Based on observations from minicamp, here is an updated depth chart for the 2024 Detroit Lions.
With the end of mandatory minicamp last week, the entire Detroit Lions team won’t reconvene until the start of training camp at the end of July. So now is a good time to take a closer look at the entire roster and where it stands.
Over the past month, we’ve gotten an inside look at the roster through OTA and minicamp practices. It’s not just an opportunity to see how each of these players are performing, but we can also see where the coaching staff is playing each player, and in what order.
Using these observations, I have created what I believe to be an accurate depth chart at each position. These depth charts take into account what team they were playing with in the spring (first team, second team, etc.), how well they were playing, and in the case of injured players, projection.
Most notably, these are my rankings based on where each player is right now. So don’t be surprised to see a lot of young players currently low on the depth chart.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff
Nate Sudfeld
Hendon Hooker
Hendon Hooker received all the second-team reps that I saw, and much of the third-team reps. However, if the season were to start tomorrow, I believe Nate Sudfeld would be the backup to Jared Goff. The reason Hooker is getting the huge majority of the non-starter reps is because he needs those reps. The long-term plan is undeniably for him to be the backup, but he still has a ways to go, and I won’t be going into training camp assuming the job is his.
Running back
Jahmyr Gibbs
David Montgomery
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki
Zonovan Knight
Jermar Jefferson
Jake Funk
Nothing too surprising here. It’s worth noting that Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t practice all spring, but that allowed more reps with the first and second teams for rookie Sione Vaki. The Lions’ fourth-round pick impressed enough for me to believe he could compete for the RB3 spot by the start of the regular season, but there are still a lot of fundamentals to learn at the position before Detroit will throw him in.
Tight end
Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
James Mitchell
Shane Zylstra
Parker Hesse
Sean McKeon
It’s a make-or-break season for James Mitchell, and I think Shane Zylstra has a real shot at jumping him before the season starts. That said, by the end of minicamp, Mitchell was still repping ahead of him.
Wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jameson Williams
Antoine Green
Kalif Raymond
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Maurice Alexander
Daurice Fountain
Tom Kennedy
Kaden Davis
Isaiah Williams
Tre’Quan Smith
Jalon Calhoun
While neither particularly moved the needle much with their play, when both players were healthy, Antoine Green regularly repped with the starters over Donovan Peoples-Jones. So, he’ll go into training camp as the favorite to win the starting job. That said, Kalif Raymond continues to prove why he deserves a role with the offense.
As for the depth, two players to keep an eye on: Daurice Fountain and Kaden Davis. Fountain appeared to become a favorite target of Hooker with the reserves, and Davis always seemed to make at least one big play per practice.
Offensive tackle
Taylor Decker
Penei Sewell
Dan Skipper
Connor Galvin
Colby Sorsdal
Giovanni Manu
Dan Skipper is clearly still OT3, as he was the fixture at left tackle during practices with Decker out. Connor Galvin also got a handful of first-team reps when Penei Sewell was taking a break. Colby Sorsdal, who appears to be moving full-time to tackle, was regularly with the second-team offense, while rookie Giovanni Manu didn’t budge much from the third-team left tackle spot.
Guard
Kevin Zeitler
Graham Glasgow
Kayode Awosika
Netane Muti
Christian Mahogany
Matt Farniok
It’s hard to know exactly where Kayode Awosika fits, as he missed all of spring with an undisclosed injury, but based on history, the Lions seem to trust him. One player to watch for is Netane Muti, who regularly got first-team reps when Kevin Zeitler had off days. Muti has 22 games of experience and four starts at the NFL level. Christian Mahogany seemingly locked down the right guard spot with the second-team offense.
Center
Frank Ragnow
Michael Niese
Bryan Hudson
Duke Clemons
Kingsley Eguakun
We saw a heck of a lot of Michael Niese with Frank Ragnow sidelined for OTAs. Obviously, if something happens to Ragnow, the Lions will likely move Graham Glasgow to center, but don’t be surprised if Niese makes a case for a roster spot given all the reps he’s been getting.
