The Detroit Lions are about to announce their finalized 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season. This is a year full of hopes, again, as the team sets its sights on clinching another NFC North title and a trip to the Super Bowl. They've gotten within one game in the last two years of that feat, so the feeling is that this year they can finally get over the hump.
In the preseason, we saw plenty of talent across the board from the Lions' less secure players, and we also saw some hiccups that might've made it hard for the team to justify handing over a roster spot. Players like Hendon Hooker, Brodric Martin, and Dominic Lovett were all fighting for a spot on this year's roster.
In ESPN's latest 53-man roster prediction from Lions beat reporter Eric Woodyard, the Lions' defensive line is the room most benefitted by cuts elsewhere. Carrying 10 players into the year by Woodyard's count, the unit is well backed up.
Woodyard provides major help to Lions D-line in final 53-man roster prediction
Woodyard names the following 10 Lions to the final roster in his prediction:
Aidan Hutchinson
Marcus Davenport
DJ Reader
Brodric Martin
Roy Lopez
Tyleik Williams
Ahmed Hassanein (injured)
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Nate Lynn
Mekhi Wingo
Woodyard writes, "Hutchinson is back from a season-ending leg injury and has dominated throughout training camp, which gives the Lions' defense confidence entering this season. DT Alim McNeill (knee) will start the season on the PUP list, while defensive end Josh Paschal remains out with a non-football injury."
READ MORE: ESPN projection confirms inevitable 2025 outcome for Aidan Hutchinson
Wingo is a huge returner to this roster, while the addition of Lynn, Muhammad, and Williams helps to provide decent backup to the Lions' defensive tackles and edge rushers. Martin, of course, is the most significant addition here. The 2023 pick by the Lions has had an up and down experience trying to land with the roster in earnest, dealing with injuries throughout that time.
Similarly to Lynn, who was a UDFA in 2024 that was hurt and brought back for 2025, he had to prove to the Lions' staff in preseason and training camp that he could stay healthy and consistent. He did both. In Woodyard's estimation here, that was enough to snag him a spot here.
Sacrifices in the Lions' safety room and quarterback room are noted on Woodyard's roster prediction, with the two rooms carrying four and two players into the year, respectively. The versatility of the safety room and the lack of anything worth salvaging from Hendon Hooker's preseason make this prediction sound, though.