Cutdown day in the NFL is scheduled for August 30, just one day removed from the Detroit Lions' last preseason game of the year. We could get a pretty good idea of who is surviving those cuts based on who the Lions field that day against the Indianapolis Colts.
We've seen some incredible risers headed into this final week of offseason action, which just goes to show that there might've been some premature panic about a less than active free agency or trade market for Detroit. Beyond there, the Lions seem to have drafted just right for their needs, which is another nod to their front office.
Ahead of their final preseason contest, we'll take a look at four specific risers that fans should begin to invest in, because there's a good shot they'll be making this year's roster.
4 Lions that are rising too fast to ignore ahead of cutdown day
Skyler Gill-Howard
You cannot escape hearing about Gill-Howard in Lions spaces right now, and for good reason. The 6th-rounder out of Texas Tech was not expected to be more than a practice squad candidate according to draft expert Lance Zierlein, but instead, he has worked himself up the depth chart as a viable backup defensive tackle.
He's a great run defender and bull rusher, two things Detroit values out of veteran Alim McNeill, who is expected to start on the line this year. Having someone behind him with similar skills, who could be plugged in on third-down plays or in blitz packages, gives you hope that Detroit's defense won't be all that bad this season.
Gill-Howard is likely to make this year's roster, which is such a great story out of training camp.
Jacob Saylors
While Saylors might have some stiff competition in the final week of camp from Kareem Hunt - which, why? - he has done more than enough to show that he's ready to take over at RB3 for Detroit. He's also a viable returner to utilize, although special teams coordinator Dave Fipp might be impartial to Tom Kenndy or Greg Dortch.
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Still, Saylors has built upon a nice preseason in 2025 with another one in 2026, and it's hard to imagine a world where he's beat out in this room to backup Jahmyr Gibbs or Isiah Pacheco. The trouble comes if Pacheco is out to begin the year, which could explain their Hunt visit. Still, the team should trust Saylors with the temporary keys there.
Roger McCreary
After a slow start to training camp, McCreary has managed to become the third-highest graded cornerback in preseason so far. That's tough to ignore if you're the Lions still seeking a starting nickel back, and seeking someone as versatile as McCreary to fill in necessary gaps in your secondary.
On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that the team might not even commit to one "starting" slot corner, and instead, plug and play whoever makes the most sense on a match by match basis. This cracks the door open even more for McCreary to gain a roster spot. With another good preseason game, he could cement his role as a swing corner on this roster.
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