Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection after first week of training camp

The Detroit Lions have completed their first week of training camp.

Over the last four days, the team has been running a series of unfilled practices that have been highly competitive, providing a great first glimpse into a team that has championship ambitions in 2024.

With all the talent on this roster, the battles for the final spots on the roster are fierce. Detroit has plenty of solid options worth checking out.

Here is my attempt to predict the selection after the first round of training camps.

Quarterbacks (3)

Jared Goff
Hendon whore
Nate Sudfeld

At this point, it’s hard to say Hooker has done enough to differentiate himself from Nate Sudfeld as a backup. The Lions want to rely on their second option, and right now both Hooker and Sudfeld are rotating between the second and third teams.

As a result, it is difficult to justify taking Sudfeld off the list. The upcoming joint training sessions and pre-season games will be very important for Hooker to break through in the competition.

Running backs (4)

David Montgomery
Jahmyr Gibbs
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki

While Vaki is improving his understanding of the position, Reynolds appears to have an unyielding grip on the third running back position. He has built trust with the coaching staff and showed a strong performance in team drills earlier in the week when Gibbs was not participating.

These four players give Detroit a lot of options and the team will feel good about this position.

Wide receivers (5)

Amon-Ra Saint Brown
Jameson Williams
Caliph Raymond
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Antoine Groen

The Lions wide receiver competition behind St. Brown and Williams is heating up. There are several players who have made interesting cases, including Daurice Fountain and Kaden Davis. Green has spent some time with the first team and had a strong preseason last year.

With the roster so loaded in terms of depth, it was difficult to make a move at another position to make room for a sixth wide receiver. Fountain, Davis and Maurice Alexander all performed well, but consistency will be key for them to stake their claim on a spot.

Tight ends (3)

Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
James Mitchell

The big competition at this position will be for the third spot. Blocking will be a big part of that, as will availability. Mitchell is injured, but he was a fifth-round pick in 2022 and still has potential.

Shane Zylstra and Sean McKeon are older options, and McKeon has been showing up to practice multiple times a week. Both players, along with fellow veteran Parker Hesse, aren’t going anywhere.

Offensive line (9)

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

The starting five are all certain, as are presumably the two rookies in Manu and Mahogany. Manu may not be ready right away, but his potential is simply too good to leave him off the list. Mahogany is currently at NFI with an illness.

The final two depth spots in this iteration go to Colby Sorsdal and Dan Skipper. Sorsdal was cross-trained at guard and tackle in the spring, so he can fill the utility role. Skipper, meanwhile, figures to be the swing tackle the Lions could use in their jumbo personnel.

Defense Line (5)

Alim McNeill
DJ Reader
Brodric Martin
Mekhi Wingo
Levi Onwuzurike

No changes here, as these five seem pretty set. Onwuzurike has continued to develop and has also gotten some first-team reps as a defensive end, so the Lions could experiment with a unique role for him.

Wingo is another player to watch, as he offers some of the coveted versatility. The LSU product is a bit undersized, but makes up for it with his toughness and athleticism. He could be an underrated impact player in his rookie campaign.

Defensive Ends (6)

Aidan Hutchinson
Marcus Davenport
Josh Paschal
James Houston
John Kominsky
Mathieu Betts

The Lions need to find consistency on the edge, preferably with a running mate for Aidan Hutchinson. Davenport and Houston are candidates to fill the SAM linebacker role, though Betts has also had a strong start to camp.

Cominsky and Paschal appear to be players in run packages, as they both excel in that area. These options give Detroit pieces to mix and match, but finding an option to get more heat in the pass rush is paramount.

Linebackers (5)

Alex Anzalone
Jack Campbell
Derrick Barnes
Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Malcolm Rodriguez

The Lions have strong depth at this position, as all five of these players are capable of contributing on the defensive end. Reeves-Maybin is also elite on special teams, and Rodriguez could be a factor there as well.

A couple of veterans, Ben Niemann and Malik Jefferson, will also factor into this equation. This linebacker room will be competitive and Kelvin Sheppard has plenty of league options to choose from.

Corner defenders (6)

Carlton Davis
Terrion Arnold
Friend Robertson
Emmanuel Moseley
Ennis Rakestraw
Steven Gilmore

Detroit’s new secondary is in a good position. Davis appears to be the alpha of the group, and Arnold’s early performances have been encouraging. If Branch slides to safety, the Lions could consider Robertson, Moseley or even Rakestraw at the slot corner.

As for the final spot, I favor Gilmore right now based on potential. The Lions liked what they had in him enough to keep him as an undrafted free agent last year, and he could make an impact with continued development going forward.

Safety precautions (4)

Kerby Jozef
Please Melifonwu
Brian Tak
CJ Moore

The Lions’ safety room gets a boost with the addition of Brian Branch. This will allow for some mixing and matching in the secondary as Glenn can be creative with his choices.

Moore will likely compete with Brandon Joseph, who had a strong spring, for the depth role. Right now, Moore is favored for his special teams skills. However, if Joseph proves solid in that area, that could free up another spot.

Special teams (3)

Jake Bates (K)
Jack Fox (P)
Scott Daly (LS)

As it stands, Bates is the only kicker on the roster. That could change in the coming days, but for now he’s the default choice. He struggled early on Saturday, so how he responds will be interesting.