The NFL Draft is in the rear-view mirror, and while the Detroit Lions have yet to officially announced their crop of undrafted rookies, it’s a perfect time to once again look at the Lions roster, project the camp battles to come (spoiler alert: there are a lot) and what players may make the final 53 man roster.
Accounting for the team’s draft class and undrafted free agents, the Lions now have the maximum 90 players under contract for 2019. And the team still has lots of salary cap space: roughly $27 million, according to OverTheCap (once the draft class fully signs, that number will decrease to about $23 million).
So how does the roster compare to our pre-free-agency and post-free-agency roster projections? Lots more competition across the board. In fact, as I got out my Yellow Legal Pad, I counted 15 spots on the final roster that are too close to call at this point. Let’s dig in.
Quarterback
Lock: Matthew Stafford
In the Fight: Connor Cook, Tom Savage
Changes: Signed Tom Savage to a one-year contract
Projection (2): Matthew Stafford, Tom Savage
Despite telegraphing that taking a quarterback was a priority, the Lions skipped the position on Draft weekend. Veteran Savage has been added to the quarterback room, and given his in-game experience and ties to new quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan, he gets the edge, for now, over Cook.
Running back
Locks: Kerryon Johnson, C.J. Anderson
Cap casualty watch: Theo Riddick
In the fight: Zach Zenner, Ty Johnson, Nick Bawden (FB)
Work to do: Mark Thompson
Changes: Signed C.J. Anderson to a one-year contract; drafted Ty Williams (6th round); released Kerwynn Williams
Projection (5): Kerryon Johnson, C.J. Anderson, Theo Riddick, Ty Johnson, Nick Bawden
The signing of Anderson solidified the backup role to Johnson, but the battles for the remaining spots should go deep into camp. Each of the remaining running backs brings something different to the table: Riddick is the best pass-catcher and pass-blocker; Zenner is the toughest runner and best special teams cover player; and Johnson is the fastest, with home-run ability nobody else has, plus the ability to return kicks. Even fullback Bawden may face a challenge from tight-end/H-back Nauta.
Wide Receiver
Locks: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola
In the fight: Andy Jones, Tommylee Lewis, Brandon Powell, Travis Fulgham
Work to do: Brandon Riley, Deontez Alexander, Chris Lacy, Jonathan Duhart, Andre Wilson
Changes: Drafted Travis Fulgham (6th round); signed Jonathan Duhart and Andre Wilson as undrafted rookies
Projection (5): Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Andy Jones, Travis Fulgham
Sixth-round selection Fulgham, who is an ace blocker, could cause roster problems for Andy Jones, allowing the team to keep an extra slot receiver like Lewis or Powell. The Lions could also choose to go short here, keeping only 4 receivers in order to go heavy at another position like tight end.
Tight end
Locks: T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James
In the fight: Michael Roberts, Logan Thomas, Isaac Nauta, Donald Parham
Work to do: Jerome Cunningham, Nate Becker
Changes: Drafted T.J. Hockenson (1st round) and Isaac Nauta (7th round); signed Donald Parham and Nate Becker as undrafted rookies
Projection (4): T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Michael Roberts, Donald Parham
The tight end group went from the weakest on the team in 2018 to one of the deepest on the team in a single off-season. Hockenson and James will join together to form a solid 1-2 punch. Tight ends sometimes break out in their second contract, and the Lions are hoping James follows that pattern. The remaining one or two spots remain up in the air. Keep an eye on Parham, a 6-8 undrafted rookie from Stetson. He could push Roberts, and even Roberts, off the roster.
Offensive line
Locks: Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Rick Wagner, Tyrell Crosby
Cap casualty watch: Kenny Wiggins
In the fight: Oday Aboushi, Joe Dahl, Leo Koloamatangi, Andrew Donnal, Ryan Pope, Beau Benzschawel
Work to do: Micah St. Andrew
Changes: Signed Ryan Pope, Beau Benzschawel and Micah St. Andrew as undrafted rookies; released Jarron Jones.
Projection (9): Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Tyrell Crosby, Oday Aboushi, Rick Wanger, Beau Benzschawel, Ryan Pope, Joe Dahl
The Lions did not draft an offensive lineman, but they guaranteed $145,000 in salary (plus another $20,000 signing bonus) in order to sign massive offensive tackle Pope (6-7, 320-pounds) which is more money than they guaranteed Donnal, who spent nearly all of last season on the active roster. That does not make Pope a roster lock, by a long shot, but it shows how much the Lions liked and wanted him. Benzschawel may not challenge for a starting job like many hope, but the undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin still has a very good chance of making the final roster.
