What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 Getting ready for camp. (19 Viewers)

Just saw that 30 of 32 2nd round picks are unsigned. That's a really big deal for the Lions because Ratledge needs practice time at center. Definitely something to monitor.
 
Lions being one of the first two teams to open camp have added pressure in how they resolve the issue of fully guaranteed money for second round picks. Texans opened the door by fully guaranteeing Higgins contract as first pick of second round. Inept Browns blew the door wide open by fully guaranteeing their pick which was the second pick of the second round.
Now everyone is waiting to see what happens with the following second round picks. Tyler Shough who was picked farther back in the second round is a key situation as he was drafted to be the starting QB of the Saints. Players picked in the second round don't want to give up money while owners don't want to set a norm of a fully guaranteed contract for every second round pick.
I would guess that due to what is at stake Lions will fully guarantee Ratledge.
 
Lions being one of the first two teams to open camp have added pressure in how they resolve the issue of fully guaranteed money for second round picks. Texans opened the door by fully guaranteeing Higgins contract as first pick of second round. Inept Browns blew the door wide open by fully guaranteeing their pick which was the second pick of the second round.
Now everyone is waiting to see what happens with the following second round picks. Tyler Shough who was picked farther back in the second round is a key situation as he was drafted to be the starting QB of the Saints. Players picked in the second round don't want to give up money while owners don't want to set a norm of a fully guaranteed contract for every second round pick.
I would guess that due to what is at stake Lions will fully guarantee Ratledge.
Quinshon Judkins should break that streak, albeit extenuating circumstances.
 

First-year floor and ceiling projections for Detroit Lions' draft class as rookies report for training camp


While Detroit Lions’ training camp doesn’t officially start until this weekend, the team’s rookies are scheduled to report on Wednesday, a few days ahead of the veterans.

First-year players have played a crucial role in the franchise’s turnaround, from perennial cellar dweller to legitimate Super Bowl contender. It wasn’t until last season that the team didn’t need to heavily lean on multiple rookies, with only first-round pick Terrion Arnold logging significant playing time throughout his debut campaign.

Will things revert even slightly this season, or should we continue to anticipate fewer rookie contributions to a deep and veteran-laden roster?

As the rookies report, let’s inspect this year’s draft class, exploring the floor and ceiling for each player’s first season before predicting where they’ll fall between those extremes.

Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams​

Ceiling: During general manager Brad Holmes’ tenure, the Lions have consistently received immediate and significant contributions from the team’s first-round draft picks, including Arnold last year. Beyond receiver Jameson Williams, who spent much of his debut season recovering from a torn ACL, Holmes’ five other first-rounders have averaged 836 offensive or defensive snaps as rookies.

Those past results raise expectations for Williams, the No. 28 pick out of Ohio State.

If Detroit’s roster were at full strength heading into the season, it wouldn’t be as easy to project a steady role. However, with Alim McNeill working his way back from his own ACL injury, Williams should be asked to shoulder a larger workload, at least for the first half of the season.

Typically, defensive tackles don’t stuff the stat sheet. The Lions would be content to see Williams perform at a similar level as McNeill did as a rookie in 2021, when he appeared in 16 games as a third-round choice out of North Carolina State and delivered 39 tackles and 2.0 sacks.

Floor: While playing time is likely, it’s not guaranteed. Detroit actually has quality depth along the interior, headlined by a more-than-capable starting tandem of DJ Reader and Levi Onwuzurike. While unlikely, there’s a world where experienced and reliable veterans Roy Lopez and Pat O’Connor eat into Williams’ early-career playing time while he adjusts to the size and strength of the next level. Remember, Williams’ initial development was potentially slowed after the newcomer missed OTAs due to a lingering hamstring injury.

That could create a scenario where McNeill gets medically cleared before everything clicks for Williams, depressing playing time opportunities throughout the 2025 campaign.

Prediction: Williams quickly works his way into the rotation, especially if the Lions continue to use five-man fronts as much as they did last season. With McNeill potentially out of action until November, there should be ample opportunity for the rookie to see snaps. If Williams stays healthy, 400-500 reps feels reasonable, with 30 tackles, a couple of sacks and 15 or so QB pressures.

Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge​

Ceiling: All signs point to Ratledge being a Day 1 starter. Fortunately, the team has gotten steady first-year impact from a number of offensive linemen in recent years, including Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Larry Warford, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow.

What we haven’t seen in some time is a rookie immediately starting at center, which is a possibility for Ratledge based on his early offseason reps. Even Ragnow, a dominant and experienced college center, didn’t begin his pro career snapping. Therefore, it feels like a lot for Ratledge to make a more rapid transition after exclusively playing right guard for Georgia.

Whether it’s center or one of the guard spots, an ideal debut would mirror Warford’s in 2013. After taking some lumps in training camp working against Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, a battle-tested Warford excelled as a rookie, both in protection and creating movement in the ground game. If Ratledge can similarly hit the ground running, it would greatly soften the blow of Ragnow’s decision to retire this offseason.

Floor: It would hardly be the end of the world if Ratledge proved unready to play center as a rookie. Glasgow should be able to bridge that gap while the Lions assess Ratledge’s longer-term viability as Ragnow’s replacement.

