Our countdown of the Detroit Lions’ 2026 roster continues.
As a reminder, eight members of the Pride of Detroit staff ranked every player of Detroit’s current 90-man roster from 1 to 90. We then created a consensus list based on the averages of these rankings, and we are slowly rolling out the results 10 at a time.
We have arrived at players we ranked from 80 to 71. While most of these players have long-shots to make the roster, it’s worth noting that last year’s list included players like Jackson
Meeks, Kyle Allen, and Tom Kennedy in this range. Allen and Kennedy both spent significant time on the 53-man roster, while Meeks could still have a future in Detroit.
Previously:
80. RB Kye Robichaux (Highest: 74; Lowest: 82)
Last year, Robichaux never really got a shot as an undrafted rookie. He suffered an injury early in training camp and spent the entire season on injured reserve. The former Boston College back has good size (6-foot, 213 pounds) and a physical running style. It will be interesting to see if he can make an impression this year, particularly when the pads come on.
79. iOL Mason Miller (Highest 73; Lowest: 82)
Miller was also a UDFA from 2025, but not much was ever written or said about him. He didn’t make the team, spent the entire season on the practice squad, and signed a futures deal back in Detroit for 2026. Miller comes from North Dakota State, giving former Lions tight ends coach Tyler Roehl an insight into him.
“Football IQ, the way he plays the game,” Roehl said about Miller in 2025. “At North Dakota State there’s going to be a level of physicality that’s desired, and I just gave my opinion. He came out and did exactly what I thought he would.”
78. OT Devin Cochran (Highest: 72; Lowest, 85)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Cochran was added after training camp last year and spent the entirety of the season on the practice squad. It says something that he’s stayed on the roster all year and Detroit opted to give him a futures deal. But he’ll have to beat out Giovanni Manu to even be OT4 on this team—which is not a spot guaranteed to land on the 53-man roster.
77. LB Erick Hunter (Highest: 65; Lowest: 88)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
There are certainly some high on Hunter, who received the biggest signing bonus ($25,000) of any Lions UDFAs this season. And with a relatively shallow room, there’s a route for Hunter to do it. He had a fantastic year at Morgan State, but he faces a pretty huge jump in competition in the NFL. Still, his athletic traits and high motor make him a hard guy to bet against.
76. LB Joe Bachie (Highest: 55; Lowest: 83)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Bachie is one of the most experienced players this far down on the list. He’s 28, he’s appeared in 66 games, and the Lions are his sixth NFL team. He even started five games last year for the Colts before he was waived with an injury settlement and joined the Titans.
Bachie has a real chance at the 53-man roster due to his extensive special teams experience (1,128 snaps) and veteran presence.
75. TE Zach Horton (Highest 69; Lowest: 78)
Horton stuck around on the practice squad after being signed as a UDFA last year. Horton showed off some versatility in training camp by taking some fullback snaps, and he even got some playing time when injuries hit Detroit’s tight end room late in the year. That’s why he gets a slight jump, but the competition for the TE3 and/or TE4 spot will be tough to crack for Horton.
74. DT Aidan Keanaaina (Highest: 67; Lowest: 86)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Many have identified Keanaaina as the rookie UDFA most likely to land a spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster. Detroit needs nose tackle depth to help accommodate from the losses of Roy Lopez and DJ Reader. He faced decent competition at Cal over the last two years, so if he can shine when the pads on, he could beat the odds.
73. WR Malik Cunningham (highest: 62; Lowest: 79)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
When the Lions signed Malik Cunningham ahead of the Ravens game, the general belief was that he was going to be used as a Lamar Jackson clone in practice, and that’s about it. However, Cunningham lasted on the team for the entire season and even got a call-up for a game in which he caught a pass for a single yard.
He seems destined for another year on the practice squad, but if he can shine on special teams, the WR5 and/or 6 positions are open.
72. iOL Michael Niese (Highest: 59; Lowest: 77)
Over the last three years, Niese has appeared in 26 games for the Lions, but has yet to start his first NFL game. Recently, the Lions have spent a lot of resources upgrading their interior offensive line—drafting Christian Mahogany and Miles Frazier; signing Cade Mays, Ben Bartch, and Seth McLaughlin. That leaves Niese’s route to the roster harder than ever, which likely speaks to his significant drop in this year’s rankings.
71. TE Miles Kitselman (Highest: 61; Lowest: 83)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Kitselman is another popular pick to be the 2026 UDFA to make the Lions’ 53-man roster. He was largely believed to be a draftable talent following a career at both Alabama and Tennessee. While his stats are underwhelming (26 catches 253 yards in 2025), he’s got the size and experience to be a strong inline blocking tight end.
