Getting right down to it, the Detroit Lions don't have a lot of roster spots fully up for grabs as the second set of full-team OTAs beckons this week (Wednesday through Friday). That's just part of having one of the best rosters in the NFL, and it's certainly better than having to give roster spots to a set of lesser-talented players who simply win position battles as the lesser of two ugly-looking evils. And the Lions were in a spot like that not too long ago.
Those who are battling for a roster spot or a role can't have any let up right now. Even non-padded practices in May are important, to show up and seize whatever opportunities there are to show out. A fairly long list of players who were out or limited during the first set of OTAs for the Lions may continue this week, as May winds down and the calendar flips to June, and provide opportunities for others to shine.
These five Lions stand as top candidates to be cut heading into the summer.
5 Detroit Lions' cut candidates heading into the summer
5. OG Kayode Awosika
The additions of Giovanni Manu and Christian Mahogany in April's draft naturally pushed Awosika down the Lions' depth chart at guard. He started four games at left guard in place of an injured Jonah Jackson, including the NFC Championship Game, and he was not particularly good. In the previous playoff game against Tampa Bay, after Jackson left it injured, Awosika allowed seven pressures on 28 pass blocking snaps (according to Next Gen Stats). According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed five pressures on 24 "true pass sets" in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
Colby Sorsdal could be put in the same boat as Awosika, but he seems to have developmental upside and potential position versatility Awosika simply doesn't.
In a broad sense, offensive line depth is an issue for the Lions. Awosika didn't show himself to be a viable fill-in when called upon last year, so he's an easy candidate to be cut.
4. WR Tre'Quan Smith
Barring something unforeseen at this point, Smith will be the only veteran wide receiver the Lions add this offseason. He was signed to a futures deal in early February, as the headliner of that group of signings. Prior to playing in just one game for the Denver Broncos last season, he spent his first five NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
That time in New Orleans of course produces his tie to the Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell was the Saints' tight ends coach over Smith's first three NFL seasons, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was also on Sean Payton's staff as defensive backs coach.
That time in New Orleans of course produces his tie to the Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell was the Saints' tight ends coach over Smith's first three NFL seasons, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was also on Sean Payton's staff as defensive backs coach.
We know who the locks are to make the Lions' roster at wide receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones). Smith is primarily in a battle with Antoine Green (who may be a sneaky lock to make the roster), Tom Kennedy, Maurice Alexander and undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams for what will likely be one or two spots on the final 53-man roster going into the season.
3. RB Zonovan Knight
Knight was a very interesting addition to the Lions' running back depth chart after the Jets cut him late last preseason. If not for a shoulder injury in October that ended his season, he may have eventually overtaken Craig Reynolds as the No. 3 running back.
Now, Knight inds himself in what could be a hotly contested position battle. Reynolds is well-regarded by the coaching staff for all he brings to the table, and it was clear rookie Sione Vaki was highly coveted before the Lions traded into the fourth round of April's draft to get him. General manager Brad Holmes was immediately clear that Vaki is viewed first as a running back, then secondarily a special teamer, then perhaps a safety on the defensive side of the ball.
The Lions may decide to carry four running backs into the season, up from three on the initial 53-man roster last year. Vaki is a lock to make it, barring a significant injury, and the equity Reynolds has built may mean he'll have to be decisively beaten out by Knight to lose his roster spot.
Knight may get that done, and show himself to be a far better player than Reynolds as the Lions always operate a meritocracy.
But it'll be hard for the Lions to ignore what they know about Reynolds if the battle between he and Knight for one roster spot is close. So "Bam" may ultimately, simply, be the odd-man out.
2. CB Kindle Vildor
By the end of last season, Vildor was a starting corner for the Lions and playing nearly every defensive snap. A team with Super Bowl aspirations can't have that be the case, and the cornerback depth chart was addressed strongly this offseason (Carlton Davis, Amik Robertson, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw).
So Vildor is down to competing with Emmanuel Moseley, Khalil Dorsey and maybe Steven Gilmore for a couple of roster spots.
If Moseley's recovery from another torn ACL goes smoothly, he's a lock to be on the roster.
Dorsey returned kickoffs a bit last year, and was broadly a core special teamer too (248 special teams snaps).
Gilmore may be headed for the practice squad again if he doesn't make the active roster out of camp, and versatile undrafted rookie defensive back Morice Norris could be a factor in the battle for roster spots too.
Special teams value is a differentiator in the battle for spots on the end of a roster, likely even more so now with the new kickoff rules. Even before he was playing defense a lot for the Lions after coming aboard last year, Vildor did not play on special teams.
The fall from miscast starting corner in last year's playoffs to off the Lions roster before Week 1 this year seems to be coming for Vildor. It's really only a matter of time.
1. DT Levi Onwuzurike
Unfortunately, as back issues have derailed his career from the start, Onwuzurike is a no-brainer No. 1 on this list. After missing all of the 2022 season due to an early training camp injury that led to major (and I do mean major) back surgery, he was apparently healthy throughout last season, As in, literally, zero appearances on an injury report if memory serves.
But the 2021 second-round pick played in just 10 regular season games last year, with one sack and five total tackles over 131 snaps. He did played in all three playoff games (32 total snaps), with two tackles. When Onwuzurike was on the field, he was simply not noticeable.
That Onwuzurike has not been cut yet, when he could have found another team more easily earlier in the offseason, may show an idea the Lions want to give him one last shot to show his potential and win a roster spot. But the team added DJ Reader in free agency and Mekhi Wingo in the draft to bolster the interior defensive line, and push Onwuzurike down the depth chart further than he was when Benito Jones etc. lined up next to Alim McNeill.
Onwuzurike's days as a Lion feel like they're numbered. Any lingering sentimentality for an injury situation that is not his fault, if there is any, has to be gone by the time final roster cuts come, if not well before.