The Detroit Lions are back in the part of the preseason conversation they wanted to reclaim: near the top, with expectations attached.
In The Athletic’s latest pre-training camp power rankings, Josh Kendall moved Detroit up to No. 10, a jump from No. 13 in his previous list. That puts the Lions just behind the Philadelphia Eagles and just ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a strong sign that the league still views them as a team with real teeth despite last season’s stumble.
Kendall’s explanation for Detroit’s rise centers on a familiar preseason phrase: “the vibes.” And in his view, those vibes are different now because of the changes around the roster. He points to departures such as cornerback Terrion Arnold, running back David Montgomery, and linebacker Alex Anzalone, all coming off a team that, as Kendall notes, faded badly in the second half of last season.
This year’s version of the Lions is going to look different in a few key spots. Jahmyr Gibbs is set to be the “bell cow” in the run game, and he’ll be doing it behind a new-look offensive line.
The competition for the starting outside cornerback job is about to begin, too. On top of that, safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch could miss a good chunk of the early season.
Even with all that churn, the expectation is still that Detroit stays in the mix. The Lions finished above .500 last season despite a poor offensive line, sloppy play-calling on offense, and a pile of injuries. Now they’re working with a presumably easier last-place schedule, a new offensive coordinator, and a roster that has plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball.
That’s usually the kind of setup that points toward a bounce-back, and Kendall sees Detroit as a team built to do exactly that. The offense still has plenty of talent, and the defense is led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson.
Jared Goff remains a top-10 quarterback, and he has only two losing seasons entering his 11th year in the league. The Lions have also put together four straight above-.500 seasons.
Still, the pressure is real. Head coach Dan Campbell has to show that this group can be more than just a solid regular-season team. Kendall called this season “Campbell's biggest test since turning this franchise around in the first place.”
Detroit’s spot in the rankings also says a lot about the rest of the NFC North. Kendall has the Lions at the top of the division, which has become a common preseason prediction.
The Chicago Bears, last year’s division champions, are right behind them at No. 12.
The Green Bay Packers sit at No. 15, and the Minnesota Vikings come in at No. 20.
Zoom out to the conference, and the Lions are still sitting in a tough neighborhood. Kendall has them as the fifth-best team in the NFC, even with the No. 10 overall ranking.
The Los Angeles Rams are No. 1 after their big Myles Garrett trade, followed by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5, the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7, and the Eagles at No. 9.
If that ordering held up, Detroit would land as the No. 3 seed and host the 49ers rather than the Bears if it were the No. 2 seed. Of course, preseason rankings have a way of getting blown up once the games start.
For the Lions, the message is clear: the expectations are still high, and the next step is making sure the rankings move in their favor once the season gets rolling.
In Other News...
Lions Defense Suddenly Has Far More Camp Battles Than Expected
Training camp has a way of turning a settled depth chart into a guessing game, and the Lions defense is heading into July with more of those questions than expected. A group of 20 players is jostling for roster space across the front seven and the secondary, with battles at defensive end, tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety all carrying some level of uncertainty as injuries, recent signings and staff projections reshape the picture.
Payton Turner is part of the intrigue up front, bringing the kind of pedigree that keeps a spot conversation alive even as health has been a recurring issue. Elsewhere, the linebacker mix has already shifted with Troy Reeder now in the fold, and the edge picture is getting more complicated as Hassanein adjusts to a different role. Add in the usual camp variables, from player availability to how many spots Detroit ultimately keeps, and this looks like one of those roster fights that could stay unsettled well into August. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Can See The Fit But Brad Holmes Has A Problem
The idea of adding a disruptive interior force like Vita Vea is the kind of move that naturally catches the eye in Detroit. The Lions have spent real energy building a roster that can win up front, and a proven defensive lineman with his rsum would fit the kind of team Brad Holmes has tried to assemble. Even so, this is not the sort of fit that comes cheaply, and the appeal is obvious enough that it invites a closer look.
The problem is the same one that shadows a lot of ambitious roster ideas this time of year: the Lions have to live within their financial reality while protecting what they have already committed to for the future. Even if Tampa Bay is willing to engage, Detroit would have to navigate the cap, the cost of a trade, and the possibility of needing to extend Vea on top of everything else. For now, it remains one of those situations where the match makes sense on paper, but the path from interest to actual deal is anything but simple. [Read more 🡒]
Jimmy Rolder Is Suddenly In The Middle Of A Lions Battle
The Lions spent the spring trying to patch a linebacker room that changed when Alex Anzalone left in free agency, and Jimmy Rolder quickly became one of the more interesting names in that mix. Drafted to add depth, he made a strong impression during minicamp and OTAs, enough to get attention as a player who could carve out a real role sooner than expected.
Rolders path is still tied to how Detroit sorts out the rest of the group, but he has already given the coaching staff reasons to keep watching closely. His work in coverage and on special teams added to the appeal, and in a room where opportunities can open fast, that kind of versatility can push a rookie from afterthought to part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]