These 4 Lions could shape 2026 more than you think

Keep an eye on these guys going forward, they could have much bigger roles

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Feb 17, 2026 10:30 AM EST

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

I know we’ve got some time before the Detroit Lions start their 2026 season, and free agency is coming up, with the 2026 NFL Draft right behind it. We’re all thinking about new players coming in without really thinking about some of the players who are already here getting a bigger role in 2026. Here are four guys to keep in mind.

CB Ennis Rakestraw

I know Lions fans have written him off after two injuries cost him two seasons, but the Lions had big plans for him before those injuries. He was to be their starting slot corner. That doesn’t just go away. The Lions are not giving up on him, and they still see a bright future there. The thing about injuries is that they happen. That doesn’t mean it’s over. We’ve seen plenty of players go through similar stories and come out on the other side clean.

This could affect what the Lions do at the position in free agency and the draft.

C Seth McLaughlin

This is a super intriguing situation. McLaughlin won the Rimington Award for college football’s best center at Ohio State in 2024. He went undrafted in what was a pretty bad center class and then spent 2025 with the Bengals, who didn’t really seem to have any interest in developing him. The Lions could be the team that does that. I’m not saying he starts, but I am saying he’s an intriguing option if the Lions sign a veteran center. He could grow into something.

S Thomas Harper

We don’t know what the future looks like for Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch, but we do know that Harper played really well for the Lions in 2025, and he’s still just 25 years old. There’s a lot of growing left for him to do. We don’t know what his final form looks like, but from what he’s shown, it could be big. With Branch potentially missing time during the season, look for Harper to be the starter early on.

TE Zach Horton

With Drew Petzing bringing a tight-end-heavy system to Detroit, the Lions are going to need help at the position. Horton proved to be a really solid pass and run blocking tight end at Indiana. We didn’t get to see too much of him in 2025, but the Lions clearly want to see more, and that’s why they signed him to a futures deal.