The Detroit Lions are in the middle of getting all kinds of projections for the 2025-26 season, which can be nerve-wracking, but that just comes with the territory of being one of the biggest contenders in the league. The team was expected to go far in the postseason last year, but they fell early and hard to the Washington Commanders in a game that anyone in the Lions camp would like to forget.
But, that’s all behind them, and the Lions are gearing up for what they hope will be another big run. The upcoming season will be very different for Dan Campbell, who is now without his steady offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. But, play calling can only do so much, and the real meat is in the players who are on the field, making those plays happen.
With that in mind, ESPN has come out with its roster of the best projected starting lineups in the NFL for the 2025-26 season. It’s sure interesting to see where they land.
Detroit Lions Have Reason to Celebrate
The Detroit Lions have a chip on their shoulders, and they’re going to fight for their stop in the league this season. In a piece published on Monday, July 21, ESPN names its best projected starting lineups in the league.
For the feature, “we asked NFL analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder to rank every lineup in the league,” they note. “We combined their rankings to form the ultimate preseason roster ranking, considering factors such as talent, age and production.”
Detroit came in at No. 3 on the tally, which is simply fantastic. They’re only behind the Eagles and Ravens.
The Lions’ biggest strength, according to Clay, is running back. “I could’ve gone safety or offensive tackle, but the Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery duo is elite,” he noted. Also, since 2023, Lions running backs have earned a “league-high 5,960 yards and 57 touchdowns,” which is “718 yards and eight more touchdowns than any other team.” Clay adds that “Gibbs led the NFL with 20 TDs last season, and Montgomery produced 1,000-plus total yards for the sixth season in a row despite missing three games.”
But, the team’s biggest weakness, they believe, is its interior offensive line. That’s partly due to the retirement of center Frank Ragnow, which was a big blow to the team.
The Big Question for the Lions
The X factor, according to Walder, is new offensive coordinator John Morton. He has very big shoes to fill, no doubt.
“Former OC Ben Johnson often seemed to provide the Lions with a schematic advantage,” Walder said in the piece. “The big question this season: To what degree was that the case and can Morton do the same? Detroit’s title hopes rest quite a bit on the answer to those questions.”
So, ESPN really thinks that Detroit can go all the way this year, but there are some questions. It will be exciting to finally see Morton on the field, calling plays and trying to step in for Johnson, who’s considered one of the best offensive minds in the league.
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