Lions 53-man roster projection: Where Detroit stands after NFL Draft

Running back (4)

▶ Starter: Jahmyr Gibbs

▶ Reserves: Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors

▶ Other options: Jabari Small, Kye Robichaux

The Lions and David Montgomery parted ways in March, opening the door for Gibbs to have a potentially dominant season in 2026. He'll still need a complement, of course, and that's why the Lions signed Pacheco, the former Kansas City Chiefs standout who was a significant contributor in consecutive Super Bowl wins, though his efficiency has tapered off over the last two seasons due to injuries. Vaki, with only seven carries since 2024, is a candidate to have an increased role on offense. Saylors is on the short list to return kicks. Small (undrafted in 2024) and Robichaux (undrafted in 2025) were both with the team at points last year.

Wide receiver (5)

▶ Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa

▶ Reserves: Greg Dortch, Kendrick Law (Kentucky)

▶ Other options: Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Malik Cunningham

Detroit's collection of talent at wide receiver includes star power, depth and varied skill sets. St. Brown and Williams were the only teammates in the NFL last season to each have more than 1,100 receiving yards, and TeSlaa was promising in a limited sample size, catching 16 of his 27 targets for 239 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Dortch is an easy-to-see replacement for Kalif Raymond, who's now with Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears. Law's addition in the fifth round makes for a competitive battle for the fifth spot on the depth chart between himself, Lovett and Kennedy, and don't discount the big-bodied Meeks or veteran Cunningham. We're giving the edge to Law because of his aggressive nature as a run blocker and his skills with the ball in his hands, which were on display at Kentucky in 2025 (505 yards after the catch).

Sam LaPorta missed the second half of Detroit's 2025 season because of an injured back.

Tight end (3)

▶ Starter: Sam LaPorta

▶ Reserves: Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin

▶ Other options: Zach Horton, Thomas Gordon, Miles Kitselman (Tennessee)

Assuming LaPorta's back isn't a hindrance in 2026, the Lions should feel good about who they have at tight end. LaPorta is one of the league's most productive players at the position, and Wright is nice to have as an inline blocker. Conklin struggled with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, which is why the Lions were able to get him on a cheap, one-year deal worth $1.3 million, but he shined from 2021-24, racking up 2,215 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Minnesota Vikings (2021) and New York Jets (2022-24). The Lions haven't carried more than three TEs on their initial 53-man roster since 2022. Horton, Gordon and Kitselman (554 yards and six touchdowns over two seasons at Tennessee) will try to prove they're worth making an exception for.

Offensive line (9)

▶ Starters (left to right): Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Cade Mays, Tate Ratledge, Blake Miller (Clemson)

▶ Reserves: Larry Borom, Giovanni Manu, Miles Frazier, Juice Scruggs

▶ Other options: Devin Cochran, Melvin Priestly (Illinois), Ben Bartch, Michael Niese, Colby Sorsdal, Mason Miller, Seth McLaughlin

Improving the offensive line was clearly the offseason's biggest priority for Lions GM Brad Holmes, who invested contracts into Mays (three years, $25 million) and Borom (one year, $5 million) while also using the 17th overall pick on Miller, a steady presence at Clemson who figures to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL. Miller's acquisition all but confirms the Lions are moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. Ideally, Sewell is able to lift whoever starts next to him at left guard. We've got Mahogany penciled in as the starter there, but Frazier, Scruggs and Bartch are expected to be in the mix, as well.

The ninth offensive lineman included in our projection came down to Bartch or Manu. We ultimately went with Manu because, assuming Mahogany handles business and wins a starting role, Frazier isn't going anywhere and already offers depth at guard, as does Scruggs, who also has experience at center. Still, it's a pivotal offseason for Manu. He was always a developmental pick, but Holmes showed last year he's willing to waive former mid-round draftees who aren't meeting expectations heading into Year 3 (see: quarterback Hendon Hooker and defensive lineman Brodric Martin).

Defensive tackle (5)

▶ Starters: Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams

▶ Reserves: Levi Onwuzurike, Jay Tufele, Skyler Gill-Howard (Texas Tech)

▶ Other options: Mekhi Wingo, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Aidan Keanaaina (Cal)

With Roy Lopez's return to the Arizona Cardinals and DJ Reader still unsigned, the Lions have about 1,000 snaps to replace at defensive tackle. McNeill, who missed seven contests in 2025, will account for some of those in what's hopefully a fully healthy season. But there will still be plenty to go around for whoever serves as depth at the position. In this scenario, that's Onwuzurike, Tufele and Gill-Howard. Onwuzurike and Gill-Howard offer pass-rush upside, something the Lions desperately needed in 2025, when their top interior rusher (McNeill) produced 23 pressures. Tufele (6-foot-3, 310 pounds), signed Wednesday, has more size than Onwuzurike (6-3, 304) and Gill-Howard (6-0, 280), and he's been a plus run defender in three of his last four seasons.

