Lions’ Rookie Blueprint: Roles, Fits and Opportunities

After a disappointing 9-8 season that left Detroit out of the playoffs for the first time since 2022, it became clear that the Lions needed to replenish key areas of the roster if they wanted to return to Super Bowl contention. Brad Holmes attacked that challenge through both free agency and the NFL Draft, adding a mix of immediate contributors and developmental pieces.

But where exactly do those rookies fit on Detroit's depth chart? More importantly, what does each one bring to the roster that wasn't already there?

Let's take a look at every member of the Lions' 2026 draft class, their projected role, and the unique trait that could help them carve out a role in Detroit.

Blake Miller, Clemson OT Pick 17 

The approach that the Lions like to take with rookies is to ease them into the role and make them earn their spot. I expect this to play out a bit differently, as reports out of OTA’s have said that Larry Borom has taken the initial first-team reps, with Miller getting the majority of them after. They want Miller to earn the job, but they also want him to get as many reps as possible, meshing with that first group also. Miller arguably has the clearest path to a Week 1 starting job of any member of Detroit's draft class. With how the team and coaches have been talking, I expect Miller to be starting at RT in Week 1 against the Saints. 

Miller brings a perfect track record of durability, starting all 54 games across his 4 seasons at Clemson. He only missed 1 practice in those 4 years, due to a wrist surgery he had prior to the 2023 season.

This is something that the Lions have lacked as an overall team, as they were the #1 most injured team in 2024, followed up with being the #2 most injured team in 2025. Taylor Decker was in and out of the lineup, missing 3 games and barely practicing throughout the majority of the season. Decker allowed a 5.99% pressure rate last season (15th among left tackles), and although at different levels, Miller allowed just a 2.65% pressure rate. Miller brings the Lions a durable, ascending tackle who the Lions hope can be a franchise tackle for years to come. 

Projected Role: Starting right tackle
Unique Addition: Durability and long-term stability at a position that became a major need following Taylor Decker's departure.

Derrick Moore, Michigan EDGE Pick 44

It wouldn’t be a true Detroit Lions offseason if the fans weren’t begging Brad Holmes to draft or sign a high-end pass rusher. This year, the prayers were answered on day 2 when the Lions went back to a familiar spot down the road in Ann Arbor to select another Michigan Wolverine, Derrick Moore. The Lions also added some veterans to the room in free agency, such as DJ Wonnum and former first-round pick Payton Turner. Wonnum is expected to be the early-down complement to Hutchinson, as Wonnum has been a rock-solid run defender for the majority of his career while also adding some pass rush.

Derrick Moore’s superpower is his ability to get to the quarterback at a very high rate. In his last season at Michigan, Moore had a 36.0% pass rush win rate in true pass sets, which is extremely impressive. Moore is a smooth speed-to-power converter, and it shows up all over his tape. Looking at the raw stats, he had 10 sacks along with 10.5 TFLs (tackles for loss). Moore will likely begin his career as a designated pass rusher for the Lions, playing mainly on third downs and obvious passing situations, as they like to play the “big ends” such as Tyler Lacy/Wonnum on early downs, primarily in base defense. Moore should see his reps rise as the year goes on and he gets more acclimated to the speed and intensity of the NFL. Detroit already has power rushers and run defenders on the edge. What Moore brings is a true pass-rushing specialist who can affect the quarterback immediately.

Projected Role: Rotational edge rusher and designated pass-rush specialist

Unique Addition: Elite pass-rush efficiency and the ability to pressure quarterbacks immediately on passing downs.

Jimmy Rolder, Michigan LB Pick 118

This offseason saw one of the longest-tenured Lions defenders leave the team in Alex Anzalone, leaving a hole in the linebacking core that the Lions have not had in a while. He had been one of the better coverage backers in the sport the past few years and Lions fans tend to wonder who will replace him at that WILL position. Jimmy Rolder has a great chance to do that down the line, as someone who has only one year of starting experience under his belt with a ton of development ahead. 

Rolder will undoubtedly be a core special teamer his rookie year and maybe even into the future, which holds immense value. Rolder’s biggest strength isn’t his pass coverage, but what he specializes in is being an uber-smart and instinctive downhill thumper in the run game. He has good athletic traits as well, earning a 9.53 RAS (relative athletic score) in the pre-draft testing. What stands out most about Rolder on tape is how quickly he processes the game. He consistently diagnoses plays, trusts his instincts, and attacks downhill with confidence. That shows up most often against the run, where he routinely beats blockers to the spot and finishes plays with physicality. While his coverage skills remain a work in progress, the Lions have shown a willingness to bet on athletic traits and football intelligence when developing linebackers. 

The Lions are betting his instincts, athleticism, and physical play style can eventually make him a key piece alongside Jack Campbell in the linebacking core.

Projected Role: Core special teamer and developmental WILL linebacker

Unique Addition: Instinctive run defense and the athletic upside to develop into a three-down linebacker.

Keith Abney, Arizona State CB Pick 157

The former inline skating national champion has been crowned as one of the biggest steals of the entire draft, projected to go within the top 100 picks by almost every outlet pre-draft. He is entering into a cornerback room full of talent, with good depth, but this is a position you can never have too much of, especially for the Lions. He has said he is willing to play anywhere in the secondary and in my opinion, the door is open for him to win the nickel job pretty quickly into the year.

