Detroit Lions post-minicamp 53-man roster projection

Running Backs-4

Jahmyr Gibbs
David Montgomery
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki

Zonovan Knight is also a candidate here, for one of a couple spots, but it also feels unlikely the Lions will keep five running backs. Vaki is a lock due to his versatility, while familiarity and being well-liked by the coaching staff will make Reynolds hard to unseat.

Roster count: 7

Wide Receivers-6

Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jameson Williams
Kalif Raymond
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Antoine Green
Daurice Fountain

St. Brown, Williams and Raymond are locks. Peoples-Jones is pretty firmly a lock too (even with Dan Campbell seemingly inviting a question about him, h/t to Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports).

Green has enough potential to get a spot. Fountain was an OTA standout who earned the chance to graduate to the 53-man roster after spending last season the Lions' practice squad.

In some sense, this roster projection begs for the Lions to add a wide receiver before camp.

Roster count: 13

Tight Ends (4)

Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
James Mitchell
Shane Zylstra

LaPorta and Wright are of course the locks here. The competition for the other two spots on the depth chart is deep with options, including Parker Hesse and Sean McKeon. But I'm giving Zylstra gets a nod due to his pass catching ability, while the Lions give Mitchell's potential one last shot.

Roster count: 17

Offensive Line (9)

Penei Sewell
Taylor Decker
Frank Ragnow
Graham Glasgow
Kevin Zeitler
Christian Mahogany
Colby Sorsdal
Giovanni Manu
Dan Skipper

The starting five is of course set here, and rookies Mahogany and Manu are roster locks too. Sorsdal's potential and versatility gets him a spot, and Skipper is viable tackle depth.

Roster count: 26