The Detroit Lions are looking to defend their claim to the NFC North in 2025 after experiencing a great deal of coaching turnover during the offseason.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell lost coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn — along with a slew of assistant coaches — to head-coaching jobs in January. To replace them, he bet on a mixture of experience and familiarity, hiring veteran John Morton to lead the offense and promoting linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to guide the defense.
Now, Campbell must work with his new coaching visionaries to put their 90-man roster through the wringer during training camp and determine which 53 players are the best suited to stick around on their 53-man roster heading into the 2025 regular season.
Here is a look at three of the biggest Lions roster battles that Campbell and his staff will need to evaluate during camp next month in preparation for the new season:
1.) Center
GettyLions rookie offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.
The Lions are looking for a new starting center after veteran Frank Ragnow abruptly announced his NFL retirement on June 2, something made more difficult by the fact that they also allowed veteran guard Kevin Zeitler to sign elsewhere in NFL free agency. The selection of second-round rookie Tate Ratledge makes things easier on them, but it still raises questions about the quality of their interior offensive line play ahead of 2025.
Ratledge played primarily right guard at Georgia, but the Lions cross-trained him at center during spring workouts and seemed interested in prioritizing him as Ragnow’s successor. That said, the Lions have other options to consider with veterans Graham Glasgow and Trystan Colon — who have each made starts at center and guard — on the roster. In all likelihood, two of the three will begin the season as starters since the right guard role is also unsettled, but competition should decide who gets the nod at center.
2.) Defensive End
GettyLions defensive end Josh Paschal.
There is still clamor for the Lions to make another addition at defensive end before the start of camp. Za’Darius Smith has publicly said he would welcome a return to Detroit after playing in nine games for them in 2024. Meanwhile, Trey Hendrickson remains in an unresolved contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals and is the top pass rusher on the trade market, giving the Lions an opportunity to make an all-in play for 2025.
Whatever the Lions do at the position, they will need to find a reliable No. 2 pass rusher to play opposite superstar Aidan Hutchinson before heading into the new year. Veteran Marcus Davenport is the top choice to start coming out of OTAs, but he has played just six games over his past two seasons and is a major injury concern. The Lions could also consider 2021 second-rounder Josh Paschal, who has limited pass-rushing production in his first three seasons but has something to prove heading into a contract season.
3.) Backup Quarterback
GettyLions quarterback Hendon Hooker.
The Lions should have zero doubts about Jared Goff as their starting quarterback after he threw for 4,629 yards and a career-high 37 touchdowns in 2024, but they will have some questions about who should serve as his backup heading into the 2025 season.
In the offseason, the Lions signed a one-year contract with veteran backup Kyle Allen, bringing in a quarterback with more than 700 passing attempts and 19 career starts on his record to push 2022 third-round pick Hendon Hooker for the No. 2 job. Their battle will likely take center stage in the preseason, especially if the Lions keep Goff sidelined. While Allen might have the edge in experience, though, the Lions have remained high on Hooker’s development and could tab him as Goff’s top backup in 2025 if he shows promising growth as a passer when the pads come on and the summer work gets going.
3 Biggest Roster Battles to Watch for Lions in 2025 Training Camp