2025 Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection: Pre-training camp edition

Detroit Lions 2025 training camp practices are set to begin on Sunday, and that means it’s time for another installment of our 53-man roster projection.

As has become tradition, Jeremy Reisman and I collaborate on this projection in an attempt to give you a balanced look at where the roster sits coming out of the summer break. We come together to debate the roster, fight for our favorites, and compromise when possible. We will publish updated collaborative editions of the 53-man projection throughout training camp. Then, at cutdowns, we will each publish our own projections.

Let’s get started.

Note: An asterisk (*) denotes the player is a rookie

Quarterbacks (2)

Jared Goff
Hendon Hooker
Kyle Allen

Erik: Hooker was the Lions’ QB2 all of last regular season, while Allen was the Steelers’ QB3. The Lions are going to allow the veteran to compete and try to seize the job from Hooker, but both Jeremy and I are leaning toward the incumbent until proven otherwise.

Running back (4)

Jahmyr Gibbs
David Montgomery
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki
Kye Robichaux*
Jabari Small

Jeremy: Not much drama here, as the Lions’ top-four running backs are pretty well established from last year, and the typically only carry four on the roster.

Wide receiver (6)

Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jameson Williams
Tim Patrick
Kalif Raymond
Isaac TeSlaa*
Dominic Lovett*
Tom Kennedy
Ronnie Bell
Malik Taylor
Jakobie Keeney-James*
Jackson Meeks*

Erik: The Lions return their top four wide receivers from last season and drafted TeSlaa in the third round, making him a near lock for the roster. That likely leaves just one open spot for the remaining depth player to compete for. The Lions could go in a lot of different directions with this final spot, but we went with Lovett because we believe he has a chance to find the field on offense and special teams, most notably as a gunner.

Tight end (3)

Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
Shane Zylstra
Kenny Yeboah
Zach Horton*
Luke Deal*

Jeremy: We went with the chalk answer here for the third tight end job, because Zylstra has grown in his three years with the Lions, even incorporating some fullback into his game last year. He has legitimate competition this year with the veteran Kenny Yeboah and a pair of UDFAs in Zach Horton and Luke Deal, but until we actually go out there and see them ball, it’s hard to hand them a roster spot.

Offensive tackle (4)

Penei Sewell
Taylor Decker (Active/PUP: he is not eligible to practice at this time)
Dan Skipper
Giovanni Manu
Colby Sorsdal
Jamarco Jones

Erik: Sewell, Decker, and Manu should be locked into their roster spots, but it’s unclear if the team is comfortable sticking with four tackles or if they’re willing to keep a fifth. A significant factor in that decision will be based on Manu’s developmental progress. If he can jump Jones and Sorsdal and claim the OT4 (or OT3) spot, the Lions may be willing to stay at four, which would allow them to invest more in their interior offensive line. This is what we anticipate will happen, based on the praise of several coaches for Manu and his progress.

Interior offensive line (5)

Graham Glasgow
Christian Mahogany
Tate Ratledge*
Miles Frazier* (Active/PUP)
Kayode Awosika
Michael Niese
Netane Muti
Kingsley Eguakun
Trystan Colon
Mason Miller*

Jeremy: When Erik and I brought our own 53-man rosters together, we only had three disagreements. This was the first, debating Kayode Awosika vs. Michael Niese for what we viewed as the ninth—and final—offensive line spot on the roster. It wouldn’t surprise either of us if Detroit opted to keep both and push the OL to 10 players, but we ultimately opted to keep Awosika because he brings a little more experience to a very, very young room. Still, Niese’s versatility as a center could eventually give him the edge—but if Detroit truly plans on moving Ratledge to center, the Lions would already have their backup center in Glasgow/Ratledge.

Defensive end (5)

Aidan Hutchinson
Marcus Davenport
Josh Paschal (Active/NFI)
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Ahmad Hassanein*
Mitchell Agude
Isaac Ukwu
Nate Lynn
Keith Cooper*

Erik: The Lions EDGE took a hit this week when it was revealed that Levi Onwuzurike would start the season on the PUP list and miss the first four weeks of the season. He splits his time between the interior defensive line (which is where he is listed) and the outside edge. This puts significantly more pressure on Paschal to perform (once he is off NFI) and increases the importance of Muhammad, as well as potentially pushing Hassanein into action earlier than anticipated. The Agude, Ukwu, and Lynn trio will have a chance to show their development, but we’ll need to see it in person before they can change their status.

Defensive tackle (5)

DJ Reader
Tyleik Williams*
Roy Lopez
Mekhi Wingo (Active/PUP)
Pat O’Connor
Brodric Martin
Chris Smith
Myles Adams
Raequan Williams

Active/PUP: Alim McNeill
Reserve/PUP: Levi Onwuzurike (Not eligible to play until Week 4)

Jeremy: The unfortunate news of Onwuzurike’s injury that will cause him to miss at least four games has opened up a spot for someone we originally had on the bubble to make the team. Pat O’Connor was the relatively easy choice, considering how highly the team spoke of him last year, and his versatility to play anywhere from nose tackle to the edge. Don’t sleep on Chris Smith, though. He played significant snaps down the stretch last year, and would bring a lot more youth to the position.

Linebacker (6)

Alex Anzalone
Jack Campbell
Derrick Barnes
Grant Stuard
Trevor Nowaske
Ezekiel Turner
Anthony Pittman
Zach Cunningham
DaRon Gilbert

Active/PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez

Erik: The Lions return all three of their starters, signed Stuard as a priority free agent, and likely won’t want to risk losing Nowaske to waivers again, as he brings great value as a reserve SAM. That leaves one of two spots open for the remaining players, and while we originally considered both Turner and Pittman, we had to decide between them when we narrowed the list to just six linebackers. We narrowly went with Turner because of the fact that, during last year’s injury attrition, he outlasted several other bigger-named linebackers with his special teams skills and ability to see the field on defense in a pinch.

Cornerback (6)

Terrion Arnold
D.J. Reed
Amik Robertson
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Khalil Dorsey (Active/PUP)
Rock Ya-Sin
Stantley Thomas Oliver (Active/NFI)
Tyson Russell
DiCaprio Bootle

Jeremy: One of our final decisions to make was whether to keep a sixth cornerback or a fifth safety. The versatility of players like Avonte Maddox (nickel or safety), Morice Norrise (nicke or safety), and Amik Robertson (outside corner or nickel) made the math a little fuzzy. Ultimately, we decided the Lions have typically liked having a veteran outside corner among their reserves (Kindle Vildor, Will Harris), and Ya-Sin fit that bill.

Safety (4)

Brian Branch
Kerby Joseph
Avonte Maddox
Dan Jackson*
Morice Norris
Loren Strickland
Erick Hallett
Ian Kennelly*

Erik: While the talent is arguably present to keep a fifth safety, there just wasn’t enough room on the roster once we decided on six corners. Norris brings the ability to play all three safety positions to the table, but right now, he looks like he is stuck behind Avonte Maddox, who sports a similar skill set. That being said, there’s an argument to be made that the Lions may prefer to find a way to keep the younger Norris, who is still ascending in his development.

Specialists (3)

Jack Fox (P)
Jake Bates (K)
Hogan Hatten (LS)

Jeremy: For the first time in what seems like forever, there are no pending specialist camp battles.

At a glance, here’s a look at our current 53-man roster projection: