The Detroit Lions have officially turned the page on the 2026 NFL Draft, and with mandatory minicamp still more than a month away, the team has plenty of time to fine-tune its roster. As it stands, the Lions are carrying 87 players—34 of whom weren't with the team last season. That's a lot of new faces in the locker room, and it makes for one of the most intriguing training camp battles in recent memory.
While plenty can change between now and the season opener in September, we're taking an early look at what the final 53-man roster might look like when the Lions hit the field this fall. (We'll save the practice squad discussion for another day—that group can hold up to 16 additional players in Allen Park.)
In this projection, players added through free agency this offseason (excluding retentions) are italicized. The same goes for Detroit's rookies, with their college programs noted in parentheses.
Quarterback (3): Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater, Luke Altmyer (Illinois)
Goff has been nothing short of elite since 2023, leading the NFL in passing yards (13,768) and touchdowns (101) over that span. Now entering his sixth season with the Lions, he's officially spent more time in Detroit than he did with the Los Angeles Rams (2016-20). Back for a third stint as Goff's backup is Bridgewater, a respected veteran who provides steady leadership. The Lions moved quickly to sign Altmyer, 23, after the draft. A team captain at Illinois in 2025, he completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while also adding 242 yards and five scores on the ground.
Running Back (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, *Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors
The Lions parted ways with David Montgomery in March, clearing the way for Gibbs to potentially dominate in 2026. But he'll need a reliable complement, and that's where Pacheco comes in. The former Kansas City Chiefs standout was a key contributor in back-to-back Super Bowl wins, though injuries have slowed his efficiency over the past two seasons. Vaki, who has just seven carries since 2024, could see an expanded role on offense. Saylors is a strong candidate to handle kickoff returns. Meanwhile, undrafted backs like Jermar Small (2024) and Hunter Robichaux (2025) will be fighting for a spot on the depth chart.