It’s way to early to say for sure who’s going to make the final 53-man roster but it’s always fun to try and predict and have debates. The Lions will always make a surprising move and whoever makes the final 53 at the deadline isn’t necessarily guaranteed to be there even the next day. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are always making moves.

But let’s try and have some fun and see what kind of team the 2026 Lions are going to put together and run through the tunnel week 1 vs the Saints.

QB –

Jared Goff

Teddy Bridgewater

Luke Altmyer

This is a pretty straightforward group. Goff is the unquestioned starter, leader and some could say face of the franchise. The past three season ge has played phenomenal and is a top 5 QB. He takes care of the ball, makes great decisions and has the confidence of his teammates that he will lead them to victory. The Lions 100% know they can win a Superbowl with him at the helm.

Bridgwater is one of the best backups in the league. A former 1st round pick, he isn’t that player anymore but he can come in and operate efficiently enough to knock off a few wins if needed. You judge a backup by using a 4 game scenario, can he get you 3-1 or at worse 2-2? Bridgwater absolutely can.

The intriguing piece here is Altmyer. He is a player who wins with his eyes and his preparation, not his arm. His play-action game is strong, he stares off a safety showing he is a quarterback who understands how to set up throws. He is patient through his progressions, comfortable working bootleg concepts off play-action, and willing to take the underneath option rather than force something downfield.

When the pocket is clean and throws are on schedule, he drops the ball into intermediate zone windows with enough touch to move the chains. But he gets caught flat-footed, his release is wonky and he at times is oblivious to pressure off the edge. He won’t fire a dart into a tight window

He can manage a game plan without sinking a team for a stretch if the starter goes down that can develop into a starter. And that’s what you want.

RB –

Jahmyr Gibbs

Isiah Pacheco

Sione Vaki

Jabari Small

Jacob Saylors

Kye Robichaux

The first three spots I believe are set. Gibbs (I know, what a shock), Pacheco and Vaki. Vaki might be an eyebrow raiser because he hasn’t done much but he very good in the special teams department and the untapped potential at RB is still there. Saylors would have the upper hand over Robichaux and Small with his experience as the returner last year but I think they have better options now on the roster. I also wouldn’t rule out the Lions adding another back or two for camp.

WR –

Amon-Ra St Brown

Jameson Williams

Issac TeSlaa

Greg Dortch

Jackson Meeks

Kendrick Law

Tom Kennedy

Malik Cunningham

Dominic Lovett

Cedrick Wilson

This is a  group that is pretty much set with the top four spots but their is an opportunity for someone to steal a roster spot and make the Lions consider carrying six WRs instead of five. Kennedy did a much better job in the return game than Saylors and is a solid guy to have as a 5th or 6th. His main competition is Lovett and Law and I think the Lions may go with those two if they keep six WRs on the roster. If they go with five, then that it’s most likely going to be Law.

TE –

Sam LaPorta

Brock Wright

Tyler Conklin

Miles Kitselman

Zach Horton

Thomas Gordon

The Lions three TEs are set. LaPorta, Wright and Conklin. The question here is, do the Lions keep 4 Tight Ends? If they do, keep an eye for Meeks to sneak in and take that spot if he can add weight. The Lions having been experimenting with the idea since last year. I can see Kitselman challenging for that spot as well but he has to make significant strides to avoid the practice squad his rookie season. Horton and Gordon will be competing for a practice squad spot.

OL –

Penei Sewell

Christian Mahogany

Cade Mays

Tate Ratledge

Blake Miller

Seth McLaughlin

Ben Bartch

Larry Borom

Devin Cochran

Miles Frazier

Juice Scruggs

Michael Niese

Giovanni Manu

Colby Sorsdal

Melvin Priestly

Mason Miller

Four of the five starting spots are set. No debate. The 5th spot, left guard, is being held my Mohagnay but it remains to be seen if he can keep a firm grip on the spot. At times he looks like an anchor that will be there for years and then other times he struggles and had people calling for Frazier to play. To Fraziers credit, he showed promise and will push for that spot. Frazier can play tackle as well so versatility may just squeeze another lineman off the team and free up a spot elsewhere on the roster. Scruggs was acquired in a trade and while that isn’t a guarantee he makes it, he does have starting experience, is a former 2nd round pick and is still only 26 years old. That’s seven spots gone. Niese is a good backup IOL that can serve as the backup center is Mclaughlin falters. But the Lions love Mclaughlin and will push him to earn that spot. Mason Miller was overwhelmed last year but the Lions saw enough to stash him in the practice squad all year. Borom and Bartch would be safe bets as well to make the roster, most likely squeezing Manu and Sorsdal out.

