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The DLP Staff Predicts The 53 Man Roster For The 2017 Season For The Detroit Lions.

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The important thing to remember is that the initial 53 man roster is not the same thing as the week one roster. Both Armonty Bryant and Khyri Thornton are serving suspensions to start the year and will be replaced immediately after being listed as part of the 53 man roster.

Pat O’Connor has not fared well in the preseason and will likely be stashed on the practice squad in the wave of 1200 players being cut. Brad Kaaya played as you would expect a sixth round pick to play and will find a practice squad role. Storm Norton, Jared Abredaris, Tion Green, Josh Thornton, Connor Bozick, and Derrick Lott are the players I think will find their way to the practice squad. They have done enough, but not enough to be poached. I think Alex Carter, Rolan Milligan, and Steve Longa will find rosters

Brad Kaaya played as you would expect a sixth round pick to play and will find a practice squad role. Storm Norton, Jared Abredaris, Tion Green, Josh Thornton, Connor Bozick, and Derrick Lott are the players I think will find their way to the practice squad. They have done enough, but not enough to be poached. I think Alex Carter, Rolan Milligan, and Steve Longa will find rosters

I think Alex Carter, Rolan Milligan, and Steve Longa will wind up on a roster with other teams. Bob Quinn has shown that he is willing to leave the team a bit thin at spots. At offensive and defensive tackle, guard, and defensive end precious few players have shown they deserved a spot. I would expect Quinn to be actively looking for depth along both lines Saturday evening.

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Coming into the preseason, I believed that Brad Kaaya would be a lock for the number three quarterback spot, but with his performance, he needs a year on the practice squad to get better, and if someone tries to swipe him, I would still protect him like the team did with Rudock in 2016, and call him to the 53 man roster. With Matt Asiata getting cut Friday afternoon, that locked in Dwayne Washington for me. Also, one good performance out of four games isn’t good enough for me, sorry Tion Green, but he will be on the practice squad.

Once Taylor Decker and Corey Robinson return, then I see Cornelius Lucas get cut as well as he shouldn’t be here, but injuries to that to a team. Caushund Lyons had an impressive preseason game against Buffalo, and while I said one game out of four doesn’t impress me, Detroit needs bodies up front on the line at the defensive tackle position, and Lyons can fill the role until Thornton returns from suspension.

Seven cornerbacks? Yea, it was tough cutting many, and with how my roster played out it is possible. Agnew would be a more strict returner anyways, so that leaves six guys to play cornerback, a typical amount for some teams in the NFL.

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The first thing that jumped out at me is that the Lions are as shallow at the interior offensive line as they are deep at cornerback. The latter of which is a pleasant surprise considering how shallow that position has been in recent years.

I know some may dislike the Green nod over Washington. I understand it is the less likely option. But Green has been my dark horse this whole pre-season and I will continue to pick him, especially with news that Asiata has been cut. I think Green showed he has more to offer in the third and short and fourth and short situations that plagued Detroit in ’16, with Washington on the roster. I prefer Green’s consistency to Washington’s “boom or bust” play so far for now and for the long term.

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I think that the Lions will opt to go with only two quarterbacks. Brad Kaaya is promising, but not good enough for a spot on the 53 man roster. He should spend a year on the practice squad. Much like Kerry Hyder won a roster spot last season with a big fourth preseason game, I think that Tion Green did the same this year with a huge game against Buffalo.

Neither Billingsley or Abbrederis did enough to earn a spot at receiver, so the Lions will only keep four, however, they will frequently line Ebron and Riddick up at receiver. I think the Lions will only keep nine offensive linemen until Taylor Decker or Corey Robinson are ready to return from their injuries.

Detroit will only keep four defensive tackles, but a few of the six defensive ends they will keep are capable of playing inside, like Anthony Zettel , Cornelius Washington, and Pat O’Connor.

The Lions only need to keep five linebackers this year, Davis, Whitehead, and Williams will be the starters with Worrilow either to play either Mike or Sam and Reeves-Maybin getting some playing time at Will. Both backups can contribute on special teams.

I think the Lions will keep seven cornerbacks. That’s a position where depth is extremely important, and they keep several who have proven they can contribute in the NFL, both on defense and special teams. The kicker, punter and long snapper are the exact same as last season, no surprise there.

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