3 rookies who might not play a snap for the Detroit Lions this year

The Detroit Lions inarguably have one of the best rosters in the NFL. The proof in that pudding is in the ideal mix of youth and experience, and legit Super Bowl aspirations for this year. While the draft has been the core of Brad Holmes' philosophy, and the pipeline of young talent will remain full, it's going to start to be more difficult for incoming rookies to make an immediate difference on such a good team.

The Lions notably took cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw with their first two picks in this year's draft, to fully address the biggest weakness on the roster. Both are expected to have prominent roles right away. Fourth-round pick Sione Vaki, who's making the transition to running back, is pushing for a notable immediate role himself.

Other than that trio, it's harder to envision the other three Lions' draft picks this year making a big impact in their first year. That doesn't mean they never will be impactful, just the path to it this year is not really there.

So with that in mind, these three rookies may not play a single snap for the Lions this year.

3. DB Loren Strickland

Strickland, an undrafted rookie out of Ball State, made himself impossible to ignore during training camp and the preseason as he made a run to a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.

Strickland is a versatile defender, and he was used that way in the preseason. But his path to playing time during the regular season will be paved on special teams, which leaves him open to being inactive on a regular basis. The injury status of Ifeatu Melifonwu could be telling here, in terms of testing the Lions' depth at safety, but it's possible Strickland never sees the field this year.

2. OG Christian Mahogany

The Lions' final pick in April's draft (sixth round, 210th overall), Mahogany has never necessarily been in line to play much (or at all) this year. But he missed training camp due to an undisclosed illness, and after eventually being able to get to work he's starting the season on the NFI (non-football injury) list. That means he'll miss at least the first four games of the season, and he also can't take the practice field during the time he's on the list. So, lack of better terms, his delay in development is now stalled with the inability to practice.

Mahogany fell down the draft further than he really should have, and the Lions pounced with the idea he could be a future starter. So this year's early illness setback is not all that impactful to his overall outlook, it just all but takes him out of being helpful if injuries happen this year.

1. OT Giovanni Manu

Manu can probably go from "might not see a snap this year" to "won't see a snap this year." Dan Campbell has all but assured this will be a redshirt year for the young offensive lineman, as he faces a steep NFL learning curve after playing collegiately in Canada.

Manu got lots of run solely at left tackle during the preseason (149 snaps), highlighted by an 85.6 pass blocking grade against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second preseason contest. So there's some raw ability here, but that's just it-it's raw ability, and preseason success has to be taken with some grains of salt.

Manu simply needs reps against NFL competition. He can get those in practice, to whatever extent, all season long. The only way he sees game action as a rookie is if things go completely off the rails injury-wise for the Lions' offensive line. And maybe not even then, with experienced options potentially out there to be added.