Detroit Lions

Miles Kitselman

TE

Kitselman spent the 2025 season with Tennessee, where he caught 26 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He will look to compete for a depth spot on Detroit's roster and could be a candidate to land on their practice squad.

Jay Tufele

DT

Tufele appeared in 12 games in a depth role with the Jets in 2025, but now he's moving on to his third team in as many seasons. It looks like the Lions are going to be without veteran starter DJ Reader, so it's not hard to imagine Tufele earning a spot on the team's 53-man roster for 2026.

Joe Bachie

LB

Detroit will be Bachie's fourth team in as many years. He's logged regular-season snaps, mostly on special teams, in each of his seven seasons since he made his pro debut with Philadelphia in 2020. The Lions lost veteran starter Alex Anzalone to the Buccaneers in free agency back in March, so there could be room for Bachie to stick on the 53-man roster in a depth role in 2026.

Jack Campbell

LB

Campbell is coming off the most productive season of his career, logging 176 tackles (89 solo), including 5.0 sacks, but that seemingly wasn't enough to convince Detroit to exercise his option. The 25-year-old will now play out the final year of his rookie deal during the 2026 campaign and look to earn a contract extension.

Jahmyr Gibbs

RB

It was a no-brainer move for the Lions, and Gibbs will collect a fully guaranteed $14.293 million salary in 2027. That still puts him well below the $20.6 million per year Saquon Barkley is earning as the league's highest-paid running back. As long as Gibbs keeps producing like he has since coming into the NFL as the 12th overall pick in 2023, he should become the league's top-earning back soon enough. He's posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has totaled 3,580 yards and 39 touchdowns on the ground across three campaigns. In addition to his dynamic ability as a runner, Gibbs has secured 181 of 228 targets for 1,449 yards and 10 scores in 49 regular-season contests. With David Montgomery now out of the picture, replaced by Isiah Pacheco, the ceiling is even higher for Gibbs headed into 2026.

Tyre West

DT

West spent his entire four-year college career in Tennessee, and while he wasn't a consistent starter on defense for the Volunteers, he did see his playing time steadily increase. He finished the 2025 season with 23 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defense across 12 games. West primarily operated as an edge rusher in college but would also line up in a three-point stance on the interior defensive line. The latter position could be his calling card in the NFL, given his shorter stature (6-foot-2, 283-pound frame).

Skyler Gill-Howard

DT

Gill-Howard doesn't boast a lengthy resume, playing three seasons at Northern Illinois (only one start) before transferring to Texas Tech in 2025, where he started the first six games before an ankle injury prematurely ended his campaign. Gill-Howard's measurables (6-foot-1, 280 pounds), arm length and hand size are underwhelming for his position, but he's athletic for his frame and has developed an array of rushing moves. He's also willing to be physical in the running game. He'll slot in as a depth option for the Lions and will aim to overcome his size limitations at the next level.

Kendrick Law

WR

The Lions sent the Bills a sixth-round pick to move up 13 spots to select Law. After three unassuming seasons at Alabama, Law transferred to Kentucky and started eight of 12 games, leading the team with 53 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Law was mostly used as an underneath receiver for the Wildcats with a 3.4-yard average depth of target, but he's quick and can gain yards after the catch. There's not a clear role available in Detroit's offense, with receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams leading the way while running back Jahmyr Gibbs continues to command a hefty target share. Thus, Law will look to carve out a gadget role while contributing on special teams, both as a gunner and a returner.

Keith Abney II

CB

Abney mostly served as an outside corner during his three-year college career at Arizona State, and he was named to the All-Big 12 First-Team in 2025 after posting 44 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and 12 pass defenses (two interceptions) across 12 games. Abney allowed a completion rate of just 44.4 percent when targeted in 2025, a testament to how feisty he can be given his slightly undersized 5-foot-10 frame. He has the athletic instincts and anticipation to thrive both in zone defense and man-to-man and could establish himself as a key piece to the Lions' secondary if he can continue to develop his technique and discipline. Abney figures to enter training camp battling for a depth role at cornerback behind Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and D.J. Reed, with Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary and Christian Izien also in the mix.

Jimmy Rolder

LB

Rolder didn't start until his fourth year at Michigan, but he impressed at weakside linebacker as a run stopper and in coverage. While he didn't run the 40-yard dash, he's considered to be a strong athlete. Rolder plays aggressively and is a sure tackler, as he had a 4.7 percent missed tackle rate in 2025. He likely needs to develop a bit considering his lack of experience, but he was a dependable special-teams player at Michigan and should contribute in that facet immediately with the Lions.

Derrick Moore

DE

Moore spent his entire four-year college career with Michigan, and he will stay in state after being scooped up by the Lions. He was an Honorable Mention on the All-Big Ten teams in both 2023 and 2024 before breaking out in his senior year in 2025, when he posted 30 tackles, including 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and three pass defenses across 12 games, en route to being selected to the All-Big Ten First-Team. Moore's steady increase in production over the course of his college career could translate to the NFL, and he has the size, athleticism and physicality to compete at the next level. His addition upgrades a Lions defensive front that is headlined by fellow former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson.

