4 players the Lions should target after cuts, including two guards who could actually compete to start
Robert Jones and Cordell Volson bring legitimate starting experience at guard, while Will Levis and McKinnley Jackson offer Detroit two intriguing upside swings at positions worth addressing.
The Detroit Lions have their initial 53-man roster set, but this thing is far from final. With the waiver wire and free agency opening up, Detroit has a real opportunity to add competition and depth at some key positions. Guards, a quarterback, and a defensive tackle all stand out as positions where the Lions can upgrade through newly released players. Let’s break it down.
Robert Jones brings starting experience at guard
You might remember that Lions coach Dan Campbell said something to the effect of the guard job still being up in the air, and that the guy who wins it might not even be on the roster yet. That’s telling.
Robert Jones is the first name worth watching. Jones has been a legitimate NFL starter. He started all 17 games at left guard for the Dolphins in 2024 and has 30 career starts. That already separates him from most of the offensive linemen getting released right now. He signed with the 49ers this offseason and was getting first-team work in their left guard competition before dealing with a calf injury.
I’m not sitting here telling you Jones is some elite guard the Lions are unbelievably lucky to have sitting on the street. He’s not. But the question I’m asking with every guard out there is simple: could he realistically walk into Allen Park and compete for the starting job right now? With Jones, the answer is yes. It’s Christian Mahogany’s job, but the Lions want competition, and Jones is one of the best options available.
Cordell Volson has the strongest resume of the bunch
Volson might have the strongest resume of any guard we’ve talked about. He started 48 games for the Cincinnati Bengals over three seasons. He wasn’t their occasional fill-in guy. He was their starting left guard. The issue here is that he missed all of last season after shoulder surgery, and then the Tennessee Titans brought him in this year and decided to move on.
So you have to ask why. Is he healthy? Has his play fallen off? Did Tennessee simply look at somebody else and say that guy’s better? These are all legitimate questions. But we’re talking about a player who has started nearly 50 games at the position Detroit needs somebody at. If he’s healthy, you bring him in, let him compete, and see what happens. Ben Bartch is probably the lead dog in the competition behind Mahogany, but I still think you’ve got to get more people in there. Let’s make this thing bigger.
Will Levis deserves a fresh start in Detroit
Look, Josh Dobbs is the QB2 on this team right now. From what we saw all summer long, I just don’t think it sticks.
Will Levis is a completely different type of quarterback than Dobbs, but I think this is the way you’ve got to go. Yes, he flamed out in Tennessee. Yes, there are many videos of him making some meme-worthy play that just looks bad. I get it. I get why that scares you. But the guy’s got arm talent. We’ve seen it.
Tennessee might have been the worst possible spot for him to develop. When was the last time the Titans developed a quarterback with any coaching staff? He had multiple staffs there.
You bring him to Detroit, where he has offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, a former quarterback coach in the NFL. He has Mike Kafka, a former NFL quarterback and former quarterback coach who was Patrick Mahomes’ QB coach early in his career. You’ve got Bruce Gradkowski, a former NFL quarterback. You’ve got Mark Brunell, the Lions’ current quarterback coach and one of the best quarterbacks of the ’90s. You’ve got Marques Tuiasosopo, another former NFL quarterback. And you’ve got Dan Campbell, who has helped turn around Jared Goff’s entire career.
On top of all that coaching, Levis would have Goff as a veteran quarterback to lean on, something he’s never had. Don’t look at Levis as the Tennessee Titans quarterback. Look at him almost like a rookie getting a rebirth in Detroit. It just makes so much sense.
McKinnley Jackson might be the best waiver claim available
McKinnley Jackson might be my favorite target on this entire list. He’s only 24 years old, a former third-round pick. He’s about 330 pounds and has already played 22 NFL games. Cincinnati reportedly had teams showing trade interest before they waived him. This isn’t some 30-year-old defensive tackle bouncing around looking at his fifth or sixth team. This is a young player with draft pedigree who got caught in a crowded defensive line room.
Detroit has the 17th waiver priority. If Jackson falls that far, go get him. The Lions’ defensive line is maybe too deep right now with 11 guys, but Jackson is somebody who can grow with this team. He’s not going to start, but I wouldn’t pass on him. I feel like you can get something out of him, and it’s worth it.
Other names to watch
Jake Browning is somebody to keep an eye on. Jabbar Muhammad is a practice squad candidate worth monitoring. Colby Wooden, who spent time with the Green Bay Packers, is another interesting name. The Lions are going to be active in the coming days, and some of their pickups might be guys nobody has on their list yet. We’ll see what they do.
Detroit Lions News