The Detroit Lions may have signed defensive tackle Roy Lopez away from the Arizona Cardinals with the thought that he can provide solid run-stuffing on the interior, but the way they have allocated resources in the 2025 NFL Draft suggests that their new signing may not be in line for much playing time.
The Lions used their first-round pick in the draft on promising Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. While Williams came off the board earlier than many would have anticipated, Detroit was clearly smitten with his ability to stop the run.
Detroit will add Williams to a defensive tackle room that includes another veteran space-eater in the always reliable DJ Reader, recently extended Alim McNeil, and another re-signing in often injured former second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike. This room went from thin to well above average overnight.
Lopez may have signed with the Lions with the intention of being a starter, but the latest moves this team has made have him positioned to fall out of the rotation one year after being a consistent starter with the Cardinals.
Roy Lopez could be benched after Lions add Tyleik Willians in NFL Draft
Lopez had his day as a starter in Houston before starting 16 games last season with the Cardinals. While he didn't perform well enough to convince Arizona to bring him back for another season, the Lions were enticed enough to hand out a one-year contract.
Reader and McNeil are likely going to be the Week 1 starters at defensive tackle, though it seems likely that Williams will likely overtake the veteran at some point in the immediate future. This leaves Lopez and Onwuzurike in a dead heat for the fourth defensive tackle spot.
Onwuzurike may have the edge over Lopez, due to both his familiarity within the offense and his superior upside as a pass rusher. Lopez had just 28 tackles and one sack with the Cardinals last year, which could be a sign that he is nothing more than a low-ceiling role player in Detroit's defensive scheme.
Lopez will need to convince Dan Campbell that he is both better Onwuzurike and more worthy of immediate snaps than a player who Detroit invested a first-round pick in. Calling that a tall order doesn't even begin to describe the task Lopez has in front of him.