The Detroit Lions are only nine days from the start of 2026 NFL training camp, and one of the biggest questions hanging over Dan Campbell’s team is whether the offensive line can come together fast enough to matter.
CBS Sports recently ranked the top storyline for all 32 NFL teams, and Detroit’s entry came down to two issues: the offensive line’s new look and the health of safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Zachary Pereles gave the edge to the line.
"This was a tight call between the offensive line and the health of safeties Brian Branch andKerby Joseph. Ultimately, the offensive line got the nod," writes Zachary Pereles.
"All-Pro right tacklePenei Sewellis switching to the left side after Taylor Decker's departure, and first-round pick Blake Miller is taking over at right tackle. Cade Mays is the new center and should add major size and power there, though this will be his first season as a full-time starter.
Guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge must step up."
That makes sense given how last season played out. Detroit’s front never consistently hit an elite level, and the ripple effects showed up everywhere.
The run game lost efficiency, Jared Goff took too many sacks, and the offense struggled on third down. That put even more pressure on a defense working under a first-year defensive coordinator.
If the rebuilt line settles in, the Lions have a chance to let their offense drive the season under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
The other major concern is the back end of the defense, where Kerby Joseph’s health looms large. There has been plenty of speculation about whether the 25-year-old can get back to playing at a high level in 2026 after dealing with a knee injury last year. The former third-round pick did not take part in offseason workouts or spring football.
If Joseph and Brian Branch are both ready to go and productive, Detroit’s secondary will look very different when the team is trying to make its playoff push.
Still, the offensive line feels like the more urgent issue because it shapes everything around Goff and the team’s biggest strength. How quickly rookie Blake Miller adjusts, and how much Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge develop, will go a long way toward determining whether the Lions can put together a winning season.
The biggest free-agent addition was center Cade Mays, and Detroit is counting on him to bring more stability to the middle of the line. If that happens, both the run game and the passing attack should have a better chance to reach their ceiling.
Training camp begins Wednesday, July 29 at the Lions Allen Park Performance Center.
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Lions Cap Picture Just Got More Complicated Before Big Decisions Arrive
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That challenge gets sharper when the conversation turns to the next wave of extensions. Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch are all on the radar, and the timing is not simple, with injury concerns part of the calculus for LaPorta and Branch while Gibbs could wait for the running back market to shift again. For a team trying to stay ahead of its own success, the cap picture is suddenly a lot more crowded than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]