When it comes to development, players and coaches often talk about the Year 2 jump. As rookies, players are often overwhelmed and overworked in their first season. Their offseason is spent preparing for the draft, then they’re immediately plunged into NFL life. With their heads spinning and minds deep in the playbook, it can be hard to keep their focus right. Year 2, many of those distractions are behind players, and they can have a normal offseason to play the game they love.
But jumps in development
are not limited to Year 2 players. Sometimes it takes a couple years for players to settle in. Or maybe an injury delays improvement. Or sometimes everything just clicks three, four, or even five years in, and once the opportunity opens up, a player finds their footing.
So for today’s Question of the Day, let’s talk about Lions candidates to make a big jump, but let’s not limit it to Year 2 players.
Which Lions player will take the biggest jump in 2026?
My answer: Now, there are a few Year 2 candidates that would be great answers to this question. Tyleik Williams will see more opportunities this year, which could naturally lead to a big jump in play. The same can be said about Isaac TeSlaa, who’s already getting rave reviews out of spring practices. And with the way Tate Ratledge was trending at the end of the season, he could certainly have a great season ahead.
But there are so many other candidates, too. Let me run through just a few of them:
Terrion Arnold: He needs to get healthy, and the Lions coaches are clearly putting some pressure on him to even win a starting job, but if he can recapture the magic he had in 2025 training camp and some of his play right before his shoulder injury, he could have a breakout year.
Ennis Rakestraw: A similar story to Arnold, Rakestraw is finally healthy, a little stronger, and will clearly compete for a starting job. After playing in just eight games through two seasons, Rakestraw could take the jump from non-factor to potential starter.
Alim McNeill: A bit of a cheating answer, but McNeill didn’t look like himself upon his return from an ACL injury midway through last season. Now he says he’s healthy, and when McNeill is at his best, he’s one of the best, most disruptive interior defenders in the league.
Christian Mahogany: After a late appearance on the field in his rookie season, it appeared Mahogany was headed for a strong, potential Pro Bowl career. However, he took a step back last season and had to deal with an injury. He’ll have plenty of competition at the left guard position. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising if he not only won the job, but thrived in Drew Petzing’s offense.
Derrick Barnes: There’s extra pressure on Barnes this year with Alex Anzalone gone, and after a disappointing 2025 season, he’s putting in all the appropriate work to justify the contract Detroit handed him. There’s a lot of warranted skepticism with Barnes, but Detroit clearly saw something in him, and this could be a huge season where he answers his critics.
Which Lions players do you think could make a big jump in 2026? Share your answers in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
