With preseason play set to begin in just three and a half weeks, the Lions' current roster has plenty of no-brainer locks, but still has enough intrigue in certain spots to warrant a deeper review. Tim Twentyman posted a great high-level overview recently, but it's worth taking a deeper dive into the entire roster, beginning with the offense for today.
For all positions, the depth chart being used is ESPN's unofficial version, as Detroit has not posted theirs to the team's own site as of yet.
Quarterback
Jared Goff is, unquestionably, the proven starter. Coming to the Lions in 2021 in what is retrospectively one of the most win-win trades in NFL history, Goff has taken the team to new heights, with NFCCG appearance, two straight division titles, and a 15-3 division record over the last three season.
Last season, he set an NFL record by throwing a "perfect game" against the Seahawks, going 18-18, with two TD passes and even throwing in a TD reception off a trick play. Overall, he threw for 4,629 yds and 37 TDs/ 12 INTs, with a completion percentage of 72.4% on the year
At backup, Hendon Hooker will be playing in his third season for the team - though he was out his rookie season while rehabbing from an ACL injury. There have been questions over whether he is truly expected to be the team's long-term primary backup - for example, last season, after Teddy Bridgewater coached his high school alma mater to a state championship, he came back to suit up for Detroit down the stretch.
In the team's playoff loss to the Commanders, it was the experienced veteran who got the nod over Hooker to sub in at QB when Goff had to come out for a series after a hard hit. Still, Hooker has the advantage of familiarity over Kyle Allen, signed by the team in March 2025 after a year with the Steelers. Now in his ninth year in the league, Detroit will be Allen's sixth team. According to Twentyman, the battle for backup between Hooker and Allen is wide-open.
Offensive Line
One of the league's best offensive lines will undergo some serious change this season, with RG Kevin Zeitler departed for the Titans and C Frank Ragnow retiring. Now the team has to figure out how to fill the gaps on the interior.
Several possibilities exist, with the highest chance being that returning veteran Graham Glasgow slides from the guard spot to take over center, a position he's had experience playing before. Last year's sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany figures to take his spot at the LG position, while this year's second-rounder Tate Ratledge is the likely RG starter.
However, all three innermost line positions are still in flux. With an extra pre-season game to play along with a pair of joint practices with the Dolphins and Texans this year, expect OL Coach Hank Fraley to play around with a variety of combinations - and for backups such as Michael Niese, Kayode Awosika, and rookie Miles Frazier to get their chance to work their way up the depth chart.
At least the outer perimeter of the line will have stability. Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell will anchor each side, doing their best to protect Goff from what is expected to be a strong slate of opposing pass rushers. Colby Sorsdal faces an uphill climb to stay with the team as a backup, but Dan Skipper will return as a featured replacement who the team has leaned on to fill in whenever needed over the last few years.
Wide Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams lit up opposing defenses last year. Everyone expected St. Brown to excel. Of course, what truly puts him along the league's elite is that everyone knows who Goff's safety valve is when he absolutely needs a first down, and yet he still manages to move the chains anyway.
What was a very pleasant surprise for Lions fans was just how much Williams came into his own. After coming back from his own injuries in his rookie year and an up-and-down 2023, his emergence with a greatly expanded route tree took defenses by surprise. Racking up just over 1,000 yards and 7 air touchdowns, with an extra score on the ground, his ability to lengthen the field opens up opportunities for the rest of the offense.
Tim Patrick also returns as the expected third starter. Coming back from an ACL injury suffered in 2023 with the Broncos, he scored a pair of touchdowns against Green Bay to help the Lions clinch a playoff spot in Week 14.
Added into the mix are rookies Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett, taken in the 3rd and 7th rounds of this year's draft, respectively. TeSlaa, in particular, was named by GM Brad Holmes as being one of his favorite WRs in the entire draft.
Tight End
Sam LaPorta, entering his third year, comes off what some viewed as a sophomore slump. In reality, the offense operated at such a high level that there were simply too many mouths to feed. With St. Brown and Jamo clicking on all cylinders and the ground game rolling right along, opportunities for LaPorta were reduced. Still, he put up 60 catches on 83 targets last year, racking up 726 yards and 7 touchdowns in the regular season - and adding a flat-out amazing touchdown snag in the playoffs.
Behind him is Brock Wright, entering his fifth season with the team. Over four years, he's collected 56 catches for 524 yards and 9 TDs and has served as a reliable blocking tight end for the team. Shane Zylstra and free agent signing Kenny Yeboah round out the position room.
