Scouting the NFC North in 2026: The Detroit Lions
A few years ago, things got a bit strange in the NFC North. After decades of the NFC being dominated by the Packers, Vikings, and Bears, the Lions finally had a run of being a big threat and the top dog. Their coach, Dan Campbell, came in and brought a bravado and swagger the team and the fans had never seen before.
The Lions had finally gotten over being the stray dog that the other teams kicked around, even when they occasionally got hold of a bone. The fans grabbed onto the leadership’s “bite their kneecaps” mentality and stopped feeling sorry for themselves, along with the team. Over the last five years, they went into the seasons with actual faith in possibly winning the division and the Super Bowl.
Detroit’s Depth Gets Tested after a Noisy Spring
With success comes losses in the coaching staff, with Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson going to the Bears as their new head coach. He was seen as the main reason the offense was so good, using an exciting attack and a bevy of imaginative trick plays. Due to strong drafting and strategic free-agent moves that brought in key pieces, they were primed to keep things going in a direction that kept them near the top.
Last year, things started to go south with key veterans like Frank Ragnow retiring after the draft. Then injuries started to build up again, as happened in the 2024 season, which derailed that year. Detroit was still a big threat to begin the season, and it looked like they may still be the team to beat.
As the season went on, things slowly changed, with dominant wins turning into lackluster losses. Losing Johnson may have been too much for them to overcome in the 2026 season, given the losses in free agency.
Free Agency
The Lions started the offseason by having to cut costs to free up salary cap space that was starting to get tight with players needing new contracts, whether it was due to playing well during their rookie deals or free agents that had fit in excellently with the new team.
Others they couldn’t afford to re-sign, as other teams scooped up their talent to new cities. Detroit’s free-agent haul was a lot of players, but not many big contracts, after losing some key players who made big plays over the last few years. Here’s how free agency went in 2026.
- Linebacker Alex Anzalone signed with Buccaneers
- Receiver Kalif Raymond signed with Bears
- Running back David Montgomery traded to Texans for OL Juice Scruggs, 2026 4th round pick and 2027 7th round pick
- Offensive tackle Taylor Decker released
- Offensive lineman Graham Glasgow released
- Edge Josh Paschal released
- Linebacker Jack Campbell signed to new 4-year contract.
- Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin re-signed to 1-year contract.
- Kicker Jake Bates re-signed to 1-year contract
- Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez re-signed to 1-year contract
- Linebacker Trevor Nowaske re-signed to 1-year contract
- Center Cade Mays signed 3-year contract
- Running back Isaiah Pacheco 1-year contract
- Edge DJ Wonnum signed 1-year contract
- Receiver Greg Dortch signed 1-year contract
- Tight end Tyler Conklin signed 1-year contract
- Edge Payton Truner signed 1-year contract
Some of those players have been key members of the Lions, helping the team rise to the top of the division. The main strength of Detroit has been its stellar offensive line, which has been decimated over the last two offseasons. Scruggs isn’t much of an upgrade when compared to what they had, and Montgomery was a dangerous combination to have back in the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs.
Pacheco is a very good backup to replace him, but they only brought him in on a 1-year contract. In fact, aside from Mays, every other player signed in free agency was given only 1-year deals. No one got anything significant that keeps them there for the long haul. That is most likely due to some major contracts and player extensions coming up fast.
The wide receiver corps of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and others will all be pushing for big salaries in the next few years, and add in tight end Sam LaPorta. Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson will see significant salary increases over the next few years, as will Jared Goff, whose salary basically doubles next year.
The Lions are going to get tighter up against the cap in the next few years and have already started making tough decisions.
They brought in some solid players, but they are mostly backups or in situational roles. Conklin and Dortch are players who can surprise defenses if they don’t pay attention, with Conklin being an underrated TE since his days in Minnesota.
Wonnum was also a pass-rush specialist who didn’t hold up on 1st and 2nd down as a starter after he left the Vikings for the Panthers, but he could regain his form in Detroit.
The Draft
When the cap gets tight due to a star quarterback and a defensive stud like Hutchinson, you have to draft well to support them. Unfortunately for them, the pressing need to rebuild the offensive line is staring them in the face.
That meant they were in play for a lineman early, and maybe even often, this last draft. Their defensive line has also struggled on the side opposite Hutchinson. As I’ve mentioned, when talking about the Packers and Bears, this draft wasn’t strong, except perhaps at offensive tackle early. Here’s how they managed the 2026 draft.
- Round 1, Pick 17: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
- Round 2, Pick 44: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
- Round 4, Pick 118: Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan
- Round 5, Pick 157: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
- Round 5, Pick 168: Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky
- Round 6, Pick 205: Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, Texas Tech
- Round 7, Pick 222: Tyre West, EDGE, Tennessee
In the 1st round, the Lions took Miller as the fourth of seven tackles drafted in the first 32 picks. Tackles were obviously the premium picks this year as they went fast and furious. They concentrated on the defense with five of their next six picks shoring up spots that got weakened by injuries last year and the losses in free agency.
Anzalone was a huge loss in the middle, even with the emergence of Campbell over the last few seasons. Rolder isn’t ready to take that spot any more than Rodriguez or Nowaske. Moore may give them a better rush than Hutchinson, but he isn’t known for stopping the run. He’ll have a lot to prove when he takes on the division with three mobile quarterbacks that can outmaneuver a young, eager pass rusher.
While they didn’t need a corner, they have had several injuries at that position over the last few years, and the depth may be necessary. While one of those players can be a diamond in the rough, none of the others, other than Miller, are expected to be high-end performers. If he can be a good bookend for Sewell, it will give Goff more time to operate and open lanes for the running backs.
Overall
The Lions fell all the way back to the bottom of the division from their lofty climb over the last few years. Although, let’s be honest, the division was pretty tight and less than impressive. It was littered with surprising losses and close wins. The Lions could jump right back up with the changes on each team and a favorable fourth-place schedule.
The glaring issue with the team is the offensive line. Out of all the players, only two tackles, two centers, and one guard are officially given a specific position, while the rest are just designated as “offensive linemen”. That means that there could be problems with starters and backups. One injury could throw the entire group into chaos.
They are still strong at quarterback and running back, and have a deep receiver unit. St. Brown is a star, as is LaPorta, with some pretty decent support along with them. The offense could take over games in the past, but that may not be possible with the offensive line decimated. Goff can avoid sacks, but his MO has always been that once he gets rattled, he can melt down into an indecisive turnover machine.
They can only lean on the ground game so much. Should that happen, they will once again try to rebuild to become a contender.
Defensively, the last few years have been injury-marred at all levels. That can’t happen again, can it? Most likely not, and they may need them to get some wins this season if the offense struggles. The defense wasn’t extremely eviscerated; they just lost some guys who can make a difference with splash plays. Hutchinson can ruin a game for another team, and having the defensive backfield healthy this year can do nothing but help him out.
With the other teams’ losses this offseason, things could even out again in the division. The Lions seemed to lose that swagger they had after just one season without Johnson there to direct the offense. Those trick plays just didn’t seem to work, and the ingenuity didn’t net what it did before.
They got swept by the Vikings after having their number the last few years, and in the second loss, they seemed to play with no real urgency. Should they come out next season with that same lack of gusto, it may mean the Campbell confidence has worn off. Should they regain that confidence, they may have enough left in the tank and plenty of talent to get the job done and re-restore the roar in Detroit.
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