The Detroit Lions finished the 2025 season with the kind of roster depth that made the rest of the NFC nervous. Now, after a busy free agency period, Lions fans are doing what Lions fans have always done: convincing themselves things are fine while secretly refreshing injury reports at 11 p.m. So let’s settle this properly. Position by position, move by move. Are the Lions actually better heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, or did Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell quietly hand some of their best cards to division rivals?
Here is the verdict.
Quarterback: Steady
Jared Goff is back, and that is the whole story at this position. Detroit locked up its franchise quarterback before free agency even got loud, which is exactly how you handle a QB who just completed one of the most efficient stretches of his career. The Lions did not add a true backup with starting upside, which carries some risk given how paper-thin depth at this position tends to punish teams in January. But with Goff healthy and operating inside Ben Johnson’s system, this group enters the draft window in a stable place.
Grade: B+
Running Back: Upgraded
This is where Detroit made noise. Jahmyr Gibbs remains one of the most dynamic dual-threat backs in the conference, and the Lions made moves this offseason to ensure he is not running on fumes by October. David Montgomery’s production has declined from his peak, and the Lions acknowledged that reality rather than pretending otherwise. The backfield still has enough bodies to keep Gibbs fresh, but the real question is whether the blocking in front of him holds up. If it does, this group can still be a top-five backfield in the NFL.
Grade: B+
Wide Receiver: The Biggest Question Mark
Amon-Ra St. Brown is elite. Full stop. He is one of the five best receivers in the NFC and the kind of player you build a passing game around without apology. But beyond St. Brown, the Lions enter this draft cycle with real questions. Jameson Williams has the talent to be a legitimate WR2, but his availability and consistency have never matched his highlight reel. The Lions did not land a proven veteran receiver to fill out the depth chart in a meaningful way during free agency, which means they are betting heavily on Williams taking the leap. If he does, this group is dangerous. If he does not, Detroit’s passing attack becomes more predictable than opposing coordinators deserve.
Grade: C+
Tight End: Holding
Sam LaPorta has emerged as one of the better young tight ends in the league, and his trajectory is pointing up. Detroit did not need to do much here because LaPorta is already the kind of weapon that defensive coordinators have to game-plan around. The depth behind him is serviceable. This is not a position that needs draft capital thrown at it, and the Lions were smart enough not to force it. Sometimes the right move is doing nothing.
Grade: B
Offensive Line: Still the Foundation, But Cracks Are Showing
Detroit’s offensive line has been the identity of this team. It is the reason Goff has time to throw, the reason the run game works, and honestly the reason Dan Campbell can build the culture he wants. Frank Ragnow remains one of the best centers in football when healthy, and Penei Sewell continues to cement his status as a top tackle in the conference. But the Lions did lose some interior depth this offseason, and the replacements have not generated the same confidence. Continuity matters enormously on the offensive line, and any disruption to the chemistry up front tends to cascade into problems everywhere else. Detroit needs the draft to address offensive line depth, and it needs those picks to be right.
Grade: B-
Defensive Line: Built Different
Aidan Hutchinson’s return from injury is the single most important development of this entire offseason. When Hutchinson is on the field, Detroit’s defensive line is a legitimate problem for every offense in the league. The Lions also have enough depth upfront to rotate and keep guys fresh, which matters in a conference that demands energy in January. The losses here were manageable, and the additions provide enough bodies to trust the room. This unit has the ceiling to be one of the best in the NFC if Hutchinson stays healthy.
Grade: A-
Linebacker: Needs Work
This is the position group where Detroit took the most noticeable step back during free agency. The Lions have been patching this room for two years, and the current depth chart does not inspire confidence heading into a playoff-caliber season. Alex Anzalone has been a solid contributor, but the Lions need a younger, faster option next to him who can cover tight ends and stay attached to backs in space. The modern NFL punishes linebacker groups that cannot handle those assignments, and Detroit knows it. Expect the draft to address this directly and aggressively.
Grade: C
Cornerback: Improved
Detroit moved to upgrade its cornerback room during free agency, and the moves made sense. Carlton Davis has dealt with injuries, but when healthy he provides the kind of physical press coverage that fits how the Lions want to play defensively. The additions this offseason give the Lions more options and more flexibility in how they deploy their secondary. This was a group that felt thin heading into last season, and the front office took it seriously. Progress was made.
Grade: B
Safety: Quietly Solid
Kerby Joseph has quietly become one of the better young safeties in the conference. He creates turnovers, he communicates well, and he gives Aaron Glenn a chess piece that defenses have to account for. The depth alongside Joseph is competent. This is not a flashy position group, but it does its job without drawing attention to itself, which is exactly what you want from your safeties. No drama here.
Grade: B+
Special Teams: Fine
Detroit’s special teams units are not a liability, which is more than you can say for a lot of teams. Jake Bates remains one of the most compelling kicker stories in the league, and the Lions have not done anything to undermine the unit. Not a strength, not a weakness.
Grade: B
Overall Assessment Heading Into the Draft
The honest read on Detroit’s offseason: the Lions are roughly as good as they were at the end of 2025, which means they are still a legitimate NFC contender, but they have not separated themselves from the top of the conference the way a team with their recent momentum probably should have. The offensive line depth is a real concern. The linebacker room is a real concern. The wide receiver group outside of St. Brown is a real concern.
But here is what matters. The Lions have draft capital, they have a general manager who has consistently found contributors in the middle rounds, and they have a coaching staff that develops players better than almost anyone in the league. Brad Holmes does not need to swing on a first-round receiver if the right linebacker or interior lineman is on the board. Detroit has enough talent to compete now and enough structure to keep competing for years.
The draft is where this offseason gets graded for real. If Holmes addresses linebacker depth and solidifies the interior of the offensive line while finding a developmental receiver who gives the passing game another dimension, this team enters the 2026 season with everything it needs to make a deep run. If the Lions miss on those picks, the cracks this free agency period revealed will get louder as the season progresses.
Detroit is not in rebuilding mode. Detroit is not in panic mode. Detroit is in a specific and demanding place: a team good enough to win a Super Bowl, working to close the gap between good enough and actually doing it. That gap is real, and the draft is the next opportunity to close it.
The Lions are better at some positions. They are thinner at others. The ledger comes out roughly even for now. Check back in May.
