Honestly, looking at the Detroit Lions roster with pictures from the start of the 2025 season compared to now is a bit like looking at a "before and after" photo of a house that got hit by a localized tornado. We were supposed to be the kings of the North. Instead, we’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, wondering how a team with five Pro Bowlers and a franchise-best 2024 record somehow finished 9-8 and fourth in the division.
It hurts.
The Christmas Day loss to the Vikings was basically the final nail in a coffin made of botched snaps and missed assignments. Jared Goff had a nightmare—two picks and a fumble—and just like that, the playoff dream vanished. But if you want to understand why this roster went from Super Bowl favorites to "wait until next year," you have to look past the box score and into the actual personnel shifts that gutted the identity of this team.
The Stars Who Stayed (And the Huge Bills Coming Due)
If there is a bright spot when you scroll through the current Detroit Lions roster with pictures, it’s the top-tier talent that actually performed. We aren't talking about "good for Detroit" players; we're talking about legitimate, league-wide superstars.
Penei Sewell remains the gold standard. Even in what he called a "down year," he was the top-graded tackle in the NFL according to PFF. He allowed exactly one sack in 15 starts. One. When you see him pulling on a screen pass, it’s like watching a refrigerator move at the speed of a gazelle.
Then there’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Sun God just keeps stacking seasons. He caught 117 balls for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. He’s now passed Michael Thomas for the most receptions by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. He is the heart of this offense, but his cap hit is about to explode to over $33 million in 2026.
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And we can't forget the young core:
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He passed Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns through three seasons in franchise history.
- Aidan Hutchinson: 14.5 sacks. He’s the first Lion ever to have multiple 10-sack seasons in his first four years.
- Jack Campbell: A monster. 176 tackles. He’s the first player since Shaq Leonard to hit 150 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles in a single season.
The problem isn't the stars. The problem is that the middle of the roster—the glue guys—started to peel off.
What Really Happened With the Offensive Line?
For years, the Lions' identity was built on having a brick wall up front. But 2025 felt different. Frank Ragnow retired, and the void he left at center was more like a canyon.
Brad Holmes tried to patch it with guys like Trystan Colon and Kayode Awosika, but it just didn't click. The run game, which was 6th in the league in 2024, plummeted to 12th. On third downs, the Lions went from a 46.7% conversion rate down to a dismal 38.5%.
You saw it in the Steelers game. 15 rushing yards. Total. That’s not Detroit football.
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Tate Ratledge, the rookie out of Georgia, showed some flashes, but he’s admitted the drop-off in line play "lights a fire" under him for 2026. With Taylor Decker's future feeling a bit murky and a bunch of depth pieces like Dan Skipper and Jamarco Jones hitting free agency, the 2026 Detroit Lions roster with pictures might look very different in the trenches.
The Coaching Carousel and the "John Morton" Experiment
Let’s be real: losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs after the 2024 season was a massive blow. We knew it would be tough, but nobody expected the offense to stall out like this under John Morton.
Morton lasted exactly one season before Dan Campbell pulled the plug on January 6, 2026. Campbell even took over play-calling duties late in the year because the rhythm was just... gone. Now, the search is on for a new OC. Names like Mike McDaniel (recently let go by the Dolphins) and Brian Daboll are floating around, but whoever takes the job has to figure out how to get Jared Goff back to his 2024 efficiency.
Goff’s cap hit in 2026 is a staggering $69.6 million. You can't have a $70 million quarterback turning the ball over three times on Christmas. You just can't.
The Defensive Identity Crisis
On defense, Aidan Hutchinson was often a one-man army. Al-Quadin Muhammad had a career year with 11 sacks, which was a huge surprise, but behind them? It was thin.
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Marcus Davenport struggled with injuries again, playing only eight games. It feels like his time in Detroit is over. The secondary was also a revolving door. When Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph went down, we were starting guys like Avonte Maddox and Arthur Maulet who were signed as emergency depth.
Amik Robertson, who filled in everywhere, basically said goodbye in his postgame comments after Week 18. The "next man up" philosophy works until the next man is also on the trainer's table.
2026 Free Agency: Who is Packing Their Bags?
The Lions have 28 free agents heading into this offseason. Because the cap situation is getting tight—mostly due to those massive extensions for Sewell, St. Brown, and Goff—Brad Holmes is going to have to make some heartbreaking cuts.
- Alex Anzalone: The leader of the defense. He wants to stay, but with Jack Campbell's emergence and the need for cap space, the veteran might be a casualty.
- D.J. Reader: He was a huge part of the run defense, but at 32, he might be too expensive to retain.
- David Montgomery: This is the big one. Holmes mentioned that "conversations" about trading Montgomery might happen. It sounds crazy given how good the "Sonic and Knuckles" duo was with Gibbs, but with Gibbs needing an extension, Monty might be the odd man out.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re a fan tracking the Detroit Lions roster with pictures, here is what you actually need to watch for in the coming months. This isn't just about collecting talent anymore; it's about surgery on the salary cap.
- Prioritize the Center Position: Whether it's through the draft or a high-end free agent like Tyler Linderbaum, the Lions cannot go into 2026 with a "by committee" approach at center. It killed the run game.
- Find a Legit EDGE2: Aidan Hutchinson needs help. Al-Quadin Muhammad was a great story, but the Lions need a consistent threat on the other side that doesn't have Marcus Davenport's injury history.
- The OC Hire is Everything: This roster is built to win now. They need a creative mind who can utilize Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams (who both missed significant time or targets in 2025) more effectively.
- Restructure or Bust: Expect to see Taylor Decker or even Jared Goff restructure their deals. The Lions only have about $3.8 million in effective cap space right now, which isn't enough to buy a bag of footballs in the NFL.
The window isn't closed, but it's definitely sticking. Dan Campbell graded himself a "freaking F" for the 2025 season. If the 2026 Detroit Lions roster with pictures doesn't include some major upgrades in the secondary and on the interior O-line, that "F" might start to feel permanent.
Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and the early draft mocks; with the 24th pick locked in, Holmes has to find another home run.