Quarterbacks

Jared Goff is the undisputed starter. He had his best statistical year to date and finished 2nd in pass yards and 4th in touchdowns. He looks to get over the hump after falling short of a Super Bowl birth for the second year in a row. This will be a pivotal year for Hendon Hooker. Last year marked his first full year of healthy football as a backup. The Lions signed former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as insurance down the stretch, not being fully sold on whether or not Hooker was prepared to step in for Goff. Bridgewater would eventually be called on in the final game for a few series. It will be important that Hooker has a strong hold of the QB2 position. In the event that he can’t the Lions have signed career backup Kyle Allen as a mentor to Hendon. In the event that Hooker is not able to handle the duties, Allen has pretty extensive experience to takeover.

Offensive Line

The Lions built their foundation around the drafting of All-Pro Guard Penei Sewell who will continue to anchor the offensive line. They will be displaying two brand new guards this year. As it stands right now Christian Mahogany will be taking over at Left Guard replacing Kevin Zeitler who had an excellent year. The projected left Guard will likely be Tate Rutledge whom the Lions utilized a 2nd round pick to grab him. With the Lions Tackle Taylor Decker, having some struggles last year, they may look to lean heavier on the right side as they attempt to get Mahogany up to speed on his full-time task.

Running Backs

The running back room is by far their most elite group from top to bottom offensively. They’re equipped with the top one two punch tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. This duo gives the team a firm balance of power and elusiveness. Craig Reynolds provides a reliable 3rd down option if need be. Even at the 4th spot Sione Vaki yields a versatile dual threat alternative that has yet to be fully unleashed, due to the depth at the position. Instead, he has been most useful on special teams, where he has collected 8 tackles and a forced fumble.

Sonic 😈 Knuckles https://t.co/84AE7AXpqT

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 6, 2024

Receivers

The receiver unit is led by elite All-Pro Amon Ra St-Brown who is locked in long-term. 4 year receiver Jameson Williams, is the #2 option on the outside, and is looking to hit another gear, coming off his first 1000 yard receiving season where he averaged 17 yds per reception. Tim Patrick bounced back nicely after a few injury riddled years, and was a fine replacement at #3 receiver providing, Goff with a tall target with a nice catch radius. Sam Laporta had a quieter follow up year after earning a Pro Bowl selection his rookie year. He dealt with some injuries early on but still managed to snag 60 receptions good for 7 TDs. Detroit made an intriguing move, trading up in the draft to select Michigan native Isaac Teslaa out of Arkansas. He has a very appealing upside combining size, work ethic, and athleticism, to an already explosive group of players. The sure-handed Kalif Raymond will be returning from injury, and will retain his role as a viable option in the slot and returning punts.

The Lions biggest concern may come from outside the personnel. The departure of former Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson will be one of the more compelling developments to key an eye on going into the new season.