A look at the six biggest questions facing the Detroit Lions as they enter 2025 training camp.
Detroit Lions training camp is open for business Sunday morning, as they become one of the first teams to take the field in preparation for the 2025 season.
Despite having one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, the Lions enter this year with a bunch of lingering questions. Here are the six biggest questions facing Detroit as they kick off training camp Sunday.
Who will win the starting interior offensive line jobs?
With the retirement of Frank Ragnow and the loss of Kevin Zeitler in free agency, the Lions now have to replace two starting spots on the offensive line. Outside of quarterback, Detroit’s offensive line is the most important position on the team, and they cannot afford a significant step back.
Thankfully, the Lions have invested in the interior offensive line recently, drafting Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, and Miles Frazier in the past two drafts. Throw in veteran Graham Glasgow, and Detroit at least has significant replacement options… we just don’t know exactly where the pieces fit. Will Ratledge continue to rep at center, like he did in the spring, or was that just a trial?
Will Alex Anzalone show up?
Anzalone didn’t attend spring practice, which isn’t completely out of the norm for him. However, reports indicate that he wants a new contract, and his social media activity certainly seems to suggest someone who believes he’s being underpaid.
Heading into his final contract year with a $6 million salary and basically no guaranteed money, Anzalone could very well hold out into training camp and beyond. While a veteran missing camp time isn’t a huge deal, this would be the first holdout in the Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes era, and it’ll be interesting to see how they handle it… if it happens.
Who will start opposite Aidan Hutchinson? Can Marcus Davenport stay healthy?
While many will be watching to see if Hutchinson is still the same player he was before his broken leg, I’m far more concerned about who will be playing opposite him. I’m confident Hutchinson will be fine, but I don’t exactly know what the plan is on the other side. I know the Lions have a lot of confidence in Marcus Davenport—and he’s likely the Day 1 starter—but certainly they must have a backup plan in place. Are they that high on Al-Quadin Muhammad or Ahmed Hassanein, or is a Za’Darius Smith signing just around the corner?
How will Lions manage the interior defensive line without Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike?
Alim McNeill is expected to miss significant time after tearing his ACL in December. Levi Onwuzurike was placed on reserve/PUP this week, a surprise to the public considering he finished last year without an apparent injury.
That leaves the Lions a little thin on the interior. Yes, they invested in the position by signing Roy Lopez in free agency and using their first-round pick on Tyleik Williams, but will that be enough? DJ Reader is 31 years old, Mekhi Wingo is coming off a major injury, and the likes of Pat O’Connor, Chris Smith, and Brodric Martin have a relatively low ceiling.
With a healthy McNeill and Onwuzurike, this room actually looks pretty solid, but Detroit will have to navigate for at least a month of the season without both.
Which UDFA will emerge as a threat to make the 53-man roster?
For the past 15 seasons, the Lions have had at least one undrafted rookie make their initial 53-man roster. This year, the Lions’ roster is deep enough to threaten that streak, but there always seems to be someone who comes out of nowhere. There are potential openings amongst the depth at tight end, wide receiver, and safety… but not much else.
How different will the offensive, defensive schemes look under new coordinators?
Eyes will be beyond just the players, as the Lions sport two new coordinators this year. With Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn off to head coach the Bears and Jets, respectively, it’ll be up to John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard to fill their collective shoes.
Both Morton and Sheppard have experience with this team and the schemes they’re taking over, so the changes are expected to be subtle. Still, they’re both bound to have their own twists to their side of the football, and it’ll be fascinating to see what they have in store.