As a starting guard, Ratledge could end up performing more like Ragnow than Warford during their first seasons. It’s easy to forget that Ragnow, a multi-time Pro Bowler, was pedestrian as a rookie, allowing 36 pressures in protection and committing six penalties.

There are also durability concerns. Ratledge dealt with multiple lower-body issues during his college career, including major foot and ankle injuries.

Prediction: It still feels unnecessarily risky to project Ratledge as the Week 1 starting center on a Super Bowl contender. It’s more likely he ends up at guard while continuing to be groomed as Ragnow’s full-time replacement in 2026.

In terms of the results, they’ll probably land somewhere between Warford and Ragnow’s rookie seasons. Ratledge’s college tape suggests he’s not as good a run blocker as either of those two former Lions were coming into the league. However, the rookie has impressive pass-protection chops that should translate quickly.

Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa​

Ceiling: TeSlaa earning significant playing time on offense as a rookie would likely involve an injury higher up the depth chart. It’s understood development is needed, and that will largely take place on the practice field while Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond shoulder the game-day workload.

If forced into playing time by injury, it wouldn’t be outlandish to see TeSlaa catch 30 or 40 balls. However, 10-20 is a more realistic estimate.

Ideally, TeSlaa would make steady progress with the route-running fundamentals required to be effective on the outside, putting him in a position to replace Patrick next season. Additionally, with TeSlaa’s size and speed, he should be able to find ways to contribute on special teams.

Floor: The Lions haven’t hesitated to roster developmental players unable to carve out a role on game days, including undrafted cornerback Steven Gilmore and recent draft picks Brodric Martin and Giovanni Manu.

It wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that TeSlaa spends a meaningful chunk of his first season as a healthy scratch.

Prediction: I think we could reasonably be looking at something like Quintez Cephus’ rookie campaign in 2020, when the former fifth-round selection hauled in 20 of 35 targets for 349 yards and two scores in 13 appearances.

There’s reason to be optimistic about position coach Scottie Montgomery maximizing TeSlaa’s development. Additionally, there will likely be at least a few games where an injury will necessitate the Arkansas product stepping into a larger role, organically increasing his opportunities.

Offensive lineman Miles Frazier​

Ceiling: It’s admittedly unlikely, but Frazier could excel in camp and the preseason and earn a starting job over Ragledge, Christian Mahogany or Glasgow. Displacing the veteran is particularly a stretch because the team wants to have an experienced voice to help direct pre-snap traffic in Ragnow’s stead.

Even if Frazier isn’t a starter, there’s a realistic path to becoming the first interior lineman off the bench in case of an injury. To do so, the fifth-round pick would need to beat out experienced and trusted veterans, Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti.

If Frazier demonstrates the versatility to play effectively at offensive tackle during the preseason, it will only enhance his chances of being active on game days.

Floor: Like former fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal last season, Frazier could find himself a healthy scratch most weeks, stuck behind one or both of the aforementioned veterans on the depth chart.

Prediction: Maybe it’s not Week 1, but like Mahogany a year ago, Frazier should eventually claim the top backup job among the interior linemen.

Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein​

Ceiling: With Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad established commodities heading into the season, cracking the edge-rushing rotation as a rookie would be a huge win for Hassanein.

Another win would be finding some meaningful roles on special teams. At Boise State, he was largely limited to the field-goal block unit.

Floor: There is a world where Hassanein doesn’t make the 53-man roster, especially if the Lions opt to re-sign veteran Za’Darius Smith, who has been public about his desire to run it back in Detroit.

Holmes loathes giving up on his draft picks prematurely. Still, the team cut former sixth-round rookie James Houston after his first training camp, forcing him to spend half a season on the practice squad before adding him to the active roster.

Prediction: Hassanein makes the roster but is a healthy scratch most weeks, assuming the top of the depth chart isn’t decimated by injuries like it was a year ago.

https://www.detroitfootball.net/
 

Safety Dan Jackson​

Ceiling: Jackson wins the five-horse race for the fourth safety job and plays a key role on multiple special teams units.

Floor: Jackson loses that competition to one of the other young contenders and has to start his career on Detroit's practice squad.

Prediction: Jackson edges out Loren Strickland and Morice Norris for the fourth safety job. The rookie might not see any defensive playing time in 2025, but should log north of 150 special teams snaps, with roles on kickoff and punt coverage, punt return and field goal block.

Wide receiver Dominic Lovett​

Ceiling: Making the roster would be a strong start for the seventh-round slot receiver with some special teams upside. And Lovett could prove more pro-ready than TeSlaa if the team needed an early-season injury replacement.

Floor: Lovett spends his rookie season on the practice squad.

Prediction: Barring an injury, I have Lovett on the outside looking in for a spot on the 53-man roster coming out of camp. Of course, an injury before or during the season could always alter that picture. Regardless, there figures to be more pressing needs than carrying a sixth receiver going into the season.
 

First-year floor and ceiling projections for Detroit Lions' draft class as rookies report for training camp


While Detroit Lions’ training camp doesn’t officially start until this weekend, the team’s rookies are scheduled to report on Wednesday, a few days ahead of the veterans.

First-year players have played a crucial role in the franchise’s turnaround, from perennial cellar dweller to legitimate Super Bowl contender. It wasn’t until last season that the team didn’t need to heavily lean on multiple rookies, with only first-round pick Terrion Arnold logging significant playing time throughout his debut campaign.

