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5 Detroit Lions firmly on the roster bubble after the 2022 NFL Draft

By Brad Berreman

Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike returns a kick during the second half of the Lions' 37-30 win over the Packers on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Ford Field.
Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike returns a kick during the second half of the Lions' 37-30 win over the Packers on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Ford Field. /
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Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images /

With the draft done and undrafted free agents inked, these five Detroit Lions are now firmly on the roster bubble.

The Detroit Lions selected eight players in the 2022 NFL Draft, then they signed 12 undrafted free agents within 24 hours or so after. Quite simply, there won’t be room for everyone on the 90-man offseason roster after rookie minicamp thins the ranks of UDFAs, let alone the final 53 going into the regular season.

Injuries, be it those recovering (Jameson Williams, Jerry Jacobs, Jeff Okudah, Romeo Okwara) or those who will inevitably have an injury, allow for some maneuvering with the roster to be revisited later. But in a broad sense here, I’m focusing on players who are now firmly on the roster bubble after draft. These are not necessarily immediate cuts, but they now clearly have competition to fend off, have simply been moved down the pecking order or just haven’t gotten traction in their careers with no sign that’ll change in Detroit.

With 20 new players in the mix for roster spots with OTAs on the horizon, these five Detroit Lions are firmly on the roster bubble.

5 Detroit Lions who are firmly on the roster bubble after the draft

5. OG Logan Stenberg

This one is as obvious as it is true. Stenberg, a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2020, has played four more snaps at guard along the offensive line for the Lions than you or I have and 30 total snaps (26 special teams snaps) over two seasons.

Beyond Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai being entrenched at the starting guard spots, 2021 undrafted free agent Tommy Kraemer was ahead of Stenberg last year, and Ryan McCollum was also ahead of Stenberg in the pecking order for playing time on the interior line when injuries hit. The Lions also signed Michigan State offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis as a UDFA this year, and gave him a hefty guarantee ($155,000).

Even in OTAs, Stenberg may just not get much chance to show he deserves to stick around. If he wasn’t on the roster bubble before, he sure is now.

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