Detroit Lions Mailbag: Is Kalif Raymond safe? Is the Lions defense a top 3 unit right now?
Is Kalif Raymond safe?
The Detroit Lions have a big week ahead of them, and everything starts on Wednesday when they welcome the Miami Dolphins for joint practices. Before that, we have some questions from Lions fans. Let’s get into them.
There was no doubt that he was going to take some time to cook. The concern was always how long it might take. Right now, he’s still pretty raw, but you can see the marbling starting to happen. It’s coming on for Manu, and you see it at practice, and you saw it on Friday night. I think the Lions allowing him to play 48 snaps in that game said a lot. Yes, they had injuries, but they also had other guys to throw out there.
With that said, more time is needed. We might not really be able to sit down and eat this steak until 2027, but it might be a pretty good steak by then.
I 100% believe that is possible. Last year, the Lions were ranked second in defensive DVOA going into Week 12. That was six weeks after the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. They were already that good. Now thye have Hutchinson back, and if Davenport can stay healthy, those two are going to be a big problem together. The secondary is deeper, and I fully believe this is one of the very best linebacker corps in the league. So yeah, if they stay healthy, they’re one of the best defenses in the league.
A Lions fan from New Zealand. That’s pretty cool. The thing about Tom Kennedy is that he just does whatever this team asks him to do, and there’s rarely a problem caused by him. There’s a lot of trust there. He should probably make the practice squad again this year. The only thing that might hold him back is if the Lions put Dominic Lovett, Jackson Meeks, and Ronnie Bell on the vet squad. Then there might not be any room for him. Still, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t around this year.
The odd man out on the defensive line is Brodric Martin. It’s over for him, and you hate to see it. It just never worked out.
The other odd man out might be Hendon Hooker. Dan Campbell’s glowing review of Kyle Allen on Monday just kind of shows that the Lions see him as their QB2, and anything said about Hooker that day felt like an afterthought. So to answer your second question, yes, the backup is on the roster and it’s Allen.
No, Raymond shouldn’t be in any danger. It felt that way for a moment when Dominic Lovett was just impressing everyone with everything he did, but then Lovett struggled in the Hall of Fame game and got hurt a couple of days later. Things have really cooled off with him ever since. This is Raymond’s last year of his contract, though, so this could very well be his final year in Detroit.
He will absolutley make the final roster and he’ll play a big role on this defense. Stuard is exactly as advertised. When I talked to Colts head coach Shane Steichen in April, he sold me on Stuard as being a madman for the Colts.
“I mean, he had a game, obviously, where he had 20 tackles for us, a lot of special team value as well. I mean, just a phenomenal human.” Steichen said. He’s a physical player that loves the game of football. He’s going to bring great energy to them. He practices 110 miles an hour every day. Phenomenal teammate. I think he’s going to fit in really good there.”
He’s been all of that and then some for this team. He’ll be big on special teams, but he can be a big rotational guy on defense, too. I wouldn’t be shocked if they let him play a little fullback as well.
Is the Lions backup qb for the season currently on this roster, or will he come from another teams cuts?
— ProudDetroiter (@detroitstrong.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
It’s the same question as before, but I feel it’s worth noting that the Lions very well could go shopping for another quarterback after cutdowns if one you can’t turn your back on avails himself. Even if it’s not a quarterback, expect the Lions to take a look at players from any position who might get cut.
Who make up your Lions Eleven (as in Oceans Eleven)? Only coaches for Rusty & Danny, all others are players.
— officespacejk.bsky.social (@officespacejk.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Interesting question. If you think about it, almost like answering who the 11 most important people in this franchise are. After giving it some thought, here’s my guys:
- Dan Campbell
- Brad Holmes
- Jared Goff
- Penei Sewell
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Jahmry Gibbs
- Taylor Decker
- Jack Campbell
- Brian Branch
- Kerby Joseph
- Aidan Hutchinson
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