Lions depth chart 2019: Detroit rushing to contend with Matthew Stafford, Matt Patricia

Go figure: The Lions, seeking a more respectable rushing attack in 2019, hired the guy who infamously did not give running back Marshawn Lynch the ball at the 1-yard line and instead opted for a pass in the final minute of Super Bowl 49.

But that play aside — it wasn’t a bad call, anyway — Detroit coach Matt Patricia, who was then New England’s defensive coordinator, learned that new Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell knows what he’s doing. Bevell's Seahawks put up almost 400 yards on a stingy Patriots defense that night. Yet most only remember that one, ill-fated play call.

Now Patricia has Bevell running the Lions' offense as a replacement for departed coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. The goal that is an improved running game carries a trickle-down effect of changes, led by an entirely new scheme for quarterback Matthew Stafford and Co. to learn this summer.

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Defensively, second-year coordinator Paul Pasqualoni’s unit has been reinforced via free agency and the NFL Draft after it surged last season thanks to the midseason trade for Damon Harrison. That defensive line, now equipped with Trey Flowers, is downright scary. But the Lions need to improve their pass-rush numbers in order to better take advantage of the likes of Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs in the secondary.

Detroit last season was largely a middle-of-the-road team based on stats, yet finished 6-10 and last in the NFC North. General manager Bob Quinn and Co. are hoping Year 2 with Patricia can yield better results, and they’re hoping a handful of key changes will do the trick quickly. After all, Stafford is 31 and running out of time to get his first playoff win after three failed attempts.

Here's a breakdown of those changes in Detroit, plus a projection of the Lions’ two-deep depth chart for 2019.

Lions depth chart: Offense

* - new to Lions in 2019

Quarterback

The bad news here is that Tom Savage would be the Lions' quarterback if anything were to happen to Stafford. The good news is Stafford hasn't missed a game since 2010. The veteran starter played through a broken back last year, which helps explain why he's coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career.

That's why Bevell, in theory, should be able to help relieve some pressure for Stafford. (Yes, we've heard this before in Detroit). Stafford, who averages an 88.4 QBR for his career, is not and never will by the type to lift an offense, which is why the Lions have surrounded him with more talented targets, hopefully better blocking and a presumably stronger running game in a new scheme.

Running back

Speaking of that running game, it ranked 23rd in the NFL last season at 103.8 yards per game. Over his career as a coordinator, Bevell's offenses have averaged 132.4 rushing yards per game. That, plus the fact that Detroit's rushing totals last season likely would have looked better had Kerryon Johnson remained healthy, suggests an immediate improvement in 2019.

Depth is no longer an issue for the Lions at running back. Behind Johnson, C.J. Anderson was signed in free agency to battle with Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick for playing time. Then Detroit added sixth-round draft pick Ty Johnson to the mix, and the speedster from Maryland is already turning heads. The rookie will have a chance to become a Riddick replacement, of sorts, and be featured often as a change-of-pace back out of the Lions' backfield.

The only concern here is the continued health of Kerryon Johnson, who finished last season on injured reserve with a bad knee. The second-year back out of Auburn has already proven himself as the clear No. 1 on this team, but the Lions needs him to stay on the field, as the dropoff to Anderson, Zenner and Co. is significant.

Wide receiver

Kenny Golladay is by far the Lions' best receiver, and even after surpassing 1,000 yards in his second season last year, he might shine even brighter in 2019. Only Golden Tate, who was traded at midseason, ran more routes from the slot in Detroit last season than Golladay, who spent 30 percent of his snaps inside. Now the Lions have Danny Amendola, Tommylee Lewis and Jermaine Kearse to do more of the dirty work inside and let the 6-4, 215-pound Golladay spend more time working corners on the outside. Stafford should approve.

Travis Fulgham, the sixth-round selection out of Old Dominion, was a sneaky-good draft pick. He is a big (6-2, 215 pounds) target who will have a chance to contribute immediately if his domination in college can translate to solid play in the NFL.

With those additions, the Lions suddenly have great depth at wide receiver, and we haven't even mentioned Chris Lacy, Andy Jones and Brandon Powell, who will compete in training camp to fill out the depth chart.

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Tight end

The Lions enter training camp with five tight ends on their roster, and only one (Jerome Cunningham) was on the team last year. That's the best way to illustrate Detroit's full, necessary makeover at this position.

