Were all eager to see Detroit Lions football in simply over a week, but its constantly essential to remind yourself when discussing Lions cuts that this has to do with people losing their job– and possibly missing out on their NFL dreams. We should discuss this more delicately than we talk about other NFL subjects, due to the fact that this is a painful weekend for so lots of.
Quarterback (3 )
The next 30 hours or so will be agonizing for the Detroit Lions, their players, and the personnel staff. After only a few weeks of practice, the group will need to make some impossibly hard decisions on who gets to play football in Honolulu Blue this year and who doesnt.
The training staff has currently said that theyll likely cut a player that they might have kept had this been a regular year, had these gamers had a possibility to prove themselves in minicamp, OTAs, and the preseason. With none of those chances, the Lions– simply like every other group in the NFL– is working off a reduced scouting report.
With that in mind, here are my forecasts for the Lions “last” 53-man lineup.
You invest in these guys, they invest so much in you, and were attempting to come together as a team and were developing and were completing and you like these people that youre training every single day. That difficult truth of what this weekend is, its brutal.”
QB Matthew StaffordQB Chase DanielQB David Blough
Running back (5 )
For all of camp, I went back and forth on keeping a 3rd quarterback. Personally, I think operating with 2 makes the majority of sense in roster construction, but Blough has looked considerably enhanced this training school, and I do not believe the Lions wish to risk losing him– even if they have the advantage of no preseason tape for other teams to see this year. In 2015s quarterback shuffle eventually reached Detroit– they dont want that to take place once again.
RB DAndre SwiftRB Kerryon JohnsonRB Ty JohnsonRB Jason HuntleyFB Jason CabindaRB Bo ScarbroughRB Jonathan WilliamsRB Wes Hills
Our own Kyle Yost made an asset on Friday early morning about the Lions desire for a power back– they generated DOnta Foreman for a tryout previously in the week. However, I just do not think they have the man they want on this roster. Scarbrough has injury issues and has actually barely been on the practice field this summertime. Williams didnt make a good sufficient impression while much of the depth chart was injured. Its possible they add somebody and then Huntley or Ty Johnson gets the boot, but right now its hard to justify keeping a big back with all the other skill they have.
WR Kenny GolladayWR Marvin Jones Jr.WR Danny AmendolaWR Quintez CephusWR Marvin HallWR Jamal AgnewWR Tom KennedyWR Chris LacyWR Victor Bolden
Pass Receiver (6 )
My vibrant prediction here is that Matt Sokol made enough plays in camp– and he made a lot– to get the small edge over second-year tight end Isaac Nauta. Undoubtedly, having a year under his belt may suffice to provide Nauta the edge, however I dont purchase his fullback versatility (he didnt associate there at all in camp) and he simply didnt show up much after finally returning from injury late in camp.
TE T.J. HockensonTE Jesse JamesTE Matt SokolTE Isaac NautaTE Hunter Bryant
This one is quite straight forward for me. Six might appear like a lot of receivers to keep, but I anticipate all of them to make an effect this year. The leading 4 are set, Marvin Hall brings a deep-ball hazard that nobody else on this group can replicate, and Jamal Agnew showed in training camp that hes far and away the very best punt returner– not to mention he looked pretty damn comfy at wide receiver. He d make a nice injury replacement for Amendola, if need be.
Hunter Bryant couldve made this a more intriguing decision, but I believe theres a great chance he gets waived/injured and the Lions attempt to stash him on IR if he clears waivers.
Tight end (3 )
Offending takes on (3 )
LT Taylor DeckerRT Halapoulivaati VaitaiOT Tyrell CrosbyOT Matt NelsonOT Dan Skipper
Considering some of the Lions interior offensive linemen can kick out to tackle in a pinch, I do not think keeping a 4th tackle is worth it for Detroit. The top three are locked in.
Guards/Centers (6 )
G Joe DahlC Frank RagnowG Jonah JacksonG Logan StenbergG Kenny WigginsC Beau BenzschawelG Oday Aboushi
DE Trey FlowersDE Romeo OkwaraDL DaShawn HandDT Nick WilliamsDT Danny SheltonDT Kevin StrongDT John PenisiniDE Will ClarkeDT Kevin WilkinsDT Albert HugginsDT Olive Sagapolu DT Frank Herron
Its completely possible the Lions go a little leaner at linebacker and only keep 6 (they kept 6 in 2019 plus whatever you consider Miles Killebrew to be. I think the Lions have strategies to use Ragland this season, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin continues to make his case as a key member of special groups.
