Detroit Lions training camp is just days away, so now is the perfect time to take a closer look at the 90-man (currently 89) roster and one of the best ways to do that is by using a Roster Stack — predicting roles by grouping players by their expected value to the team.
This version of the 2019 Lions Roster Stack will break down the roster into eight sections: 1) Impact players, 2) Core players, 3) Starter battles, 4) Role players, 5) Last 12 to make the 53, 6) One spot away from the 53, 7) Challenging for the 53, and 8) Have work to do.
Impact players
These are the players who if removed from the roster, would greatly impact the team’s overall performance.
| QB | Matthew Stafford |
| RB | Kerryon Johnson |
| WR | Kenny Golladay |
| DDE | Trey Flowers |
| NT | Damon Harrison |
| CB | Darius Slay |
| S | Quandre Diggs |
Stafford has lived in this category since I published my first roster stack, while Johnson and Golladay are bumped up into this group after taking big steps in their career last season.
Flowers and Harrison are new additions to the training camp roster stack as neither were on the roster at this time last season, but they firmly belong in this category. Slay, like Stafford, has been an impact player for years, while Diggs also took a necessary step in leadership to earn a well-deserved promotion into this category.
Last season, Ezekiel Ansah and Glover Quin were in this sections but are no longer on the team, while Taylor Decker, Marvin Jones and Jarrad Davis have been dropped down a category because of depth at their position or being passed by another player.
Core Players
These players make up the foundation of the team and have a significant weekly role on the roster.
| WR | Marvin Jones |
| TE | T.J. Hockenson |
| TE | Jesse James |
| LT | Taylor Decker |
| IOL | Frank Ragnow |
| IOL | Graham Glasgow |
| RT | Rick Wagner |
| DL | Da’Shawn Hand |
| DT | A’Shawn Robinson |
| MIKE | Jarrad Davis |
| JACK | Devon Kennard |
| NB | Justin Coleman |
| S | Tracy Walker |
| K | Matt Prater |
| P | Sam Martin |
| LS | Don Muhlbach |
Hockenson and James both find themselves in this category after a shift in the offensive scheme, and the four clear starters on the offensive line look to be a strength on offense.
Neither Robinson nor Hand were in this section last year at this time, but after terrific seasons, they are the two players in this group closest to moving up a section.
Previously I have kept Davis in the impact section due to the lack of depth behind him on the roster, and while I haven’t soured on his onfield play, I think the addition of Jahlani Tavai softens the impact if Davis misses time.
Coleman and Walker are also new names to this list but with expectations being that they earn starting roles with significant playing time, they belong.
Every year, one of the biggest complaints I receive about my roster stack is that Muhlbach, Prater and Martin aren’t in the impact player group. I understand the argument and appreciate the sentiment, but none of them play even remotely close to the number of snaps as the other players in that section. For example, Stafford played 1052 snaps in 2018, while Prater saw the field on 70.
Starter battles
Virtually each starting role on the Lions roster has a clear front-runner, but that’s not the case with all the positions. The players in this section will either win a starting role or find a home as a reserve/role player and likely have an inside shot at the Lions 53-man roster.
| OG | Kenny Wiggins |
| IOL | Joe Dahl |
| OG | Oday Aboushi |
| WILL | Christian Jones |
| LB | Jahlani Tavai |
| CB | Rashaan Melvin |
| CB | Teez Tabor |
| S | Tavon Wilson |
| S | Will Harris |
Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon recently explored all the options for the left guard battle, and while I agree Beau Benzschawel and Leo Kolomatangi have an outside shot, in my eyes, this competition likely comes down to Wiggins, Aboushi and Dahl — my current lean is towards Wiggins.
In reality, Jones will be the technical starting off-the-ball WILL linebacker, but second-rounder Tavai isn’t going anywhere and will likely siphon snaps away from him throughout 2019. At the end of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising if they each saw a similar cumulative snap count.
The same scenario could play out at the third safety spot between Wilson and third-rounder Harris. Expect Wilson to start the season as the lead contributor but could easily give way to Harris as the season progresses.
The most wide-open position battle heading into training camp is the outside starting corner opposite Slay. Melvin and Tabor were the starters in spring camp (while Slay held out) and are the obvious leaders for now, but the competition is not limited to them and the eventual winner may not even be currently in this section.