Simply put: T.J. Hockenson, the first-round pick out of Iowa, has a chance to become a star in the NFL. (In fact, we already have him ranked as a top-10 tight end). He's expected to be equally dominant as a run-blocker as he is effective as a pass-catcher, and he arrives at the perfect time: the Lions desperately need both from their No. 1 tight end.

The addition of Jesse James in free agency suggests Detroit is committed to the idea of featuring more double-tight sets in their new, multiple offense. The Lions also drafted Isaac Nauta from Georgia in the seventh round and signed Logan Thomas in free agency. If they keep four tight ends rather than three, Thomas will have a good chance to make the roster, with Cunningham also battling for a spot.

Offensive line

The Lions are set at tackle with Taylor Decker anchoring the line from the left edge and Rick Wagner holding down the right. They also still have Tyrell Crosby, who operates as a solid swing backup for both positions. Of course, Crosby could also become a factor inside, where there are question marks for Detroit.

Frank Ragnow, last year's first-round pick, is moving from left guard back to his natural position at center. With that, last year's center Graham Glasgow is moving to left guard. That leaves right guard, vacated by T.J. Lang, as the position battle to watch in camp. Of course, Lang was hurt for the majority of last season, anyway, and Kenny Wiggins was decent as a fill-in. Now Wiggins will have to earn his spot against Joe Dahl, Oday Aboushi and Crosby.

Detroit's offensive line was a middle-of-the-pack unit last season, which isn't a bad baseline. The question is whether the tweaks on the inside of the line will work in the Lions' favor or lead to a regression.

Lions depth chart: Defense

* - new to Lions in 2019

Defensive line/edge-rushers

Between Harrison, A'Shawn Robinson and Da'Shawn Hand, the Lions already had a powerful run-stuffing defensive line. Now they have Flowers, who became one of the NFL's best, most versatile defensive ends during his time in New England. Not fair.

Detroit also returns Romeo Okwara and Devon Kennard as edge-rushers, and it drafted Clemson's Austin Bryant in the fourth round to provide at least more situational pass-rushing help. Also in the mix for playing time on the line are seventh-round pick P.J. Johnson (a massive tackle) and defensive end holdover Eric Lee.

For all these players, the listed positions are formalities. In a multiple defense, they'll be moving around to give offenses different looks throughout games.

Inside linebacker

This is another group for which the depth chart is fluid. The only sure bet is Jarrad Davis being the mainstay somewhere in the middle of Detroit's defense no matter the formation. Of course, Davis does need to play better in 2019. Of all Lions defenders last season, he received the worst cumulative overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

The Lions already like what they see from second-round draft pick Jahlani Tavai, who in addition to his potential work on the edge will battle Christian Jones and Jalen Reeves-Maybin for playing time inside when Detroit shows a 3-4 look.

Overall, this group will need to keep improving with its pass-rush help after making some big improvements in that area last season.

Cornerback

Assuming Slay will eventually return from his holdout, there's no need to address the position held by one of the NFL's best corners. The Lions are set there. And now they're probably also set at the outside corner spot opposite Slay, as they signed Rashaan Melvin to replace Nevin Lawson. Melvin is a long, physical corner who is perfect for Detroit's man coverage-heavy scheme.

Last year, Lawson spent the most time in slot coverage among Lions corners. This season, when Melvin or Slay aren't dragged inside by their matchups, the freshly signed Justin Coleman will be a great nickel corner; certainly an upgrade from Lawson and a much better option than Teez Tabor, Mike Ford, Marcus Cooper or Jamal Agnew.

Speaking of Tabor, the 2017 second-round pick is running out of time to prove himself as a valuable asset to the Lions, though he did have a strong spring.

The name to watch among Lions corners is fifth-round pick Amani Oruwariye, who should earn one of the top backup roles. He is a big corner (6-2, 205 pounds) who made some massive plays at Penn State. Detroit needs him to develop quickly, though, if he is to become a reliable part of the team's dime packages.

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Safety

Detroit seems set in its last line of defense with Tracy Walker looking to take over for the released Glover Quin at the position next to Diggs, who is one of the most underrated safeties in the NFL. Walker was the highest-rated Lions safety last season, according to PFF, also earning the best run-stop percentage among those at the position for Detroit.

The Lions also drafted Boston College's Will Harris in the third round. The rookie is a big, physical safety who should see some significant playing time. Detroit also still has Tavon Wilson to provide solid depth.