Earlier in the week, we continued our rankings of the 2026 Detroit Lions roster and got to what I believe is the first part of the roster bubble. The Lions\u2019 roster is deeper than most teams\u2019, so even those players we ranked between 61-70 could make the 53-man roster. Even if they don\u2019t, many are likely destined for the practice squad, and we\u2019ve seen countless of those players get the call-up midseason and make an impact.<\/p>\n
In our next installment\u2014players we ranked 60-51\u2014we get into some players who will inevitably make the 53-man roster or almost assuredly the practice squad.<\/p>\n
60. DT Chris Smith (Highest: 56 Lowest: 65)<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s ranking: 70<\/p>\n
Smith has quietly hung around the Lions organization since 2023. That alone shows the Lions\u2019 commitment to the 26-year-old defender. In fact, he even made Detroit\u2019s initial 53-man roster last year. However, he\u2019s only made five game appearances\u2014and only played 47 snaps across those games (all in 2024). It wouldn\u2019t be surprising if Smith makes the initial 53-man roster again, as Detroit\u2019s depth on the interior defensive line is relatively thin.<\/p>\n
59. OT Giovanni Manu (Highest 47; Lowest: 68)<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s ranking: 47<\/a><\/p>\n Manu\u2019s ranking is the lowest it\u2019s ever been, and for good reason. With the Lions investing in both a new starting tackle (first-round pick Blake Miller) and an upgrade at OT3 (signing Larry Borom), Manu\u2019s future with the team looks more in jeopardy than ever. In order to make the 53-man roster, he\u2019ll have to try to convince the Lions he\u2019s worth keeping at OT4 or expand his value to other positions. He\u2019s already started taking a small amount of reps at guard in the spring.<\/p>\n 58. RB Jacob Saylors (Highest: 47; Lowest: 70)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n Lions fans were pretty shocked when Detroit opted to keep Jacob Saylors over Craig Reynolds in the middle of the 2025 season, but the former UFL running back proved his value on special teams. He ended up logging 281 special teams snaps\u2014third-most on the team\u2014and finished the season with eight tackles.<\/p>\n He\u2019s still inexperienced as a running back, and the health of Sione Vaki could keep him off the field as a reserve offensive weapon, but Detroit clearly liked what he gave them on teams.<\/p>\n 57. WR Tom Kennedy (Highest: 50; Lowest: 64)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: 73<\/a><\/p>\n Despite Kennedy being on the team since 2019, this is the highest ever ranking for Tom Kennedy. He may have only played in six games last year, but he finally proved he can be an asset on special teams. He finished second on the team in kick return yardage (447, behind Saylors) and first in kick return average (27.9) on 16 attempts.<\/p>\n His chances of making the 53-man roster are very real, particularly after the Lions lost rookie Kendrick Law to a torn ACL this summer\u2014leaving a significant receiver and special teams role up for grabs.<\/p>\n 56. CB Nick Whiteside (Highest: 50; Lowest: 66)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n Whiteside is a fascinating player to track. He was a late addition to training camp amidst some cornerback injuries, then failed to make the team. But sitting on the practice squad, he ended up being needed for the legendary \u201cLegion of Whom\u201d game against the Buccaneers in 2025. With that opportunity, he thrived, producing three passes defended and an 83.9 PFF grade. However, after that game, he logged just 11 more defensive snaps for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n With Arnold\u2019s release, there\u2019s one more roster spot to be won in the cornerback room, but Whiteside will likely have to earn his spot through special teams with D.J. Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw, and maybe even rookie Keith Abney ahead of him on the depth chart.<\/p>\n 55. DT Skyler Gill-Howard (Highest 51; Lowest: 64)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n Gill-Howard is a fantastic story and an inspirational player to follow<\/a>. The Lions\u2019 sixth-round pick, however, will have to broaden his skill set to find the field in his first season. While he should bring some much-needed pass rush juice to the interior defensive line, Detroit will want to ensure he\u2019s not a liability in the run game before entrusting him with defensive snaps.<\/p>\n 54. WR Dominic Lovett (Highest: 43; Lowest: 61)<\/p>\n