The Detroit Lions will be eyeing a bounce-back season in 2026 after a rough 2025 campaign that saw Dan Campbell's squad miss the playoffs and lose three of their last four games.
After failing to qualify for the postseason for the first time in two seasons, general manager Brad Holmes made some significant changes to the Lions' roster, but some moves left more questions than answers.
That said, let's take a look at three position groups that could make-or-break the Lions' 2026 season, and you'll see that the team's defense is a major question mark for Detroit.
Edge Rusher
Obviously, Aidan Hutchinson should return as one of the top edge rushers in the sport and post elite sack production. However, the rest of the position room is surrounded by uncertainty.
Detroit decided to let Al-Quadin Muhammad walk in free agency to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a 11-sack campaign in 2025. They replaced him by signing DJ Wonnum and selecting Derrick Moore in Round 2 of April's draft.
Wonnum and Moore will compete for the No. 2 edge spot in camp, and their competition is arguably the most consequential Lions' roster battle. If Detroit can't find someone to generate consistent pressure opposite Hutchinson, the pass-rush will be lackluster, and winning a Super Bowl in the modern era with below-average sack production is nearly impossible.
Behind Hutchinson, Wonnum, and Moore, the Lions will be relying on the likes of Payton Turner, Tyler Lacy, and Ahmed Hassanein to provide adequate depth. We'll see how many edge defenders Detroit decides to keep, but there's no denying the group is pretty uninspiring outside of Hutchinson.
Cornerback
D.J. Reed is locked in as the Lions' No. 1 corner, but with the franchise cutting ties with Terrion Arnold due to off-the-field issues, the rest of the position room will need to step up and play more prominent roles.
There will be a competition in training camp for the No. 2 cornerback spot, likely between veteran Rock Ya-Sin, fifth-round rookie Keith Abney II, and 2024 second-round pick Ennis
Rakestraw Jr. Roger McCreary figures to be the starter at nickel after signing a one-year deal with Detroit in March.
With the Lions being in a division and conference with a plethora of dynamic pocket passers, it's critical that the team fields a capable cornerback group. Reed had a solid debut campaign with Detroit in 2025, but the Lions will ask for even more from him this season.
As for the other spots in the secondary, Ya-Sin's 45 games of starting experience likely give him the edge over Abney and Rakestraw for the CB2 spot, but training camp will decide that spot. At one point, McCreary was one of the better slot corners in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, so the Lions will be banking on the Auburn product regaining form in 2026.
Safety
We already discussed cornerback, but safety is also a position to keep an eye on for the Lions. With Brian Branch likely out until at least mid-season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, and Kerby Joseph also dealing with a mysterious knee injury, there's a chance Detroit has two brand new starting safeties come Week 1 versus the New Orleans Saints.
If Joseph is unable to play the opening game, there shouldn't be much panic, as the 25-year-old should return within the first few weeks at the latest. However, with Branch out for the foreseeable future, the Lions must figure out who can fill his spot for an extended period.
Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, and Thomas Harper are the top contenders for the other spot. The Lions will need one of them to step up and be serviceable in the backend until Branch returns.
