The welcomed influx of new talent into the Lions’ den means some established players will have to find a new NFL place to rest their helmets. Several players who were starters or played significant roles for Detroit in 2019 are now precariously on the team’s roster bubble after the draft, free agency and UDFA signings.
The team has already said goodbye to some, notably free agents Graham Glasgow, Sam Martin, A’Shawn Robinson. The Lions also dumped veterans like Rick Wagner and Damon “Snacks” Harrison. Which recognizable Lions from 2019 could be next?
Jamal Agnew
The team’s primary return specialist for the last three seasons is more in danger because he’s never developed into an NFL-caliber player as a cornerback, his regular position. After a terrible start to 2019, Agnew bounced back with some solid games at the end of the season. His punt return TD against Denver was the first glimpse of the dynamic All-Pro returner Agnew was as a rookie in 2017 since that first year.
With no role on defense and facing viable challenges for his return gig from sixth-rounder Jason Huntley and depth receiver Marvin Hall, Agnew will have to quickly prove he’s worthy of the roster spot.
John Atkins
Atkins isn’t the most recognizable name, but the defensive tackle did start six games last season. He logged 20 total tackles in 12 games, double what Mike Daniels contributed in his woebegone year. His 40 percent of total snaps at nose tackle in 2019 weren’t impressive enough to keep him safe.
The Lions signed Danny Shelton to be the new starter. Fifth-round pick John Penisini is a younger, more versatile option as a reserve.
Joe Dahl
Detroit’s primary starting left guard in 2019 has seen several shots across his roster bow this offseason. The team brought back nondescript veterans Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi, signed former first-rounder Josh Garnett, and then drafted Joshua Jackson in the third round and Logan Stenberg in the fourth.
If the team believed in Dahl, they have a funny way of showing it by drafting two players at his exact position and also seeing the need to re-sign underwhelming vets. Even if the coaching staff opts to continue with the rotational nature at guard, Dahl appears to be in trouble.
Ty Johnson
Johnson played well as a rookie running back. The sixth-rounder from Penn State led the Lions with a 4.3 yards per carry average (min. 50 carries) and also caught 24 passes on 31 targets. He played well enough to prove he’s an NFL RB.
Yet the Lions drafted Jason Huntley as a direct challenger to Johnson in the role of speed/receiving back. GM Bob Quinn even said so in his post-draft press conference. It’s hard to see the Lions keeping both in a suddenly crowded backfield unless one of them also wins the return specialist gig.
Miles Killebrew
Killebrew has done little outside of contributing solid work on special teams in his four seasons in Detroit. He’s played just 87 total snaps on defense the last two years despite being healthy.
Signing Jayron Kearse as a free agent and inking some promising undrafted players who can fill his reserve safety role might be the end of Killebrew’s time in Detroit.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin
The team’s fourth-round pick in 2017 is coming off his most impactful season. Reeves-Maybin started three games at linebacker and recorded a career-high 37 tackles. But his future is in peril.
Reeves-Maybin is no higher than fifth on the LB depth chart behind Jamie Collins, Jarrad Davis, Christian Jones and Jahlani Tavai. With the depth and talent bumped up at safety, there figures to be less room for extra linebackers in what appears to be a more firm 4-man front in new coordinator Cory Undlin’s defense. Newcomer Reggie Ragland better fits what coach Matt Patricia wants from his LBs in a reserve role, too.