The current iteration of the Detroit Lions feels a bit stripped for parts.
Their offense is fine, with the benefit of already having an established franchise quarterback, franchise wide receiver, and franchise running back. Their offensive line still needs work, specifically at the tackle position, but the draft could offer a solution there if Detroit's really high on a prospect in the first or second round.
Could that also be their logic as it pertains to this year's edge class? It sure better be, considering the very little work they've done to address their defensive line this offseason. Roy Lopez and Al-Quadin Muhammad are gone, while they've also lost Alex Anzalone as an additional sack threat. And, who knows if DJ Reader, another free agent defensive tackle, sticks around?
Through just one week of free agency, let's take stock of the Lions' depth chart courtesy ESPN.
Lions' depth chart is a bit of a head-scratcher
Offense
Quarterback:
Jared Goff
Teddy Bridgewater
The Lions signed Bridgewater to a new deal, bringing back the former Lions backup to, presumably, be a stabilizing voice on offense in yet another new system under another new offensive coordinator. If he's actually Detroit's answer at QB2 after losing Kyle Allen, well, that's a little confusing.
With how shaky the Lions' blindside is right now, it might not be a great idea to have Bridgewater be their only solution if Goff goes down with injury. We expect the team to add another quarterback for competition in training camp and the preseason, likely late in the draft.
Running back:
Jahmyr Gibbs
Isiah Pacheco
Sione Vaki
Jacob Saylors
So far, so good for the Lions' running back room at RB1 and RB2. If Pacheco can re-gain his explosiveness from his rookie and second years with the Kansas City Chiefs, then Detroit's going to look genius for being able to bring him into the fold on such a cheap deal. If not, then, no harm, no foul.
Behind those two atop the chart, we can get a little wary. Vaki has shown nothing to warrant being ahead of Saylors on the Lions' depth chart, and that will probably change. The former UFL star was a solid returner for Detroit in 2025, and has shown some stuff in preseason as a running back who can get some tough yardage. Vaki, not so much.
The draft, again, is one avenue we expect the Lions to use to address this room.
Wide receiver:
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jameson Williams
Isaac TeSlaa
Dominic Lovett
Jackson Meeks
Malik Cunningham
Tom Kennedy
The top of this depth chart is sound. The backend needs to show something in camp and preseason to solidify their spots on this roster as backups to those starters. Lovett and Meeks could also be competing for a role with the Lions' special teams unit after the team lost Kalif Raymond to the Chicago Bears. Same goes for Kennedy.
Tight end:
Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
Tyler Conklin
Zach Horton
LaPorta's injury from last season will be a big storyline headed into training camp and the preseason simply because back injuries can be so fickle. There's been no indication that he won't be ready to go for the 2026 season, and that's a good sign. The Lions, and Goff, need him back on the field for his blocking and as a strong receiving option whenever Williams and St. Brown are draped in coverage.
Wright showed some stuff last season when LaPorta had gone down with injury, but then he got hurt, putting a top to any of his momentum. The Lions did add some insurance here in free agency, signing Tyler Conklin to a one-year deal. It is, however, difficult to see him surpassing Wright given his recent stop with the Chargers.
Left tackle:
Larry Borom
Devin Cochran
Borom has, as of the time of this publishing, been the only left tackle signing for the Lions that could feasibly start there. That would probably warrant some questionable results, with recent stops for Borom in Miami and Chicago not going very well.
Still, the Michigan kid is a decent depth signing for Detroit as they presumably go on the hunt for a starter at the position either in the draft or in free agency. And, he sure sounds pumped to be playing in his hometown, and there could be a nice boost to his productivity and confidence off that alone.
Left guard:
Christian Mahogany
Juice Scruggs
We didn't get a great look at Mahogany last season due to injury, so it's unfair to say that he's lost his opportunity to compete for the starting job at left guard in training camp. He's only 25 years old, and honestly looked fine once he and Tate Ratledge began to esablish some chemistry. But, without decent center play, it was tough for him to look any better than "decent."
Perhaps Scruggs offers some real competition this offseason, but it does feel like Detroit needs an extra man at that spot to add even more looks for Hank Fraley to parse through ahead of the season. The draft, again, offers a decent pathway there.
Center:
Cade Mays
Michael Niese
Seth McLaughlin
Mays has been the Lions' big-ticket signing of free agency so far. The former Carolina Panthers lineman recently transitioned to center, and he looked really good for Carolina last season in relief of Austin Corbett. He didn't allow a single sack, and got a taste of postseason action against a pretty formidable Rams defensive line.
It'd still be great if Detroit could add here, although Scruggs has experience playing center. A name to watch in the draft is Connor Lew.
READ MORE: NFL writer names the one regretful cap casualty Lions fans don't want to hear
Right guard:
Tate Ratledge
Miles Frazier
Colby Sorsdal
This might be the Lions' best room along their line if Frazier manages to impress in camp. He had limited snaps in 2025 due to injury, showing up towards the end of the season, but he looked decent. Him coming into his own could answer a lot of depth questions for the Lions along the line, even at left guard if Mahogany doesn't improve.
