With their final preseason game in the books, the **[Detroit Lions](http://detroitlions.com)** are preparing for roster cutdown day, with the team required to trim to 53 players ahead of the 2025 regular season. Here’s my final prediction of how the roster could look:
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Hendon Hooker
In my mind, the Lions probably had their minds made up already about Hendon Hooker, but if not, his performance on Saturday makes the decision to cut him pretty easy.
* Jahmyr Gibbs
* David Montgomery
* Craig Reynolds
* Sione Vaki
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Jacob Saylors, Deon Jackson
I really like Jacob Saylors, and I really hope he ends up on the practice squad.
* Amon-Ra St. Brown
* Jameson Williams
* Kalif Raymond
* Isaac TeSlaa
* Tim Patrick
* Jackson Meeks
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Dominic Lovett, Ronnie Bell, Tom Kennedy, Jakobie Keeney-James, Malik Taylor
Heading into training camp, I said the Lions would only keep five receivers, but Jackson Meeks and Dominic Lovett really have me second-guessing myself. In a perfect world, the Lions won’t need more than five receivers in 2025, but we all know injuries happen. I really believe the Lions would love to sneak both Meeks and Lovett onto their practice squad, but that’s risky. Some have suggested the Lions will keep seven receivers, but I just don’t see that happening. I like Meeks more than Lovett, and the Lions have a better chance of getting Lovett to the practice squad.
* Sam LaPorta
* Brock Wright
* Shane Zylstra
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Zach Horton, Steven Stilianos, Gunnar Oakes
I have had these three making the 53-man roster since Day 1, and there is no reason to change it up.
* RT Penei Sewell
* RG Tate Ratledge
* C Graham Glasgow
* LG Christian Mahogany
* LT Taylor Decker
* G Kayode Awosika
* OT Dan Skipper
* OT Giovanni Manu
* IOL Kingsley Eguakun
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Jamarco Jones, Netane Muti, Michael Niese, Gunner Britton, Mason Miller, Zack Johnson
**Reserve/PUP:** Miles Frazier
**IR to return:** Trystan Colon
Prior to camp, I really thought the offensive line would be one of the most difficult positions to predict in terms of which players would make the roster. Fast forward to the present, and it was actually very easy for me. The only possible switch, in my mind, would be switching out Eguakun for Netane Muti.
* Aidan Hutchinson
* Marcus Davenport
* Al-Quadin Muhammad
* Nate Lynn
* Keith Cooper
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Isaac Ukwu, Mitchell Agude
**Reserve/NFI:** Josh Paschal
**IR to return:** Ahmed Hassanein
If Paschal and Hassanein were both ready to go, they would be in there for Lynn and Cooper.
* DJ Reader
* Tyleik Williams
* Mekhi Wingo
* Roy Lopez
* Pat O’Connor
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Brodric Martin
**Reserve/PUP:** Alim McNeill
Once again, this was another easy group to evaluate. Just imagine this group when McNeill is 100%!
* Jack Campbell
* Alex Anzalone
* Derrick Barnes
* Grant Stuard
* Zach Cunningham
* Trevor Nowaske
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, DaRon Gilbert
**Reserve/PUP:** Malcolm Rodriguez
I absolutely LOVE this group of linebackers, and it will only get better when Rodriquez returns.
* Terrion Arnold
* D.J. Reed
* Amik Robertson
* Avonte Maddox
* Khalil Dorsey
* Erick Hallett
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Nick Whiteside, D.J. Miller, Allan George, Tyson Russell, Luq Barcoo
I really cannot see any of the players above beating out Erick Hallett for the final spot. He has had a great camp both in practice and in games, and is a lock in my eyes.
* Kerby Joseph
* Brian Branch
* Rock Ya-Sin
* Ian Kennelly
_Didn’t make the cut:_ Loren Strickland, Morice Norris
Yawn. Another easy decision here. Had Norris never been injured, he may have been on here over Kennelly, but Kennelly has BALLED OUT and the coaching staff loves him.
* Jake Bates (K)
* Jack Fox (P)
* Hogan Hatten (LS)
Considering these three did not have any competition at all during camp, they are a lock for the initial 53-man roster.