The Detroit Lions are heading into 2026 with more elite talent at the top of the roster than any other team in the league, according to ESPN’s annual survey of league executives, coaches and scouts.
Detroit has nine players ranked among the NFL’s top 10 at their positions. That edges the Nick Sirianni-led Philadelphia Eagles, who have eight, and the Andy Reid-led Kansas City Chiefs, who have seven.
The list starts up front with Penei Sewell, who landed at No. 1 among offensive tackles. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is coming off a season in which he posted a 95.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the best mark of any of the 89 qualified offensive tackles.
His run blocking stands out most. He’s the kind of mauler who can clear space for Detroit’s ground game, with Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way.
Sewell may also be the Lions’ best all-around player as they prepare for 2026.
Detroit’s offensive group is loaded beyond Sewell. Jared Goff checked in at No. 9 among quarterbacks, while Gibbs came in at No. 2 among running backs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown earned the No. 5 spot among wide receivers, and Sam LaPorta landed at No. 4 among tight ends.
The defense has its own heavy hitters. Aidan Hutchinson was ranked No. 5 among edge rushers, Jack Campbell came in at No. 5 among off-ball linebackers, Brian Branch was No. 4 among safeties, and Kerby Joseph was right behind at No. 9 among safeties.
That kind of preseason recognition does not guarantee anything once the games start. The Lions learned that in 2025, when they won nine games and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season.
Still, the rankings underline what the rest of the league already knows: Detroit has one of the deepest collections of high-end talent in football. If those stars perform to expectation and the rest of the roster keeps climbing, the Lions will have a real chance to get back to the postseason in 2026.
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