Will things revert even slightly this season, or should we continue to anticipate fewer rookie contributions to a deep and veteran-laden roster?

As the rookies report, let’s inspect this year’s draft class, exploring the floor and ceiling for each player’s first season before predicting where they’ll fall between those extremes.

Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams​

Ceiling: During general manager Brad Holmes’ tenure, the Lions have consistently received immediate and significant contributions from the team’s first-round draft picks, including Arnold last year. Beyond receiver Jameson Williams, who spent much of his debut season recovering from a torn ACL, Holmes’ five other first-rounders have averaged 836 offensive or defensive snaps as rookies.

Those past results raise expectations for Williams, the No. 28 pick out of Ohio State.

If Detroit’s roster were at full strength heading into the season, it wouldn’t be as easy to project a steady role. However, with Alim McNeill working his way back from his own ACL injury, Williams should be asked to shoulder a larger workload, at least for the first half of the season.

Typically, defensive tackles don’t stuff the stat sheet. The Lions would be content to see Williams perform at a similar level as McNeill did as a rookie in 2021, when he appeared in 16 games as a third-round choice out of North Carolina State and delivered 39 tackles and 2.0 sacks.

Floor: While playing time is likely, it’s not guaranteed. Detroit actually has quality depth along the interior, headlined by a more-than-capable starting tandem of DJ Reader and Levi Onwuzurike. While unlikely, there’s a world where experienced and reliable veterans Roy Lopez and Pat O’Connor eat into Williams’ early-career playing time while he adjusts to the size and strength of the next level. Remember, Williams’ initial development was potentially slowed after the newcomer missed OTAs due to a lingering hamstring injury.

That could create a scenario where McNeill gets medically cleared before everything clicks for Williams, depressing playing time opportunities throughout the 2025 campaign.

Prediction: Williams quickly works his way into the rotation, especially if the Lions continue to use five-man fronts as much as they did last season. With McNeill potentially out of action until November, there should be ample opportunity for the rookie to see snaps. If Williams stays healthy, 400-500 reps feels reasonable, with 30 tackles, a couple of sacks and 15 or so QB pressures.

Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge​

Ceiling: All signs point to Ratledge being a Day 1 starter. Fortunately, the team has gotten steady first-year impact from a number of offensive linemen in recent years, including Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Larry Warford, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow.

What we haven’t seen in some time is a rookie immediately starting at center, which is a possibility for Ratledge based on his early offseason reps. Even Ragnow, a dominant and experienced college center, didn’t begin his pro career snapping. Therefore, it feels like a lot for Ratledge to make a more rapid transition after exclusively playing right guard for Georgia.

Whether it’s center or one of the guard spots, an ideal debut would mirror Warford’s in 2013. After taking some lumps in training camp working against Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, a battle-tested Warford excelled as a rookie, both in protection and creating movement in the ground game. If Ratledge can similarly hit the ground running, it would greatly soften the blow of Ragnow’s decision to retire this offseason.

Floor: It would hardly be the end of the world if Ratledge proved unready to play center as a rookie. Glasgow should be able to bridge that gap while the Lions assess Ratledge’s longer-term viability as Ragnow’s replacement.

As a starting guard, Ratledge could end up performing more like Ragnow than Warford during their first seasons. It’s easy to forget that Ragnow, a multi-time Pro Bowler, was pedestrian as a rookie, allowing 36 pressures in protection and committing six penalties.

There are also durability concerns. Ratledge dealt with multiple lower-body issues during his college career, including major foot and ankle injuries.

Prediction: It still feels unnecessarily risky to project Ratledge as the Week 1 starting center on a Super Bowl contender. It’s more likely he ends up at guard while continuing to be groomed as Ragnow’s full-time replacement in 2026.

In terms of the results, they’ll probably land somewhere between Warford and Ragnow’s rookie seasons. Ratledge’s college tape suggests he’s not as good a run blocker as either of those two former Lions were coming into the league. However, the rookie has impressive pass-protection chops that should translate quickly.

Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa​

Ceiling: TeSlaa earning significant playing time on offense as a rookie would likely involve an injury higher up the depth chart. It’s understood development is needed, and that will largely take place on the practice field while Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond shoulder the game-day workload.

If forced into playing time by injury, it wouldn’t be outlandish to see TeSlaa catch 30 or 40 balls. However, 10-20 is a more realistic estimate.

Ideally, TeSlaa would make steady progress with the route-running fundamentals required to be effective on the outside, putting him in a position to replace Patrick next season. Additionally, with TeSlaa’s size and speed, he should be able to find ways to contribute on special teams.

Floor: The Lions haven’t hesitated to roster developmental players unable to carve out a role on game days, including undrafted cornerback Steven Gilmore and recent draft picks Brodric Martin and Giovanni Manu.

It wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that TeSlaa spends a meaningful chunk of his first season as a healthy scratch.

Prediction: I think we could reasonably be looking at something like Quintez Cephus’ rookie campaign in 2020, when the former fifth-round selection hauled in 20 of 35 targets for 349 yards and two scores in 13 appearances.

There’s reason to be optimistic about position coach Scottie Montgomery maximizing TeSlaa’s development. Additionally, there will likely be at least a few games where an injury will necessitate the Arkansas product stepping into a larger role, organically increasing his opportunities.