While Eguakun is at the bottom of the center depth chart here, it’s worth noting that he was getting some second/third-team guard reps. His path to the roster may be there.
Defensive end
Aidan Hutchinson
Josh Paschal
John Cominsky
Marcus Davenport
James Houston
Mitchell Agude
Mathieu Betts
Isaac Ukwu
Nate Lynn
This is a difficult position to project because Marcus Davenport missed all of spring and James Houston the majority of it. Without a doubt, though, it was Josh Paschal who took the majority of reps opposite Aidan Hutchinson with the starters.
It gets a lot murkier beyond those top three, though. Mitchell Agude is a player to watch, as he got a ton of second-team reps and even slipped in there with the first team in certain subpackages. And despite me having him so low on the list, don’t count out Mathieu Betts, either. I thought he had a strong spring, but he has mostly been repping with the second and third teams.
Defensive tackle
Alim McNeill
DJ Reader
Levi Onwuzurike
Chris Smith
Mekhi Wingo
Brodric Martin
Kyle Peko
Don’t be too dismayed to see the Lions’ two draft picks at the bottom of this list. Again, the Lions like to make their young players work their way up the depth chart. And with Peko missing the last week or two of practices, both Brodric Martin and Mekhi Wingo got plenty of reps, albeit with the reserves.
Levi Onwuzurike made a very strong case for a defensive role this year, but also don’t forget that many of the players listed at the defensive end position have the versatility to kick inside.
Linebacker
Alex Anzalone
Jack Campbell
Derrick Barnes
Malcolm Rodriguez
Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Steele Chambers
DaRon Gilbert
This linebacker ranking feels pretty set in stone right now. Jack Campbell has clearly been the No. 1 MIKE linebacker in the spring, with Barnes getting some time with the ones at the SAM position.
In my opinion, Steele Chambers has made a strong case for the team’s LB6/special teams role. Although, it remains to be seen whether the Lions will carry six.
Cornerback
Carlton Davis III
Terrion Arnold
Kindle Vildor
Emmanuel Moseley
Khalil Dorsey
Morice Norris
Steven Gilmore
Craig James
While Kindle Vildor occupied the CB2 spot for almost all of the spring, on the final week of camp—with Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold healthy enough for full-time roles—those were the two primary cornerbacks. That seems almost surely to be the Week 1 lineup, but Emmanuel Moseley could contend for a job once he is healthy.
Another name to watch here is Morice Norris, as he snuck in some a handful of first-team reps late in minicamp. The UDFA rookie out of Fresno State could contend with a guy like Steven Gilmore for a developmental spot on the roster or the practice squad. He also took reps at nickel, adding some versatility to his repertoire.
Nickel cornerback
Brian Branch
Amik Robertson
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Amik Robertson held down the starting nickel spot for all of OTAs and looked good doing it. But there is little question that when he is back and healthy, that is Brian Branch’s job—even if he’s expected to play some safety, too. Ennis Rakestraw has almost exclusively been repping at nickel, so it may be tough for him to see playing time in his rookie season.
Safety
Kerby Joseph
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Brandon Joseph
C.J. Moore
Loren Strickland
Chelen Garnes
This, too, is relatively straightforward. With Kerby Joseph sidelined this spring, it was almost exclusively Brandon Joseph repping with the first team alongside Ifeatu Melifonwu. He’s also earned some serious praise from his coaches.
Kicker
Michael Badgley
James Turner
While James Turner both displayed a stronger leg and was more accurate in situational drills, Michael Badgley was consistently repping first, and I believe he’s still the favorite to be Detroit’s kicker in 2024. That said, I do think Turner significantly closed the gap this spring, and if he continues to build on that performance during training camp, Detroit will have a tough position.
Long snapper
Scott Daly
Hogan Hatten
I admittedly didn’t pay close attention to the long snapper battle, but Scott Daly is the incumbent and was still repping ahead of Hatten in the spring.
Punter
Jack Fox
The only player on the roster running unopposed and for good reason.
At a glance look at the depth chart
