Lions depth chart 2021: Detroit's 53-man roster, projected starters as season approaches
Here's a look at the Lions depth chart entering Week 1
By
Jeff Kerr
•
3 min read
The Detroit Lions are in an interesting position in 2021, ushering in a new era with new head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff. Detroit set itself up for the future when the franchise acquired Goff, also receiving two first-round picks to take on Goff's contract while dealing away Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams.
Detroit has built one of the top young offensive lines in the NFL, with first-round pick Penei Sewell the next franchise tackle -- even if he isn't starting his career protecting Goff's blind side. The Lions also have one of the best tight ends in the game in T.J. Hockenson and an intriguing running back duo in D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams -- part of a core on offense the team will look to rebuild under new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn.
The defense added Michael Brockers, a veteran looking to improve the league's worst unit (in points and yards) last year. Detroit also allowed the most passing and rushing touchdowns in 2020, a tough task for new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn -- who is going to take risks with the secondary (similar to his style in New Orleans).
Whether the Lions are good or not in 2021, Campbell is changing the culture by having a hungry team that's going to fight for 60 minutes. An old-school type of football style will re-emerge in Detroit, as the Lions have a few years to rebuild the franchise back into a winner.
Here is the Lions' 53-man roster.
Note: Asterisks denote rookies.
Offense
| Starter | Backup | Depth | Depth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Jared Goff | |||
RB | Jamaal Williams | Jermar Jefferson* | Godwin Igwebuike | |
FB | ||||
LWR | Trinity Benson | |||
RWR | ||||
SWR | ||||
TE | ||||
LT | Matt Nelson | |||
LG | ||||
C | ||||
RG | Logan Stenberg | |||
RT | Penei Sewell* |
Give the Lions credit for ensuring Goff is the No. 1 quarterback for this season. Detroit could have drafted a quarterback at No. 7 overall to compete with Goff for the starting job, but the offense benefits by having a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback leading a rebuild. If Goff pans out in 2021, the Lions don't need to hunt for a quarterback in 2022 and can build around him with their future draft capital.
Look for a strong running game in Detroit as Lynn designated Williams the "A" back and Swift the "B" back. The "A" back is typically the bigger back that can run between the tackles for all-three downs. This is a true competition that could get even more intriguing if Todd Gurley joins the roster. The Lions will have a hungry veteran in Tyrell Williams and St. Brown -- a fourth-round pick -- will compete for playing time. The depth at this position is a concern.
Detroit has one of the top young offensive lines in the league as the unit's average age is 24 years old. Four starters are 25 or under and Dekker is the oldest of the starting unit at 27. The Lions also have depth at guard and tackle with Vaitai, who is in the second year of a five-year contract worth up to $50 million.
Defense
| Starter | Backup | Depth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Michael Brockers | De'Shaun Hand | |
| NT | Alim McNeill* | John Penisini |
|
| DE | Nick Williams | Jashon Cornell (suspended) | Kevin Strong |
| OLB | Trey Flowers | Charles Harris | Austin Bryant |
| OLB | Romeo Okuara | Julian Okuara | |
| ILB | Derrick Barnes* | ||
| ILB | Anthony Pittman | ||
| CB | Jerry Jacobs | ||
| CB | |||
| S | C.J. Moore | ||
| S | Dean Marlowe |
The Lions are going to a 3-4 full-time in 2021, so Okwara and Flowers are set for snaps at outside linebacker as well. Detroit has some work to do in improving this unit, which is going to take more than a one-year fix. Re-signing Okwara was big for the Lions pass rush, as he netted 61 pressures and 10 sacks in a breakout year in 2020. The Lions also added Brockers to the mix, along with his 28 pressures and five sacks from last season. The Lions allowed the fifth-most rushing yards in the league last year, so they added depth at defensive tackle in Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike.
Collins leads a linebacker group that added Anzalone this offseason, who should compete for playing time as he started nine games for the New Orleans Saints at MIKE last year. He'll line up inside in this defense.
Okudah was injured throughout his rookie season, but he'll get a chance to bounce back with Glenn -- a former cornerback -- as his new coach. Detroit gave up a league-worst 112.4 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks in 2020, mainly because the Lions didn't have much of a pass rush to back up the secondary. Improvement up front will drastically alter this secondary for the better.
