The Detroit Lions are ready to take back the NFC North during the 2026 NFL season. Detroit has gone to great lengths to upgrade the roster during the offseason. Perhaps most importantly, Dan Campbell and the rest of the team are getting back to their gritty ways. If the Lions can recapture the same identity they had in the early days of Campbell's regime, they should make it back to the playoffs in 2026.
Mandatory minicamp is now in the rearview mirror. That means that training camp in late July is the next big milestone for the Lions.
What did Detroit learn about their players during minicamp? And are some players already on the roster bubble before training camp even begins?
Three Lions players stand out as being in the most danger of being cut following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp.
Is it finally time to give up on Sione Vaki?
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn shakes hands with running back Sione Vaki (33) during warm up before the Tennessee Titans game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Vaki is one of the most fascinating players on Detroit's entire roster.
The former safety, who converted to running back in the NFL, has primarily been a special teams contributor for the Lions over the past few seasons. But the number of snaps he took on special teams dipped in 2025. It is still arguably Vaki's best skill set.
Unfortunately, he has not done much of anything to prove himself as a running back. Over the past two seasons, he has a total of 10 touches for 55 all-purpose yards on offense. That's not the kind of production that will keep him around for long by itself.
If Vaki's true role is on special teams, then his job could easily be in danger.
The Lions could decide to keep Jacob Salyers as a third running back instead of Vaki. When looking back at how both were used in 2025, there are a few reasons to suspect this could happen.
Salyers was one of Detroit's primary kick returners during the 2025 season. In fact, he logged 33 returns for 897 total return yards during the regular season. But he did not get much of a chance to prove himself as a running back. He only managed two carries for 11 rushing yards, which is not too surprising with Jahmyr Gibbs demanding plenty of touches.
Vaki and Salyers seem to have the same appeal as players, except Salyers provides more value as a returner.
The Lions may decide to part ways with Vaki if he does not take a big leap forward during training camp.
Will a position change be enough to save Jackson Meeks?
The Lions signed Meeks as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft. Detroit waived Meeks during final roster cuts and brought him back on the practice squad. Meeks then signed a reserve/future contract back in January.
Meeks joined the NFL as a wide receiver and played at the position during his rookie season. But the 23-year-old recently changed positions during spring practices with the Lions.
The Lions converted Meeks from a wide receiver to a tight end, per John Maakaron of SI. He apparently caught the eye of Detroit's coaching staff when used as a tight end during scout team duties.
This could be one last attempt to try to find a place for Meeks on the roster. But it is difficult because it puts Meeks in a situation where he will probably be cut.
Meeks is 6-foot-2 and 218 pounds. That puts him more on the physical side for a wide receiver, but it is small for a tight end. Both size and technique could be huge hurdles for Meeks as a blocker, especially when going up against elite NFL defenders.
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If the Lions keep another tight end beyond Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Tyler Conklin then it would probably be someone like Zach Horton who can play snaps at fullback too.
Making it as an undersized tight end in the NFL who cannot block is a tough assignment. It would be even more difficult in Detroit's offense where running the football is incredibly important.
The best-case scenario for Meeks is to stick around on the practice squad once again.
Loren Strickland could be the odd man out in Detroit's safety room
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (24) looks on before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field.
Eamon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Detroit has a stuffed safety room headed into training camp.
The Lions currently have seven safeties on the roster, headlined by superstar Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Unfortunately, both players are coming off major injuries and should start the season unavailable. As a result, the Lions need to prioritize safeties who can make an impact on defense right away starting in Week 1.
The good news is that Detroit has a few great options at safety. Veteran Chuck Clark and youngster Thomas Harper have looked good this offseason. That's especially true for Clark during mandatory minicamp.
The Lions also signed Christian Izien during NFL free agency. He should be in the mix for both safety and slot cornerback work.
Finally, there's second-year safety Dan Jackson. He did not play much in 2025 but has a few years left on a cost-controlled rookie deal.
All of those safeties are ahead of Strickland on the depth chart.
Realistically, both Branch and Joseph could start the season on injured reserved or the PUP list. If that happens, the Lions could easily choose to keep Harper, IzIen, Clark, and Jackson to give themselves four safeties to start the season.
The biggest problem for Strickland is that his main selling point as a player is special teams value. Strickland will really need to prove himself specifically on defensive snaps during training camp.
Otherwise, he is bound to be cut.
The Detroit Lions are ready to take back the NFC North during the 2026 NFL season. Detroit has gone to great lengths to upgrade the roster during the offseason. Perhaps most importantly, Dan Campbell and the rest of the team are getting back to their gritty ways.