The Lions are slated to wrap up OTAs this week, with the final practice happening on June 15. We are just two months away from real NFL football games being played. 

Shortly after the 2023 NFL Draft, we took a stab at projecting the Lions' final roster. 

While we haven't learned a whole lot since then, there will be a few changes this go around. Without further ado, let's take another shot at predicting what this roster will be like. 

Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2023 undrafted free agents.

Quarterback (2)

IN: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker*
OUT: Nate Sudfeld

The skinny: Sudfeld is a proven backup who would almost assuredly latch on quickly with another team if released. However, Hooker has received rave reviews thus far and the team may feel comfortable with the rookie as a backup. Goff and Hooker are obviously locks, I'm just not sure the team keeps three. 

Running back (5)

IN: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs*, Craig Reynolds, Mohamed Ibrahim**, Jason Cabinda (FB)
OUT: Jermar Jefferson, Greg Bell

The skinny: Montgomery and Gibbs will form a one-two punch that I believe could be even better than the Swift-Williams combo from years past. Reynolds has looked good when given carries and Cabinda is a lock as the fullback. If a fourth traditional RB is kept, I like the UDFA Ibrahim to claim the spot. 

Wide receiver (6)

IN: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Marvin Jones, Jr., Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green*
OUT: Tom Kennedy, Trinity Benson, Maurice Alexander, Chase Cota**, Dylan Drummond**

The skinny: This group seems set for the most part. With Williams' suspension, the team may choose to keep Benson, Kennedy, or Alexander on the main roster at first, but I believe the five above will be suitable. Green squeaks by the field to secure the final slot. 

Tight end (3)

IN: Sam LaPorta*, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra
OUT: James Mitchell, Derrick Deese Jr.

The skinny: A Dan Campbell-led team would probably like to keep four TEs, but when you go heavy at WR and RB you have to make cuts elsewhere. Zylstra and Mitchell will battle it out for the final spot. 

Offensive line (9)

IN: Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Penei Sewell, Colby Sorsdal*, Graham Glasgow, Germain Ifedi, Logan Stenberg
OUT: Ross Pierschbacher, Obinna Eze, Darrin Paulo, Kayode Awosika, Connor Galvin**, Brad Cecil**, Max Pircher, Ryan Swoboda**

The skinny: This could potentially be the best offensive line in football. The addition of Ifedi probably bumps Nelson off of the roster as the main backup tackle. Glasgow, Sorsdal, and Stenberg are solid backups on the interior. This would be a hard group to break in to. 

Defensive line (6)

IN: John Cominsky, Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, Isaiah Buggs, Brodric Martin*
OUT: Benito Jones, Christian Covington, Zach Morton**, Chris Smith**, Cory Durden**

The skinny: McNeill burst on to the scene in 2022 and appears set to be a force in 2023. Buggs, Cominsky, Paschal and Onwuzurike are probably locked in, meaning the final spot comes down to the rookie Martin and veterans Benito Jones and Christian Covington. 

Outside linebacker/Edge (5)

IN: Aidan Hutchinson, James Houston, Charles Harris, Julian Okwara, Romeo Okwara
OUT: Anthony Pittman

The skinny: This is a solid group. Hutchinson and Houston could be one of the most exciting young edge duos in the league, with Harris and the Okwara bros providing solid depth. 

Inside linebacker (4)

IN: Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell*, Malcolm Rodriguez

OUT: Jalen Reeves-Maybin

The skinny: This group is locked. Reeves-Maybin's return to the Motor City might be short lived as this is a tough group. 

Cornerback (6)

IN: Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, C.J. Gardner Johnson, Jerry Jacobs, Brian Branch*, Will Harris
OUT: Saivion Smith, Khalil Dorsey, Chase Lucas, Jarren Williams, Steven Gilmore*, Starling Thomas V

The skinny: Gardner-Johnson and Branch will likely line up at the nickel with Sutton, Moseley, and Jacobs being the main outside corners. Harris gets the final slot for now, but watch UDFA Thomas to make a run at it. 

Safety (4)

IN: Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brandon Joseph**
OUT: Brady Breeze, Saivion Smith

The skinny: Walker, Kerby, and Melifonwu are locks. For the fourth spot, we'll go with Brandon Joseph who collected 10 INTs in four college seasons. A fifth safety won't be necessary with Gardner-Johnson and Branch on the roster. 

Special Teams (3)

IN: Jack Fox (P), Riley Patterson (K), Scott Daly (LS)
OUT: Jake McQuaide (LS), Michael Badgley (K), Parker Romo (K) 

The skinny: Patterson seems likely to win the kicking job after being traded for last week. Fox has no competitor currently, and I have Daly beating out McQuaide for the long snapper job. 

Featured image via © Kirthmon F. Dozier | 2023 Jun 8