Offensive lineman Miles Frazier​

Ceiling: It’s admittedly unlikely, but Frazier could excel in camp and the preseason and earn a starting job over Ragledge, Christian Mahogany or Glasgow. Displacing the veteran is particularly a stretch because the team wants to have an experienced voice to help direct pre-snap traffic in Ragnow’s stead.

Even if Frazier isn’t a starter, there’s a realistic path to becoming the first interior lineman off the bench in case of an injury. To do so, the fifth-round pick would need to beat out experienced and trusted veterans, Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti.

If Frazier demonstrates the versatility to play effectively at offensive tackle during the preseason, it will only enhance his chances of being active on game days.

Floor: Like former fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal last season, Frazier could find himself a healthy scratch most weeks, stuck behind one or both of the aforementioned veterans on the depth chart.

Prediction: Maybe it’s not Week 1, but like Mahogany a year ago, Frazier should eventually claim the top backup job among the interior linemen.

Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein​

Ceiling: With Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad established commodities heading into the season, cracking the edge-rushing rotation as a rookie would be a huge win for Hassanein.

Another win would be finding some meaningful roles on special teams. At Boise State, he was largely limited to the field-goal block unit.

Floor: There is a world where Hassanein doesn’t make the 53-man roster, especially if the Lions opt to re-sign veteran Za’Darius Smith, who has been public about his desire to run it back in Detroit.

Holmes loathes giving up on his draft picks prematurely. Still, the team cut former sixth-round rookie James Houston after his first training camp, forcing him to spend half a season on the practice squad before adding him to the active roster.

Prediction: Hassanein makes the roster but is a healthy scratch most weeks, assuming the top of the depth chart isn’t decimated by injuries like it was a y
Teslaa talks like he plans on being active and out there playing game days. Says he is going to be doing the Lambeau leap at Green Bay. Is he confident, overly confident or just naive? Hopefully he's a guy who is confident in his ability to deliver and does just that. There will be quite a bit of scrutiny for him as the Lions gave up three thirds for him and he wasn't a pass rusher.
 

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Hutchinson should rebound, but can Davenport squash the injury bug?​



Over the past couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we've been taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We’ve analyzed the projected starting situation, highlighted a key camp battle, explored a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

As we near the end of the series and the start of camp, today we’ll be looking at the edge defenders.

Who is on the roster?​

Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, Muhammad Al-Quadin, Ahmed Hassanein, Mitchell Agude, Nate Lynn, Isaac Ukwu, Keith Cooper

Starting lineup outlook​

Prior to his season being prematurely ended by a broken leg, Hutchinson was making the jump from very good to elite. The third-year defender was pacing the league in sacks and quarterback pressures, putting him on an early track to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

A broken tibia and fibula are no joke. Still, after getting eyes on Hutchinson for the first time since suffering the injury during OTAs, it appears he's fully recovered and possesses the same explosiveness that makes him such a handful for opposing offensive tackles.

Even with the injury, Hutchinson is the sure thing on the roster. Everyone is more concerned with who will be playing opposite the superstar on Detroit's defensive front. All signs point to that role being Davenport's to lose.

Signed last offseason, the former first-round pick looked to be an outstanding stylistic and schematic fit to pair with Hutchinson. But the durability issues that have plagued Davenport for the past few seasons struck again when he tore his tricep in Week 3, ending his year.

Regardless, he showed enough in that brief window that the Lions are running it back, albeit at a significantly reduced price tag. If he can stay healthy, it should prove to be one of the roster's better bargains. Davenport is explosive and powerful, capable of consistently collapsing the pocket. That will lead to sacks not only for himself but also funnel quarterbacks into the hard-charging Hutchinson.

Camp competition to watch​

This one is a little tricky because there doesn't appear to be a lot of wiggle room at the top of the depth chart. You have Hutchinson and Davenport as the projected starters, with two known veteran commodities in Paschal and Muhammad rounding out the rotation.

The team has the potential to further solidify the group by bringing back Za’Darius Smith, who has publicly emphasized his desire to play for the Lions in 2025.

That brings us to Hassanein, Detroit's sixth-round pick. He carved a unique path to the NFL, picking up the game after moving back to the United States from Egypt as a high schooler.

Hassanein was a force for Boise State as a high-motor, highly passionate defender. He's strong as an ox, but he has limited bend and an underdeveloped move set. Relying on the bull rush worked in college, but it's unlikely to be consistently effective at this level, particularly with his below-average length.

This figures to be a developmental year for Hassanein, but injuries have a way of forcing inexperienced players into meaningful playing time sooner than expected. We'll be monitoring his impact through camp and the preseason to see if he can contribute in Year 1. Or will the Lions have to dip to their practice squad for a lower-ceiling, higher-floor option if they need a quick fix?

Lynn will be worth tracking this offseason. Undrafted out of William & Mary a year ago, he was flashing some pass-rush potential before a shoulder injury in the preseason put him on the shelf for his rookie year.

A burning question​

We're returning to Davenport because his availability has the potential to be difference-making.

Between 2020 and 2022, Davenport averaged nearly 38 QB pressures. Additionally, he delivered a career-high 9.0 sacks during the 2021 campaign. However, it's been one thing after another since that peak, requiring multiple surgeries along the way.

