The Detroit Lions have had an eventful offseason.

Free agency and the draft are over, which leaves us all speculating over what the roster will look like come September.

Lions fans submitted their questions about roles rookies will hold, depth chart predictions, and available free agents. Here’s what I had to say:

“Can Huntley and Ty Johnson both stick on the Lions? Who will go if they both do? Or could either one of them survive to be put on the practice squad without being picked up?” -@SFHCommish_1

The Lions’ front office will have a lot of tough choices to make when it comes to the running back position.

2020 fifth-round pick Jason Huntley is in direct competition with Ty Johnson, who was selected in the sixth round last year. Both are speedy options in the backfield, capable receivers, and dynamic kick returners.

Both are young players with plenty of upside and athletic ability, so it’s likely, but not certain, that Detroit opts to keep both on the active roster. What would that mean for the other running backs on the team?

Detroit generally decides to run with four running backs on their active roster, and Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift appear to have the top two running back spots locked down. That would most likely leave Huntley and Ty Johnson to fight it out for one of those spots, while Bo Scarborough and Wes Hills duke it out for the backup power running back role.

If the Lions waive either Huntley or Johnson, I can’t say with full certainty that either will clear waivers, but generally, most players that are let go at the deadline for roster cutdowns don’t get picked up from the waiver wire. If they make it through, expect them back on the practice squad.

”I’m wondering how you think the Lions backfield will operate this season?  Do you see Swift coming in and taking over as the lead back?” -@TheFootballPot

I see the 2020 season opening up with Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift sharing snaps evenly, and hopefully pairing well as a tandem. The Lions have favored the committee approach to their backfield, so these two players will both get their fair share of snaps.

As I stated in my previous answer, it is safe to say that the Lions will operate with four running backs on their roster. We know that Johnson and Swift have pretty defined roles as of now, but I can see Swift overtaking Johnson on the depth chart mid-season.

While Johnson has played fairly well for the Lions in his first two seasons, injuries have kept him sidelined for a good fraction of his career. Swift, who has stayed relatively healthy throughout college, could prove to be the more reliable option.

Johnson was also drafted to fit the scheme of former offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, while Swift was drafted with Darrell Bevell’s gameplan in mind. This could lead to Swift taking that lead spot away from Johnson quickly.

The remaining competitions, as stated earlier, will be Ty Johnson versus Jason Huntley for the speedy receiving option and Bo Scarborough versus Wes Hills for the power and goal-line option.

“What potential DL FA’s could the Lions potentially target to bolster the line, if any are better than what’s on the roster?” -@IGRifffinsports

The Lions’ interior defensive line seems set with Danny Shelton at nose tackle and Da’Shawn Hand playing the three-technique role. Behind them is Nick Williams, who will serve as a rotational lineman.

Behind them, it’s an open competition for the final spots. The Lions did just draft two interior linemen, John Penisini and Jashon Cornell, and have several other young players in Olive Sagapolu, Kevin Strong, John Atkins, and Frank Herron to consider.

If they decide to find an experienced free agent, the best player available at the position is Mike Daniels, who played for the Lions last season. Daniels would be an instant upgrade over any of the aforementioned players in the hunt for a roster spot, and he knows the defensive system already. Especially now, when many teams will go into the season with less time for team activities, an experienced player who knows the scheme is a luxury.

Other than Daniels, the defensive tackle market is pretty bare. Still on the market are Marcel Darius, Damion Square, Domata Peko, and Corey Liuget.

“It’s the first defensive snap of the season. Is Okudah lining up across from Allen Robinson?” -@DunnGuitar

You don’t draft a player with the third overall pick unless you plan to use them immediately.

That being said, the Lions have not seen what Jeffrey Okudah can do at a professional level. So when it comes time to cover a dominant receiver like Allen Robinson, Detroit’s coaching staff might want to use a more experienced and proven player like Desmond Trufant.

Obviously, things can change over the course of a season, but Okudah is a rookie in a position where players often struggle in their first year. He’ll be a definite starter, but won’t be shadowing any team’s top receiver in his first few games.

”Jonah Jackson has a lot of praise but at the surface his draft measurable strong are similar to last year’s UDFA Benzschawel. What’s the difference between the two and why is Jonah viewed as a possible starter over Beau?” -@TheRealShobear

The biggest difference between the two players is that the Detroit Lions organization valued one as a third-round pick just a season after signing the other as an undrafted free agent.

Benzschawel has the size advantage over Jackson and had better Combine numbers in several events, but on tape, Jackson appears to be the superior player.

The Lions liked Benzschawel to keep him around on the active roster for the entirety of the 2019 season, but his snap counts during the season prove that the team is not ready for him to hold a starting role. He only was active for two games throughout a season riddled with interior offensive line injuries, and only played two snaps on special teams.

Jackson seems to be the clear starter at right guard, and Joe Dahl holds the left guard role for now. Benzschawel could fight for that spot, but he’d be in competition with fourth-round pick Logan Stenberg, as well as veteran former starters Kenny Wiggins, Russell Bodine, Joshua Garnett, and Oday Aboushi. I’d put my money on any of those players earning the starting role over Benzschawel.