5 Detroit Lions whose stock is on the rise after minicamp

For all intents and purposes, with final OTA sessions next week for younger players, 2024 offseason work is over for the Detroit Lions.

There's definitely a sense of "all business" that reporters picked up on, even during OTAs and minicamp without pads on, which is a tentacle of the "unfinished business" moniker players had after the loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship. Before Thursday's final minicamp practice, head coach Dan Campbell said he wants the "whole enchilada."

For a solid chunk of Lions' players, OTAs and this week's minicamp was important. With some veterans seeing limited or no work due to injury recovery, etc., players with more at stake got a chance to work. For some, just getting practice reps before training camp was huge.

Whatever the individual circumstance is, these five Lions are on the rise after minicamp.

5 Detroit Lions players whose stock is on the rise after minicamp

5. PK James Turner

In a broad sense, Michael Badgley is begging to be replaced as the Lions' kicker. The team doesn't seem terribly interested in replacing him, only adding former Michigan kicker Turner as a UDFA. Options may surface now with the UFL season winding down (Jake Bates, Andre Szmyt), but the Lions seem to have a legit kicking competition now-if they will let it happen.

By all accounts, Turner outdid Badgley at minicamp, particularly on longer range field goals. It was unclear if Turner had that in him, as he was simply not asked to kick long field goals that much at Michigan.

Yes, making kicks during OTAs will be far different from the greater intensity preseason games, and even training camp, will bring. But Turner went from cursory competition for Badgley to (potentially) a legit option to be the Lions' kicker this year when the dust settles.

4. EDGE Mitchell Agude

Going with a sneaky one here. Agunde spent all of last season on the practice squad, but multiple reporters took very positive note of his work during OTAs and minicamp as he got higher-level reps. As the Lions search for capable edge rushers when camp starts, he's got undeniable momentum going in.

Via Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire:

"Agude is getting a lot of second-team EDGE reps and making the most of them. Granted it’s unpadded, but his power-to-speed and long-armed bull rush look legit. He ran step-for-step with rookie RB Sione Vaki on a wheel route in Wednesday’s session and that definitely caught my attention. The 6-4, 250-pound Agude was on the practice squad in 2023 but he’s pushing for much more in ’24."

Over three seasons at the FBS level in college, two at UCLA and one at Miami (FL), Agude totaled 21.5 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles. He definitely has some latent potential, and opportunity seems to be legitimately knocking for him to earn a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.

3. DT Levi Onwuzurike

Around Dan Campbell's minicamp comments that Onwuzurike has has a good spring, the former second-round pick had noticeable showings during Tuesday and Wednesday practices. He said he has added weight, and with his back fully healthy for the first time since college he had a simple explanation for the difference in how he feels and thus how he can perform better.

"The best way I can explain it is everything is moving together as one. Speed to power, my whole body feels like one, all together", Onwuzurike said.

Campbell was careful to say the obvious-that the Lions have not been in pads yet. When we remember he suffered what turned out to be a major back injury during the first practice of 2022 training camp, that will be a critical step for Onwuzurike as he looks to move all the way off the roster bubble

Onwuzurike needed a strong run during offseason work. He had it, so he's on the rise looking toward training camp.

2. LB Jack Campbell

Campbell had a solid, if up and down, rookie season last year. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and fellow linebacker Alex Anzalone have both noticed and praised his growth during offseason work.

Here's what Glenn said about the second-year linebacker.

"Let me tell you, first off he’s a man. He’s a grown man. He’s really taken control of this offseason the way that he should take control of it," Glenn said. "He’s a true MIKE backer. He’s a guy that lives, breathes green-dot mentality as a MIKE backer..... Just the way he’s leading the men, as far as defense, is impressive to see.” 

On the first day of minicamp, Campbell was the star of the day as he intercepted Jared Goff twice. He's lined up for a more significant role in the Lions' defense this year, and he did everything during OTAs and minicamp to show he's ready for it.

1. WR Jameson Williams

Dan Campbell called Williams the most improved Lions' player this spring, while broadly saying he had improved "everywhere." Williams seems to be a better-adjusted, more mature player and person, and even with some ups and downs when reporters chronicled his practice work he has taken huge steps to show he's ready to pay off his potential this year.

No less an authority than Jared Goff has noticed Williams' progress this offseason.

We still have to see Williams carry all this great momentum into training camp, and ultimately (most importantly) he has to consistently get it done when it counts starting in September. But it was critical for him to have an offseason unabated by anything and show all-around progress. To his credit, he did.