2026 Roster Post Draft

The Den
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The balance between proven veteran, solid veteran, wild card (injury flyer guy) and rookies/young guys may be the best overall roster ever. This balance seems really, really good with a few small concerns remaining overall. Let’s look at the D:

DT: Alim McNeil, TyLeik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Makhi Wingo, Skyler Gill-Howard, Chris Smith, Lacy. Feels like we need one more big body but that is a LOT to like, ESP. if Levi is locked and loaded.

DE: Hutch, DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Ahmed Hassanein, Payton Turner and Tyre West. There is a lot to like there.

LBer: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Damone Clark, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jimmy Rolder and Trevor Nowaske. I really like Damone Clark and rookie Rolder. Same body type. Anzalone replacement.

CB: Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Rock Ya Sin, Roger McCreary, Rakestraw, Nick Whiteside, Keith Abney and Dorsey. Might be the best 8 CBs we have ever had as a position group.

Safety: Branch, Joseph, Avonte Maddox, Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, Christian Izien, Dan Jackson, and Loren Strictland. I really like Izien, I LOVE having veteran Chuck Clark teaching guys and Thomas Harper should be even better after gaining experience in 2025. That is a really solid group even if Branch and Joseph miss serious time.
DT feels like we need one more big body there.

On O QB is set. RB feels like there is opportunity there after Gibbs/Pachech/Vaki. I’m excited to finally see what Vaki can do.

TE is set with LaPorta, Conklin, Brock Wright and then young guys.
WR is set with St. Brown, JaMo, TeSlaa, Dortch, Lovett, Kendric Law, Kennedy, Meeks and Cunningham. Law is a head-scratcher but damn, they must LOVE him?

Center is set with Cade Mays (27 years old today!), Juice Scruggs and Seth McLaughlin. Really great group there.

Guard: Mahogany, Ratledge, Ben Bartch, Michael Niese and Colby Sorsdal. Juice Scruggs is a likely G/C depth guy. Great balance there. I LOVE having Bartch here pushing guys.
Tackle: Sewell, Blake Miller, Larry Borom. I think Miles Frasier and Manu. That feels really great to me. ESP. is Frasier is the #4 OT who can be the #3 guy in 2027.

RB is a slight concern for me. BIG DT is a concern for me still. But damn, I like what I see in a LOT of positions. DE looks great, the OL looks great, I like the TE room, the WR room is stacked, the CB group is seriously good and we can live at safety. Thoughts on this roster overall at this point?

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I’m not sure they will keep him on the 53-man, but they must like the big DT they signed as a UDFA.

They gave Aidan Keanaaina $300,000 guaranteed!

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Right Phunny, I left UDFAs out but there are sure some exciting rookies there too. That kid, DE Anthony Lucas (is that right? From memory) and so on.

I think Aidan has a real shot at a roster spot thus filling that role.

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This is an excellent roster. Probably the best from top to bottom than I can ever remember as a Lions fan.

So it will be funny when the post draft power rankings have them between 15-20.

This is a top 10 roster in the league, and probably closer to #5.

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Did we take anyone from Georgia this draft?

Is that even allowed?

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It was kind of a down year for UGA in the draft… they ONLY had 5 players taken in the top 100 selections. :wink::open_mouth::smirking_face:

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To me this club is really relying in the health of Alim and Levi noting we also have TyLeik. And if those guys ARE ready? The D is gonna look really good even if Branch/Joseph miss substantial time.

I’m also glad we finally looked for tweeter DT/DEs later in the draft. Those are mostly glue guys, role players and I think Brad found a couple of those guys late this draft.

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My initial 53 man roster.
UDFA guarantees mean nothing to me.
Kingsley got $300k last year and still didn’t make the 53 man

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Two years ago. And he DID make the initial 53 last year.

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Did anyone say that UDFA guarantees matter on the 53-man?

I brought up the $300k guarantee and included “I’m not sure they keep him on the 53-man” in the SAME sentence. :man_shrugging:

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I’m not playing the final roster game yet. I’m looking at position groups post draft and free agency. And I like what I see. I LOVE some position groups (CB, the whole OL) and I like a lot of groups. My concerns are mostly mitigated by free agent moves and this draft.

There are still concerns but overall, this is a hell of a roster.

