ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions added a nine-man draft class to their roster over the weekend. But with just two full-time starters gone from the defense, and two or three more on offense (depending how you count 'em), Detroit is also loaded with experience.
Right now, we project first-round pick T.J. Hockenson as the only rookie to win a starting job -- and that's as a co-starter with Jesse James.
Here's an early look at our projected depth chart now that free agency and the draft are in the rearview. (Note: This doesn't include UDFA signings because they're not official yet.)
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Offensive line
Projected starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Frank Ragnow, C Graham Glasgow, RG Oday Aboushi, RT Rick Wagner
Reserves: Tyrell Crosby, Joe Dahl, Kenny Wiggins, Leo Koloamatangi, Andrew Donnal, Jarron Jones
Notable departures: T.J. Lang
Draft picks: None
Breakdown: The Lions spent much of the draft outfitting their defense with new blood, spending four of their first five picks on that side of the ball. With a defensive-minded coach who runs a specialized system, it makes sense. But the flip side is Detroit was not able to acquire a starting-caliber guard to replace T.J. Lang -- in fact, it did not add any offensive linemen at all.
That's a strong sign Detroit likes its in-house options at right guard. Aboushi is probably the leader in the clubhouse for that job, after playing for Darrell Bevell in Seattle and then signing with Detroit in free agency. He gets the nod here over Kenny Wiggins, who was OK as Lang's injury replacement last year. Some like Tyrell Crosby for the job, but after not drafting any tackles, I think ultimately he remains in place as the top reserve behind Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner on the outside.
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Receiver
Projected starters: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola
Reserves: Travis Fulgham, Brandon Powell, Tommylee Lewis, Andy Jones, Chris Lacy, Deontez Alexander, Brandon Reilly
Notable departures: TJ Jones
Draft picks: Fulgham (sixth round)
Breakdown: The draft didn't really change much here. Golladay and Jones are locked into the outside jobs, while Amendola came aboard in free agency to man the slot. But now 34 years old and coming off a down year in Miami, you really have to wonder how much he has left. I thought Detroit might target a slot receiver to bolster the depth on the inside, but the only receiver it added was Fulgham. And he ain't no slot. Fulgham is a 6-foot-2 wideout who was known for big plays at Old Dominion, where he racked up 1,083 yards last year and averaged 17.2 yards per catch. Will compete for a spot coming off the bench with Brandon Powell, Tommylee Lewis and Andy Jones.
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Tight end
Projected starter: Jesse James, T.J. Hockenson
Reserves: Michael Roberts, Logan Thomas, Isaac Nauta, Jerome Cunningham
Notable departures: Luke Willson, Levine Toilolo
Draft picks: Hockenson (first round), Nauta (seventh round)
Breakdown: Tight end is a notoriously difficult position for rookies. Just ask Eric Ebron about that. But he's not alone. In fact, if you go back to 2006 -- the last time a tight end was taken in the top eight -- the average Year 1 production from first-round picks was just 33.4 catches for 377.5 yards and 2.9 touchdowns. For comparison, Jesse James caught 30 passes for 423 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Having said that, you don't draft a tight end eighth overall without having a plan in place to have him contribute immediately. Hockenson hails from that Iowa pro-style offense too, which should help expedite the learning curve. He might not start Week 1, but he should contribute immediately and eventually work his way into the lineup as a 1a and 1b with James. Roberts is the leader to back them up, but Detroit is growing restless with his inconsistency. He has to lock it in this offseason, physically and mentally, or could be pushed for a roster spot by free-agent pickup Logan Thomas, seventh-rounder Isaac Nauta and a couple intriguing UDFAs.
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Running back
Projected starter: Kerryon Johnson
Reserves: C.J. Anderson, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, Ty Johnson, Mark Thompson, Kerwynn Williams
Notable departures: LeGarrette Blount
Draft picks: Ty Johnson (sixth round)
Breakdown: Kerryon Johnson was one of the breakout stars of 2018, averaging the second-most yards per carry in the league and almost single-handedly reviving a Detroit running game that has wandered the desert since the days of Barry Sanders. Now Detroit has swapped out LeGarrette Blount for veteran power back C.J. Anderson as his backup, and also brought back Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick. That's an experienced and diversified backfield, and allowed the Lions to sit tight at running back in the draft.
But they didn't, adding Ty Johnson in the sixth round. He was a big-play threat at Maryland, including setting a school record for yards per carry as a sophomore, but lost his starting job during a disappointing senior season that was marred by injury. He was also a kick returner. Special teams might be his path to the roster, and anything he's able to add on offense will be a bonus.