Protective line (7 )
Pound Jamie Collins Sr.LB Jarrad DavisLB Christian JonesLB Jahlani TavaiLB Julian OkwaraLB Reggie RaglandLB Jalen Reeves-MaybinLB Austin Bryant (PUP) Pound Anthony PittmanLB Elijah Lee
Linebackers (7 )
The choose out of John Atkins and the season-ending injury to Jashon Cornell truly made these choices easy. Kevin Wilkins, Will Clarke and Albert Huggins simply did not have enough time to make a severe impression during training school, and the Lions already made their intentions with Olive Sagapolu popular when they cut him previously in camp. This is a quite straightforward one for me.
Cornerbacks (5 )
As I explained on Thursday, a new rule that enables teams to carry 48 players on their gameday active roster, as long as eight stink linemen, will incentivize teams to carry more big men this year. Beau Benzschawel is the greatest recipient there. In 2015, they appeared to be expecting letting Graham Glasgow walk by training Benzschawel at center. Now is his time to assume that backup function, and I think the Lions would be a good idea to keep him available on gamedays in case of injury. That way the Lions dont need to put someone who hasnt been regularly repping or snapping at center in the middle of the offensive line.
The only other hard option here was Kenny Wiggins or Oday Aboushi. I just get a sense the team likes Wiggins more.
CB Jeff OkudahCB Desmond TrufantCB Justin ColemanCB Amani OruwariyeCB Tony McRaeCB Darryl RobertsCB Dee VirginCB Mike Ford
This would leave the Lions a bit thin at cornerback, and they kept seven last year, however they only kept 5 in 2018, so its not unheard of.
Specialists (3 )
Safeties (5 )
With just how much special teams organizer Brayden Coombs gushed over C.J. Moore, I believe hes an easy in. Miles Killebrew is my last man in. Hes a group rep for the NFLPA, hes a special teams ace, and hes a leader in the locker space. Anticipate undrafted novices Bobby Price and/or Jalen Elliott to make the practice squad.
S Tracy WalkerS Duron HarmonS Will HarrisS C.J. MooreS Miles KillebrewS Jayron Kearse (suspended list) S Bobby PriceS Jalen Elliott
This is probably the hardest position to weed through. Do the Lions want somebody who can bring strong depth to cornerback, or would they rather have an additional unique groups gamer? Provided their roster construction in the past, I think they lean special teams this year. Roberts is my last person out, and its a difficult monetary choice, also. Detroit will eat $1 million in cap area if they make this move, but as a veteran, Roberts base salary (another $1 million) wouldve been ensured if he was on the roster by Week 1.
P Jack FoxK Matt PraterLS Don MuhlbachP Arryn SipossLS Steven Wirtel
However Im not thinking twice putting in Muhlbach over Wirtel. Muhlbach brings comfort to the long snapping position, which is actually all that matters.
Personally, I believe running with two makes most sense in lineup building, but Blough has actually looked substantially enhanced this training camp, and I do not think the Lions want to run the risk of losing him– even if they have the advantage of no preseason tape for other teams to see this year. Our own Kyle Yost made a great point on Friday morning about the Lions desire for a power back– they brought in DOnta Foreman for a tryout previously in the week. Kevin Wilkins, Will Clarke and Albert Huggins just did not have enough time to make a severe impression throughout training camp, and the Lions currently made their intents with Olive Sagapolu well understood when they cut him earlier in camp. I think the Lions have strategies to use Ragland this season, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin continues to make his case as a crucial member of unique groups. Do the Lions desire someone who can bring solid depth to cornerback, or would they rather have an additional special groups player?
This is all based more on representatives than actual performance in camp. Jack Fox usually went first in practice, and his most typical long snapper to work with was Don Muhlbach. Nevertheless, its worth keeping in mind that at the Ford Field practice this week, Fox and Siposs equally split time with Muhlbach, recommending this punting battle is genuinely as close as can be.
