Detroit Lions camp quandary 2019: Sorting out the bubble players

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30: Zach Zenner #34 of the Detroit Lions gets tackled by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers and Tony Brown #28 during the first half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30: Zach Zenner #34 of the Detroit Lions gets tackled by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers and Tony Brown #28 during the first half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Offensive Keepers

On the offensive side of the ball, we’ll start up front again.

The Detroit Lions have six players to build around for sure. Tackles, Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner, and Tyrell Crosby, guards, Graham Glasgow, Kenny Wiggins, and center, Frank Ragnow are all staying. Two or three others will end up being kept, too, but a noteworthy change is that Ragnow and Glasgow have swapped spots, putting both men back to their primary positions.

In the Motor City, Matthew Stafford is entrenched at quarterback and along with his new backup, Tom Savage, both men will be around for all of 2019.

The running backs to watch for are the starter and all-purpose runner, Kerryon Johnson, free agent thumper, C.J. Anderson, and useful reserve, Zach Zenner.

The tight end group should be a new strength for the team after signing free agents, using a top ten draft pick, and bringing in a run-first offensive coordinator in Darrell Bevell. Jesse James, T.J. Hockenson, and Logan Thomas are all options that it would seem like Quinn would not part with.

At wide receiver, Kenny Golladay, the outside receiver, Marvin Jones, Jr., the slot or outside receiver, and the two new additions, Jermaine Kearse and Danny Amendola, are all virtual locks to play during the regular season. Amendola and Kearse both bring flexibility and experience to the receiver corps.

Eighteen offensive players, when combined with sixteen defensive players, brings our total to thirty-four players not including specialists, kicker, Matt Prater, punter, Sam Martin, and long snapper, Don Muhlbach. Largely, this is the nucleus of the team and the thirty-seven players that the Detroit Lions staff will not be arguing about keeping.