5 Detroit Lions candidates to be cut going into the summer

3. LB/EDGE Julian Okwara

The younger Okwara brother certainly has plenty of potential. But he has not been able to stay healthy, going back into his college career. Last year, it was a leg injury during training camp and then an unlucky elbow injury when he braced himself from falling that ended his season on IR.

Looking purely at the Lions’ edge rusher spot, it’s deep and hard to crack for a substantial role–Aidan Hutchinson, James Houston, Romeo Okwara, Charles Harris. Even looking to off-the-ball linebacker, where a place could be found, the Lions go four deep there with capable players (Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes).

Julian Okwara may stick around for awhile on the Lions’ roster this summer, possibly right through training camp and the preseason to final cuts before the regular season starts. But the odds, based purely on a numbers game at the spots he could stick at, are against him making it to Week 1 on the final 53 in Detroit.