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Yes. I didnt mean it like that.
Simply for the people that didnt know.

I see those deals as “hey you got a shot at the 53 but unlikely, BUT hey stick around on the PS and you might get called up a game or 2 and make the 53 in the future.”

But over all i think this roster looks pretty good.

Just have to wait to see how the defense plays together.

Offense will be fine.
Defense is far more critical on players complimenting eachother.

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True.

With the expanded practice squads, rookies who spend all 18 weeks on the PS will make about $250k.

If a player gets elevated to the active roster, he would make at least an extra $30,000 per game.

Also… if Lions were to release him and he signs elsewhere, that guaranteed money gets paid by the new team since cery little of it is a SB.

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This feels resurgent. A little injury luck, the vanguard minus some static from Decker/Ragnow/Analzone/Glasgow, Goff with time in his prime, Sheppard better, Morton gone.
All that and a 4th place schedule.

When is the Super Bowl in 2027? Imma gonna save the date.

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Guys I like who may become VERY important:

Safety Christian Izien. Gets his shot now with Branch out.

LBer Damone Clark. Tall LBer who finally gets a real shot. 6’3” area.

Guard Ben Bartch. Viable starter. Injuries are his issue. Good player who will get his shot to push Mahogany at LOG.

Wild card/Gamble guys: Payton Turner. Levi O. Safety Clark.

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It was tough losing guys like Anzalone, Decker, and Amik, but we 100% needed to lose them. We definitely got younger (and likely hungrier) with the replacements at OT, DE, LB and CB. Mission accomplished. Plus we have good position versatility in the DB’s and along both lines. Excited to see what Frazier can do this year, I’m guessing he’s pushing for one of the G spots.

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I feel real good about the potential of this roster. However, felt the same way the last two years, and injuries crushed that.

Hopefully this is the year we break that curse, the depth does seems to be there to try and overcome.

Nitpicking some, but these are my top concerns:

RB2+3 - just don’t see it with Pacheco. I would be more comfortable with him as our #3. Vaki hasn’t proven a thing due to injuries. I hope he proves me wrong, but i’m thinking we bring someone else in.

QB2 - if Goff goes down for an extended period of time, season over. But for a couple game stretch I have zero confidence in Teddy.

CB - TA/Rak have to step up this year. All other guys average at best. I’m concerned most about this group as a whole.

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Bottom of the roster battles.

OL- Bartch is OL 9/10 right now. I dont see them keeping 10 OL. He has to beat out Manu also 9/10.

Top 5 DL are locks.
Hutch, McNeil, Williams, Moore, Wunnum

But the next ~6guys?

Edge pick 2
Hass, West, Turner, Lacy, UDFA guys

DT pick 3-4
Smith, Wingo, Levi, SGH, Adams, UDFAs

DBs. Basically 1 maybe2 spots open for
Jackson, Dorsey, whiteside, Harper, Strickland,

1 Last Skill spot
Lovett, Meeks, kennedy, Horton, Gordon, Cunningham, Small, Saylors, UDFAs

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I think Law has just eliminated all these guys. I think our WR group gets an A+. That is the only A+ I would hand out for position groups. The next highest grade would be a B+ for OT. After that everything is a B or lower. The secondary as a whole without Branch I would give a D+ or maybe a C minus. Just so many questions everywhere else. If the stars are all healthy we should be a good team.

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I’d say I have five main concerns, but overall I am very pleased

RB depth - we are heavily reliant on Gibbs. If he goes down, I don’t think Pacheco can man the fort by himself. Chase Edmonds is a guy who has history with Petzing and could be had for the minimum. Likely be able to stash on PS

Injuries at safety - I really like our depth here, but that is what they are, depth. The health of Kerby and Branch is going to play a massive role in our success this season, especially late in the season/playoffs.

LaPortas back - How healthy is he. I like the depth here, but neither Conklin or Wright should be starting.

Coverage LBer - Campbell made some serious strides in coverage last year, which is great. With that said, we don’t replace the coverage lost from Anzalone.

NT depth - We need Tyliek to step up in a big way. I think we have solid depth inside at 3T, but who is the backup nose? I would have loved to bring Reader back, although I think the ship has sailed

none of these concerns are considered major to me as all teams have some concerns.

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