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Quarterback
Projected starter: Matthew Stafford
Reserves: Tom Savage, Connor Cook
Notable departures: Matt Cassel
Draft picks: None
Breakdown: After 10 years and exactly zero playoff victories, some wanted Detroit to use the eighth overall pick to draft competition for Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Bob Quinn even said the option was on the table, although that always seemed like lip-service more than anything else. And sure enough, not only did the Lions bypass quarterback in the first round, but they did so in every round after that. They didn't draft a QB for the second straight year, which leaves Stafford uncontested at the position. Free-agent pickups Tom Savage and Connor Cook will jockey for the backup job, and whatever UDFA signing that awaits.
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Defensive line
Projected starters: Trey Flowers, Snacks Harrison, A'Shawn Robinson, Da'Shawn Hand
Reserves: Romeo Okwara, Austin Bryant, Eric Lee, Mitchell Loewen, Jonathan Wynn, John Atkins, P.J. Johnson
Notable departures: Ezekiel Ansah
Draft picks: Bryant (fourth round), Johnson (seventh round)
Breakdown: Detroit opened last season with one of the weakest defensive lines in the league. It should open 2019 with one of the deepest. That's what happens when you swing a trade for the best interior run defender in the league (Snacks Harrison). That's what happens when you mine Day 3 for an instant impact player (Da'Shawn Hand). And that's definitely what happens when you spend $90 million to land the No. 1 free agent in professional football (Trey Flowers). Throw in the rise of guys like A'Shawn Robinson and Romeo Okwara, and Detroit can roll five-deep in a variety of combinations.
Outside of Harrison, all these guys can play up and down the line. The top unit could look different every single week -- hell, it could look different every single drive. Bryant fits that mold too, a guy who played up and down that deep Clemson defensive line, which produced three players who went in the first 17 picks -- yet he still managed to rack up 30.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks the last two years. Yeah. Look out.
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Linebacker
Projected starters: Jarrad Davis, Christian Jones, Devon Kennard (edge)
Reserves: Jahlani Tavai, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Miles Killebrew, Steve Longa, Garret Dooley, Tre' Williams
Notable departures: None
Draft picks: Tavai (second round)
Breakdown: Throw a second-round unknown into a linebacker room that already returned all three starters, and you're left with more uncertainty than anywhere else on the roster. And that's exactly the point of adding a guy like Tavai.
He's that big-bodied linebacker that Matt Patricia had throughout his years in New England, from Tedy Bruschi to Rob Ninkovich and most recently Dont'a Hightower. The Lions didn't have that kind of guy on the roster, and they're hard to find in the draft. That scarcity is part of what propelled him so highly up Detroit's board. Tavai might not start right away because of all the experience that returns, but you can bet he's going to see a lot of the field as a big-hitting enforcer. Davis brings the speed in the middle, while Jones returns on the weak side. Kennard is almost strictly an edge these days, and a linebacker in name only.
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Secondary
Projected starters: CB Darius Slay, CB Justin Coleman, S Quandre Diggs, S Tracy Walker
Reserves: CB Jamal Agnew, CB Mike Ford, CB Rashaan Melvin, CB Amani Oruwariye, CB Teez Tabor, CB Andre Chachere, CB Marcus Cooper, CB Dee Virgin, S Tavon Wilson, S Andrew Adams, S Will Harris, S Charles Washington, S David Jones
Notable departures: S Glover Quin, CB Nevin Lawson
Draft picks: Oruwariye (fifth round), Harris (third round)
Breakdown: No position group has undergone a bigger makeover this offseason. Darius Slay is back at cornerback, and Quandre Diggs at safety, but almost everything else has the potential to look different -- and players you know could be on the chopping block.
Justin Coleman is going to start at cornerback -- you don't pay anyone $9 million a year to stand on the sideline -- but where he lands remains to be seen. He rose to prominence in the nickel in Seattle, but played some on the outside for Matt Patricia in New England before that. Rashaan Melvin, Mike Ford and Jamal Agnew all have shots to land the third gig, and I guess Teez Tabor too, although I think he's more likely to lose his job than crack the starting lineup. You almost never see a rookie cornerback start right away, so any contributions Detroit gets from Oruwariye are a bonus. He's probably more of a special teams contributor if anything, and a long-term project for the outside spot opposite Slay.
At safety, the addition of Will Harris creates a bit of a log jam. Andrew Adams was also added in free agency, to a group that already returns guys like Diggs, Tracy Walker, Tavon Wilson and special teams ace Charles Washington. It'll be fascinating to see how that mix sorts itself out, although my money is on Walker cracking the starting lineup alongside Diggs. He was capable of so much more as a rookie if he weren't stuck behind a guy like Glover Quin. With Quin out, Walker is poised for a breakout season.
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