The Detroit Lions came out of preseason with a rookie class that looks ready to matter right away.
Six first-year players survived the cut to the club’s initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, and the group includes a mix of early draft picks, developmental pieces and one undrafted free agent who forced his way in. Defensive end Tyre West did not make the initial roster, and Kendrick Law is out for the season with an injury, but the rest of Detroit’s rookie haul is still in position to contribute.
The headliners are easy to spot. First-round pick Giovanni Manu spent camp battling for the starting right tackle job after Penei Sewell moved to the left side following Taylor Decker’s release.
Nothing has been formally announced, but Miller looks lined up to open the season as the starter. Larry Borom was his main competition, though he had uneven moments in the preseason and may fit better as the swing tackle in jumbo packages.
If Miller gets the nod, the 17th overall pick will be thrown straight into a major role.
Second-round edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein also made a strong push. Detroit traded up to land Moore, and he flashed in his lone preseason game with a sack against the Washington Commanders.
After shaking off an early camp injury, he showed burst in practice and gives the Lions another potential pass-rush weapon. He should open the year behind D.J.
Wonnum, but there’s a clear path for him to work opposite Aidan Hutchinson in sub packages and earn more work as the season unfolds.
Linebacker Grant Rolder brings a different kind of storyline. He’s been out since the start of camp after suffering a hamstring injury, but he had already put together a solid spring and an encouraging start to training camp before getting sidelined.
The good news for Detroit came Sunday, when he avoided injured reserve to start the year. That could still change before the regular season, but for now he remains in position to contribute early.
Cornerback Zy Alexander has also carved out a spot with his versatility. He’s spent camp bouncing between outside and slot corner, and his physical, feisty style fits what Detroit wants.
He came into the draft viewed as one of the Day 3 steals, and while his exact role is still unsettled, he should help on special teams and keep pushing for defensive snaps. D.J.
Reed and Rock Ya-Sin sit at the top of the cornerback depth chart, with Ennis Rakestraw, Roger McCreary and Khalil Dorsey also competing for playing time.
On the defensive line, Keith Cooper was the rookie who turned the most heads in preseason. The athletic interior defender was everywhere, piling up multiple sacks and consistently hurrying quarterbacks.
He’s made a real case for immediate work. Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams are the top two interior defenders, but if Cooper keeps producing like that, he’ll climb fast.
Detroit also found a keeper in undrafted EDGE Eric O'Neill. He finished camp strong and started to really surge once the preseason games began, showing a legitimate knack for getting after the quarterback. O'Neill is likely to begin at the bottom of the EDGE depth chart, but the Lions liked enough to give him a chance to fight for a role during his rookie year.
In Other News...
Lions Add To Crowded O Line Picture With Another Intriguing Move
The Lions kept adding to an already busy offensive line mix by signing former Buccaneers lineman Elijah Klein to the practice squad. A sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Klein has already appeared in 26 games with one start, giving Detroit another young blocker with some pro experience to evaluate as the roster takes shape.
Detroit has plenty of offensive linemen around the building between the active roster and the practice squad, so this is less about a clear immediate role and more about creating competition and depth. For Klein, the next step will be figuring out where he fits in a group that is already crowded, which makes his path with the Lions worth watching as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Already Have A New Reason To Feel Great About Blake Miller
The Lions went into the preseason looking to sort out the right side of their offensive line, and Blake Miller has wasted little time making the decision easy. Detroit took the tackle with the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, then watched him work his way into the starting right tackle job by outplaying veteran Larry Borom and earning steady praise from the coaching staff and the media.
Miller has looked comfortable in both phases of the game, showing the kind of power in the run game and reliability in pass protection that can settle an offense quickly. For a team that values stability up front, it is an encouraging early sign that the rookie is not just holding his own, but pushing the Lions to feel better about a spot they needed to get right. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Could Give Lions Defense A Huge Early Lift
Brian Branchs arrival on the sideline this fall is still expected to come with a delay, but the Lions have reason to believe the wait wont be a long one. The versatile defensive back is slated to open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025, a setback that would normally cloud a players early-season availability much more heavily than this one appears to.
Branchs recovery has reportedly been moving in the right direction, and there is already a sense he could be back at practice after only two weeks on PUP. If that timetable holds, Detroit could be talking about getting one of its most valuable defensive pieces back by Week 6 or Week 7, a boost that would matter even more given how much the unit leans on his range and flexibility compared with the situation around Kerby Joseph. [Read more 🡒]