to Year 2 will be crucial.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions training camp preview: These 5 players have most to gain
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Richard Silva, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
