5 Detroit Lions who will have big spotlight on them during training camp

4. PK Jake Bates

It's easy to be skeptical about how much the Lions genuinely want to replace Michael Badgley, or how much they even care who their kicker is with Dan Campbell's fourth-down aggressiveness in mind. But all the buzz about Bates, who of course kicked for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL this year (including a 64-yard game winner in the Panthers' season opener to launch all the buzz about him), was paid off by them actually signing him amid interest from multiple other teams.

If Bates can pair his strong leg with all-around consistency during camp practices, it will be impossible for everyone (coaches, reporters, etc.) not to notice. It shouldn't be hard to clearly outshine Badgley, and if he does he should win the kicking job as long as it's a genuinely open competition.

Bates could end the Lions' kicker carousel with a strong training camp. If nothing else, he'll be worth watching when he lines up for a long field goal attempt and his work will be chronicled.

3. RB Sione Vaki

Right after drafting him back in April, Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it clear Vaki is seen as a running back after he mostly played safety at Utah. He's also in line to work heavily on special teams coverage units right off the bat, but he definitely has some untapped upside as a versatile offensive weapon.

Vaki could also become a factor in the competition to be the Lions' kickoff returner. The NFL's change in kickoff rules will put importance back on a play that had been slowly phased out in the name of player safety, and it's safe to say the Lions haven't gotten much out of their kickoff returners in recent years.

Overall, during camp, preseason games and joint practices against the Giants before the preseason opener, it will be interesting to see how Vaki is deployed as something of a Swiss Army knife.