Blake Miller

OT

Miller (6-foot-7, 317 pounds) was a standout four-year starter at Clemson, where he developed his reputation as a rugged right tackle. Miller was a better athlete than expected at the combine, logging excellent marks across the board and making clear that his NFL transition should be about as easy as it gets. Expect Miller to start at right tackle while Penei Sewell moves over to the left.

Avonte Maddox

CB

Maddox spent last season with the Lions, and in 2026 he figures to bolster the team's depth at safety. The veteran began the 2025 campaign in a reserve role but finished the year as a starter due to injury attrition at the position. With starting strong safety Brian Branch in recovery mode from a torn Achilles that he suffered in early December, Maddox could be a fantasy-relevant option in IDP formats to begin 2026.

Chuck Clark

S

Clark spent last year with the Steelers, where he totaled 51 tackles (31 solo), three pass defenses and one forced fumble across 15 regular-season appearances. That marked the veteran safety's lowest tackle total since 2018, and he also took a step backward in terms of pass coverage. He now stands to handle a rotational role in with the Lions, behind starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee).

Penei Sewell

OT

Sewell's last time primarily playing left tackle came back in 2019 with Oregon, when he earned Outland Trophy honors as the best collegiate offensive lineman, per Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. While Sewell also did start the first eight games of his NFL career at LT in 2021 as an injury fill-in, he's since operated at RT and emerged as arguably the league's top player at the position. Following the departure of longtime LT Taylor Decker, however, having Sewell guard QB Jared Goff's blind side could be the anchor the Lions' new-look O-line requires to thrive.

Jake Bates

PK

Bates has either inked an new contract with the Lions or officially signed the exclusive rights free-agent tender extended to him by the team in early March. In any case, he's positioned to stick with Detroit for the 2026 campaign. Through two seasons in the NFL, Bates has converted 53 of 63 field-goal attempts (84.1 percent) and 118 of 123 extra-point tries (95.9 percent).

Ben Bartch

G

Bartch appears fully recovered from the foot sprain that forced his 2025 campaign with the 49ers to come to an early end last December, and he'll now provide depth along the interior of the Lions' offensive line. The 27-year-old guard has started 24 of 55 career regular-season appearances.

Payton Turner

DE

Turner was the 28th overall pick in the 2021 Draft by the Saints but recorded just 5.0 sacks across 31 regular-season games with New Orleans. He spent the 2025 campaign with Dallas but missed the entire season on injured reserve with a ribs injury. Turner will compete for a job in Detroit.

Myles Adams

DE

Adams spent the entire 2025 season on Detroit's practice squad after he failed to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 28-year-old has appeared in 30 career regular-season contests, notching 34 tackles (12 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass breakup.

Greg Dortch

WR

Dortch served as a regular pass catcher in the Cardinals offense the last four seasons, averaging 35.5 catches (on 47 targets) for 323.8 yards and 2.5 touchdowns in 15.3 games per campaign during that span. While he'll handle a similar tertiary role in Detroit as he reunites with his offensive coordinator (Drew Petzing) from the past three years, he may make his biggest impact as a returner after reeling off 811 yards on 31 kick returns and 185 yards on 16 punt returns in 12 regular-season contests in 2025.

Damone Clark

LB

Clark appeared in 14 combined regular-season games between the Cowboys and Texans in 2025, totaling 28 tackles (14 solo) across that span. He'll spend the offseason competing for a depth role with the Lions. Clark's ability to contribute both as a reserve linebacker and on special teams could boost his odds of carving out a depth gig with Detroit.

DJ Wonnum

LB

Wonnum spent the past two seasons with Carolina following four campaigns with the Vikings. He started 37 of his 39 regular-season games over the past three seasons, recording 15.0 sacks and 10 defensed passes. Wonnum could compete for a starting job with Detroit, though such a role isn't guaranteed.

Christian Izien

S

The terms of the deal are yet to be announced, but Izien will head to Detroit after calling Tampa Bay his home for the last three seasons. He played a prominent role in the Buccaneers' defense in 2023 and 2024 but saw his snaps on defense dip in 2025, finishing with 25 tackles (16 solo) and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games. Izien will look to earn an expanded role on defense with the Lions, and he could get some starts early in 2026 season if one or both of Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) are not available.

Roger McCreary

CB

McCreary opened the 2025 season with the Titans before being traded to the Rams in late October. He missed four games while on injured reserve due to a hip injury and finished the regular season with 37 tackles (23 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses (one interception) across 14 games. McCreary operated mostly in a rotational role in the secondary for the Rams and figures to reprise that same role with the Lions while also contributing on special teams.

Tyler Conklin

TE

Conklin is expected to compete for backup snaps with Brock Wright (neck) behind Sam LaPorta (back). After recording 1,622 receiving yards across three seasons with the Jets, the 30-year-old tight end posted just seven catches for 101 yards with the Chargers in the 2025 regular season.