In the past three years, he's had procedures on his shoulder, finger, ankle and tricep. On the plus side, he wouldn't be the first NFL player to move past injuries and re-establish his value. Heck, if you're looking for examples, the Lions have a couple of key contributors with similar backgrounds on the roster in Alex Anzalone and Tim Patrick.

If Davenport can play 14 or more games, provide 35 pressures and 6-8 sacks, it would be a massive boost for the unit.

Setting an over/under​

Hutchinson sacks: 14.0

I recognize the pace Hutchinson was on last season. Still, it's also fair to acknowledge he was feasting on some subpar offensive tackles before the injury.

That's not an attempt to diminish what he was doing through five games. You can only knock down the pins as they're set up. Regardless, Hutchinson did catch a string of inexperienced backups to open last season, inflating his early production.

He was going to set a career-high and probably still would have led the league in sacks. However, he wasn't going to realistically maintain the breakneck pace that would have threatened the NFL's single-season record.

There might be some rust and mental hurdles to overcome after recovering from the broken leg. Still, Hutchinson should quickly get back to dropping quarterbacks.

Setting the bar at 14.0 is lofty. That figure would have tied for second in the NFL last season. That said, for him, it's doable.
 
Miller to Washington. An NFC contender just got stronger.

I know, I know. Queue the replies. We didn't need him. He doesn't fit the system. He's washed up. Z Smith is coming back. Trust Brad.
 
Miller to Washington. An NFC contender just got stronger.

I know, I know. Queue the replies. We didn't need him. He doesn't fit the system. He's washed up. Z Smith is coming back. Trust Brad.
I feel like you would have ranted if we did sign him, saying it was not enough. I hope this organization does something someday that you will be excited about.
Please show me where I said I wasn't excited about this team.

Being excited and happy the Lions are finally competitive and wanting them to be more aggressive trying to win a Super Bowl are two totally different things.
The same three or four people seem to struggle understanding that. You guys are content with what Brad is doing and that's' great.

What you're choosing to ignore is another competitive team just signed a player with the intent on winning a Super Bowl.
Say what you want, but they beat us last year, added Deebo and now Miller.
 
Miller to Washington. An NFC contender just got stronger.

I know, I know. Queue the replies. We didn't need him. He doesn't fit the system. He's washed up. Z Smith is coming back. Trust Brad.
I feel like you would have ranted if we did sign him, saying it was not enough. I hope this organization does something someday that you will be excited about.
Please show me where I said I wasn't excited about this team.

Being excited and happy the Lions are finally competitive and wanting them to be more aggressive trying to win a Super Bowl are two totally different things.
The same three or four people seem to struggle understanding that. You guys are content with what Brad is doing and that's' great.

What you're choosing to ignore is another competitive team just signed a player with the intent on winning a Super Bowl.
Say what you want, but they beat us last year, added Deebo and now Miller.
I am not ignoring anything, although we may not agree about the amount of impact Miller makes at this stage. The signing does not move the needle for me much at all. I do think Deebo is an upgrade to their receiving core, but have not been terribly impressed with his play since 2021.
 
We haven't even started yet and here come the injuries.

Levi Onwuzurike placed on the reserve/PUP with an undisclosed injury. He will miss the first 4 games. We're already going to be without Alim McNeill so this one really hurts.

Taylor Decker was placed on the active/PUP. Josh Paschal was placed on the non-football injury list.
 
We haven't even started yet and here come the injuries.

Levi Onwuzurike placed on the reserve/PUP with an undisclosed injury. He will miss the first 4 games. We're already going to be without Alim McNeill so this one really hurts.

Taylor Decker was placed on the active/PUP. Josh Paschal was placed on the non-football injury list.

Will get some updates on Sunday when MCDC has his next presser


Lions place several players on injured lists to open camp, including Decker and Onwuzurike



Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced a flurry of injury-related transactions ahead of the start of training camp this weekend, including a pair of starters landing on physically unable to perform lists.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker headlined a group of players who will open camp on the active/PUP list. That means Decker, whose injury is currently unknown, can return to practice as soon as he's medically cleared.

Others starting on the active/PUP list are defensive tackle Alim McNeill, cornerback Khalil Dorsey, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo, rookie guard Miles Frazier and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.

McNeill (ACL), Rodriguez (ACL), Dorsey (broken leg) and Wingo (meniscus) are each working their way back from season-ending surgeries in 2024. McNeill and Rodriguez’s recoveries are expected to carry well into the regular season.

Of greater concern than Decker's designation is defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike landing on the reserve version of the PUP list, which will sideline him through at least the first four games of the regular season.

Like Decker, Onwuzurike’s issue is unknown. Immediate concern would be a recurrence of a back injury that plagued him the first three seasons of his career and required fusion surgery in 2023 to correct.

That surgery was successful. Onzurike played in 16 games and logged 635 defensive snaps last season, racking up a career-best 45 quarterback pressures. He re-signed with the Lions as a free agent this offseason for one season.

Other injury news saw former second-round pick Josh Paschal and cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver land on the non-football injury lists. Like active/PUP, they can be activated at any time once they're cleared.

