With the Detroit Lions down to their final preseason game of 2026 and cutdown day right around the corner, a handful of offseason competitions look just about decided. The biggest questions entering the summer were at left guard, cornerback, nickelback, and the edge spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Now, those jobs appear to be spoken for, and a few bubble players may be feeling the pressure.
At edge rusher, DJ Wonnum has made the clearest case for the opening role next to Hutchinson. His preseason work against the Washington Commanders stood out, even with the caveat that Washington’s offensive line is currently being held together by a couple of safety pins and Elmer’s glue. Still, Wonnum showed up consistently and created disruption in his snaps.
That matters even more with rookie Derrick Moore sidelined again, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Wonnum has been available throughout the offseason, and for Detroit, that availability carries real weight.
At the moment, he looks like the starter. Eric O’Neill, Anthony Lucas, and potentially Tyler Lacy are the names sitting behind him, with Lacy more likely to survive cutdown day and O’Neill and Lucas trending toward being released.
O’Neill flashed in preseason, though, so a return to the practice squad would make sense.
On the back end, Rock Ya-Sin seems to have the inside track at CB2. Nick Whiteside had been making a push, but Ya-Sin appears to have taken the bulk of the first-team snaps in camp.
Going against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams every day is a useful way to sharpen a defensive back, and Ya-Sin has been getting that kind of work.
He also closed out the preseason game against Washington with a PFF grade of 75.7, which only strengthens his case to start alongside D.J. Reed.
Whiteside should still see playing time early in the season, since the Lions are trying to squeeze every bit of depth out of the room without a second true star next to Reed. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Khalil Dorsey, Bump Cooper Jr., Aamaris Brown, and Ekow Boye-Doe are all on the bubble.
Cooper Jr. and Boye-Doe look like the likeliest cuts, while Brown may have a path to sticking because of his safety versatility after Christian Izien’s injury.
At left guard, Christian Mahogany still looks like the favorite to keep the job unless Detroit changes course at center and moves Juice Scruggs over. Mahogany had shown signs of progress last season before a lower leg fracture ended that run, and when he returned, it was too soon for him to be at his best.
The preseason hasn’t been spotless. Mahogany has been flagged multiple times, and that’s not ideal for the player being treated as the veteran option at the position.
Even so, neither Miles Frazier nor Ben Bartch has separated in camp or preseason, which leaves the Lions with little reason to move away from Mahogany. Frazier, Melvin Priestly, and Bartch are all in danger, though the lack of depth here suggests Priestly may be the one left out.
The nickel job also looks headed toward Keith Abney II. He started against the Commanders in Week 2 of the preseason with other projected Week 1 defensive starters, and the performance was uneven. Roger McCreary, who is also in the mix for the nickel role, looked more comfortable handling the run and limiting explosive plays through the air.
Abney responded with a strong week in camp afterward and has since looked poised to open the season as Detroit’s slot corner. That doesn’t mean every snap will go his way, but the Lions seem comfortable with where he is heading into the year.
Abney, McCreary, and Rakestraw can all play the slot, and Brown can too, which gives this group plenty of flexibility. It also makes it unlikely the Lions move on from McCreary or Rakestraw, and Brown could wind up as one of the backup safeties to start the season.
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