Detroit Lions’ Position Groups Ranked

Training camp is officially underway for the Detroit Lions. And what better way is there to celebrate than to rank each position group heading into training camp? Just so we are clear, these rankings opinion based.

10. Linebacker

Projected Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell

Depth: Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Jalen Reeves-Maybin

As the 2022 season unfolded, it became blatantly clear the Lions desperately needed help at the linebacker position. Alex Anzalone led the team in tackles (125) but routinely got beat over the middle in pass coverage. The same is true for Malcolm Rodriguez, who, despite being a fan favorite, has limited speed and size. His lack of physical attributes contributed to his sixth-round draft selection in 2022.

Detroit was the first team to select a linebacker in this year’s draft when they took Iowa’s Jack Campbell 18th overall. Campbell, 6’5″ and 243 lbs, has all the physical traits you want in a modern-day linebacker. How quickly Campbell adjusts to the speed of NFL play will determine the success of this unit in 2023. The only place to go in the rankings is up!

9. Interior Defensive Line

Projected Starters: Alim McNeill, Isaiah Buggs

Depth: Brodric Martin, Levi Onwuzurike, Benito Jones

 

The Lions allowed 2491 rushing yards last season, the fourth-highest mark across the league. However, there’s a sense of optimism heading into 2023. Alim McNeill, whose ready to take on a heavier pass-rushing role this season, is a top brake-out candidate for 2022. Additionally, the Lions drafted Brodric Martin, out of Western Kentucky, in the third round of this year’s draft. Lacking depth last season, the Lions added another body, and a big one nonetheless. Martin’s 6’5″, 330-pound frame should help the Lions’ front seven naturally. Still, after last season this is a group with everything to prove.

8. Corner

Projected Starters: Cameron Sutton, Jerry Jacobs

Depth: Emmanuel Moseley, Will Harris, CJ Gardner Johnson

Brad Homes gave the secondary a complete makeover this offseason when he traded Jeff Okudah and signed Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency. Regardless of who wins the CB2 battle in camp, the Lions will have two new Week 1 starters.

The depth this group has makes up some ground for lacking a true star, with Sutton acting as the closest thing to stardom. Since taking over as the starter in Pittsburgh in 2021, Sutton has missed just two games. You’d have to go back to his rookie season in 2017 to find the last time he played less than 15 games. He’s not someone who racks up turnovers, but perhaps he has an even better attribute for the Lions’ secondary that already features multiple playmakers; he rarely gives up big plays.

A much-improved unit on paper compared to this time last year, but still one that will need to build chemistry together starting in training camp. It should also be noted Emmanuel Moseley will begin training camp on the PUP list, still recovering from an ACL injury. Whether or not he’ll be healthy for Week 1, we won’t know for a few weeks. 

7. Tight End

Projected Starter: Sam LaPorta

Depth: Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shayne Zylstra

Speaking of rookies impacting the success of a unit, it’s not an understatement to say Sam LaPorta could take this Lions’ offense to new heights in 2023. Read more about that here.

LaPorta has the potential to become a star, but even if he doesn’t hit the ground running (which is realistic), the Lions shouldn’t suffer. Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra were beyond serviceable last season after TJ Hockenson was traded to Minnesota. Wright reeled in four touchdowns after the trade, while Zyltra finished the season ranked among the best-blocking tight ends in the NFL. Throw James Mitchell into the mix, a 23-year-old with tremendous athletic upside, and you’ve got depth. It’s unlikely all four men will make the final 53-man roster, a good problem to have.

6. Edge

Projected Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, James Houston

Depth: Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, Josh Paschal, John Comminsky, Julian Okwara

Does this unit have a star that can dominate the pass rush and run game? Check. Is there another elite pass rusher opposite of the star? Check. Is there more than one reliable rotational player on the depth chart? Check.

Let’s be clear; when Aidan Hutchinson isn’t on the field, this isn’t the same group. The Lions aren’t the same defense without their anchor at the edge. The hometown hero got better each week as the season progressed last season. When it was all said and done, ‘Hutch’ racked up 9.5 sacks, leading all rookies.

The only other rookie with more than six sacks was Detroit James Houston, who had eight in seven games. The 1.14 sacks/game rate will be nearly impossible to sustain. But unlike last year, Houston will have a vital role to begin the season. His presence will take some pressure off Hutchinson, who was doubled-teamed more than any other player in 2022. If the former second-overall pick begins in 2023 better than he left off in 2022, this group has the potential to climb the ranks fast.

 

5. Wide Receiver

Projected Starters: Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Marvin Jones

Depth: Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds, Denzel Mims, Antoine Green

There’s one thing I’ve never wavered from regarding this team’s wide receiver room; if Jameson Williams becomes what his college tape says he would, the Lions will have amongst the best WR duos in the league. Williams has unmatched speed, and before tearing his ACL, he knew how to use it as a weapon. Before the ACL tear in the 2022 National Championship, Williams, with certainty, would have been the first receiver taken off the board with the possibility of going top five. There’s still much hope around the 22-year-old.