Additionally, rookie running back Anthony Tyus was released with a non-football injury. That, along with center Frank Ragnow being officially moved to the reserved/retired list earlier this week, will open a pair of roster spots to address any immediate depth concerns.

Clarity on all of Detroit’s injuries should be provided on Sunday, when coach Dan Campbell meets with the media ahead of the team’s first practice.

Another edge cashes in​

Aidan Hutchinson's extension market continued to take shape Thursday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Steelers awarded seven-time Pro Bowl edge rusher T.J. Watt a record-breaking extension for a non-quarterback.

The three-year pact is reportedly worth $41 million, exceeding the $40 million average Myles Garrett received from the Browns earlier this offseason.

Watt and Garrett undoubtedly have accomplished more than Hutchinson has through his three seasons. Regardless, NFL contracts are intended to award future contributions more than past accomplishments. The Lions' defender is several years younger than Watt and Garrett and was outpacing both in sacks and quarterback pressures when he suffered a broken leg against Dallas in Week 6.

The Lions had hoped to get ahead of the market with Hutchinson this offseason, the way they did with offensive tackle Penei Sewell last year. Without a quick deal, the market has swelled, something GM Brad Homes noted the team anticipated during the league meetings in April.

The edge-rushing ceiling is poised to jump again with the Dallas Cowboys and star Micah Parsons also working toward an extension. It wouldn't be a surprise to see that eventual agreement exceeding the length and average value of Watt's contract.

Ratledge deal likely coming soon​

Entering the week, only two of the league's 32 second-round picks were signed. The holdup was caused by both deals being fully guaranteed, which broke recent precedent.

On Wednesday, the Cowboys made it three signings, inking defensive tackle Alfred Collins. That opened the floodgates, with several deals being finalized on Thursday.

That should accelerate negotiations between the Lions and second-round pick Tate Ratledge, who remains unsigned as of Thursday afternoon.

Lions rookies reported to camp on Wednesday, and full-team practices are scheduled to start on Sunday. Ratledge, who is expected to be part of the starting lineup to open the season, would be unable to practice without a contract in place.
 

Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Interior o-line competition, ability to quickly forge chemistry will be a top storyline



Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the interior of the offensive line.

Who is on the roster?​

Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Miles Frazier, Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese, Netane Muti, Kingsley Eguakun, Mason Miller, Colby Sorsdal

Starting lineup outlook​

Good question.

Following Frank Ragnow's retirement, a group that was already in flux is decidedly more so heading into camp.

Consider this an educated guess about how the situation will unfold. Despite several contenders for the three interior jobs, the trio that stands out as the most likely starters are Glasgow, Mahogany, and Ratledge.

Who starts where is another conversation.

Mahogany and Ratledge primarily played right guard in college. But in early offseason practices, Mahogany has been on the left side while Ratledge has been snapping.

The Lions are likely exploring the long-term viability of Ratledge at center, a position he's never played in a game at any level. While we shouldn't shut the door on any possibilities, the complex requirements that come with playing center lead me to believe Glasgow emerges as Ragnow's replacement, at least to start the season.

Camp competition to watch​

All of it. The interior of the offensive line is the land of opportunity, not just with the starting lineup but throughout the depth chart.

Frazier, Muti, or Awosika could each emerge as the top backup guard with a strong training camp and preseason. Then, at center, there's room for Eguakun or Niese to push their way into the conversation as a safety blanket because they have more snapping experience than Ratledge.

The wild cards are Sorsdal and Giovanni Manu. They were listed as offensive tackles last year, but the door has been opened for both to play inside this season.

Sorsdal, who has logged practice time at all four tackle and guard spots, was doing a little snapping during OTAs. And even though we haven't seen much of Manu playing inside, he got some guard work in during practice last year. Plus, coach Dan Campbell didn't dismiss that possibility during the league meetings in early April.

A burning question​

Detroit's offensive line has been a strength for several seasons, but the loss of Ragnow is a massive blow. The question becomes: What kind of drop-off should we anticipate as the team transitions to its next generation of talent up front?

Mahogany, a sixth-round pick a year ago, was excellent in two spot starts last season. However, making projections based on small sample sizes is a common pitfall. How much did he benefit from Ragnow's presence in his ear and on his shoulder?

The other concerns are about Ratledge's Day 1 preparedness and the soon-to-be 33-year-old Glasgow rebounding from a down season in 2024. If everything goes as planned, the talent level is sufficient to uphold the standard. However, the foundation is shakier than it has been in a while, with a realistic chance that the unit takes a significant step backward, denting the offense’s overall efficiency.

Setting an over/under​

Interior QB sacks allowed: 15

Last year, Detroit’s interior linemen were faulted for allowing 11 sacks. It might surprise you, but former guard Kevin Zeitler led the way with five, followed by Glasgow with four and Ragnow with two.

Unless the Lions fundamentally shift to more of a quick-passing game, that sack tally is likely to increase. Jared Goff’s average snap-to-throw time is already one of the lowest in the league. Still, he’s closer to the middle of the pack with his percentage of attempts under 2.5 seconds. The league leader, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, sat at 63.0%, while Goff was at 41.9% in 2024.

Detroit has plenty of speed-and-space options to justify emphasizing a quick-passing attack. However, the team is unlikely to abandon some of the vertical elements of the offense, whether that’s go balls to Jameson Williams or deep in-breaking routes to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. That means Goff could be more exposed to shots as the interior group develops its chemistry.
 
