It’s July, which means one thing for football fans: training camp is almost here. Detroit Lions supporters are buzzing with excitement as Dan Campbell’s squad prepares to hit the field. But with that excitement also comes the sobering reality—several players won’t make it through camp.
Even some of the Lions’ recent signings could find themselves out of a job before the season begins. Between veterans fighting for one last chance and undrafted rookies trying to beat the odds, a handful of names are already looking like long shots.
Here’s a look at some of the most likely cut candidates heading into camp:
Raequan Williams, DT
Williams might be new to Detroit, but he’s no stranger to Michigan football fans who followed his career at Michigan State. After going undrafted in 2020, he bounced around the league, starting with the Eagles. Now 28, he hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2021 and sits buried on the Lions’ depth chart. It’s going to be tough for him to stick.
Malik Taylor, WR
Taylor is a longshot story himself, coming out of Ferris State as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s managed to hang around the NFL but has seen very limited action. Right now, Taylor likely sits anywhere from seventh to eleventh on the Lions’ wide receiver depth chart, giving him a steep climb if he hopes to make the team.
Rock Ya-Sin, CB
The former second-round pick from Temple started his career with promise in Indianapolis, but things have trended downward quickly. Last season, Ya-Sin played just 8% of snaps with the 49ers. Heading into camp, he could be as low as the sixth cornerback or even further down, making his roster spot very shaky despite his experience.
Zach Horton, FB/TE
An undrafted rookie from Indiana, Horton fits Dan Campbell’s gritty mindset perfectly. His versatility at both fullback and tight end is intriguing, but the reality is he’ll need a standout camp to have any shot at the final roster. The depth ahead of him makes his path to a spot extremely challenging.
Training camp always brings surprises, but for these four, the odds are already stacked against them as they fight to prove they belong in Detroit.
Early Cuts? These New Lions Additions Already Fighting for Their Roster Lives
