5 things to look out for at Detroit Lions mandatory minicamp

The Detroit Lions are wrapping up their offseason program this week with two-day mandatory minicamp from June 16-17. It’ll be the team’s final offseason activities before a break for summer, and then training camp begins in mid to late July.

2026 is a critical year for this Lions team, tasked with returning to the postseason and Super Bowl contention after a disappointing 2025 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Here are five things to look out for in Detroit’s two-day minicamp:

Petzing’s place

The Lions’ biggest offseason addition may well have been a coach, with the hiring of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. It didn’t work out with John Morton in the role last season, and Petzing will be counted on to add some fresh ideas and improve the offense’s efficiency after it struggled mightily to stay on schedule last year.

Petzing has already drawn praise around the building for his communication and open-mindedness. Though the offense likely won’t change too much of its core identity, there are some new wrinkles. There’s a revamped offensive line (more on that later) and Jahmyr Gibbs is stepping into what Dan Campbell called a “bell cow” role in the offense.

This minicamp will be a premium opportunity for Petzing to workshop ways to deploy Gibbs, assess his offensive line and figure out ways to get Detroit’s plethora of playmakers the ball in new and creative ways.

Changing of the guards?

The Lions’ offensive line had a bad 2025. Jared Goff was sacked the most times of his career and the running game was inefficient, relying too much on explosive plays to move the ball, which constantly led to third-and-longs that made almost every game an uphill battle.

Detroit released Graham Glasgow this offseason after he was one of the worst starting centers in the NFL, leaving left guard Christian Mahogany as arguably the weakest link on not just the line, but the whole offense. He struggled in 2025, dealing with a foot injury and often looking a step behind on his blocking assignments.

The Lions are acutely aware of this and have plenty of competition for Mahogany’s guard spot opposite Tate Ratledge — offseason signing Ben Bartch, trade acquisition Juice Scruggs and 2025 5th rounder Miles Frazier. It feels like it’s anyone’s job.

Penei Sewell’s move to left tackle should ostensibly make life much easier for whoever the left guard is, though that transition will be something to look out for in itself — along with the acclimation of rookie right tackle Blake Miller and free agent signing center Cade Mays.

The Lions did a lot of work to improve their offensive line and it should, in theory, be better in 2026. But the bottom line is, we still need to see it. Minicamp should offer a solid glimpse into it all.

Secondary shuffle

The Lions once had the best safety tandem in the NFL in Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, but both of their futures are in some doubt.

Joseph has a mysterious, seemingly chronic knee injury that the team seems quite unsure about, and Branch is recovering from a torn achilles suffered in December that threatens to sap the one-of-a-kind burst that makes him such a special player in the first place.

But even though the uncertainty surrounding their all-world duo can be scary, the Lions have done well to give themselves other options. They re-signed Avonte Maddox after he played well in relief of Branch late last year, brought in veteran Chuck Clark and the versatile Christian Izien, and brought back Thomas Harper after he started nine games last year and held up nicely.

There’s also a wide-open nickel job after veteran Amik Robertson left in free agency. 2024 second-rounder Ennis Rakestraw is perhaps the highest upside option, though he’s profoundly unproven after missing most of his first two seasons with injury. Rookie Keith Abney II has his fans, but might also be a little green at this stage. Free agent signing Roger McCreary is probably the favorite, after spending 2025 in a fringe-starter role with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams.

At this stage, we don’t have much in the way of hints about who will start where at the safety and nickel positions. Minicamp could shed some light on that, even if it’s only a flicker.

D-line refresh

Detroit has been searching for a proper running mate opposite Aidan Hutchinson for essentially his entire four-year career, and its most earnest attempt yet at securing one was its selection of fellow Michigan man Derrick Moore in the second round of this year’s draft.

The Lions like Moore as a lengthy, strong pocket-crusher with chops against the run and upside as a pass-rusher, but it may be too early in his career to project him as a starter out of the gate.

Detroit brought in edge rushers D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner this offseason. Wonnum easily has the most production of the two, and has two separate eight-sack seasons playing opposite Danielle Hunter in Minnesota. Playing next to Hutchinson could offer much of the same benefit with all the attention he draws from defenses.

The Lions also lost veteran defensive tackles D.J. Reader and Roy Lopez this offseason. They’ll count on 2025 first-rounder Tyleik Williams to take over for Reader at nose, a bounce back year from 3-technique Alim McNeill after he showed some rust in 2025 following a torn ACL, and valuable depth contributions from the likes of Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo.

On paper, the Lions’ defensive line could be one of the league’s best if they hit something close to the best possible outcome for several of their pieces. But there’s plenty of unknown.

Linebacker dilemma?

Jack Campbell is as steady as they come in the NFL, and should be the heart and soul of this Lions defense from the MIKE position in 2026. But the Lions have some sneaky question marks at the WILL and SAM spots.

The team said goodbye to veteran stalwart Alex Anzalone this offseason, and he might be the toughest departure on the team to replace in terms of his combined production on the field and leadership in the locker room.

Derrick Barnes was up-and-down at SAM last season, essentially a non-factor as a pass rusher and not always the strongest run defender even though he had his moments. Detroit may have miscasted him last season, and he could stand to benefit from a move to WILL, where his pass coverage and quick instincts are more well-suited.

That would leave the SAM job up for grabs, likely between spot starter Malcolm Rodriguez and rookie Jimmy Rolder. But neither has the pass-rush upside that you’d like to see at the position, which could put Detroit in a tough spot. They could opt to keep Barnes where he is and start Rodriguez at WILL, but that could cap their pass rush capabilities as well, though it could make them a little better against the run.

Detroit has a lot to figure out at linebacker. Maybe Rolder surprises and steals a starting job from Rodriguez or Barnes, or maybe they shuffle the positions around. But Anzalone’s departure could leave a bigger hole than perhaps initially realized.

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