The Lions are likely exploring the long-term viability of Ratledge at center, a position he's never played in a game at any level. While we shouldn't shut the door on any possibilities, the complex requirements that come with playing center lead me to believe Glasgow emerges as Ragnow's replacement, at least to start the season.
This always made the most sense to me considering the experience level of Glasgow at the more cerebral position center probably needs. But no problem cross training everyone either.
 
Lions filled their open roster spots this afternoon, signing DiCaprio Bootle, Tyson Russell and Jabari Small.

CB Bootle (Nebraska) has been a practice squad for the Chiefs & Panthers.

CB Russell (Vanderbilt) is a UDFA who attended rookie minicamp on a tryout.

RB Small (Tennessee) was undrafted last year & spent the 2024 season on the Titans practice squad.
 

Lions plug roster openings, signing two corners and a running back


Allen Park — After Thursday’s injury updates, the Detroit Lions found themselves with three open roster spots. The team plugged those holes a day later, signing cornerbacks Tyson Russell and DiCaprio Bootle, as well as running back Jabari Small.

Russell, the son of a former NFL linebacker, participated in Detroit’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. The 5-foot-10, 184-pounder went undrafted out of Vanderbilt after appearing in 44 games for the school across the past four seasons.

Russell primarily played out wide for the Commodores and contributed on multiple special teams units. During his college career, he tallied 92 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception. During the pre-draft process, he showcased above-average athleticism, particularly his easy acceleration during the 40-yard dash, where he posted elite 10- and 20-yard splits for the position.

Bootle is a more experienced defensive back, entering the league in 2021 after going undrafted out of the University of Nebraska. He’s appeared in 21 games for the Chiefs, Panthers and Chargers the past four seasons, including a pair of starts in Carolina during the 2023 campaign.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder has logged more snaps outside than in the slot, but has experience playing both alignments. And like Russell, Bootle has seen action with multiple special teams groups.

Small rounds out Detroit’s backfield depth chart after the team waived injured rookie Anthony Tyus on Thursday. Undrafted out of the University of Tennessee last year, Small stayed in state, spending his rookie season on the Titans’ practice squad.

In four seasons with the Volunteers, Small racked up 2,369 yards from scrimmage, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored 26 touchdowns. Measuring in at 5-foot-8, 198 pounds during the pre-draft process in 2024, he posted strong results in the vertical jump and the 10-yard split of his 40-yard dash.
 

A dozen Detroit Lions veterans with something to prove this training camp


Allen Park — The Detroit Lions will open their 2025 training camp on Sunday with eyes on a third consecutive division crown, a deeper postseason run, hopefully all culminating in the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance.

However, to achieve those lofty goals, the team must put in the day-to-day work, focusing on incremental improvement through that grind. And at the heart of improvement time of year is competition. Each day, the roster will compete against themselves and their teammates to perfect their craft.

By the end of next month, the roster will be pared down to 53. Many of those jobs are already spoken for, and there’s another clear group who enter camp on the bubble. Finally, there are the long shots, where a handful will inevitably emerge to claim one of the final few spots or a place on the team’s 16-man practice squad, where they’ll continue the daily battle for their opportunity.

Heading into camp, every player has something to prove, even Detroit’s All-Pros. But here are a dozen Lions meriting a little more of our attention, from players returning from injuries, to veterans at career crossroads, to draft picks who haven’t lived up to their potential, and more recent selections hoping to avoid the same.

On the mend​

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson has already cleared several major hurdles in his return from last year's broken leg. The next big test will be when the pads come on, followed by joint practices with the Dolphins and Texans. That will provide a better barometer of whether Detroit's star pass-rusher is all the way back.

When he went down last year, Hutchinson was well on his way to blowing away his previous career-high for sacks and winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award. If he can be 80-90% of that guy in 2025, it would be a huge win.

Linebacker Derrick Barnes

After two up-and-down years to begin his career, things finally clicked for Barnes in his third season. He looked primed to take things to another level in his fourth year but landed on the shelf with PCL and MCL tears after taking a helmet to the knee in Week 3.

Barnes was playing more on the edge last season, but his superpower is his alignment versatility. He can set up shop along the line of scrimmage, off the ball, or in the slot. His advanced knowledge of the scheme enables him to be in the right place at the right time to disrupt the offense's rhythm, even when his impact doesn't show up in the box score.

We'll have to wait and see if new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard tweaks Barnes' usage again after the team re-signed the veteran linebacker to a three-year extension this offseason, as well as what kind of rust accumulated during the lengthy layoff.

Cornerback Khalil Dorsey

Dorsey suffered a similar injury to Hutchinson after colliding with a teammate while covering a crossing route in December. Given Dorsey is two months behind Hutchinson in the recovery process, it's unclear when the veteran cornerback will return to practice. He’s starting camp on the physically unable to perform list.

When healthy, Dorsey provides defensive depth, but his biggest contributions are on special teams. He's particularly valuable as a gunner on punt coverage, with the ability to beat the jam, combined with elite speed to regularly affect the return man. He played an understated role last season, helping punter Jack Fox to set the NFL record for net punting average.

