Training camp and the preseason helps Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions coaching staff establish the 53-man roster and the depth chart. In theory, every position is open, but the reality is many players already have spots locked up.
The offensive locks can be found here.
This time the focus turns to the defense and special teams. Which players are locks to make the 53-man Lions roster from those units?
Defensive line
Roster locks: Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, Brodric Martin
The line between defensive lineman and outside linebacker is quite blurry with several players in Detroit. From what we saw in minicamp and offseason practices, coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense is making that line more distinct.
On the DL side of that line is where we find Hutchinson and Paschal. McNeill, Cominsky and third-round rookie Martin are set to comprise the bulk of the interior. Cominsky had opportunities to leave as a free agent but returned, and that means something to this Lions regime.
Isaiah Buggs is close to a lock on the defensive interior, but veteran free agent Christian Covington and holdover Benito Jones could conceivably push out Buggs — especially if he proves to be a one-year wonder.
On the outside, Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara and James Houston are all competing for the same roster spots. All but Romeo Okwara are lumped with the linebackers here even though their primary role will be to rush the passer from the line of scrimmage. How many of those the Lions keep, and who gets them, is up for contentious training camp debate.
Linebackers
Roster locks: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, James Houston, Malcolm Rodriguez
This might very well be the entire LB corps, at least functionally. Anzalone, Campbell and Barnes will man the off-ball sets in some combination. Rodriguez can fill in for any of their roles and figures to become more integral to special teams in his second season.
As noted with the linemen, Houston is primarily a pass rusher. We did see him drop off the line and into some more traditional LB roles earlier this summer. The same is true of Charles Harris and Julian Okwara as well as undrafted rookie Trevor Nowaske.
Harris could probably be considered a lock; I wouldn’t argue with anyone who says he’s guaranteed to be on the team. His veteran guidance, attitude and versatility are things the coaching staff places a very high value on in Detroit.
Cornerbacks
Roster locks: Cam Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, Emmanuel Moseley
The positional fluidity from up front continues in the secondary. There are three players who are full-time outside cornerbacks who are locks. Moseley might not be ready to start the season, but he’s in no peril of not making the team in some capacity (NFI list, IR).
The slot position is primarily destined for player who are nominally safeties. We’ll get to them in the next section.
Then there’s Will Harris. He played his best football in 2022 after converting from safety to corner. Harris would certainly make my initial 53-man projection right now, but he cannot be considered a lock just yet.
Safeties
Roster locks: Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Brian Branch
There will be times when all four of these players are on the field in some capacity. Gardner-Johnson is one of the NFL’s best safeties as well as one of the most versatile; he projects as the starting slot “corner,” but he’ll play more than that. Second-round rookie Branch is cut from that same cloth.
Walker returns from injury to join Joseph as the primary occupants of the more traditional safety roles.
Of the remaining players, they’re battling for special teams roles more than they are spots in the defense. Give Saivion Smith the early edge, but none are close to locks.
Special teams
Roster lock: Jack Fox
Fox returns as the Lions punter and he’s uncontested in camp. Easy lock.
There are currently two long snappers and three kickers on the roster, and those spots will be hotly contested during the next month. No one is safe.
