Training camp is closing in fast, and the latest bit of good news for Detroit Lions fans has nothing to do with the practice schedule. According to ESPN’s 2026 NFL roster rankings, the Lions have the sixth-best roster in football heading into the season.
The rankings come from a three-person panel — Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder — who each built full 32-team lists based on talent, age and production, then combined their ballots. Detroit lands behind only the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
It’s not a one-off opinion, either. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm put Detroit sixth in his own post-draft rankings back in May, and ESPN itself reportedly had the Lions fourth overall in an earlier roster exercise this offseason, according to Pride of Detroit. Different outlets, different methods, same basic conclusion: this is a top-tier roster.
Why Detroit’s Offense Still Scares People
Clay didn’t hesitate on what makes the Lions dangerous. Their group of skill-position players — running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta — is one of the deepest in the league, and the numbers back it up.
Gibbs is the only running back in NFL history to hit at least 1,200 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns and 50 catches in each of his first three seasons. St. Brown has caught 90-plus passes in every one of his five NFL seasons, a mark no other player has matched to start a career. Williams has topped 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back years. LaPorta missed half of last season to injury but still ranks third among tight ends in touchdowns since he entered the league in 2023.
That production has shown up on the scoreboard, too — Detroit has finished in the top five in both total offense and touchdowns in each of the past four seasons.
The Secondary Remains the Question Mark
If there’s a soft spot, ESPN’s panel says it’s the back end of the defense — and not because of a lack of talent. It’s availability. Cornerback D.J. Reed missed roughly half of the 2025 season with injury, and the other outside cornerback spot is unsettled after the Lions released 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold following his arrest on felony kidnapping and armed robbery charges in Tampa, Florida.
Veterans Rock Ya-Sin and Roger McCreary are expected to compete for reps opposite Reed. At safety, both Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) are working back from serious injuries and are uncertain for Week 1, per ESPN’s report.
Safety Christian Izien is another name to track. He started 10 games for Tampa Bay in 2024 before losing his job last season, and according to The Sporting News, the Lions view him as a source of depth in a secondary that’s short on certainty.
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 3 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills |
| 5 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 6 | Detroit Lions |
Lions Still Clear of the NFC North Field
Within the division, nobody is close. ESPN slots the Green Bay Packers at No. 10, the Chicago Bears at No. 17 and the Minnesota Vikings at No. 22 — a 16-spot gap between Detroit and its closest division rival.
Not everyone agrees on just how far ahead the Lions are, though. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes ran an alternate exercise on her podcast with guest Ryan Clark, and in that format, Detroit came out 16th overall — a reminder that these rankings are ultimately informed opinion, not settled fact.
One more offensive line piece worth watching, per ESPN: rookie right tackle Blake Miller. With Taylor Decker gone and Penei Sewell sliding over to left tackle, Miller is stepping into a starting job earlier than most first-year linemen would like. ESPN’s panel called his development an X-factor for keeping the offense at its usual level.
