Detroit Lions 53-Man Roster Projection: Defense

In this projection, there are 28 open spots on the Detroit Lions roster for defensive players and specialists. The competition for some of these precious gigs will be fierce this summer.

The offense can be found here, with all 25 players I project at this point.

Defensive Line (8)

Ezekiel Ansah

Devin Taylor

Haloti Ngata

Caraun Reid

A’Shawn Robinson

Stefan Charles

Wallace Gilberry

Anthony Zettel

The ends are Ansah, Taylor and Gilberry in order. Ngata, Reid and second-round rookie Robinson figure to be the top three tackles.

I’m a big Tyrunn Walker fan, but I’m not sure he makes it. If the tackle is fully recovered from his nasty broken leg, he starts next to Ngata. The terms of his contract make him easily expendable, and Robinson offers more upside playing the same position as Walker. There’s little point in keeping him as the fourth tackle, and I think Walker himself would agree and prefer to be set free to find greener pastures.

Charles and Zettel are depth guys, with Charles being able to fill the Jason Jones role of playing both end and tackle. Zettel will have to find a role as a sixth-round rookie, but his work ethic and versatility make him a better investment than Gabe Wright. Last year’s fourth-round pick appears to be a dead man walking in Detroit.

Linebackers (6)

DeAndre Levy

Tahir Whitehead

Josh Bynes

Kyle Van Noy

Antwione Williams

Mystery player

This group is pretty straightforward at the top. Levy, Whitehead and Bynes will see the lion’s share of the playing time on defense. It’s entirely possible no other LB sees more than 100 snaps all season if that trio stays healthy.

Van Noy is at a crossroads in his third season. I suspect he will play an integral role on special teams, but if he doesn’t show a lot more as an actual linebacker in preseason, that will be the extent of his role. Williams should also offer a lot on special teams as a fifth-round rookie who can play in sub packages against the run.

I included a player to be determined because none of the other current rostered players are legit NFL talents. This spot is malleable and could wind up being an extra lineman or wide receiver.

Stephen Tulloch remains on the roster in name only. All the former draft flops Bob Quinn gathered this offseason, from Khaseem Greene to Jon Bostic to Zaviar Gooden, fail to make the cut in this edition. That’s a positive, by the way.

Cornerbacks (5)

Darius Slay

Nevin Lawson

Quandre Diggs

Alex Carter

Darrin Walls

This one is a struggle to project. Slay, Lawson, Diggs and Carter are easy as the top four; it’s one of the best young corner groups in the league…potentially.

After that core, enter the question marks! Walls has enough experience and the ballhawking mentality that he should be a strong fit. However, he’s struggled with consistency and durability, not to mention he’s got a reputation as one of the softest tacklers this side of Alphonso Smith.

The rest of the roster right now is street free agents and undrafted rookies. Of that group, Ian Wells offers the highest ceiling but he might also be the closest to his floor. He’s got practice squad written all over him. I like Adairius Barnes to some extent, but he’s not NFL-ready either.

This is another position where the quantity kept is up for debate. They could keep 6, particularly if Crezdon Butler somehow impresses this summer. He did not last year but wound up back on the roster thanks to a rash of injuries. If that injury bug concerns the coaching staff, they could very well keep six here, though in all likelihood the final cast member is auditioning for another team first.

Safeties (6)

Glover Quin

Miles Killebrew

Tavon Wilson

Rafael Bush

Isaiah Johnson

Don Carey

Quin is a given; he’s one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Who starts next to him, and who backs those starters up, is perhaps the biggest question facing the Lions defense this offseason.

Killebrew will make the team, but the fourth-round rookie’s role is up in the air. He could start or make it as the third safety and play situationally against the run. Bush–if healthy–is more likely to win the starting strong safety spot, but his durability is a major question.

Wilson earns a spot almost exclusively on special teams. The other safety spot will likely be determined by special teams play as well, but of the three competitors (Johnson, Don Carey and Johnson Bademosi) Isaiah Johnson offers the most upside actually playing defense. With so little depth above him, that makes sense at this juncture. If Bush doesn’t make the team, I give the advantage to Carey over Bademosi because of his tenure with the team.

The debate I’m having in my head here is that both Carey and Bademosi ostensibly can play cornerback as well as safety, so if the Lions do only keep 5 corners the odds are pretty good one of those two does wind up making the 53. Carey gets it for being less awful in coverage.

For more thoughts on the safety spot, check out Matt Urben’s breakdown.

Specialists (3)

Sam Martin

Matt Prater

Jimmy Landes

Martin will be the punter and Prater the placekicker. Neither even has competition at this point. Long snapper is the one grey area, as Don Muhlbach is the current longest tenured Lion. However, the team drafted a long snapper in Jimmy Landes. As colossally stupid as that might seem, it reflects even dumber if he doesn’t make the team. Thanks for the memories and years of service, Mr. Muhlbach.