With the Detroit Lions’ roster nearing completion toward the team’s 90-man limit, we’re starting to get a pretty good idea of what the team will look like for the 2026 NFL season.
A team as stacked as the Lions doesn’t have a lot of starting jobs up for grabs. On offense, it’s pretty clear where all the skill positions lie, and most—if not, all—of the offensive line has been set. Defensively, there’s a little less clarity with all of the moving parts from last year. This offseason alone, Detroit had
to replace the over 4,200 defensive snaps of players who have not returned from last year’s roster. We’re talking about Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson, DJ Reader, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Roy Lopez, among a handful of others.
While some of those players have been replaced by clear one-to-one replacements, others have not. So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which position will have the most competitive battle in Lions training camp?
My answer: There are two positions that come to mind: left guard and nickel cornerback.
At left guard, the incumbent Christian Mahogany enters the offseason program as the favorite to hold onto the job. After a disappointing, injury-filled second season, though, Mahogany will face serious competition for the starting role between Penei Sewell and Cade Mays. Miles Frazier will have a full offseason to train and compete for the job, as will some veteran additions—including Ben Bartch and Juice Scruggs.
And at nickel, I believe veteran free agent signing Roger McCreary is the favorite to win the job. But fifth-round rookie Keith Abney will certainly have a shot at the job, as will versatile defensive backs Christian Izien and Avonte Maddox. Ennis Rakestraw could potentially enter the mix, but the Lions have indicated they want to try him on the outside first.
What position battles are you looking forward to the most in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