Still gas in the tank​

Offensive lineman Graham Glasgow

After a down year, both in pass protection and as a run blocker, some wondered if the Lions might move on from the veteran lineman one year into the three-year deal he signed last offseason. Several months later, Glasgow figures to be critical in helping the Lions navigate the retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow.

Potentially foreshadowing things at the league meetings in April, Lions coach Dan Campbell praised Glasgow’s ability to play center. Second-round pick Tate Ratledge might be the long-term answer at that spot. However, turning to Glasgow to begin the season makes plenty of sense, given his extensive snapping experience.

Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin

An early second-round pick in 2019, Ya-Sin never lived up to his draft slot. Six years later, he’s a journeyman, preparing to suit up with a different team for the fifth consecutive offseason.

He’s started just one game over the past two seasons, logging a career-low 62 defensive snaps in 2024. The Lions don’t need him to start or even be a top backup, but he could be solid depth on the outside and a multi-phase special teams contributor.

In the past, Ya-Sin has worked plenty of reps on kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return and field goal block. In Detroit, he could be in the mix for a new assignment: Punt gunner.

Guard Netane Muti

Injuries have always anchored Muti’s potential. In college, he tore his Achilles and suffered a Lisfranc break. And when it looked like he was on a good track to win a job with the Lions last offseason, he tore a pec in training camp.

Despite the season-ending injury, he remained in Detroit for his rehab. He’s popular with his teammates and can be physically dominant on the field. There will be a trickle-down impact with Ragnow’s retirement, opening up an extra roster spot for a backup lineman. The Lions have plenty of contenders, but a healthy Muti has the tools to make another push for a job.

Last Chance U​

Brodric Martin

It was easy to understand what the Lions saw in Martin when they traded back into the third round to land the defensive tackle a few years back. There simply aren’t many linemen with his physical attributes, headlined by his 36-inch arms.

Immediately declared a developmental project by the team, Martin has barely seen the field through two seasons. He appeared to be making positive progress during last year's training camp. However, after missing a couple of months due to a knee injury, it felt as if a reset button had been hit on his development once he returned to action.

After a disappointing showing as an injury replacement vs. Green Bay in early December, Martin rode the pine the rest of the season. Now, after the Lions signed Roy Lopez in free agency and drafted Tyleik Williams in the first round, it’s unclear how much longer the Lions can wait on Martin to figure things out.

Colby Sorsdal

I don’t think there were a lot of immediate expectations when the Lions drafted Sorsdal in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of William & Mary. That means it was a pleasant surprise when he was able to make the quick transition from offensive tackle to guard, be active for 16 games, and start three contests as an injury replacement.

Last offseason, the Lions tried shifting him back to tackle, and the move didn’t take as expected. He was soundly beaten out for the primary backup job by Dan Skipper and ended up a healthy scratch for all but one game.

This offseason, there’s not an obvious spot for Sorsdal. The team bolstered its interior depth, and Giovani Manu has a brighter future at tackle. Sorsdal did a little snapping during an OTA practice, but a quick switch to center feels like a stretch.

Josh Paschal

Unlike the two players listed above, Paschal isn’t at risk of not making the 53-man roster. Instead, he’s entering a contract year without making enough meaningful progress through three seasons to merit a second contract with the Lions. Meaningful strides in his fourth year, particularly as a pass rusher, could change that trajectory.

A second-round pick in 2022, Paschal hasn’t recorded more than 25 tackles or 2.0 sacks in a season. He made an effort to lean into the power elements of his game last season, but with minimal results.

Lions GM Brad Holmes suggested the team will look to use Paschal more as an interior rusher in 2025. That could unlock some extra production. But without those results, it's difficult to justify extending the relationship beyond this season.

For now, things are on temporary hold. Paschal is opening camp on the non-football injury list.
 

Primed for a jump​

Ennis Rakestraw

Rakestraw’s rookie year was marred by a hamstring injury. It was especially unfortunate because he initially suffered the strain during the pregame warmups of a contest he was supposed to start. Instead, the nagging issue limited him to 46 defensive snaps, mostly coming in garbage time of blowout wins.

Primarily working in the slot during his debut campaign, the Lions are planning on playing him outside this season. That puts him in line to be the first guy off the bench if there’s an injury to starters Terrion Arnold or D.J. Reed. Expect Rakestraw to receive a lot of playing time during the preseason to prove he deserves the role.

Giovanni Manu

Like Martin, Manu was drafted for his traits and potential. It was understood, coming from the Canadian college ranks, that he would require ample time to develop.

Manu often looked overmatched during his inaugural training camp. However, the behind-the-scenes reports late last year suggested he was making steady, positive progress. Pair that with an offseason working with respected o-line trainer LeCharles Bentley, and Manu should look like a different player this offseason.

Overtaking Skipper for the swing tackle role won’t be easy, but if Manu makes that kind of jump, winning a starting job a year or two down the road becomes more realistic.

Sione Vaki

A college safety who dabbled at running back, the Lions were enamored enough by his potential with the ball in his hands that they permanently converted Vaki to offense after drafting him in the fourth round last year.

Vaki brings plenty of value to the table, regardless, because of his multi-faceted special teams contributions. Now, after having a year to learn some of the nuances of his primary position, let’s see what kind of developmental leap he can make and whether it’s enough to carve out a game-day role in situational packages.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top