The first wave of NFL free agency is complete. The Lions have filled some of their needs while opting to wait on others.
It makes it an interesting time to take a bird’s-eye view of the roster, as things currently stand.
With that in mind, here’s a fresh 2026 Detroit Lions depth chart.
Quarterback
Starter: Jared Goff
Key reserve: Teddy Bridgewater
Notable departures: Kyle Allen
Obviously, Goff returns (on a restructured contract) as Detroit’s QB1, but the more interesting note here is that the Lions are reportedly bringing in Bridgewater for a third stint with the team, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Allen, the former backup, signed a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills this free agency, paving the way for a reunion. Bridgewater knows the offense, is familiar with the roster and coaching staff and is viewed as a tremendous leader. Good move to bring him back.
Running back
Starter: Jahmyr Gibbs
Key reserves: Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors
Notable departures: David Montgomery
After three years, the Lions and Montgomery went their separate ways this offseason. The Houston Texans acquired him for a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (more on him later). Montgomery made for an excellent 1B to Gibbs’ 1A, but it certainly felt like Montgomery was ready for a better opportunity elsewhere, after seeing a decline in touches in 2025. While he’s not the caliber of back that Montgomery was, the Lions will turn to Pacheco to fill some of that void. Montgomery averaged roughly eight carries per game in 2025, and Pacheco — a former starter for the Chiefs whose physical run style will be welcomed here — can certainly handle a workload in that ballpark.
It’ll also be interesting to see if the Lions draft a running back or view Vaki as part of the plan. He’s been a plus contributor on special teams, but injuries and a lack of opportunity have limited him as an NFL RB.
Wide receiver
Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa
Key reserves: Dominic Lovett, Jackson Meeks, Tom Kennedy
Notable departures: Kalif Raymond
Losing Raymond to the division-rival Chicago Bears isn’t going to ruffle too many feathers, but it still counts as a notable loss. Raymond helped teach Detroit’s young receivers how to be professionals and was an above-average return man during his time here. That said, his opportunities at receiver were set to drop in 2026. TeSlaa enters his second season and should be ready to be a full-time starter. If Lovett can prove serviceable as a returner, he could be the next man up in the Raymond role. Shoot, Kennedy could handle it, too.
Tom Kennedy returned 16 kickoffs and three punts last season while also catching four passes. (Junfu Han / Imagn Images)
Tight end
Starter: Sam LaPorta
Key reserves: Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin
Dan Campbell poured cold water on the idea that the Lions would drastically shift their offense to fit the heavy 13 personnel sets Drew Petzing used in Arizona. However, the addition of Conklin at least gives them the option to run it, while also providing experienced depth. With a healthy LaPorta, Wright and Conklin, the Lions have the bodies to create mismatches and disguise what they want to do offensively out of heavier sets. A tight end on Day 3 of the draft also makes some sense for them.
Offensive line
Starters (left to right): Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Cade Mays, Tate Ratledge, Larry Borom
Key reserves: Juice Scruggs, Giovanni Manu, Miles Frazier
Notable departures: Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Dan Skipper
No position on this team has received more attention than the offensive line this offseason. For good reason. The old guard is on its way out. Decker and Glasgow were released. Skipper joined Frank Ragnow in retirement and is now coaching with the Lions. Things are going to look different in 2026.
Right now, Borom would be the favorite to start at tackle for the Lions. But at which position? He appears to be more natural as a right tackle, but that would require moving Sewell from right tackle to left. If there’s a time to do it, it would be this offseason. That said, Borom is a low-end starting option and should be best viewed as insurance or a stopgap. There’s a very real chance Detroit could be trotting out a rookie first-rounder at tackle when the season begins.
At guard, it’s possible we see a battle between Mahogany and Frazier. Scruggs, who was included in the Montgomery trade, is best-suited as a reserve center.
Defensive line
Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike
Key reserves: Tyler Lacy, Ahmed Hassanein, Mekhi Wingo
Notable departures: Al-Quadin Muhammad, Roy Lopez, Josh Paschal, (potentially DJ Reader)
The Lions are losing Muhammad’s 52 pressures and 11 sacks after he signed with the Bucs for $6 million on a one-year deal. While a departure wasn’t exactly a surprise, the Lions don’t usually go this long without an insurance policy at the position. If the season started today, the Lions would be starting Onwuzurike (a defensive tackle) — coming off a torn ACL — at edge opposite Hutchinson. The only other natural edge on the roster is Hassanein, a 2025 sixth-round pick, who did not register a snap in 2025. It’s in dire need of help, though that goes without saying.
The Lions will need to add two to three edge rushers to feel better here. Signing a veteran like Cameron Jordan would be an excellent start. The second round of the draft also feels like a good spot to take an edge. The Lions could also use more at defensive tackle, after losing Lopez to the Cardinals. Reader is an unrestricted free agent.
Linebackers
Starters: Jack Campbell (mike), Malcolm Rodriguez (will), Derrick Barnes (sam)
Key reserves: Trevor Nowaske
Notable departures: Alex Anzalone
If the season started today, the three starting linebackers would be obvious. There are only four linebackers on the roster, after all, since Anzalone signed with the Bucs in free agency. It certainly feels like the Lions could look to the draft to find their Anzalone replacement, if they view Rodriguez as more of a depth piece. Rodriguez played the will position as a rookie in 2022 but lacks the coverage skills to be an every-down player there. Could the Lions move Barnes to will and draft a new sam linebacker? Or would they prefer to add a linebacker who’s a plus in coverage and avoid rocking the boat? They have options.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (nickel)
Key reserves: Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Khalil Dorsey
Notable departures: Amik Robertson
A bit of projecting here, but could the Lions view Rakestraw as a starting option at nickel? During Rakestraw’s rookie year, he was battling with Robertson for the position. However, in training camp ahead of his second season, the Lions primarily played Rakestraw at outside corner. It signaled that Robertson would go unchallenged at nickel. Rakestraw would go on to miss the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury. Now that Robertson is off to the Commanders, perhaps they move Rakestraw back to nickel, where he could compete with McCreary or Christian Izien (listed as a safety but can also play nickel).
Roger McCreary had one interception in eight games for the Titans last season before being traded to the Rams. (Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
Safeties
Starters: Kerby Joseph, Thomas Harper
Key reserves: Christian Izien, Loren Strickland, Dan Jackson.
Notable injury: Brian Branch
This position is still sorting itself out. Joseph is dealing with a knee injury, but we’re projecting him as a starter going into 2026. Branch isn’t expected to be ready for the season opener after suffering a torn Achilles in December. That puts Thomas Harper in line to start next to Joseph at the moment. The Lions also signed Izien, and he has experience at safety and nickel. That said, the draft could be an option here.
Specialists
Starters: Kicker Jake Bates, punter Jack Fox, longsnapper Hogan Hatten
Nothing to see here. The Lions will run it back with this trio for a third consecutive season. This group has served them well recently.