The Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back after last season's dismal 4-12 finish.

While every player has a role, some are more important than others. Here's the first segment of our week-long look at the 25 players most critical to the team's success in 2013.

25. Bill Bentley, CB (Last season: Not ranked)

A third-round draft pick in 2012, Bentley flashed plenty of potential in training camp before suffering a shoulder injury in the third preseason game. The ailment lingered into the regular season and eventually forced the cornerback to injured reserve.

A pair of surgeries later and Bentley is back, ready to pick up where he left off last August. While he was penciled in as a starter last year, he has more competition this season with Ron Bartell, the returning Chris Greenwood and 2013 second-round pick Darius Slay also fighting for the opening. Even if Bentley doesn't win the competition for the outside job, he's the leading candidate to handle nickel responsibilities, a critical role in the pass-happy NFL.

24. C.J. Mosley, DT (Last season: Not ranked)

With the departure of Sammie Hill and Corey Williams (still unsigned) via free agency, the addition of Mosley was one of Detroit's most underrated signings this offseason. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder will be the third man in the defensive tackle rotation behind starters Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, but given Fairley's inability to stay on the field his first two seasons, Mosley is capable of stepping and playing starter snaps.

23. Don Carey, S (Last season: Not ranked)

After suffering an injury and being waived during training camp last year, Carey rejoined the Lions in November and played an important role, appearing in nine games, starting six. He racked up 39 tackles and intercepted two passes, breaking up another five. Detroit quickly locked up Carey for another year this offseason and he's currently projected as the third safety on the depth chart. It's a critical spot since the team can't rely on starter Louis Delmas after two injury-plagued seasons.

22. Larry Warford, G

(Last season: Not ranked)

While he's certainly not guaranteed the starting job formerly held by Stephen Peterman, it would be best for the Lions if Warford emerged as the clear choice. The rookie guard out of Kentucky is a massive man, weighing 333 pounds. The three-time All-SEC selection should help create bigger running lanes for the backs while cleaning up some of the pass protection issues Detroit had up the middle last season.

21. Willie Young, DE (Last season: No. 23)

It's not unreasonable to think Young could start a few games at the beginning of the season as rookie Ezekiel Ansah gets acclimated to the NFL. But even after Ansah lays claim to the starting job, Young will have a critical role in the defensive line rotation and he has to be significantly better than last season when he registered just 11 tackles and zero sacks in 323 defensive snaps.