The Detroit Lions are walking into the new season with a roster built to win now, but there’s a fresh layer to this team that could matter just as much down the line: a rookie class that’s being asked to contribute right away.
That’s a big shift from how Detroit has handled first-year players in recent seasons. This group isn’t being tucked away for development. A few of these rookies are projected starters, and with the Lions opening Week 1 at home against the New Orleans Saints, the expectations are already set.
Here’s a look at how each rookie is expected to fare in 2026.
Blake Miller is the most straightforward evaluation of the bunch, even if the numbers won’t jump off the page. As a tackle, his success won’t show up in catches, interceptions or tackles.
It’ll show up in what Jared Goff is allowed to do from a clean pocket. With Penei Sewell moving to the left side, Miller should have time early in the season to settle in and find his rhythm.
The projection here is a strong rookie year, the kind that may not end up as the flashiest among first-year linemen but should be one of the most dependable. The estimate: five sacks allowed.
Derrick Moore brings a different kind of intrigue. When he was healthy this offseason, he flashed like a player who could help turn Detroit’s pass rush into something serious in 2026.
The concern, though, is obvious: health. The Lions can’t afford another injury-riddled year from a player expected to grow into Aidan Hutchinson’s future No.
- Moore is already expected to miss some short time because of an injury, but once he’s back, he should be a major piece up front.
The prediction is five sacks, along with impact as one of the team’s best run defenders.
Jimmy Rolder’s path is less about headline-grabbing production and more about carving out a role where he can stick. He was hurt through training camp and the preseason, but Detroit still kept him on the 53-man roster, which says plenty about the potential they see.
Before the hamstring injury, he had turned heads at minicamp and showed promise as both a special teams option and a backup to Malcolm Rodriguez. His best lane right now is likely on special teams, especially as a gunner.
If he can handle that job and give the defense some useful snaps, that’s a win. The expectation is that he becomes a steady part of the special teams unit.
Keith Abney II may be the rookie with the clearest opening. He was viewed as a possible steal in the draft, and everything reported from training camp, minicamp and preseason seems to support that idea.
The slot corner arrives at a time when Amik Robertson is gone in free agency, and Abney could be thrown right into the mix in the secondary. Because the room is thin, he has a real chance to play a lot, and success could mean plenty of tackles, a few forced fumbles or interceptions and some pass deflections.
Roger McCreary is his main competition, and the snap battle between the two could tell the story of how well Abney is holding up.
Skyler Gill-Howard was one of the best stories of the summer. The sixth-round pick earned his place on the 53-man roster after a strong preseason, where he stood out as a bull rusher and run stopper. Detroit should have a useful weapon here on third downs, but his skill set suggests he can do more than just that.
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For the Lions, the appeal is obvious: if Wonnum gives Hutchinson a dependable edge partner, the pass rush can look more balanced and less easy to scheme around. There is still competition in the mix, with Derrick Moore and Alim McNeill among the players working for roles on the defensive line, so nothing is settled yet. But Wonnums camp has at least given Detroit a reason to believe the edge opposite Hutchinson can become a real strength rather than a weekly question. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Made Detroits Backup RB Battle A Lot Murkier
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Both players have a path to helping in more than one way, which matters in a Lions system that values versatility as much as carry count. Saylors brings more NFL experience, while Vaki has spent most of his pro time on special teams as he makes the transition from safety to running back, and Campbell made it clear the job will extend beyond just running the ball as those two sort out duties as runners, pass protectors and receivers. [Read more 🡒]