Edge defender (5)

▶ Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum

▶ Reserves: Derrick Moore (Michigan), Tyre West (Tennessee), Ahmed Hassanein

▶ Other options: Tyler Lacy, Payton Turner, Anthony Lucas (USC), Eric O'Neill (Rutgers)

Not including Lacy or Turner on the 53-man projection was among the toughest decisions made. Hutchinson, Wonnum and Moore are all but locked in, and West has a skill set which makes him qualified to play the big defensive end position in Detroit's defense, across from Hutchinson but inside of the linebacker on the strong side of the formation. West is a similar player to Lacy, so we gave the nod to the rookie. But he's got to earn it. As for Turner, it was him or Hassanein. Turner has all the athleticism you could want for someone of his size, but injuries have hampered him since he entered the NFL in 2021. If his body is right, and if it stays right throughout training camp, he could prove to be a replacement for Marcus Davenport.

Linebacker (6)

▶ Starters: Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes

▶ Reserves: Jimmy Rolder (Michigan), Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark

▶ Other options: Joe Bachie, Erick Hunter (Morgan State)

Based on the coaching staff's words and some of Detroit's offseason moves, the Lions could use more nickel packages (five defensive backs) in place of three-linebacker sets next season. But that'd be a notable pivot, and until we see it, we'll operate like three LBs will be on the field together more often than not. Campbell (Mike) and Barnes (Sam) remain in their roles, and Rodriguez (Sam) is the likely replacement for Alex Anzalone, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March. Rolder, a fourth-round draft pick, started one season at Michigan. Nowaske and Clark have been used on special teams more than defense over the last two seasons, though Clark was a full-time starter with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. It'd be a bit foolish at this point in the offseason to predict an undrafted free agent making the roster (we have no idea who will pop during training camp), but Hunter, one of the best players at the FCS level last season, seemingly has one of the most realistic paths.

Cornerback (7)

▶ Starters: D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold

▶ Reserves: Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Khalil Dorsey, Keith Abney II (Arizona State)

▶ Other options: Nick Whiteside, De’Shawn Rucker (USF), Aamaris Brown (UNLV)

The Lions were tied with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans for the fourth most passes of 20-plus yards allowed last season (58). The pass rush needs to be more timely, no doubt, but Detroit's cornerbacks need to be better in 2026. Reed was strong through the first four weeks of the season but struggled upon his return from the hamstring strain he suffered in September, an ailment that sidelined him for two months. Arnold, tabling any potential off-field issues and speaking strictly about his play, was improving before a shoulder injury and concussion forced him to miss nine games. Ya-Sin was Detroit's most consistent presence on the outside in 2025. His return on a one-year deal is smart for both sides.

As for who'll be first up at nickelback, it's shaping up to be a competitive race, with McCreary, Rakestraw and Abney all in the running. Abney was great value for the Lions at No. 157 overall in the draft, with Holmes afterward saying the Lions had Abney graded "a couple rounds higher" than where he ultimately came off the board. Abney played on the outside at Arizona State, but he has the traits to move inside to nickel. If nothing else, the Lions have options, which is never a bad place to be.

More: Detroit Lions draft pick Keith Abney was dominant roller skater

Safety (4)

▶ Starters: Kerby Joseph, Thomas Harper

▶ Reserves: Christian Izien, Avonte Maddox

▶ Other options: Chuck Clark, Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland

▶ PUP: Brian Branch

Also in the mix to play in the slot is Izien, though we've got him listed as a safety here, given Branch's recovery timeline (he tore his Achilles in December) and the uncertainty related to Joseph's knee. Branch could start the season the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning he's out at least four weeks but won't count against the 53-man limit until he's activated (similar to McNeill last season). If Joseph isn't ready for the season opener, we'd then include Clark, who was perhaps the toughest cut in this entire exercise. The Lions have done well in protecting themselves as best they could at safety, given the injury questions. Harper is back after playing solid last season, Izien and Clark were brought in and Maddox, Jackson and Strickland were retained. The path to the roster for Jackson, a seventh-round pick last year, and Strickland, entering his third season, is on special teams.

More: Latest update from Lions GM Brad Holmes on Brian Branch's Achilles, Kerby Joseph's knee

Special teams (3)

▶ Starters: Jake Bates (kicker), Jack Fox (punter), Hogan Hatten (long snapper)

▶ Reserves: N/A

▶ Other options: N/A

While there isn't any intrigue here in terms of new players, 2026 is setting up to be an extremely important season for Bates, who is playing on his exclusive-rights tender (one-year deal at the league's minimum salary). By next March, the Lions are primed to have three full seasons of Bates to evaluate. He's been consistent from within 49 yards (44 for 47 on his career) and has proven clutch, making multiple kicks to either tie or the take the lead with under two minutes remaining. He's 9 for 16 on tries from 50 or more yards out, though that includes a couple of unlikely attempts from 65-plus yards away.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Lions roster projection: A look at personnel after NFL Draft