The Detroit Lions are headed into training camp with more than a few jobs up for grabs, and the list keeps getting longer. What started with questions at left guard and safety has grown into a broader roster puzzle, with the Lions also trying to figure out who lines up next to D.J. Reed at cornerback, who settles in on the right side of the offensive line, and how they reshape special teams after key departures in free agency.
That’s a lot to sort through, and it gives camp a little extra bite.
At left guard, Christian Mahogany enters as the incumbent, but not as a lock. He logged 699 snaps there and was Detroit’s preferred starter when healthy, yet his play was uneven enough to keep the door wide open.
The source of that opening is pretty clear: the Lions were thin enough at the position that Mahogany may have returned from his lower leg injury earlier than ideal. Now he’s facing real competition from Ben Bartch, who was a solid stop-gap for the San Francisco 49ers before getting hurt, along with Juice Scruggs and Miles Frazier, both of whom are young enough to keep in the conversation.
Giovanni Manu has also been working at guard, which only adds another layer to a battle that already looks crowded.
Cornerback is shaping up the same way. With Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. apparently being held to nickel duties, the fight for CB2 appears to come down to Rock Ya-Sin and Keith Abney II.
Ya-Sin has the edge on paper after starting plenty for Detroit in 2025 and performing well in those chances. He gives the Lions a steadier option while they continue developing Abney, and he helps offset the loss of Terrion Arnold without a major drop-off.
Still, Abney has enough going for him to make this interesting. The rookie has drawn hype for his physicality and athleticism despite his smaller frame, and if he isn’t locked into a role as the team’s next gunner or backup nickel, he could force his way into the CB2 conversation right away.
Linebacker is another spot worth watching, even with Jack Campbell firmly at the center of everything. Campbell was one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL in 2025, and he arrives this season with an extension and his first Top 100 list appearance.
The question is who claims the SAM job. Malcolm Rodriguez is trying to hold onto the role, Derrick Barnes could rebound if he gets back into a spot that better fits his strengths and lets him generate quarterback pressure alongside Campbell, and rookie Jimmy Rolder has been turning heads in OTAs with his turnovers and strength.
Then there’s backup quarterback, where Teddy Bridgewater and Luke Altmyer are the names to know. Altmyer would have to make a major jump to pass Bridgewater, but the undrafted rookie has apparently been a quick study this offseason while trying to climb the depth chart.
Bridgewater is a familiar name for Detroit, since this is a reunion with a former Lions backup quarterback, but he’s also much older and well removed from the days when he was a reliable QB2. Altmyer may actually end up being the better long-term answer, especially if the Lions want to keep an eye on who could eventually follow Jared Goff once that decline finally comes, even if it doesn’t look close right now.
In Other News...
Lions Predicted To Revisit O-Line Insurance With Familiar Connection
The Lions already made one move to steady the interior of their offensive line, bringing in center Cade Mays on a three-year deal, but the search for more insurance may not be over. With training camp approaching, Detroit still has a few candidates vying for the left guard job, and that leaves room for the front office to keep an eye on veteran depth if the room needs another layer of security.
One familiar name has surfaced because of a previous Carolina connection with Mays, which could make him an easy fit if the Lions decide they want another experienced body in the mix. His value is in his ability to move around the line and plug holes where needed, a trait that can matter plenty over the grind of a season, especially if Detroits left guard battle does not settle cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Terrion Arnold Problem Bigger Than Football
Terrion Arnolds legal situation has put the Lions in a place no team wants to be, with the cornerback now charged and arrested in an alleged robbery and kidnapping case and placed on waivers. It is the kind of off-field development that quickly becomes a football issue in Detroit, not just because Arnold was part of the roster picture, but because the fallout could reach beyond availability and into the business side of his contract.
Former Lions running back Zach Zenner said the consequences could extend to money already tied to Arnolds deal, a reminder that the leagues personal conduct policy can carry steep financial repercussions. Arnold is due back in court July 10 in Florida, and until then there is plenty for the Lions to sort through as the team waits to see how this situation develops. [Read more 🡒]