Similarly to the last several years of Detroit Lions football, there are a lot of expectations surrounding the team as the 2026 NFL season gets closer to getting underway. And while there has been a bit of a changing of the guard over this offseason, the foundational pieces that have helped make the Lions a contender are still in place. You know who I am talking about. Players like All-Pro left tackle Penei Sewell, All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell—we could
go on for a while here, but you get the point.
However, beyond the established core that Lions general manager Brad Holmes and company have drafted and retained, there is another tier of players that will need to step things up in 2026 in order for the Lions to accomplish their ultimate goal of bringing a Super Bowl to the city of Detroit. A few of them, such as defensive tackle Alim McNeill and linebacker Derrick Barnes, have already received second contracts from the club, and will be counted on to live up to those deals this season.
There are also players that are still on their rookie contracts that will need to elevate their games. Players like second-year defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and left guard Christian Mahogany will have all the opportunities to solidify their spot moving forward. To break things down ahead of training camp, myself and my good friend Meko Scott are back over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel discussing five players that we think will need to step up in 2026.
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