On Tuesday, all the veterans of the Detroit Lions reported for training camp. Just three days earlier, the rookies arrived in town. Now, the team will begin a couple of weeks of practice before the preseason kicks off on August 8.
The training camp period will undoubtedly tell us much about this roster. However,
looking at the roster today, we can guess who will take up most of the spots with Detroit having a ton of established talent.
This is a team that was inches away from a Super Bowl appearance last season, and almost all of the most important playmakers are returning.
Before training camp gets underway, let’s take one final crack at predicting the Lions’ initial 53-man roster. Of course, this could change over the course of camp and preseason, but this is how I see it shaking out as of today.
Detroit Lions 53-man roster prediction
Quarterbacks (2): Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker
The Lions were able to sign Jared Goff to a massive extension this offseason,
securing the game’s most important position for the foreseeable future.
Behind Goff, the Lions have Hendon Hooker, who was a third-round selection out of Tennessee in the 2023 NFL Draft. Hooker spent his rookie season recovering from an ACL injury sustained in college. However, he should have no problem securing the backup job if he performs as expected in camp and in the
preseason.
Nate Sudfeld is also on the roster and is respected in the locker room, but I just don’t see the Lions keeping three QBs. Sudfeld is a candidate to stick around on the practice squad as backup insurance.
Running Backs (4): David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs make up arguably the league’s best one-two
punch at the running back position. With that duo handling most of the workload, the team will need to find out which backups provide the most value.
Sione Vaki was a fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The back has
experience on defense as a safety and should immediately contribute on special teams and as a returner. This means only one spot will likely be available, with Jermar Jefferson, Craig Reynolds, Jake Funk and Zonovan Knight battling it out.
For now, Reynolds should be considered the favorite. Reynolds has been with the Lions since 2021 and has averaged 4.3 yards per attempt over that time. Knight or Jefferson could edge out Reynolds with a strong preseason, however.
Wide Receivers (6): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green, Isaiah Williams
Josh Reynolds departed in free agency, so that freed up one spot. However, the team did not add any big names in free agency or the draft and may be relying on unproven talent to step up. For now, Peoples-Jones, Green and Williams should be considered the favorites to round out the depth chart.
Tom Kennedy, Daurice Fountain or Maurice Alexander could push Green or Isaiah Williams out with strong summers. Also, it wouldn’t be surprising to see an outside addition at some point. Williams could potentially be scooped up due to his productive college career and shiftiness, so I have the UDFA sticking for now.
Tight Ends (3): Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell
Sam LaPorta cemented himself as one of the league’s best young tight ends. Brock
Wright has been around for a few seasons and is good for a catch or two a game and solid blocking.
Behind that duo, I believe it will come down to James Mitchell or Shane Zylstra. For now, Mitchell gets the edge due to his potential upside. Like the receiver position, the final TE spot could come down to who has the best preseason.
Offensive Line (9): Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell, Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal, Christian Mahogany, Giovanni Manu
The starters are set, with Zeitler stepping in for the departed Jonah Jackson. The
backup spots could be totally different, however, with several UDFAs competing for jobs.
Skipper should make the team as a veteran swing tackle. Mahogany should make the team as a sixth-round rookie who will provide depth on the interior. Sorsdal is another solid backup tackle/guard option who should be safe for 2024. Finally, I have Manu making the roster, but don't expect much from him in Year 1. UDFA Kingsley Eguakun is a possibility to make the cut as a backup center, but Glasgow is capable of stepping into that position if Ragnow gets hurt.
Defensive Line (5): D.J. Reader, Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo, Brodric Martin
The addition of Reader will be huge for this defense. Reader is a space-eating run-
stuffer who will help out the edge rushers in a big way. McNeill is another lock to be a starter, while Onwuzurike, Wingo, and Martin make up the depth.
Kyle Peko is a veteran with experience who could compete, but it’s hard to see him leaping over any of these other linemen.
EDGE (6): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, James Houston, Mathieu Betts
Once again, there’s no confusion at the top of the depth chart among the edge rushers. However, there are some spots up for grabs behind the starters.
Paschal is a former second-round pick the Lions are still hoping to develop into an
impact player. Cominsky is a solid rotational player who should earn a depth spot.
Houston flashed in 2022, collecting eight sacks in just seven games. Unfortunately,
Houston was hurt in 2023 and was unable to build on that momentum.
I don’t think the Lions will risk losing Betts on waivers. The former CFL Most
Outstanding Defensive Player would be a priority waiver claim on cut day.
Linebackers (5): Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez
This is another spot in which it would be easy to keep one more player. Veteran Ben Niemann was recently added and he could earn a role as a special teamer. However, keeping Niemann seems redundant when you have one of the best special teams linebackers in the league in Reeves-Maybin.
Barnes has been around since 2021 and has been a sure tackler for the Lions. If either Anzalone or Campbell go down, Rodriguez and Barnes are more than adequate to hold down the fort.
Cornerbacks (6): Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Emmanuel Moseley, Kindle Vildor
Davis, Arnold, Robertson, Moseley, and Rakestraw are locks. Assuming the team keeps four, I like Vildor over Khalil Dorsey, Morice Norris, and Steven Gilmore.
Although, the Lions may choose to only keep five CBs, considering Brian Branch is still on the roster. Branch will likely see most of the nickel reps, but Rakestraw and Robertson are skilled in that role, as well. For now, Vildor makes the cut as veteran depth.
Safeties (4): Brian Branch, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Kerby Joseph, C.J. Moore
As mentioned above, Branch’s versatility makes it to where a fifth safety isn’t needed, and he might play more there in 2024. Melifonwu and Joseph are locks, while Moore will contribute on special teams.
Brandon Joseph and 2024 UDFAs Chelen Garnes and Loren Strickland are other
bodies on the roster, but it would take a massive preseason for any of them to survive cut day.
Specialists (3): K Jake Bates, P Jack Fox, LS Scott Daly
Over 16 career games with the Lions, Michael Badgley has connected on 85.7% of his field goal attempts and 95.8% of his extra points. Not bad, but certainly not anything that can’t be improved upon.
The battle between Badgley and Bates will be interesting to watch this summer.
Ultimately, I believe Bates has the edge. The Lions signed the former UFL kicker to a two-year deal, and Bates has showcased range that Badgley simply doesn’t have.
Fox has no competitor on the roster currently, and Daly should win the long snapper position for the fourth-straight season.
