Fifty-three players on the Detroit Lions roster, 53 thoughts on how they might help this fall. Here we go:
Offense
QB Jared Goff – Hasn’t missed a game since 2021; Lions should be NFC North favorites as long as that continues.
QB Josh Dobbs – Has the smarts, experience to fill in in a pinch, but 3-12 in his career as a starter.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs – Probably the Lions’ most important player not named Goff; looks poised for a huge year.
RB Isiah Pacheco – Violent runner, but injury history is worrisome.
RB Jacob Saylors – Gibbs’ top backup as long as Pacheco is out; can be a solid No. 2.
RB Sione Vaki – A work in progress on offense still, but the Lions’ best special-teams player.
RB Jabari Small – Keeping five RBs highlights injury concerns; Small was banged up
in preseason, too.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – A lock for 100 catches and 1,000 yards; the NFL’s best in got-to-have-it situations.
WR Jameson Williams – More complete player, but at 17 yards per catch in his career, still a deadly deep threat.
WR Isaac TeSlaa – Disappointing summer; size makes him a mismatch for most No. 3 cornerbacks.
WR Tay Martin – Should be a starting gunner and core special teams player.
TE Sam LaPorta – Wants a new contract; might need to prove he can stay healthy first.
TE Brock Wright – Betting he tops 50% playing time for the first time in career under Drew Petzing.
TE Jackson Meeks – Catch-first tight end’s biggest contributions will come on special teams.
LT Penei Sewell – Moved from right to left tackle but still one of the best in the game.
LG Christian Mahogany – Big-time mean streak as a blocker, but needs more consistency.
C Juice Scruggs – Holding center down until Cade Mays returns, but played well in preseason win over Washington.
RG Tate Ratledge – Could be the Lions’ next big thing up front; everyone’s pick for a breakout year.
RT Blake Miller – Expect ups and downs as a rookie, but summer struggles against Aidan Hutchinson will help the learning curve.
OT Larry Borom – Will play as the sixth lineman, backup both tackle spots.
OG Ben Bartch – Next in line at LG if Mahogany struggles.
OL Miles Frazier – Can back up every OL position but still young in his development.
C Seth McLaughlin – Showed promise in camp cut short by concussion, but probably behind Ratledge as backup center.
Defense
DE Aidan Hutchinson – Dominant camp; could challenge for Defensive Player of the Year.
DT Alim McNeill – Looks back to his pre-injury form after sluggish 2025 coming off torn ACL.
DT Tyleik Wiliams – Powerful run plugger; one sack as a rookie so any pass rush is a bonus.
DE Tyler Lacy – Base-down end whom coaches trust against the run.
DE DJ Wonnum – Has two eight-sack seasons in his career; Lions will be happy if he’s in that area this fall.
DE Derrick Moore – Not an every-down end yet, but athleticism should improve zone blitz packages.
DL Levi Onwuzurike– First interior lineman and big end off the bench, but had a quiet summer.
DT Skyler Gill-Howard – High-motor rookie should play as interior rusher in pass-rush packages.
DL Mekhi Wingo – Similar to Gill-Howard; maybe only room for one of the two to be active in games.
DL Ahmed Hassanein – Backup at big end; still learning but with more pass-rush potential.
DE Eric O’Neill – Rob Ninkovich light, but wouldn’t expect many contributions from undrafted rookie.
LB Jack Campbell – All-Pro is a lock for another 150-plus tackles.
LB Derrick Barnes – Every-down linebacker could have more on his plate in coverage this year.
LB Devin White – Favorite for third LB job; was very effective as blitzer in training camp.
LB Malcolm Rodriguez – Regular on special teams; repped some this summer as weakside linebacker in red zone packages.
LB Trevor Nowaske – Barnes’ backup and core special teams player.
LB Jimmy Rolder – Likely limited to special teams early after missing most of camp with hamstring injury.
CB D.J. Reed – Lions’ top cornerback needs to play like he did before hamstring injury last season.
CB Rock Ya-Sin – Physical No. 2 corner, but hasn’t had an interception since 2020.
S Chuck Clark – Best playmaking days are behind him, but heady vet coaches trust to keep things right in the secondary.
S Avonte Maddox – Should join Clark as temporary starter at safety until Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph return.
CB Keith Abney – Fiesty rookie could open the season as Lions’ starter in the slot.
CB Roger McCreary – Started camp slow, competing with Abney for time in nickel packages.
CB Ennis Rakestraw – Willing run defender who’s been inconsistent in coverage; No. 3 cornerback for now.
CB Khalil Dorsey – One of the best gunners in the NFL; won’t see much time on defense.
DB Christian Izien – Dealing with leg injury, could factor into slot CB mix once healthy.
DB Thomas Harper – 9-game starter last year should open season as regular on special teams, No. 3 safety.
Special teams
K Jake Bates – Inconsistent summer but has one of the NFL’s biggest legs.
P Jack Fox – Field position weapon; had two touchbacks in 56 punts last season.
LS Hogan Hatten – Former linebacker is one of best long snappers at covering punts.
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: 53 thoughts on Detroit Lions' initial 53-man roster
