5 Lions players to temper expectations for in 2026. Not saying they won’t be good, just that the runway matters. From young edge rushers to returning stars and OL battles, a few names need time before they fully take off.
5 Lions players quietly about to matter a lot more in 2026 than most fans expect. From a safety breakout starter to expanded WR roles and a rising interior DL piece, there are some under-the-radar names ready to reshape the depth chart.
Hey, it’s June — so yeah, it’s fight-with-the-fans season. We graded every NFL roster using a strict 100-point model (production, efficiency, impact, durability).
Some of the greatest players in NFL history have graced the cover of "Madden." How many of these players can you name in five minutes?
Even with Kerby Joseph’s “we don’t know” update and Brian Branch’s early-season uncertainty, safety still isn’t the emergency spot people think for the Lions heading into camp.
Yardbarker's best-of NFL positional series continues with linebackers. This does not cover pure pass-rushing threats -- we will get to them -- but rather true off-ball defenders who thrived as traditional inside and outside 'backers.
Lions fans say Detroit is cheap, but the numbers tell a very different story—especially when you look at how much they’re actually spending on defense compared to other contenders.
The Detroit Lions were busy in free agency, and as a result they have depth in a number of areas. General manager Brad Holmes and the front office were intentional about adding competition at a number of positions, while also tallying insurance in areas where injuries have been prevalent.
The Detroit Lions added an established veteran to their defensive line rotation with the signing of D.J. Wonnum. After losing Al-Quadin Muhammad and electing not to retain Marcus Davenport, Detroit signed Wonnum to a one-year deal in addition to other moves.
The Detroit Lions are moving quickly through the offseason workout program. This week, they will conduct their final session of organized team activities.
If the Detroit Lions are going to have success in 2026, the growth of the second-year players on the active roster is paramount. Among the second-year players with elevated expectations this season is wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
The Detroit Lions On SI staff takes a look at the week ahead as the Lions prepare for their final session of OTAs. 1. How concerned are you about Kerby Joseph’s playing career?
With the 2026 draft in the books, teams are already looking toward 2027. Here's our way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft, as of April 27, 2026.
The Detroit Lions have largely avoided the splashy, headline-making NFL trades that would cost them a player on their roster or multiple top draft picks.
The Dallas Cowboys made a blockbuster trade before the 2025 season when they sent edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, who ultimately signed him to a four-year, $188 million deal.
Penei Sewell, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has undeniably cemented his status as one of the NFL’s very best offensive linemen. Sewell has been an AP first-team All-Pro selection each of the past three seasons.
The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season with a new attitude and a renewed sense of urgency to get to and to finally win their first Super Bowl. A 9-8 record last season affords Dan Campbell's squad a schedule that is considered among the easiest this upcoming season.
The Detroit Lions have their work cut out for them after a difficult 2025 season, which ended in a 9-8 record and no trip to the playoffs, but they've switched up their coaching staff and are going at 2026 with a new look.
Defensive injuries have become an ongoing trend during this mid-2020s Lions resurgence. While no position group has been spared here, Detroit entered last season limited at defensive tackle.
The Detroit Lions are hoping for big things from Tyleik Williams in his second NFL season. Williams was drafted in the first-round of the 2025 Draft, which showcased the level of belief the team has in his abilities.
The Detroit Lions are going to maximize the potential of running back Jahmyr Gibbs, especially with how the former first-round pick is going to be utilized this upcoming season and throughout his career in Motown.
Jameson Williams is coming off a career-best, 65-catch and 1,117-yard season, and yet there is still room for growth for the fifth-year wideout. He admitted as much to reporters at OTAs Thursday, expressing that he’s been working on fine-tuning his skills as a pass-catcher this offseason.
Penei Sewell moving to left tackle is the headline, but the bigger question for Detroit is whether the rest of the line can regain its rhythm. Campbell told reporters that Sewell had been preparing for his left-side move well before organised team activities began.
The Lions are a little over three months away from kicking off their season against the Saints on Sept. 13. It is unclear if standout safety Kerby Joseph, who is managing a degenerative knee condition, will be ready by then (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
That deal undeniably will impact teams throughout the league.
Gibbs is under contract through 2027, but he could reset the market for players at the position at any point this spring or summer.
The Detroit Lions have suffered an early setback before the 2026 NFL season even begins, with rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law ruled out for the year after tearing his ACL during practice.
There is no doubting that Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL. The Detroit Lions star has racked up huge numbers throughout his career, making him one of the top weapons in fantasy football leagues.
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