Right tackle:
Penei Sewell
Giovanni Manu
Mason Miller
Unsure why Manu is listed here as behind Sewell, as it feels like the Lions see him more as a potential succession plan to Decker's old spot at left tackle. But, with or without him, the Lions should be looking to add more help here. Borom is a swing tackle who can certaintly back up Sewell at this spot, and might be asked to even start here if Detroit moves Sewell to the left side.
Defense (Base 4-3)
Left defensive end:
Aidan Hutchinson
That's it. Hutchinson is all alone after Muhammad's departure, at least on the left side of the line. It's obvious that Detroit is going to make a move for an additional edge to back up him up, because it would be malpractice to not address that hole. The draft, especially in the first round, would offer a good solution here for cheap.
Left defensive tackle:
Alim McNeill
Tyleik Williams
Mekhi Wingo
This could be the biggest boom or bust group for the Lions headed into 2026. All three of these players can piece together a great year, helping with both pass rushing and with improving Detroit's poroous run defense.
Or, injuries could hamper them, holding them back from their full potential. There's less pressure on Williams to hit such high marks, but plenty on the shoulders of Wingo and McNeill.
Right defensive tackle:
Levi Onwuzurike
Chris Smith
Onwuzurike has, so far, survived the Lions' cap casualty list. Josh Paschal, another injured defensive lineman who's contract was tolled against the 2026 cap, was released. Onwuzurike looked poised for a great year in 2025, before tearing his ACL right ahead of the season.
He'll be looking to contribute to the Lions' pass rush again in 2026, health-willing. He'll presumably have a better ramp-up experience than McNeill did last year.
Right defensive end:
Tyler Lacy
Ahmed Hassanein
Again, we see the issue with this depth chart as it pertains to the Lions' pass rushers. We have never seen Hassanein play live, regular season NFL football, and Lacy is more of a decent backup at this position - not a starter. The Lions have to be blinded by such glaring holes on this roster right now, and either free agency or the draft will have to offer a solution to them at their price.
WILL linebacker:
Malcolm Rodriguez
Trevor Nowaske
Rodriguez was re-signed to a one-year prove it deal by the Lions, as he never really got a chance to regain his footing in 2025 following a torn ACL suffered in 2024. He's a really solid linebacker with tons of fans both in the Lions' locker room and throughout the fanbase, so a successful bounceback season from him would warrant a ton of praise - and more money.
Nowaske looked good in preseason in 2025, and is a fine backup to Rodriguez on this depth chart.
MIKE linebacker:
Jack Campbell
Again, you'd love to see the Lions address this hole up the middle. Campbell can genuinely do it all, but that feels like a nasty risk to take instead of simply adding some insurance behind him. Detroit will probably look to the draft to try and find a project linebacker somewhere in the 4th or 5th round, but nothing's suggested that they're considering this a major need in free agency.
SAM linebacker:
Derrick Barnes
Barnes shined next to Campbell, allowed to be more of a menace against the run while Campbell took care of the air and the ground. He's anticipated to have another great year for Detroit in 2026, but you'd love to see an additional SAM added to the roster as insurance.
Cornerback:
D.J. Reed
Terrion Arnold
Rock Ya-SIn
Khalil Dorsey
Nick Whiteside
Another solid room for the Lions despite losing Amik Robertson, Detroit has a great ceiling at cornerback if everyone can just stay healthy. Reed and Arnold had their moments in 2025...but those got completely outshined by how much time they missed. For Reed, there was a notable difference in how intensely he played after his hamstring injury, and it was even more magnified considering he had been the Lions' answer to losing Carlton Davis.
Ya-Sin was a great re-signing by Detroit after he had a great moment with the Legion of Whom in 2025, and Dorsey's shown the ability to also start in spurts.
Safety:
Brian Branch
Kerby Joseph
Dan Jackson
Christian Izien
Thomas Harper
Loren Strickland
Opposite to the Lions' cornerback situation, their safety room needs some work. Defensive back was an obvious weakness for them with Joseph missing so much time, and after Branch suffered a torn Achilles.
Izien can start in place of Branch while he rehabs and gets back to speed, but the Lions will either need an incredible level of play from Harper or a gem in the draft to replace him on the depth chart.
Nickelback:
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Roger McCreary
Rakestraw is another huge question mark for this Lions roster after two straight seasons of disappointment. The defensive back could be a huge help and lift for Detroit if he can stay healthy and be effective in coverage, but if not, he might be on the chopping block for Detroit as they continue to cut their losses on draft picks.
Roger McCreary also offers a legitimate threat to Rakestraw, as he has starters experience and has played solidly in that role. We don't know if he'll be a nickelback in the Lions' defense or not, but for now, we place him here just behind Rakestraw.
Special Teams
Place kicker: Jake Bates
Punter/holder: Jack Fox
Kick returner: Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki
Long snapper: Hogan Hatten
The only question for the Lions and their special teams unit is, how long will Vaki remind the secondary option behind Saylors as a returner when the team has Tom Kennedy in tow? The receiver was re-signed to a new deal by Detroit after Raymond walked for the Bears, and he's shown the ability to be an excellent returner if given the reps.
Saylors was also decent, but Kennedy could be out for his spot.