ESPN’s talking about one Detroit Lions backup. They’re watching the wrong guy
Detroit Lions landed an intriguing ESPN pick for the team’s top backup to watch. I agree with the idea, but I think ESPN has its eyes on the wrong player.
The Detroit Lions ranked 6th in ESPN’s recent ranking of all 32 NFL rosters, and the breakdown included some categories worth digging into. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, the creator of the DVOA system, named safety Christian Izien as the Lions’ non-starter to know heading into the 2026 season. It’s not a bad pick. But I think the reasoning is off a little, and I think there’s a better answer.
Schatz wrote that if Brian Branch is healthy enough to play, “he’ll spend a lot of time in the slot, which will require a third safety on the field. Izien started 10 games for Tampa Bay in 2024 with 75 combined tackles and good coverage metrics, then lost his job to Tykee Smith last season. Can Izien play an important role for the Lions this season?”
Here’s the thing. Branch is not moving back to the slot. The Lions moved Branch from the slot to safety in 2025, and it worked out well. The expectation right now is that Roger McCreary has the slot position locked down. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepherd has talked extensively about McCreary and how important the nickel role will be to what Detroit does defensively this year. The Lions are still going to be a man coverage team, but they plan to play a lot more nickel and get more players involved. So the framework Schatz is using to project Izien’s role doesn’t quite line up with where the roster stands.
What Izien actually brings
I reached out to A to Z Sports’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat writer Evan Winter to get a better sense of what Izien can do.
“Christian Izien has made a career out of the “underdog” label, so far. Therefore, it makes a bit of sense to see his name on this list.
While he’s best suited in the box/near the line of scrimmage, Izien has shown plenty of versatility to where he can be considered a Swiss Army knife, of sorts. He can play centerfield, nickel, strong safety, and even outside corner when called for.
Regardless of Branch’s role – and Kerby Joseph’s recovery – there is a path for Izien to make it onto the field. Though it has to make sense. Coaches can’t match him up with elite playmakers, whether it be tight end or receiver, and expect a lot of success.
He’s best playing downhill/in physical situations like man press, blitzing, etc. that take advantage of his feistiness and high IQ.
Playing in a limited role is what’s best for him, and it sounds like that’s what’ll happen with the Lions. Izien should indeed make a few big plays as long as that’s what’s happening.”
I agree Izien is worth knowing about. But I don’t think his role will be as large as Schatz suggests. McCreary owns the slot. Avonte Maddox has a claim to reps there as well. Rookie Keith Abney is expected to compete at slot corner, too. There’s just so much depth at that position. And even if both Branch and Joseph miss the early part of the season, Thomas Harper and Chuck Clark likely have the starting safety spots covered.
What I think the Lions want from Izien is more of a run-stopping safety role, because stopping the run is their bread and butter. It’s what they believe makes them most successful.
My pick for non-starter to know
If I had to choose, I’d go with Skyler Gill-Howard, the rookie defensive tackle the Lions drafted out of Texas Tech in the sixth round this past April.
Detroit has Alim McNeill and Tyliek Williams as its starting defensive tackles. Beyond those two, there are real depth questions that need to get worked out. Gill-Howard is somebody nobody was talking about during the draft process, but he posted an 88.6 overall PFF grade with a 90.0 pass rush grade at Texas Tech last year before a midseason injury cut his snaps short. He finished with 12 pressures and one sack in limited action. The year before, at Northern Illinois, he had 29 pressures, five sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 17 hurries as a starter.
He required surgery after the midseason injury at Texas Tech, but he’s fully healed now.
The good news for Gill-Howard is the path is wide open. He doesn’t face stiff competition for rotational snaps. I feel pretty confident he could beat out Chris Smith, Tyler Lacy, Levi Onwuzurike, and Mekhi Wingo for a spot in the defensive tackle rotation. If he gets consistent playing time, he has the tools to be a real problem for opposing offensive lines.
Detroit Lions News