We’ve technically moved on from the “roster bubble” aspect of our 2026 Detroit Lions roster countdown, but the players in this next range—ranked 50 through 41—are far from safe. Most of the players below are likely considered to be on the right side of the bubble, but that can easily change based on the month of training camp and preseason ahead.
As a reminder, this countdown is based on the voting of eight staff members at Pride of Detroit, who all ranked the entire Lions roster from 90 to 1. These
rankings represent the overall average of our eight ballots.
Previously:
50. EDGE Ahmed Hassanein (Highest: 38 Lowest: 57)
Hassanein drops a single spot after essentially taking a redshirt season his rookie year. A pectoral injury cost him most of 2025, and now he returns to a very competitive defensive end room. Given that the Lions’ rush end position was already filled by the likes of DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, and Payton Turner, Detroit’s coaching staff is hoping to bulk Hassanein up to compete at the big end spot. That is another tough hurdle for Hassanein, but it’s hard to count out someone with the spirit and determination he has.
49. LS Hogan Hatten (Highest 36; Lowest: 55)
In an odd coincidence, Hatten and Hassanein swapped places from last year’s rankings. There’s nothing much to say about the Lions’ long-snapper. He’s been unnoticeable since taking over from the legendary Don Muhlbach, which is about as good of a compliment as you can give a long snapper. But where exactly do you rank a player in such a niche role? Around 50 is apparently the sweet spot.
48. LB Damone Clark (Highest: 40; Lowest: 61)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Clark was their biggest free-agent investment at linebacker following the loss of Alex Anzalone. That said, he’s unlikely to be lined up for a significant defensive role in 2026 unless there is an injury. Still, Clark should enter training camp on the right side of the roster simply because he’s a very experienced special teams player (760 snaps) with 26 starts to boot.
47. CB Khalil Dorsey (Highest: 39; Lowest: 55)
Speaking of special teams skills, Dorsey was described by special teams coordinator Dave Fipp last year as “one of the great gunners in the game of football right now.” That alone should put him in a somewhat comfortable position on the roster, but he drops in this year’s list after an injury-filled 2025 season. Still, Dorsey should feel somewhat comfortable in his roster chances unless Detroit uses their open roster spot to add to their cornerback room.
46. LB Trevor Nowaske (Highest: 41; Lowest: 49)
Nowaske climbs to his highest ranking since joining the team in the middle of the 2023 season. Last year was a relatively modest year for the 27-year-old backer, but he did log a career-high 330 special teams snaps, which was also second-most on the team. Nowaske still has a lot to prove on defense, but he is Detroit’s likeliest candidate to back up Derrick Barnes in the SAM linebacker role. Unfortunately for Nowaske, that could be a dwindling position with Detroit expected to play more nickel this year.
45. DT Tyler Lacy (Highest 38; Lowest: 53)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Lacy turned heads this spring by essentially repping as the top “big end” in Detroit’s defense for most of OTAs and minicamp. Last year, Detroit filed a waiver claim for Lacy at the end of the preseason, and the former fourth-round pick went on to play 10 games, starting 4. Detroit clearly likes his size and length, but will he be displaced by a healthy Levi Onwuzurike and/or rookie Tyre West?
44. TE Tyler Conklin (Highest: 36; Lowest: 53)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Detroit finally made a modest investment to improve their tight end room after injuries to Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright left the Lions in a tough spot at tight end. Conklin comes to Detroit on a very affordable deal, and while his 2025 season with the Chargers was a pretty significant step back in his career, he’s just a year removed from a 51-catch, 449-yard season.
43. iOL Ben Bartch (Highest: 32; Lowest: 48)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Lions coach Dan Campbell made a point this spring to note that Bartch is firmly involved in the camp battle for the starting left guard position. While I personally still consider Christian Mahogany the favorite for the job, Bartch at least represents an improvement in Detroit’s interior depth given his six years of experience and 24 career starts.
42. LB Jimmy Rolder (Highest: 33; Lowest: 49)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Rolder was one of my winners from OTAs and minicamp after a couple of strong practices in front of the media and some high praise from coaches.
“To play linebacker and safety in this system, especially where we have taken it now, it takes a lot. It takes mental capacity, and he has it,” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “He still has a lot of ways to grow; this isn’t a guy we are looking to call the defense tomorrow. But his trajectory and where we see things going for him is definitely on the upswing.”
Rolder isn’t likely to start the season with a significant role on defense, but if the fourth-round rookie can continue to build on the spring, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become a part of the rotation by the end of 2026.
41. S Chuck Clark (Highest: 26; Lowest: 52)
Last year’s rankings: N/A
Clark was also a big winner from the spring, mainly due to how coaches talked about him.
“There’s not a lot of what I call alpha communicators in the back seven. He’s one of them,” Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neill said of Clark. “He can run the whole show. He can run it all back there. So I’ve been really, really impressed with him.”
Sheppard also had high praise for Clark but also noted he needs to make sure the 31-year-old safety can still do all the physical things that will be required of him, so a roster spot is no guarantee.