Interior defensive line
Locks: Damon Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand, A’Shawn Robinson
In the fight: John Atkins, P.J. Johnson, Darius Kilgo
Work to do: Ray Smith and Matt Nelson
Changes: Drafted P.J. Johnson (7th round); signed Darius Kilgo to a one-year contract; and signed Ray Smith and Matt Nelson as undrafted rookies
Projection (4): Damon Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand, A’Shawn Robinson, John Atkins
The top three are all set, and they make for one of the best defensive line trios in football. The only question is who joins them: Atkins, who impressed in limited playing time last season after a year of practice-squad seasoning, Johnson, who was drafted in the seventh round, or Kilgo, the recent free-agent addition who has Patriots experience.
EDGE defender
Locks: Trey Flowers, Romeo Okwara, Devon Kennard, Austin Bryant
In the fight: Malik Carney
Work to do: Eric Lee, Mitchell Loewen, Jonathan Wynn
Changes: Drafted Austin Bryant (4th round); signed Malik Carney as an undrafted rookie
Projection (5): Trey Flowers, Romeo Okwara, Devon Kennard, Austin Bryant, Malik Carney
The Lions will lean heavily on Flowers to provide a pass rush from the edge that was completely absent last season. Flowers, Okwara, and Kennard all play the run well too. Rookie Bryant had 15.5 sacks his last two seasons at Clemson and will get a look at edge rusher, jack linebacker, and even inside in pass-rush formations. Undrafted rookie Carney out of North Carolina could have been drafted and will push for a roster spot.
Linebacker
Locks: Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai
Likely safe: Christian Jones
In the fight: Miles Killebrew, Steve Longa, Jalen-Reeves Maybin, Tre Lamar
Work to do: Garret Dooley, Tre Williams
Changes: Drafted Jahlani Tavai (2nd round); signed Tre Lamar as an undrafted rookie
Projection (5): Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Jones, Miles Killebrew, Steve Longa
We may not have known who Tavai was before the Draft, but the Lions have big plans for the versatile linebacker out of Hawaii. Killebrew and Longa are core special teams players, and Longa was set to be Davis’ backup before an ACL tear last pre-season. Undrafted rookie Lamar from Clemson is a two-down run stuffer and is the type of player Coach Matt Patricia may love (he was my last player out in my projection). If there’s an area on the team which may need additional depth, it’s linebacker.
Cornerback
Locks: Darius Slay, Justin Coleman, Rashaan Melvin, Amani Oruwariye
In the fight: Jamal Agnew, Marcus Cooper, Teez Tabor, Mike Ford
Work to do: Dee Virgin, Andre Chachere, David Jones, Josh Miller
Changes: Drafted Amani Oruwariye (5th round); signed Josh Miller as an undrafted rookie
Projection (6): Darius Slay, Justin Coleman, Rashaan Melvin, Amani Oruwariye, Jamal Agnew, Mike Ford
Many would have been thrilled to see the Lions snag Penn State cornerback Oruwariye in round two, instead, the team was able to grab him in round five. He may have more flaws than we first assumed, but he still is likely to snag the starting outside corner job from Melvin at some point this season. Jamal Agnew may actually be a lock, but if he loses his role as a returner, he needs to show enough as a corner to stick. Ford may still be worth developing after an up and down rookie year.
Safety
Locks: Quandre Diggs, Tracy Walker, Will Harris
Potential Cap Casualty: Tavon Wilson
In the fight: Andrew Adams, Charles Washington
Work to do: David Jones
Changes: Drafted Will Harris (3rd round)
Projection (5): Quandre Diggs, Tracy Walker, Will Harris, Tavon Wilson, Andrew Adams
Tavon Wilson agreed to a pay cut earlier this off-season, but the drafting of Will Harris could make Wilson expendable again. Charles Washington is a core special teams player but may lose his roster spot if the coaches don’t have confidence he can play on defense and if the team keeps other special teams’ standouts like Killebrew and Longa.
Special teams
Locks: Don Muhlbach, Matt Prater
Likely safe: Sam Martin
Work to do: Ryan Santoso
Projection (3): Don Muhlbach, Matt Prater and Sam Martin
Minnesota drafted a long snapper. Not sure that’s really relevant here, but given there’s no news to report from the Lions on special teams, I figured I’d pass that along.
