After the 2023 NFL Draft is over, these four Detroit Lions players could very easily be cut.
The Detroit Lions have nine selections heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Add in the inevitable signing of some undrafted free agents, and even with a 90-man roster through offseason work there won’t be room to keep everyone. Those who have already had an opportunity to make a mark may simply be weeded out for other options who are deemed more promising.
In another way, the Lions’ draft additions stand to push some players down the depth chart, or off the roster entirely. The Jeff Okudah trade was a reflection of that, as free agent additions in the secondary pushed him down the cornerback depth chart and made trading him easy. Like Okudah, there could simply a better opportunity for some guys elsewhere.
The days of the Lions taking on players other teams don’t want or get rid of is over, at least for now. The battle for roster spots will be fierce this year, in some spots naturally more than others.
With the draft starting Thursday night and ending Saturday, these four players might be counting down their remaining days on the dLions’ roster.
4 Detroit Lions players who could be cut after the 2023 NFL Draft
4. OG Logan Stenberg
Stenberg barely played in his first two seasons, after being a fourth-round pick in 2020. Then he started four games for the Lions last season, as injuries simply left them with few options at right guard. He did not play well, getting a 39.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while committing three penalties and allowing two sacks over 228 snaps.
The Lions may take a guard in this draft, with an eye on the future at minimum. Ross Pierschbacher has versatility that should allow him to stick around, as does Darrin Paulo. So Stenberg, as much as anything, is lined up to be the odd-man out.
3. TE Shane Zylstra
Zylstra, and Lions’ fans, will always have his three-touchdown outburst against the Carolina Panthers last season. In his other career games combined, he has one touchdown (also last season) and nine catches for 68 yards.
The Lions seem to like Brock Wright. James Mitchell has potential coming off a somewhat truncated rookie season, after a torn ACL in his final college season. Derrick Deese Jr. could stick around for a bit longer, after being an interesting undrafted signing last year.
The Lions seem certain to take a tight end somewhere in this draft, so someone who’s already on the roster may have to give. If it’s Zysltra, don’t be shocked.
2. S/CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
Melifonwu will always be known as the first draft pick the Lions had from the Matthew Stafford trade, third round (No. 101 overall) in the 2021 draft. After a rookie season where he missed a lot of time due to an injury (seven games played, four starts), he transitioned to safety last offseason as the Lions surveyed options to help out there.
Melifonwu played in 10 games last season, starting once at safety in place of an injured DeShon Elliott. He had some struggles that were easy to expect in his first meaningful action at a new position.
As much as the Lions’ free agent additions in the secondary pushed Jeff Okudah down the pecking order and eventually off the roster, in a lower-key way those moves did the same to Melifonwu. And he was already struggling to earn snaps, even on special teams. Any further additions to the secondary in the draft may very well lead to him being cut. Allowing him the opportunity to work through kinks and possibly realize his potential is not that palatable anymore.
1. WR Trinity Benson
Brad Holmes took to defending the 2021 trade for Benson for a time. But that time is gone, and the proof is in the pudding now–or the lack of pudding. The Lions brought Benson back last year after he was cut and the Denver Broncos had him on their practice squad, for some reason, then he played in one game before going on IR.
The Lions were somewhere in the market for a wide receiver in this draft before Jameson Williams was suspended for six games. It just might happen a round or two earlier now.
We know who the Lions’ locks for a roster spot already are at wide receiver–Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Williams when he’s off his suspension. Tom Kennedy and/or Maurice Alexander will perhaps stick around on the practice squad, or on the back end of the 53-man roster during Williams’ suspension.
Drafting a wide receiver will, as a practical matter, push Benson off the Lions’ roster for good. And truly, it may not be necessary.