Way-Too-Early Detroit Lions Depth Chart Projection: Multiple new starters and some guys playing brand new positions
The Lions walk out of the 2026 NFL Draft with new starters and a much deeper team
Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is out of the way, it’s time to talk about what this Detroit Lions roster could look like to start the 2026 season.
We’ve already put out our way-too-early 53-man roster projection; now it’s time to take those players and put them into a depth chart. What we come away with is that there are hefty amounts of new starters and a couple of guys may be in new positions in 2026. Here’s what we got:
Detroit Lions offensive depth chart projection
| LWR | Isaac TeSlaa | Jackson Meeks | |
| RWR | Jameson Williams | ||
| SWR | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Greg Dortch | Kendrick Law |
| LT | Penei Sewell | Miles Frazier | |
| LG | Christian Mahogany | Ben Bartch | |
| C | Cade Mays | ||
| RG | Tate Ratledge | Juice Scruggs | |
| RT | Blake Miller | Larry Borom | |
| TE | Sam LaPorta | Tyler Conklin | Brock Wright |
| QB | Jared Goff | Teddy Bridgewater | Luke Altmeyer |
| RB | Jahmyr Gibbs | Isiah Pacheco | Sione Vaki |
Offensively, there is only one new starter here, and that’s Blake Miller. He should step right into that starting right tackle spot. Larry Borom will be in that swing tackle role. I have Miles Frazier moving to tackle, and that opens up a spot for Ben Bartch and Juice Scruggs to be the depth guards. This could change in time, but it just makes sense this way.
While I don’t see Kendrick Law getting a lot of playing time on offense in 2026, he gets a roster spot based on his special teams contributions. Jackson Meeks is an interesting one because I still think there is some red zone ability there worth looking at, and maybe he can play a little tight end, too.
Detroit Lions Defensive Depth Chart Projection
| LDE | Aidan Hutchinson | Ahmed Hassanein | Anthony Lucas |
| NT | Tyleik Williams | Myles Adams | |
| DT | Alim McNeill | Skyler Gill-Howard | |
| RDE | Derrick Moore | D.J. Wonnum | |
| WLB | Jimmy Rolder | Malcolm Rodriguez | Damone Clark |
| MLB | Jack Campbell | ||
| SLB | Derrick Barnes | Trevor Nowaske | |
| LCB | Terrion Arnold | Rock Ya-Sin | Nick Whiteside |
| SS | Thomas Harper | Christian Izien | Avonte Maddox |
| FS | Kerby Joseph | Chuck Clark | Dan Jackson |
| RCB | D.J. Reed | Ennis Rakestraw | |
| NB | Keith Abney | Roger McCreary |
Defense is where you see some real changes. A new starting edge rusher in Derrick Moore, a new starting Will linebacker in Jimmy Rolder, and a new starting slot cornerback in Keith Abney.
Rolder is the only one I’m not 100% sold on yet. I do think he’s a starter sooner than later, but I don’t know if he takes it on right away or if the Lions maybe go with Malcolm Rodriguez in that spot or find a veteran option still hanging around free agency.
The safety depth is just so good for this team. It needs to be with Branch probably not returning to start the season. Thomas Harper has a lot of upside and potential, and Chuck Clark has a ton of starting experience.
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