The countdown of the Detroit Lions\u2019 2026 roster continues with players our staff ranked from 30 to 21. These players represent the essential depth on the team. Almost all 10 of these players are expected to play some sort of significant role, be it on special teams, subpackages, or the primary backup plan in case of injury\u2014there are even some starters in here.<\/p>\n
What I found particularly interesting about this portion of the list is that half of the players are newcomers. Detroit is going to rely on a lot of new faces to be their primary depth, and their performances could be the difference between the season being a success or failure.<\/p>\n
Here are the players we ranked from 30 to 21.<\/p>\n
30. OT Larry Borom (Highest: 29 Lowest: 41)<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n
The Lions really hyped up the addition of Borom in free agency as a real candidate to start at right tackle after a strong finish to last season with the Dolphins. Whether that was genuine or an effort to mask their draft intentions is unclear, but the addition of Blake Miller likely puts Borom as OT3 rather than as a starter. Still, it\u2019s a significant upgrade over Dan Skipper.<\/p>\n
29. CB Ennis Rakestraw (Highest 26; Lowest: 37)<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s ranking: 33<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting to see Rakestraw climb in the rankings despite missing all of 2025 with an injury. Is this a sign of worse depth on the team, or did the staff simply rank him higher because expectations are higher for Rakestraw? The third-year corner has barely played in his young NFL career, but with Terrion Arnold now gone, Rakestraw is expected to compete for a starting job.<\/p>\n 28. LB Malcolm Rodriguez (Highest: 25; Lowest: 32)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: 32<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the same kind of story with Rodriguez. He missed most of 2025 due to his recovery from a torn ACL, and when he returned to the field, he didn\u2019t look like himself. Now he climbs four spots, likely because the expectations are for him to be LB3 after the departure of Alex Anzalone in free agency. Rodriguez still has to prove he can be a starting linebacker in this league, so his 2026 season will be critical.<\/p>\n 27. RB Isiah Pacheco (Highest: 18; Lowest: 48)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n For comparison\u2019s sake, David Montgomery came in at 11th on last year\u2019s list<\/a>, so it\u2019s clear our staff believes Pacheco is a significant downgrade, particularly with his recent struggles with injury. However, Pacheco is still just 27 years old, and he\u2019s only a couple years removed from a season in which he put up 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. If he can recapture even a fraction of that player, Detroit will have found a great, affordable replacement for D-Mo.<\/p>\n 26. P Jack Fox (Highest: 18; Lowest: 48)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: 26<\/a><\/p>\n No one on this year\u2019s countdown had a larger disparity in votes than Fox. He\u2019s typically pretty polarizing in these polls because it\u2019s hard to know where to put an All-Pro-level punter. On one hand, he\u2019s, well, a punter. On the other hand, he\u2019s arguably one of the Lions\u2019 best players at his given position. And he\u2019s coming off a year in which he put a career-high 28 punts inside the 20-yard line with only two touchbacks (career-low). Despite the large disparity in votes, he rather miraculously lands at the same ranking as last year.<\/p>\n 25. S Christian Izien (Highest: 21; Lowest: 32)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s ranking: N\/A<\/p>\n Izien is part of the cavalcade of safeties Detroit signed and re-signed to help navigate the tough injury situations surrounding Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Unlike Chuck Clark (44 on our countdown), Izien brings youth (26 years old) and serious long-term potential to the position. Despite entering the league as an undrafted prospect, Izien has already made 45 game appearances and 15 starts in three years. Now, he\u2019ll have a chance to take the next step in his career by competing for a starting job.<\/p>\n 24. EDGE Derrick Moore (Highest: 20; Lowest 33)<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s rankings: N\/A<\/p>\n Like any rookie, it\u2019s hard to know what to expect from second-round pick Derrick Moore. With the addition of DJ Wonnum, the Lions won\u2019t overload Moore, but if the former Wolverine can impress early, it\u2019s possible he has a massive role in Detroit\u2019s pass rush this upcoming season. He\u2019s coming off a 10.0 sack season in Ann Arbor, and with a decent supporting cast around him, he\u2019s entering a fairly favorable situation.<\/p>\n 23. DT Levi Onwuzurike (Highest: 14; Lowest: 31)<\/p>\n