Quarterback: 2

Matthew Stafford

Jake Rudock

Brad Kaaya

Running Back: 4

Ameer Abdullah

Theo Riddick

Zach Zenner

Dwayne Washington

Matt Asiata

Tion Green

Wide Receiver: 4

Golden Tate

Marvin Jones

Kenny Golladay

TJ Jones

Jace Billingsley

Jared Abbrederis

Dez Stewart

Noel Thomas

Michael Rector

Keyshawn Martin

Dontez Ford

Tight End: 4

Eric Ebron

Darren Fells

Micheal Roberts

Cole Wick

Khari Lee

Scott Orndoff

Andrew Prince

Robert Tonyan

Tim Wright

Tackle: 5

Rick Wagner

Greg Robinson

Cyrus Kouandjio

Cornelius Lucas

Storm Norton

Nick Becton

Corey Robinson

Guard: 4

TJ Lang

Graham Glasgow

Joe Dahl

Laken Tomlinson

Brandon Thomas

Connor Bozick

Center: 1

Travis Swanson

Leo Koloamatangi

Defensive End: 6

Ezekiel Ansah

Anthony Zettel

Cornelius Washington

Jeremiah Valoaga

Pat O’Connor

Alex Barrett

Giorgio Newberry

Defensive Tackle: 5

A’Shawn Robinson

Haloti Ngata

Akeem Spence

Jeremiah Ledbetter

Jordan Hill

Ego Ferguson

Linebacker: 5

Jarrad Davis

Tahir Whitehead

Antwione Williams

Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Paul Worrilow

Nick Bellore

Thurston Armbrister

Steve Longa

Cornerback: 6

Darius Slay

Nevin Lawson

DJ Hayden

Teez Tabor

Jamal Agnew

Johnson Bademosi

Quandre Diggs

Adarius Barnes

Josh Thornton

Tramain Jacobs

Safety: 4

Glover Quin

Tavon Wilson

Miles Killebrew

Don Carey

Alex Carter

Rolan Milligan

Charles Washington

Special Teams: 3

Matt Prater

Sam Martin

Don Muhlbach

Kasey Redfern

Will Not Count Against The Roster Due To Injury Or Suspension

Taylor Decker

Armonty Bryant

Khyri Thornton

Kerry Hyder

Brandon Copeland

Brandon Chubb

Mike James

Desmond Lawrence

Breakdown

Offense: 24

Matthew Stafford and Jake Rudock make the team in this mock 53 man roster, while Brad Kaaya is left out. I like Kaaya a lot, but there simply isn’t room for three quarterbacks on a roster this deep. Hopefully Kaaya will make it onto the practice squad for this season.

Currently Dwayne Washington is beating out Matt Asiata for the fourth running back spot. Neither has looked great (or received great run blocking), but Washington has led the Lions in rushing yards in both preseason games. I think the Lions should opt for the younger, higher potential option in Washington. Washington also has more special teams value.

I think that the Lions should keep only four receivers along with another four tight ends. Eric Ebron is practically a receiver even though he is listed as a tight end, so this could actually be viewed as five receivers and three tight ends when looking at it that way.

There are no real surprises along the offensive line on this list. I have the Lions keeping Storm Norton as a backup at least until Taylor Decker is able to return from his injury, hopefully around mid season.

Defense: 26

I believe that the Lions should keep 11 defensive linemen (six ends and five tackles) in an effort to have a very good rotation. The Lions don’t have a lot of star power on the defensive line, but they have young guys who have very high potential (Valoaga, Barrett, O’Connor and Ledbetter) and should get a chance to prove themselves this regular season.

I think the Lions will only keep five linebackers. Davis, Whitehead and Williams will be the starting three while Reeves-Maybin and Worrilow are more than capable backups who could even push for starting roles while also contributing on special teams.

The cornerbacks are the deepest group on the entire Lions team this year, so it was the hardest to decide which of them to cut. Slay, Lawson, Hayden, Tabor and Agnew all appear to be locks, so the sixth spot is really a battle between Johnson Bademosi and Quandre Diggs. Although Diggs is probably the better cornerback, I think Bademosi should get the spot for his elite special teams play.

There are no surprises at the safety position, as the four who I think should make the team all made the team last season.

Special Teams: 3

Matt Prater, Sam Martin and Don Muhlbach will be the specialists for the third consecutive season. All of them have done a great job in their time in Detroit, and there is no reason to expect that to stop any time soon. Elite special teams play was a big part of what made a winning record and making the playoffs possible last year, so these three had already earned their jobs before the preseason even began.

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