CBS shares Detroit Lions' 'reason to believe in 2026'

The Detroit Lions are eyeing a bounceback 2026 campaign after its 9-8 finish in 2025 kept the Lions outside the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

After a trip to the NFC championship game in 2023 and after earning the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024, missing the playoffs entirely in 2025 was a major disappointment. That disappointment meant urgency for Lions general manager Brad Holmes to reconfigure this roster back into championship conversations in a hurry.

Time will tell, but there's hope that Holmes addressed the Lions' necessary needs.

In CBS' look at the Detroit Lions' reason to believe in 2026, the Lions' "defensive youth movement" caught the network's attention.

Like the Cowboys, the Lions' high-scoring offense struggled to make up for a lackluster defense in 2025. Also like Dallas, Detroit looked to remedy that issue this offseason.

The Lions added a slew of defensive depth during free agency, then used their second-round pick to acquire pass rusher Derrick Moore, a local product who tallied 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 10 tackles for loss during his final season at Michigan. Moore will look to pose a formidable duo with fellow defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. - Bryan DeArdo, CBS

In addition to Derrick Moore out of Michigan, the Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder, Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II, defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard and defensive tackle Tyre West.