Revealing the top-20 of the best players on the 2025 Detroit Lions roster.
As we now enter the top 20 in our countdown of the entire 2025 Detroit Lions roster, we’re starting to crack into the players on the roster who are not only essential to the team, but could even get some national recognition for their play. Last year, the Lions had eight players named to the Pro Bowl —including two who are in this range. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a couple more make it this year.
Let’s take a look at the players we ranked 20 through 11 on the Lions roster.
Note: For methodology and more details, check out the first installment of this series.
Previously:
- Players ranked 90-81
- Players 80-71
- Players 70-61
- Players 60-51
- Players 50-41
- Players 40-31
- Players 30-21
20. DT Levi Onwuzurike (Highest ranking: 19, Lowest ranking: 32)
For the second straight year, Onwuzurike took a massive jump in our countdown. With two full seasons of play after a back injury threatened his career, the question is no longer whether the former third-round pick can stay healthy, but how much development is still left to go now that he’s actually getting valuable experience. Detroit felt lucky to get him back on a one-year deal, so can Onwuzurike earn himself a big payday now?
19. LB Derrick Barnes (Highest: 16, Lowest: 23)
Despite missing most of the season with an injury, Barnes actually still climbs four spots on this list. It’s easy to understand why. Barnes was given a unique SAM linebacker role, a brand-new contract, and a heap of praise all of last year. Detroit clearly has big plans for Barnes, and unfortunately, we only got to see the tip of the iceberg last year.
18. DT DJ Reader (Highest: 15, Lowest: 29)
After a modest season, Reader takes a slight dip in this year’s rankings. Last year, the veteran nose tackle was recovering from a torn quad, but has already noted how beneficial it has been to enter this offseason without the need for rehab. Could we see a bit of a resurgence from Reader, or has the 31-year-old nose tackle reached the downswing of his career?
17. CB Amik Robertson (Highest: 13, Lowest: 23)
For the first half of the 2024 season, Robertson was quietly going about his business as Detroit’s starting nickel cornerback. By the end of the season, he had become a secret superstar. Having to kick outside during injury, Robertson made the biggest name for himself when he helped shut down Justin Jefferson in the regular season finale. Now he enters 2025 as the assumed starter at nickel with the known ability to be a primary backup on the outside.
16. CB Terrion Arnold (Highest: 14, Lowest: 20)
Arnold just moves up a smidge after an up-and-down rookie season. Without a doubt, we saw some growth from the 2024 first-round pick, but there is certainly hope and expectation that he has another few gears to kick it into. He’s a hard worker and relentless student of the game, and it’s clear our staff believes good things are ahead.
15. LB Jack Campbell (Highest: 12, Lowest: 21)
A breakout candidate for 2025, Campbell already took his game to the next level last year. As the team’s full-time MIKE linebacker for the first time, Campbell led the team in tackles, finished with five for loss (fifth on the team), and even added five QB hits to the resume. But while his overall play was reliable (his 77.4 PFF defense grade was ninth among linebackers), he is still missing those game-changing, disruptive plays from his resume.
14. OT Taylor Decker (Highest: 9, Lowest: 19)
Last year, Decker earned his first Pro Bowl honors, coincidentally replacing Penei Sewell on the roster. His 2024 wasn’t anything particularly out of the ordinary, as he was his typical, dependable self. Despite allowing eight sacks in each of the past two seasons (career highs), his down-to-down consistency remains very good. His 31 pressures allowed last year were actually the lowest he’s had for a full season since 2020.
Decker is the lowest-ranked player on our list who received at least one top-10 vote.
13. LB Alex Anzalone (Highest: 10, Lowest: 18)
Anzalone has been the heartbeat of the Lions’ defense, and you saw it last year after his injury. It felt like when he broke his arm, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and Detroit’s defense could no longer hold it together. Even in his first game back—vs. Minnesota—everything seemed to click right back into place. Of course, it was a different story in the playoffs.
Still, Anzalone is still arguably the best linebacker on the team at 30 years old, so it’s understandable that he may want a new contract.
12. CB D.J. Reed (Highest: 7, Lowest: 21)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Reed is the highest newcomer on this year’s list, with players 1 through 11 being returning players. Reed is the biggest free agency signing of Brad Holmes’ Detroit career, inking a three-year, $48 million deal this offseason . The expectation is for him to immediately jump in and take the CB1 job alongside Arnold. He was considered one of the best cornerbacks on the market, but legitimate questions remain about how he’ll play when Sauce Gardner isn’t on the other side of the field.
11. RB David Montgomery (Highest: 8, Lowest: 16)
Montgomery stays put just outside the top 10 for the second straight year. Interestingly, five of our staff members had him inside the top 10, while six had him out. Regardless, he is still a very important player to the Lions. Not only is he still a very productive back—setting career highs in yards per carry and touchdowns in his two years in Detroit—but his running style is so physically punishing that he’s an absolute tone setter out there. Just ask Devon Witherspoon:
DAVID MONTGOMERY WENT BEAST MODE ON THIS PLAY
WHAT A HIT STICK ON WITHERSPOON #SEAvsDET | ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/tg9UO9965l
— ESPN (@espn) October 1, 2024