Can Avonte Maddox see a huge increase in snaps in 2026?
It all depends on the health of Kerby Joseph as we are just under two weeks out from Detroit Lions training camp.
Maddox, who was brought back by the Lions in free agency this offseason, was a key piece to the Lions' defense last year because of so many injuries dragging down the rest of their safety room. He was extremely reliable down the stretch of the Lions' disappointing 2025 campaign, posting four passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble, and 32 total tackles in 14 games played.
The veteran could end up being Detroit's best bet at safety if, for whatever reason, one of Chuck Clark or Christian Izien are unable to stand out in camp and in preseason. And, if they do, Maddox still has an excellent path to major playing time thanks to the Lions' needs at cornerback. His presence is the best case scenario for the Lions as they need versatile defensive backs injected into this roster.
Maddox is the best-case scenario player to pop in training camp
Maddox's strengths are in his versatility as a player in coverage or as an aide to the teams' pass rush. Whlie he didn't pop last season as much has he had with the Philadelphia Eagles in his previous stint, you could chalk it up to Maddox still trying to navigate his way around the Lions' defense while alongside a first-year defensive coordinator.
Couple those factors with the need to replace numerous positions on the field each week because of injury, and it's no wonder why he - and a few other veterans - struggled to remain consistent forces on defense.
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Looking ahead to this season, Maddox is likely to fill in the role that Amik Robertson held for the team last season: a bit of a Swiss army knife defender who could help against the run while also playing in pass coverage pretty consistently. With Branch likely out for a while and as the team looks to revamp their nickel coverage, Maddox slots in as a nice answer to both needs.
Maddox had been named the highest-rated free agency for the Lions by PFF prior to his re-signing, with writer Bradley Locker sharing:
"Detroit’s injury-ravaged defense concluded the season 18th in EPA per play, mostly due to a catastrophic second half, but Maddox established himself as a bright spot. The former Eagle operated primarily as a safety, where he registered a 79.1 overall PFF grade. Indeed, across 342 total snaps, Maddox ranked in the 62nd percentile or better in both PFF coverage (75.0) and run-defense (75.8) grades."
He's an excellent potential choice for Sheppard as a plug and play defensive back for yet another injury-riddled kickoff to the season.
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