Monday, July 6, 2026

Lions Links for Monday 7-6-26

Articles:





Detroit Lions 2026 Roster Bubble: Offensive Linemen:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-2026-roster-bubble-offensive-linemen


Detroit Lions Biggest 2026 Offseason Winners and Losers:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-biggest-2026-offseason-winners-losers

The Underrated Lions Addition Who Could Change Everything This Season:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/underrated-lions-addition-who-could-change-everything-this-season

Why Rock Ya-Sin Can Excel as Lions Starting Cornerback:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/why-rock-ya-sin-can-excel-lions-starting-cornerback








Detroit Lions’ highly productive offseason masks 5 lingering concerns that could derail a Super Bowl push:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-highly-productive-offseason-masks-5-lingering-concerns-that-could-derail-a-super-bowl-push/

The numbers prove Detroit Lions can’t afford to believe the biggest myth in football:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/the-numbers-prove-detroit-lions-cant-afford-to-believe-the-biggest-myth-in-football/

Lions trading a core starter would be an unpopular decision — but the cap math proves it is the only logical roster sacrifice:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/lions-trading-a-core-starter-would-be-an-unpopular-decision-but-the-cap-math-proves-it-is-the-only-logical-roster-sacrifice/

4 Detroit Lions players who are facing the heaviest pressure this summer:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/4-detroit-lions-players-who-are-facing-the-heaviest-pressure-this-summer/

Which NFL teams have the best -- and worst -- rosters? Ranking every lineup from 1 to 32 (6. Detroit Lions:  Biggest strength: Offensive playmakers. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and TE Sam LaPorta form one of the league's best groups of skill players. This is a group that has helped Detroit finish top five in offensive yards and touchdowns each of the past four seasons. Gibbs is the only back in league history with at least 11 touchdowns, 1,200 rushing yards and 50 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons. St. Brown is the only player in NFL history with 90-plus catches in each of his first five NFL seasons. Williams has 1,000-plus yards each of the past two seasons. And LaPorta missed half of 2025 due to injury but still sits third among tight ends in TDs (20) since entering the league in 2023. -- Clay.  Biggest weakness: Secondary. This one is not for a lack of talent, but major availability concerns make Detroit's secondary a massive question mark. Cornerback D.J. Reed missed roughly half of last season due to injury and the other starting position opposite him is in question after 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold was released due to his alleged role in a felony kidnapping case in Tampa, Florida. Veterans Rock Ya-Sin and Roger McCreary are among those competing for an every-down role. At safety, Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) are both uncertain for Week 1 after suffering major injuries last season. This has the potential to be a very good group, but questions will need to be answered. -- Clay.  X factor for 2026: Right tackle Blake Miller. We think of the Lions as having a stalwart offensive line, but they had a serious need at right tackle after releasing veteran tackle Taylor Decker and flipping Penei Sewell to the left side. They filled it with Miller in the first round of the draft. Historically, rookie tackles are typically below average in their first season, even if they're first-rounders. We'll find out if Miller can buck that trend and, if so, keep the Lions with two good tackles to bookend their offensive line. -- Walder.  Nonstarter to know: S Christian Izien. If Branch is healthy enough to play, he'll spend a lot of time in the slot, which will require a third safety on the field. Izien started 10 games for Tampa Bay in 2024, with 75 combined tackles and good coverage metrics, then lost his job to Tykee Smith last season. Can Izien play an important role for the Lions this season? -- Schatz): https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49231555/2026-nfl-roster-ranking-starting-lineups-projection-32-teams

Who are the NFL's best running backs? Execs, coaches and scouts helped rank the top 10 for 2026 (2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions - Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 8.  Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 3.  Many who voted Gibbs as the top back were emphatic that he's the best.  "Your eyes tell you there's no one like him with the ball in his hands," an NFL coordinator said. "He plays with better pace because of his vision, and then the gear is different. You see him blow by guys with angles. And he's elite in the passing game."  Gibbs' 18 touchdowns in 2025 are the second most in a season in Lions history, trailing only Gibbs himself in 2024 (20).  "He's got 39 [rushing] touchdowns in three years while splitting time," an NFC exec said. "It's crazy."  While some voters see Robinson as the better inside runner, Gibbs has proved durable despite running inside and outside the box. With David Montgomery traded to Houston, Gibbs could log his first 300-carry season in 2026. He has averaged 225 carries per year since 2023.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49145576/ranking-nfl-top-10-running-backs-2026-execs-coaches-scouts


Redrafting 2024 NFL Draft: QB shakeup at the top, Harrison Jr. falls (24. Detroit Lions: Calen Bullock, S, USC - Original pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama.  The first third-round pick to end up in the first round of this redraft, Bullock is a menace who tackles like a linebacker and has nine career interceptions. He can drop down into the box and play in the slot. The Lions would have a tremendous trio of Bullock, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, all players Dan Campbell loves, or, in Bullock's case, would love.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-redraft-caleb-williams-jayden-daniels-drake-maye/

SEC All-Decade Team: Alabama fill 10 spots, Joe Burrow headlines at QB (Interior Offensive Linemen - Frank Ragnow, Arkansas, Landon Dickerson, Alabama, Braden Smith, Auburn.  Dickerson and Smith rank among the top 10 in pressure rate allowed among interior offensive linemen with at least 200 qualifying pass-blocking snaps. While both also excelled in the run game, Frank Ragnow's 95.9 PFF run-blocking grade at Arkansas is one of the highest in PFF history.  All three players were born outside the SEC's traditional recruiting footprint — Ragnow in Minnesota, Dickerson in North Carolina and Smith in Kansas. The trio has since flourished in the NFL, combining for more than 19,000 career snaps.):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-sec-all-decade-team


‘Just Loud and Obnoxious’ — Terrion Arnold’s Neighbours Shares Blunt Opinion on Former Lions CB’s Friends Days After Kidnapping Charges:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/terrion-arnold-neighbours-shares-blunt-opinion-lions/

Video:

Mike Garafolo provides contract extension updates on top players | 'The Insiders':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/mike-garafolo-provides-contract-extension-updates-on-top-players-the-insiders
Posted by LionsFan at 8:35 PM

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