DE –

Aidan Hutchinson

Ahmed Hassanein

Derrick Moore

DJ Wonnum

Payton Turner

Anthony Lucas

Eric O’Neill

It’s always been Hutch and everyone else. Even with last year Muhammad having 11 sacks, it still was Hutchinson doing a lot on his own. The Lions hope to change that by adding a better run defender in Wonnum and trading up to get Moore. Hassanein, who missed most of last year with an injury, figures to have a larger role going forward. The sleeper here is Lucas, who I think will beat out O’Neil and Turner.

DT –

Alim McNeil

Tyleik Williams

Levi Onwuzurike

Mekhi Wingo

Myles Adams

Skyler Gill-Howard

Tyler Lacy

Chris Smith

Jay Tufele

Tyre West

Aidan Keanaaina

This a a collection of players that the Lions can go all sorts of directions. The key is to get Alim playing like he was that earned him the contract extension. That will solve a lot of issues. Williams showed a lot of promise last year and should continue to see his play time and stock rise. This is a make or break summer and camp for Wingo. He has the talent and being a leader at LSU says a lot but so does being a healthy scratch for the majority of the 2025 season, especially with the struggles of the DL. Onzwurike should be a big factor if he’s healthy…and that’s a BIG if. West and Gill-Howard are going to be in the rotation and should contribute early, especially West with being able to move inside and outside.

LB –

Jack Campbell

Derrick Barnes

Malcolm Rodriguez

Damone Clarke

Joe Bachie

Trevor Nowaske

Eric Hunter

Jimmy Rolder

Losing Anzalone hurts but we knew this day was coming the minute the Lions drafted Campbell.

Outside of Campbell and Barnes, this room is a big question mark. Rodriguez, a fan favorite, won and lost the starting job and that was before he tore his ACL. Rolder figures to be a lock for the roster. That leaves Nowaske competing with Clarke and Hunter.

CB –

Keith Abney
Terrion Arnold
Khalil Dorsey
Roger McCreary
Ennis Rakestraw
D.J. Reed
De’Shawn Rucker
Nick Whiteside
Rock Ya-Sin

Arnold and Reed are your starters. Both were playing well before they got hurt and it’s safe to assume that they will return to form. Abney has a great shot to be the starting nickle, especially since McCreary can play safety and will probably be there until Branch comes back. Ya-Sin was a bright spot last year and was rightfully so brought back. Rakestraw needs to stay healthy, Dorsey plays special teams and Whiteside played well enough last year to warrant a spot, but they’re all competing for one spot basically.

S –

Brian Branch
Aamaris Brown
Christian Izien
Avonte Maddox
Chuck Clarke
Thomas Harper
Kerby Joseph
Loren Strickland
Dan Jackson

With Josephs health still a question and Branch starting on PUP (presumably), this group is a concern but not as big as some might think. Thomas Harper is someone the Lions really like and his play is proof as to why. Chuck Clarke is a vet who can fill in, as well as Maddox who played very well when he came off the bench. Izien will take a spot and along with McCreary and play in the nickle as well. That leave Strickland and Jackson. Strickland is well-liked and Jackson missed his rookie year with a mysterious knee injury but if healthy is another intriguing player.

Special Teams –

Jake Bates K

Jack Fox P

Hogan Hatten LS

No real discussion here. Those are your three specialists.

Final 53 Prediction –

QB: 2

Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater

RB: 4

Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors

WR: 5

Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, Issac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, Kendrick Law

TE: 3

Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin

OL: 11

Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Cade Mays, Tate Ratledge, Blake Miller, Seth Mclaughlin, Larry Borom, Ben Bartch, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, Michael Niese

25 offense

DE: 4

Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, Ahmed Hassanein, Derrick Moore

DT: 6

Alim McNeil, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo, Skylar Gill-Howard, Jay Tufele

LB: 4

Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jimmy Rolder

CB: 6

DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Keith Abney

S: 5

Kerby Joseph, Christian Izien, Thomas Harper, Dan Jackson, Avonte Maddox

Brian Branch (PUP)

25 defense

Special Teams: 3

Jake Bates, Jack Fox, Hogan Hatten

Practice Squad 16

QB Luke Altmyer

RB Kye Robichaux

WR Dominic Lovett

WR Tom Kennedy

TE Jackson Meeks

OL Mason Miller

OL Colby Sorsdal

OL Giovanni Manu

DE Anthony Lucas

DT Tyre West

LB Trevor Nowaske

LB Eric Hunter

LB Damone Clarke

CB Nick Whiteside

S Loren Strickland

S Chuck Clarke