Role players
These players should feel comfortable with their role on the team based on their skill sets and the current level of competition from the other players at their position group.
| QB | Tom Savage |
| RB | C.J. Anderson |
| Slot | Danny Amendola |
| WR | Jermaine Kearse |
| TE | Logan Thomas |
| OL | Tyrell Crosby |
| DE | Romeo Okwara |
| WILL | Jalen Reeves-Maybin |
| NB/PR | Jamal Agnew |
I’d be surprised if the Lions kept more than two quarterbacks on the roster and heading into training camp, I don’t see David Fales — or anyone else they bring in — being capable of knocking Savage out of the backup role.
Anderson and Amendola were brought in to be significant contributors on offense, while Kearse and Thomas look like they have carved out roles coming off the bench as the fourth wide receiver and third tight end respectively.
Crosby is arguably one of the top-5 offensive linemen on the roster but based on what we have seen in previous camps, the coaches value him more as insurance at tackle than challenging to start at guard. Last year when he filled in for Decker and Wagner, the offensive line didn’t miss a beat with him in the starting lineup.
Okwara has one of the 12 contracts that guarantee a spot on the 53-man roster, but even if he didn’t, his versatility would make him hard to cut.
Reeves-Maybin has added some extra weight this offseason but still looks quick and agile. He was routinely working with the second-team linebackers in spring camp and is an underrated special teams player.
Agnew is the team’s top returner and will remain there unless someone can take the job from him. I also believe he has value as a DIME slot corner and has an inside path to the roster, while my colleague Jeff Risdon believes Agnew is firmly on the roster bubble.
Last 12 to make the 53
Based on my predicted current roster structure there should be 12 remaining spots on the Lions 53-man roster. The players in this section are the current leaders for those final spots but will be challenged by the players in the next two sections as things are far from settled.
| RB | Theo Riddick |
| RB/KR | Ty Johnson |
| WR | Andy Jones |
| WR | Travis Fulgham |
| TE | Isaac Nauta |
| RT | Ryan Pope |
| NT | John Atkins |
| JACK | Austin Bryant |
| JACK | Malik Carney |
| CB | Amani Oruwariye |
| CB | Mike Ford |
| S | Andrew Adams |
Keeping both Riddick and Johnson may seem a bit redundant as they are both running backs with very specific skills, but Riddick is one of the best third-down backs in the league, while Johnson appears to be rising the depth chart as he possesses speed that can’t be found elsewhere on the roster and should also be a challenger to Agnew as a returner.
Earlier in the offseason, I profiled an Andy Jones vs Fulgham battle for the fifth wide receiver spot, but heading into training camp, I think both are roster bound.
Keeping a fourth tight end has ramifications on roster construction, and while Nauta has yet to see the field in Honolulu blue, I believe he has the skills to grab a spot and hold onto it in training camp.
If an undrafted rookie offensive lineman is going to make the roster, Pope has the easiest path and the guaranteed money in his contract says the Lions believe he is capable.
Atkins gets the early nod as a reserve nose tackle but he will face heavy (pun intended) competition from seventh-round pick PJ Johnson and Darius Kilgo. This role is far from settled.
The Lions have four capable JACK linebackers and in this scenario, I have three making the team with Bryant (despite being on the active/NFI list) and Carney rounding out the group led by Kennard. The team seems very high on Bryant’s skill set, while Carney has the positional range (he can play off-the-ball as well) that will be hard to cut.
Ford and Oruwariye are two young corners with very high ceilings, and if a few bounces go their way in camp, either could find themselves challenging Melvin and Tabor for a starting role. I also believe Ford will win a starting gunner job on special teams.
Adams was my 53rd man included in this roster stack, so to say his spot is vulnerable could be an understatement. He will face plenty of competition from the players in the next section.
One spot away from the 53
If the Lions decide to construct their roster differently than we have above then the players in this section could find themselves moving up a section, but if things play out as we predicted, these players still likely only have to beat one player ahead of them to make the 53-man roster.
| RB | Zach Zenner |
| FB | Nick Bawden |
| OT | Andrew Donnal |
| RG | Beau Benzschawel |
| NT | PJ Johnson |
| DDE | Mitchell Loewen |
| JACK | Eric Lee |
| MIKE | Steve Longa |
| MIKE | Garret Dooley |
| LB/Sp.T | Miles Killebrew |
| CB | Marcus Cooper |
Zenner’s path to the roster is simple, beat out Riddick or Johnson for a reserve running back role. Even if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster out of camp, have no fear Zenner fans, history says he will end up on the roster at some point.
