The Detroit Lions have built one of the NFC’s deepest and most balanced rosters, but even contenders enter every offseason with priorities. With the 2026 league year approaching, Detroit’s core remains intact, yet a few positional questions stand out more than others.
Here is a ranking of the Lions’ biggest positional needs entering the 2026 offseason.
1. Offensive tackle
No position feels more urgent than offensive tackle.
Detroit’s offense is built around physicality up front. The Lions want to run the football, control tempo and create explosive plays off play-action. That identity depends heavily on the edges of the offensive line holding firm in both pass protection and the run game.
While the interior of the line remains a strength, tackle depth and long-term stability are less certain. Injuries over the past two seasons have tested the unit, forcing backups into meaningful snaps. Though serviceable at times, the drop-off has been noticeable against elite pass rushers.
There is also the long-term financial picture to consider. Veteran tackles command premium salaries, and Detroit already has significant money allocated to cornerstone players. Investing in a young, cost-controlled tackle through the draft would help protect the team’s flexibility while preserving the offense’s foundation.
The NFC is loaded with high-end edge rushers. If Detroit wants to remain a legitimate Super Bowl threat, it must ensure its quarterback isn’t under constant pressure from the blind side. An upgrade or succession plan at offensive tackle isn’t just about depth — it’s about sustainability.
2. Edge rusher
The Lions have a star in Aidan Hutchinson. What they need is consistency opposite him.
Hutchinson has developed into one of the league’s premier defensive ends, commanding double teams and consistently disrupting opposing quarterbacks. However, offenses have shown a willingness to slide protection his direction, betting that Detroit’s complementary rushers won’t win often enough to make them pay.
That strategy has worked at times.
Detroit’s defense made strides in coverage and situational defense last season, but when facing top-tier quarterbacks, the inability to generate pressure with four rushers proved costly. In January football, blitz-heavy approaches become riskier, particularly against veteran passers who can diagnose pressure pre-snap.
Adding another edge rusher who can produce eight to 10 sacks and collapse the pocket consistently would change the complexion of the defense. It would create more one-on-one opportunities for Hutchinson and force offenses into tougher protection decisions.
Whether through free agency or the draft, this is a need that can’t be ignored. Championship defenses rarely rely on one elite pass rusher alone.
3. Safety
Safety is third on the list, but it remains important.
The pairing of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch gives Detroit versatility on the back end. Joseph’s range and ball skills allow him to patrol deep zones, while Branch thrives closer to the line of scrimmage, covering the slot, blitzing and supporting the run.
The concern isn’t star power. It’s depth and durability.
If either player misses extended time, the Lions’ defensive flexibility narrows. Rotations become simpler. Coverage disguises become harder to execute. Against the NFC’s elite offenses, that margin matters.
Adding a veteran safety or developing a young rotational option would provide insurance and keep the defense adaptable over a long season.
Detroit is not a team with glaring weaknesses. It is a team fine-tuning around the edges. But in a conference stacked with contenders, small roster gaps can decide playoff games. If the Lions solidify offensive tackle, find a true running mate for Hutchinson and reinforce the safety room, they will enter 2026 positioned not just to compete — but to finish.