These rankings were done with the mindset that every unit is at full strength, which means it’s not considering Williams’s six-game suspension. With or without him, the corps features two Pro-Bowlers in Amon Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond. The health of Amon Ra St. Brown in the first six weeks of the season will be vital for offensive success.

4. Quarterback

Starters: Jared Goff

Depth: Nate Sudfeld, Hendon Hooker

In an offense featuring Ben Johnson calling plays, a top-five ranked offensive line, a Pro-Bowl receiver, and an excellent running game, make no mistake; Jared Goff is set up to succeed, and that he did in 2022.

As a seventh-year veteran, Goff threw for more yards than Josh Allen in 2022 and threw more touchdown passes than Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Justin Herbert. Goff’s 4.14 TD-INT ratio ranked first in the NFL, a contributing factor to the Lions’ 8-2 finish, not to mention being a top-five offensive unit. He has the longest active streak of consecutive pass attempts without an interception (324) dating back to early November. In the last eight division games, Goff has a 7-1 record.

At 28 years old, Brad Holmes would argue Jared Goff is smack dab in the middle of his prime. Jalen Hurts sits atop the NFC mountain; outside of him, very few, if any, NFC quarterbacks have played better than Jared Goff has in the last year.

Hendon Hooker will be on the Non-Football injury list to begin the year, saving the Lions a spot on the roster. While Hooker isn’t ready to go from a health standpoint and still has plenty of learning and adjusting to do regardless, the Lions needed depth at the quarterback position and took a shot on an explosive college quarterback. It’s unclear what the Lions have with Hooker, but he’s something, and something is better than nothing.

3. Running Back

Starters: Jahmyr Gibbs

Depth: David Montgomery, Justin Jackson

 

As I made clear in my projected starters piece, it doesn’t matter who’s the starter. Both Gibbs and Montgomery will have significant snaps, being used accordingly by Ben Johnson. Montgomery will thrive between the tackles, while Gibbs’ speed will allow him to excel in the passing game and outsize zone schemes. Gibbs and Williams are one of the fastest duos in the NFL, and both are capable of causing problems in the backfield. Gibbs is a much more explosive upgrade than DeAndre Swift. Brad Holmes even stated the rookie reminds him of a Hall of Fame running back he worked closely with.

In an offense with many mouths to feed, Gibbs and Montgomery will have plenty on their plate. Behind that offensive line, both should feast.

2. Safety

Starters: CJ Gardner Johnson, Kirby Joseph, Tracy Walker

Depth: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brain Branch

A group that gave up the third most air yards in 2022 being ranked second may appear foolish. But I assure you, there is a reason behind the high placement. New addition C.J. Gardner Johnson led the league in interceptions with six last season, leading an Eagles defense that gave up the fewest yards in the NFL to the Super Bowl.

Kirby Joseph led all rookies with four interceptions while also causing two forced fumbles in 2022, a season in which he wasn’t supposed to see significant snaps. He was thrown into the fire in Week 3 when Tracy Walker tore his Achilles against Minnesota. Walker, a team captain, and respected veteran, plans to be 100 percent by the time Week 1 rolls around.

For years the Lions have desperately lacked big-time playmakers in the secondary. Now, Detroit has an abundance of them, hence the rank of two.

1. Offensive Line

Starters: RT Penei Sewell, RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai, C Frank Ragnow, LG Jonah Jackson, LT Taylor Decker

Depth: Graham Glasgow, Colby Sorsdal, Matt Nelson

Detroit Lions NFL offensive line ranks poor in ESPN model - Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions News, Analysis and More

Lions OL Frank Ragnow (77), Taylor Decker (68), and Penei Sewell (72) –  Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK

To no surprise, the offensive line rounds out the rankings at the number one spot. With three former Pro Bowlers in the starting bunch, this is one of the most dangerous units in the NFL, perfectly capable of dominating both the run and pass game. Detroit gave up the second-fewest sacks last season while rushing for the third most touchdowns. Only the Lions and Cowboys finished top five in both stats.

PFF ranked the Lions’ offensive line the fifth-best in the league heading into the season, and if Penei Sewell continues to develop, that number will go up.

Penei Sewell was named to the Pro Bowl last season for the first time in his career at 22 years old. Entering year three, the expectation is Sewell eventually becomes one of the best players in the NFL. He’s yet to miss a game due to injury.

Frank Ragnow, a two-time Pro Bowler himself, has been one of the best centers in the NFL since 2020. At just 27 years old, health will be key for Ragnow in his sixth season.

Jonah Jackson was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and allowed zero sacks in 13 games last season.

Taylor Decker is amongst the best tackles in the NFL. While he doesn’t have a Pro Bowl appearance to his name, this is primarily due to the top-heavy talent in the NFL and has less to do with his on-field production.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai is returning from a back injury that kept him out all of 2022. The Lions brought back Graham Glasgow in free agency, whom the Lions originally drafted in 2016. He’ll be a threat to Vaitai’s starting job if Vaitai’s back injury prevents him from getting back to 100 percent.