Abney is a highly competitive and versatile player coming out of Arizona State. His sophomore year, he won the starting nickel job and then his junior year kicked outside. Abney’s competitive fire and football IQ show up all over his tape in the way that he anticipates throws. He also has the physicality at the catch point to break up passes and has displayed good ball production during his college career (6 career INTs + 17 pass breakups). He also rarely misses tackles, with only a 7.1% missed tackle rate in his career. Abney’s unique ability to play outside or inside opens up a ton for the Lions' secondary and also opens it up for him to get on the field quicker. His versatility allows Detroit to keep its best defensive backs on the field regardless of matchup.

Projected Role: Depth cornerback with a chance to compete for nickel snaps

Unique Addition: Positional versatility that allows Detroit to move him between outside corner and nickel depending on the matchup.

Kendrick Law, Kentucky WR Pick 168

* Law suffered a season-ending torn ACL in practice, per Dan Campbell

When the Lions took Kendrick Law in the 5th round, it immediately turned some heads in the fanbase. Why take a receiver in the 5th round when you have Jamo, Amon-Ra and TeSlaa?   They also have Greg Dortch, who plays a redundant role to Law. Law's value becomes obvious the moment the ball is in his hands, gaining 505 of his 540 yards after the catch, which was due to Kentucky letting him use his athleticism to make plays happen. On tape, you can also see that Law is one of the best blockers at the position in this draft class. Law’s superpower is most definitely his YAC skills, which also allow him to be a great return man and he projects to be in that role in the future. With Dortch on a 1-year deal, it would’ve been great for Law to have a year of on-field development, but instead he will take mental reps and work hard in the classroom. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Law and can’t wait to see him play next year.

Projected Role: Developmental receiver and future return specialist

Unique Addition: Explosive yards-after-catch ability and physical blocking that fits Detroit's offensive identity.

Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech DT Pick 205

Few players in this draft class have a more unique development path than Skyler Gill-Howard. SGH started his football journey as a linebacker and ended up adding on weight after NIU coaches told him to add weight and move down to the defensive line.

Although he added weight, Gill-Howard has maintained the twitch he had as a linebacker and he has a lethal first step because of it. This allows him to shoot gaps effectively and excel overall as a pass rusher. While Gill-Howard has stood out as a pass rusher, he is not great in the run game due to his size causing him to get washed out of plays. When watching his tape, you see great hand usage mixed with good physicality with his rush. Gill-Howard’s raw athleticism opens up so many possibilities in his development, as there is so much that can be refined to make him even better than he is already. He brings a needed pass rush element to this Lions defense that they had lacked, which is a gap-shooting 3-tech that can get to the quarterback quickly. 

Looking into the depth chart, after Alim McNeil, Tyleik Williams and Levi Onwuzurike, there are a lot of unproven players, each having different skill sets. I expect Mekhi Wingo and SGH to play a similar role in this defense, so that could be an interesting training camp battle to follow this year. SGH has the opportunity to contribute to this team on passing downs and may be able to sooner rather than later. 

Projected Role: Rotational interior pass rusher

Unique Addition: First-step explosiveness and gap-shooting ability from the defensive tackle position.

Tyre West, Tennessee DE Pick 222

The last pick of this year's Lions draft class, Tyre West, is an intriguing player to look into. At 6’1" and 280 lbs, he is a tweener, as he has played defensive end and inside at Tennessee. West is a powerful player who tends to win by being the low man and winning the leverage battle. He has solid first-step quickness along with powerful hands; adding in his aggressive playstyle makes him a great fit for the Lions. West also fits the bill of a 4i technique in the Lions, in which you had guys like Tyler Lacy, Pat O’Connor and Alim McNeil when he came back. He has a chance to compete in training camp and earn a role for himself early on in his career. 

West's ability to play multiple spots along the defensive front gives Detroit another tough, physical chess piece in the trenches. This is something that Brad Holmes and the Lions desire in players, as every year you see them acquire players with positional versatility.

West is just that and is experienced at the college level, racking up over 800 snaps in his time at Tennessee. West has an uphill battle as a 7th-round pick to have a big role on the Lions' defense, but the Lions will not let a player's draft position determine if they play or don’t play; the work they put in on the practice field and the tape will determine the role that West and other later-drafted players will play this year and in the future. 

Projected Role: Developmental defensive lineman competing for rotational snaps

Unique Addition: Alignment flexibility and power, allowing him to play multiple roles along the defensive front.

This draft class probably won’t be judged the moment these guys step on the field in July, and it won’t even be fully clear by the time the season starts.

Like most NFL drafts, the real story will take shape over time as injuries happen, roles shift, and players develop into what the Lions think they can be.

The trait the Lions always value is players that are willing to work hard and stay solid when times are tough and this group exemplifies that to a tee. Internally, the Lions feel great about the draft that they had and how this draft can help the Lions reach the ultimate goal this team has set out for: winning the Super Bowl. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and it all begins in late July.