Bawden needs to get healthy quick if he wants to make the roster. The longer he sits out the more vulnerable he is to losing his spot as coaches realize players like Nauta and Dahl can also play his position.
Both Donnal and Benzschawel will be gunning for Pope for what could be the ninth and final roster spot for an offensive lineman.
PJ Johnson is currently on the NFI list, but he has more positional range than Atkins — he just needs to get on the field to show it.
Loewen is flying under the radar right now but he has Flowers like range to play primarily as a down defensive end, while also pushing inside in pass-rushing situations. If you want a true sleeper for the roster, Loewen is it.
Lee is currently repping at JACK linebacker ahead of Bryant and Carney, and it’s entirely possible he holds one of them off to sneak onto the roster at final cuts.
Longa was a favorite among the coaching staff last year, repping with the second-team linebackers and finding success on special teams. An ACL injury cost him last season and he now faces a plethora of competition around him. His special teams play alone could win him a roster spot.
Speaking of special teams, Killebrew will be hoping there is enough room on the roster to keep a player who only plays special teams, but from my point of view, he’s behind the curve heading into camp.
Dooley and Cooper are both players not many people are talking about right now but could end up challenging for a role by the second week of camp. Cooper’s path is a bit easier because of his experience at cornerback, while Dooley has the positional range to challenge Carney for a role.
Challenging for the 53
These players will need some help in order to find their way onto the 53-man roster, but they still have their champions among the Detroit media and can’t be ruled out of the conversation just yet. A solid start in training camp and they could be moving up sections quickly.
| WR | Chris Lacy |
| Slot | Tommylee Lewis |
| Slot | Brandon Powell |
| IOL | Luke Bowanko |
| IOL | Leo Koloamatangi |
| NT | Darius Kilgo |
| DDE | Jonathan Wynn |
| S/Sp.T | Charles Washington |
Lacy was off to a terrific start in spring camp but an injury caused him to miss the last few practices and he is currently on the active/PUP list. He needs to come off quick and make a similar impact as he did in June, or he might get left behind.
I have been adamant that the Lions like Amendola the player more than Amendola the slot receiver, and keeping a reserve slot receiver may not be in the cards for this roster. If Lewis or Powell make this roster, it will likely be because they won a job on special teams as a returner.
Bowanko and Kolomatangi left spring camp splitting reps at second-team center and it figures to be a battle to open up camp this week. The winner will get a shot to convince coaches to keep a 10th offensive lineman, the loser will likely drop out of this section.
It wouldn’t take much for Kilgo to move up two sections and find himself making the 53-man roster, but on the other hand, the Lions have two young players in Atkins and PJ Johnson, who offer more long-term upside and could fight him off purely on potential.
Wynn, like Loewen, isn’t talked about very much sitting behind Flowers and Okwara but he could surprise some in camp. For now, he needs to be focused on getting past Loewen, then he can start working on the 53-man roster.
Washington is an excellent special teams gunner who made the roster last year purely on his ability to play that pivotal role. On this year’s roster, that may not be enough.
Have work to do
These players found a spot on the roster based on their previous accomplishments but based on the other additions to the roster, they will have some work to do in training camp if they hope to beat the odds and make the 53-man team.
| QB | David Fales |
| RB | Mark Thompson |
| WR | Deontez Alexander |
| WR | John Duhart |
| Slot | Tom Kennedy |
| WR | Brandon Reilly |
| TE | Jerome Cunningham |
| RG | Micah St. Andrew |
| OT | Matt Nelson |
| DT | Kevin Strong |
| DT | Ray Smith |
| MIKE | Tre Lamar |
| WILL | Anthony Pittman |
| CB | Dee Virgin |
| CB | Andre Chachere |
| S | C.J. Moore |
| P/K | Ryan Santoso |
Thompson is an interesting long shot that was recently profiled by Max Gerber on Lions Wire, but like most of the players in this section, he will need some breaks. He is also eligible for the practice squad, which seems like a reasonable goal.
Other practice squad candidates include:
- Duhart, who needs polish and time
- Nelson, who is making the switch from defensive end to offensive tackle
- Strong, who has repped at the nose because of injury but can also play the 3T
- Smith, who was a nose in college but is athletic enough to back up Hand
- Pittman, who repped ahead of Lamar in the spring, but both should compete for time this fall
- Chachere, who The Athletic’s Chris Burke placed on his 53-man roster projection last month ($), and I will be keeping a close eye on why
- Moore, an undrafted rookie safety who had an interception in one of the final plays of the spring
