The Detroit Lions are looking to make some tweaks as they figure out how to become a playoff team in 2026, and the obvious place to start is the roster.
The Lions don’t have many big-money players entering free agency, but they do have a few long-time starters and culture-setters who are either entering free agency in the late stages of their careers or are considering retirement. Plus, a few injuries have dramatically changed the outlook of a position in just a year’s time.
As part of our kickoff to the 2026 offseason, we’re ranking the Lions’ positional needs from top to bottom, breaking them down into three tiers:
Requires immediate attention: Position groups with a 2025 starter that needs to be upgraded, is set to enter free agency or is considering retirement.
Needs future-proofing: Position groups with quality starters entering the final year of their contracts, insufficient depth, or long-term injury concerns.
Sitting pretty: Position groups you’d feel comfortable playing a game with today.
Let’s take a look at the Lions’ top positional needs entering the 2026 offseason.
Requires immediate attention
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE: The Lions’ offensive line was primarily held back by the play at two positions, center and left guard. That means the Lions have two holes on the interior, a position group with three starters. The guard spot was held down by Christian Mahogany, and he could eventually return to a starting role in that spot despite a roller-coaster 2025 season. The center spot was inhabited by veteran Graham Glasgow, who’s still under contract. But the Lions need to be better at both spots to have a consistently functioning offense in 2026, and that will require seeking outside help — even if it’s just so right guard Tate Ratledge can move to center, which the team said is still an option going forward, or that Mahogany can feel the pressure to elevate his game.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Until Taylor Decker officially retires, the Lions don’t have a hole at the starting level. But it’s an extremely important position and one that’s not easily acquirable. So after how they got caught with their pants down following Frank Ragnow’s retirement, it feels like the Lions should begin seeking Decker’s long-term replacement as soon as possible, especially because Giovanni Manu has not developed to the point where you can feel comfortable with him being that guy going into next season.
DEFENSIVE END: The only true edge defender who’s still under contract in Detroit and played a snap last season is Aidan Hutchinson, meaning there’s a whole lot of work to do at that position. Ahmed Hassanein and Josh Paschal remain on the roster, but neither of them should be heavily factored into Detroit’s plans after not playing in 2025 (and Paschal bringing minimal production before that). The Lions will be looking to replace Marcus Davenport as a starter and the pass-rush production of Al-Quadin Muhammad (11 sacks), who might have priced himself out of returning to Detroit.
CORNERBACK: The Lions have invested a ton into cornerback, a position they haven’t gotten much production from in recent years. Some would argue it’s because the Lions’ scheme makes it hard on corners, as evidenced by Detroit’s defense tying for first in average separation with vaunted defenses like the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. Still, Amik Robertson’s possible departure means the Lions might be down a starting slot cornerback, and it wouldn’t hurt to add extra competition for Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.
LINEBACKER: After re-signing Derrick Barnes to a big contract and seeing Jack Campbell make First-Team All-Pro, you’d think this unit is in pretty good shape. But Barnes had a lackluster return from injury in 2025, and Alex Anzalone’s status as an unrestricted free agent brings serious concerns about what the pass coverage could look like with this unit next season. Not only do they need to fill Anzalone’s role for 2026 — even if that’s with Anzalone himself — but they also need to consider adding pieces for 2027 and beyond, in case Barnes struggles to uphold his end of the bargain for a second straight season.
Needs future-proofing
TIGHT END: Brock Wright and Sam LaPorta are both entering the final year of their deals after suffering season-ending injuries in 2025, so there’s a long-term need that should be backfilled before it’s a true issue. But even if that weren’t the case, there’s still an immediate need: new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing used three-tight end packages at a high rate during his time in Arizona, making it important for the Lions to not only have someone they can trust at the third tight end spot, but also some solid depth in general.
SAFETY: This position had the brightest future after the 2024 season, but severe injuries suffered by Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) have at least dimmed the big-picture outlook. This position could have an immediate need — Branch faces a tight turnaround to be ready for Week 1 — and a long-term need, with Joseph saying his issue cannot be fixed by surgery. The silver lining is that Thomas Harper, an August waiver claim, is still under contract after playing well in nine starts, so that should help cushion the early-season uncertainty.
QUARTERBACK: The Lions’ need to future-proof at quarterback has more to do with the backup job than it does the starting gig. After deciding to end the Hendon Hooker experiment last offseason, we won’t rule out the possibility that Detroit spends a pick trying to get another high-ceiling backup. But if they bring back veteran Kyle Allen, an impending free agent who backed up Jared Goff last season, that would be enough for them to be back in the sitting pretty category. Allen had a great preseason and training camp and brings ample experience, the perfect blend of non-threatening and competent that you want from a backup on a team that has its franchise signal-caller.
Sitting pretty
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: The Lions could use an extra depth piece or two at defensive tackle if Roy Lopez moves on in free agency. But their top three players — Alim McNeill, Tyeik Williams and Levi Onwuzurike — bring a solid foundation against both the run and pass, even if Onwuzurike has injury concerns after missing all of last season and McNeill showed signs of struggle in his return from injury. This group also has Tyler Lacy, who’s classified as an interior player but took a significant amount of his 2025 snaps at defensive end.
WIDE RECEIVER: Detroit has two stars under contract in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams through at least 2028, and just added Isaac TeSlaa with a third-round pick last offseason. The Lions will need to find depth and potentially a new punt returner, with Kalif Raymond a free agent. But the complementary skillsets of St. Brown, Williams and TeSlaa make this a formidable group for years to come.
RUNNING BACK: If the Lions and David Montgomery decide to part ways, there will be an immediate need at this position. But they also have Sione Vaki, who was drafted with a fourth-round pick in 2024 and could eventually push for the backup job behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Ultimately, running back depth is easier to find than that of other positions. So even if Montgomery does move on, the Lions probably won’t be moving Heaven and Earth to replace him.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ranking the Lions’ positional needs entering 2026 offseason
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
