The Detroit Lions open training camp on July 28 at their practice facility in Allen Park, Michigan. The Lions finished the regular season 3-12 and in fourth place in the NFC North. The Lions return 16 starters from that team as well as head coach Matt Patricia, and coordinator Eric Darrell Bevell (offense). Here's a 53-player roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Matthew Stafford, Chase Daniel.
This is a tough call to not keep three quarterbacks considering the COVID-19 pandemic, but if the Lions are able to sneak David Blough on the practice squad, that gives them another option with some experience should injury or COVID hit this position.
RUNNING BACK (5): Kerryon Johnson, D'Andre Swift, Bo Scarbrough, Ty Johnson, Jason Huntley.
There are two locks on the roster -- Kerryon Johnson and Swift -- with the duo likely sharing the majority of the carries throughout the season. Scarbrough is a different type of back than anyone else on the roster and should have a role. Ty Johnson and Huntley could be competing for one spot, but Huntley's return ability and a potential option as a replacement for J.D. McKissic keeps him on the roster. Plus, considering Kerryon Johnson's injury history, carrying an extra running back makes sense.
FULLBACK (1): Nick Bawden.
Coach Matt Patricia likes having a fullback on the roster. Luke Sellers could challenge Bawden and it's possible the Lions go with hybrid tight end/fullback Isaac Nauta, but for now the contact-loving Bawden keeps his spot.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Quintez Cephus, Geronimo Allison, Jamal Agnew.
This is a very crowded position at the back with the top three secured in Golladay, Jones and Amendola. Cephus should make it based on his rookie status and one of the few receivers on the roster signed beyond 2020. Allison is a complete coin flip with guys like Chris Lacy, Travis Fulgham and Marvin Hall. Agnew makes the team in his conversion from corner because of his position flexibility and return skills. But his spot could be in jeopardy if he loses the return gig to Huntley.
TIGHT END (3): T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Hunter Bryant.
Hockenson is a lock and expected to have a breakout season. James, despite an unproductive 2019, has enough money tied up in his contract to keep him around, plus he showed promise as a blocker. The third tight end spot could be between Nauta and undrafted free agent Hunter Bryant.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Taylor Decker, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Joe Dahl, Logan Stenberg, Tyrell Crosby, Kenny Wiggins.
Six of these spots seem spoken for, for various reasons (Decker, Vaitai and Ragnow due to skill and contract; Stenberg and Jackson are rookies with potential and Crosby is the team's swing tackle and sixth offensive lineman). Dahl makes the team -- and could end up being a starter at either guard spot -- because of a combination of skill, flexibility and scheme familiarity. Wiggins, whom the Lions liked enough last season to rotate in with Graham Glasgow and Dahl, makes the team as a reserve lineman. He could also play tackle in a pinch and barely beats out Oday Aboushi and former first-round pick Joshua Garnett. That said, it wouldn't be surprising if any of six interior linemen could end up winning backup spots.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Trey Flowers, Julian Okwara, Da'Shawn Hand, Romeo Okwara, Austin Bryant, Danny Shelton, Nick Williams, John Penisini.
Does Bryant emerge after a lost rookie year due to injury? What does Hand look like after an injury-plagued 2019? Can Williams repeat his 2019 with Chicago or does he regress to his pre-2019 form that saw him bounce around the league? How fast does Okwara adjust to the NFL? So many questions with almost every player at this position, and that could make the difference between a successful season and not.
LINEBACKER (7): Jamie Collins, Jarrad Davis, Christian Jones, Jahlani Tavai, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Reggie Ragland, Elijah Lee
The first four seem pretty set and Reeves-Maybin is one of the Lions' top special teams players. Ragland is a strong run-stopper and could easily make this team. Lee offers more on special teams, which earns him the role. I kept Ragland on this version of the roster over an extra cornerback because Agnew ends up as one of Detroit's gunners and can flip back to corner in a pinch.
CORNERBACK (5): Desmond Trufant, Jeff Okudah, Justin Coleman, Amani Oruwariye, Mike Ford.
Dee Virgin was my toughest -- and final -- cut on this version of the 53-man roster. He was productive on special teams a year ago, but Ford has more experience at corner and can play corner or safety on defense as a reserve. But easy to see a way for Virgin to end up on the team.
SAFETY (5): Tracy Walker, Duron Harmon, Will Harris, Miles Killebrew, Jayron Kearse.
The Lions like playing multiple safeties in nickel, which is where Walker, Harmon, Harris and Kearse fit in. Kearse can also play special teams. Killebrew is a high-level special teams player Detroit values. He can also drop down to linebacker if necessary. But special teams is his ticket to a roster spot.
SPECIALIST (3): Matt Prater, Arryn Siposs, Don Muhlbach.
Prater and Muhlbach are locks as they have been some of the best at their positions in the league the last five seasons. Siposs, a rookie from Auburn, beats out Jack Fox in a close competition because of his ability to have diversification of punts and his prior experience as a professional footballer for St. Kilda in Australia's AFL.