The Detroit Lions have a very fun training camp to look forward to.
We already knew headed into their July training camp dates that the Lions would be looking at who to start at left guard and safety, and now, they're also looking for who can start next to D.J. Reed at cornerback. Right tackle and right guard are also not necessarily spoken for, while Detroit is looking to reshape their special teams unit after key departures in free agency.
Who said this would be a boring time of year for Lions fans?
4 Lions roster battles that should catch fans' attention
Christian Mahogany vs. the rest of the left guard room
Mahogany had 699 snaps at left guard, and was the teams' go-to starter when he was healthy. However, he was shaky at best, and you could argue he came back from his lower leg injury a lot sooner than he should've because of how down bad the rest of the Lions' depth at LG was.
So, the competition for starting left guard is open headed into training camp, and Mahogany's got some stiff competition. Ben Bartch was a good stop-gap for the San Francisco 49ers on their line before he got injured, while both Juice Scruggs and Miles Frazier are too young to completely write off as potential starters at this position.
Don't forget that Giovanni Manu has been taking snaps at guard, as well, adding another wrinkle to the competition.
Rock Ya-Sin vs. Keith Abney II
With respect given to the work that Nick Whiteside, Khalil Dorsey, and De'Shawn Rucker have done to crack this training camp roster, the battle for CB2 feels firmly between Rock Ya-Sin and Keith Abney II (assuming the Lions want to keep Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. strictly as nickel options).
Ya-Sin feels like the obvious choice here, though. He started for Detroit a ton in 2025, and he looked great in those opportunities. He affords the Lions the luxury of being able to still develop Abney behind him, while also not sacrificing a ton of play being without Terrion Arnold.
Abney should be able to push him for the job, though. The rookie comes in with major hype around his physicality and athleticism, which makes up for his smaller stature. If he's not completely stamped as the teams' next gunner or backup nickel, he could make some noise for the CB2 spot in Year 1.
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Jimmy Rolder vs. Malcolm Rodriguez vs. Derrick Barnes
We know that Jack Campbell is the head of the Lions' defense, and rightfully so - he was one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL in 2025, and he's coming into this season completely revitalized with an extension and his first Top 100 list appearance.
However, we don't know who will win out at the SAM position just yet.
Malcolm Rodriguez stands to defend his starting spot there, but Derrick Barnes could be due for a bounce back if he's placed back at a position of strength for him this season - a role where he can generate quarterback pressures alongside Campbell. Rolder is also in the mix for this spot, as the rookie was impressing throughout OTAs with his turnovers and strength.
Teddy Bridgewater vs. Luke Altmyer
It'd be a major feat to see Luke Altmyer leap Teddy Bridgewater on the Lions' depth chart, but the UDFA has sounded like a real sponge this offseason as he tries to take over at backup QB. Bridgewater is a bit of a random signing for Detroit, although it is a reunion with the former backup Lions signal caller. He's just much older, and more removed from his days as a consistent QB2.
Altmyer could end up being the Lions' best option here, as they should want to prioritize finding a worthy heir to the QB1 position once Jared Goff begins to hit his decline (which doesn't seem to be anytime soon).
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