2025 Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection: Pre-training camp edition

Detroit Lions 2025 coaching camp practices are set to start on Sunday, and meaning it’s time for one more installment of our 53-man roster projection.

As has turn into custom, Jeremy Reisman and I collaborate on this projection in an try to offer you a balanced take a look at the place the roster sits popping out of the summer season break. We come collectively to debate the roster, struggle for our favorites, and compromise when potential. We’ll publish up to date collaborative editions of the 53-man projection all through coaching camp. Then, at cutdowns, we are going to every publish our personal projections.

Let’s get began.

Be aware: An asterisk (*) denotes the participant is a rookie

Quarterbacks (2)

Jared GoffHendon HookerKyle Allen

Erik: Hooker was the Lions’ QB2 all of final common season, whereas Allen was the Steelers’ QB3. The Lions are going to permit the veteran to compete and attempt to seize the job from Hooker, however each Jeremy and I are leaning towards the incumbent till confirmed in any other case.

Operating again (4)

Jahmyr GibbsDavid MontgomeryCraig ReynoldsSione VakiKye Robichaux*Jabari Small

Jeremy: Not a lot drama right here, because the Lions’ top-four operating backs are fairly nicely established from final 12 months, and the usually solely carry 4 on the roster.

Huge receiver (6)

Amon-Ra St. BrownJameson WilliamsTim PatrickKalif RaymondIsaac TeSlaa*Dominic Lovett*Tom KennedyRonnie BellMalik TaylorJakobie Keeney-James*Jackson Meeks*

Erik: The Lions return their high 4 vast receivers from final season and drafted TeSlaa within the third spherical, making him a close to lock for the roster. That doubtless leaves only one open spot for the remaining depth participant to compete for. The Lions might go in a variety of completely different instructions with this closing spot, however we went with Lovett as a result of we consider he has an opportunity to seek out the sector on offense and particular groups, most notably as a gunner.

Tight finish (3)

Sam LaPortaBrock WrightShane ZylstraKenny YeboahZach Horton*Luke Deal*

Jeremy: We went with the chalk reply right here for the third tight finish job, as a result of Zylstra has grown in his three years with the Lions, even incorporating some fullback into his recreation final 12 months. He has reputable competitors this 12 months with the veteran Kenny Yeboah and a pair of UDFAs in Zach Horton and Luke Deal, however till we truly go on the market and see them ball, it’s laborious handy them a roster spot.

Offensive sort out (4)

Penei SewellTaylor Decker (Energetic/PUP: he’s not eligible to follow presently)Dan SkipperGiovanni ManuColby SorsdalJamarco Jones

Erik: Sewell, Decker, and Manu must be locked into their roster spots, however it’s unclear if the group is comfy sticking with 4 tackles or in the event that they’re keen to maintain a fifth. A major consider that call will probably be based mostly on Manu’s developmental progress. If he can leap Jones and Sorsdal and declare the OT4 (or OT3) spot, the Lions could also be keen to remain at 4, which might enable them to speculate extra of their inside offensive line. That is what we anticipate will occur, based mostly on the reward of a number of coaches for Manu and his progress.

Inside offensive line (5)

Graham GlasgowChristian MahoganyTate Ratledge*Miles Frazier* (Energetic/PUP)Kayode AwosikaMichael NieseNetane MutiKingsley EguakunTrystan ColonMason Miller*

Jeremy: When Erik and I introduced our personal 53-man rosters collectively, we solely had three disagreements. This was the primary, debating Kayode Awosika vs. Michael Niese for what we seen because the ninth—and closing—offensive line spot on the roster. It wouldn’t shock both of us if Detroit opted to maintain each and push the OL to 10 gamers, however we finally opted to maintain Awosika as a result of he brings a bit extra expertise to a really, very younger room. Nonetheless, Niese’s versatility as a middle might finally give him the sting—but when Detroit actually plans on shifting Ratledge to heart, the Lions would have already got their backup heart in Glasgow/Ratledge.

Defensive finish (5)

Aidan HutchinsonMarcus DavenportJosh Paschal (Energetic/NFI)Al-Quadin MuhammadAhmad Hassanein*Mitchell AgudeIsaac UkwuNate LynnKeith Cooper*

Erik: The Lions EDGE took a success this week when it was revealed that Levi Onwuzurike would begin the season on the PUP checklist and miss the primary 4 weeks of the season. He splits his time between the inside defensive position (which is the place he’s listed) and the surface edge. This places considerably extra strain on Paschal to carry out (as soon as he’s off NFI) and will increase the significance of Muhammad, in addition to probably pushing Hassanein into motion sooner than anticipated. The Agude, Ukwu, and Lynn trio could have an opportunity to point out their improvement, however we’ll must see it in individual earlier than they’ll change their standing.

Defensive sort out (5)

DJ ReaderTyleik Williams*Roy LopezMekhi Wingo (Energetic/PUP)Pat O’Connor Brodric MartinChris SmithMyles AdamsRaequan Williams

Energetic/PUP: Alim McNeillReserve/PUP: Levi Onwuzurike (Not eligible to play till Week 4)

Jeremy: The unlucky information of Onwuzurike’s damage that can trigger him to overlook at the least 4 video games has opened up a spot for somebody we initially had on the bubble to make the group. Pat O’Connor was the comparatively simple selection, contemplating how extremely the group spoke of him final 12 months, and his versatility to play anyplace from nostril sort out to the sting. Don’t sleep on Chris Smith, although. He performed important snaps down the stretch final 12 months, and would convey much more youth to the place.

Linebacker (6)

Alex AnzaloneJack CampbellDerrick BarnesGrant StuardTrevor NowaskeEzekiel TurnerAnthony Pittman Zach CunninghamDaRon Gilbert

Energetic/PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez

Erik: The Lions return all three of their starters, signed Stuard as a precedence free agent, and certain gained’t wish to threat shedding Nowaske to waivers once more, as he brings nice worth as a reserve SAM. That leaves one among two spots open for the remaining gamers, and whereas we initially thought of each Turner and Pittman, we needed to resolve between them once we narrowed the checklist to only six linebackers. We narrowly went with Turner due to the truth that, throughout final 12 months’s damage attrition, he outlasted a number of different bigger-named linebackers together with his particular groups expertise and talent to see the sector on protection in a pinch.

Cornerback (6)

Terrion ArnoldD.J. ReedAmik RobertsonEnnis Rakestraw Jr.Khalil Dorsey (Energetic/PUP)Rock Ya-Sin Stantley Thomas Oliver (Energetic/NFI)Tyson RussellDiCaprio Bootle

Jeremy: One among our closing selections to make was whether or not to maintain a sixth cornerback or a fifth security. The flexibility of gamers like Avonte Maddox (nickel or security), Morice Norrise (nicke or security), and Amik Robertson (exterior nook or nickel) made the mathematics a bit fuzzy. Finally, we determined the Lions have usually favored having a veteran exterior nook amongst their reserves (Kindle Vildor, Will Harris), and Ya-Sin match that invoice.

Security (4)

Brian BranchKerby JosephAvonte MaddoxDan Jackson*Morice NorrisLoren StricklandErick HallettIan Kennelly*

Erik: Whereas the expertise is arguably current to maintain a fifth security, there simply wasn’t sufficient room on the roster as soon as we selected six corners. Norris brings the flexibility to play all three security positions to the desk, however proper now, he seems to be like he’s caught behind Avonte Maddox, who sports activities the same talent set. That being mentioned, there’s an argument to be made that the Lions could favor to discover a strategy to hold the youthful Norris, who remains to be ascending in his improvement.