After a few days of digesting the Detroit Lions' initial roster headed into the 2026 season, it's clear that the team might still have a few holes to address if they want to be true contenders come this winter.
Those holes don't need to be addressed right this moment, but barring a big leap from a select few units, the team could suffer from some further regression in a season where a bounceback is almost demanded of them.
There are three specific positions that Detroit could stand to try and improve themselves at after cutdown day has laid out their vulnerabilities bare.
3 positions the Lions need to improve at ahead of kickoff
Cornerback
While the Lions did bring cornerback Nick Whiteside back into the fold on their practice squad after waiving him, they are still in need of some stronger starting help next to D.J. Reed headed into this year. Losing Terrion Arnold after the team released him amid his legal woes was just the tip of this roster iceberg, especially considering that Arnold came into camp in a competition for the CB2 job.
It's unlikely that Detroit will go "big" to address this issue, and honestly, there's a greater chance they stick with quantity over potential quality here - they have Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., rookie Keith Abney II, Khalil Dorsey, and Christian Izien available at CB2 whenever necessary.
But, it's not always best practice to just hope that the sum of these parts will equate to having a bonafide second starter in the lineup.
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Offensive line
This is an obvious hole for the Lions with Cade Mays out for a few weeks to start the year, and with so many young players now starting in the trenches for the Lions. However, of all three roster holes listed here, this is the one likeliest to improve throughout the season. Mays' return is a part of that, but we'll also be seeing progress from Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany, and rookie Blake Miller.
In 2025, the line was on constant flux outside of right tackle, where Penei Sewell was formerly anchoring everything.
This season, barring any additional injuries, Detroit should have a much more consistent starting line that'll help to establish rhythm for both Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff. Even the backups along their O-line looked good in preseason, which should speak to the strength of the starting line by Week 1.
If there are any holes to be filled along the line, it'd specifically be at left guard, as Christian Mahogany didn't win out the starting role there with authority. Detroit has some options to replace him there, like with Ben Bartch or Miles Frazier, but they're not guarantees to be better than Mahogany.
Safety
Less concerning within the Lions' defense is their safety room, despite injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph that'll keep them out for a minimum of four games to begin the year.
Chuck Clark should be a decent stopgap for the team throughout the first quarter of their schedule and before Branch returns from injury, while Avonte Maddox is another seasoned veteran who looked spry in preseason.
Maddox, especially, will need to have a much better 2026 after looking a step slow last season. If he can't do that, and if Clark can't at least help the Lions' secondary in coverage, things can get disastrous for Detroit's pass defense. Addressing their lack of depth at safety should be on their radar ahead of the year, but there aren't many available options on that front (unless the Lions want a reunion with Iffy Melifonwu).
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