By Moses Joshua 
Deep roster and intense competition leave little room for error as Detroit eyes another playoff run
The Detroit Lions are entering the 2025 season with sky-high expectations. After a breakout 2024 campaign and a roster stacked with talent, the franchise is aiming for nothing short of a Super Bowl run. But before the regular season grind begins, the front office must navigate one of its trickiest periods yet—finalizing the 53-man roster.
With a roster deeper than it’s been in decades and a few key additions in the offseason, some Lions players are now teetering on the edge. While training camp will provide more clarity, early signs from minicamp already point to tough decisions on the horizon.
Here are three Lions players who could be shown the door before camp even starts—or find themselves fighting for their NFL lives once it does.
1. Ronnie Bell: Caught in a Crowded Receiver Room
Ronnie Bell’s journey in Detroit may be nearing its end before it ever truly began.
Signed to the Lions’ practice squad in January, Bell has worked hard this offseason to stake his claim. But Detroit’s investment in wide receiver talent during the 2025 NFL Draft has left the room more competitive than ever. The Lions traded up for Isaac TeSlaa in the third round and picked up Dominic Lovett later on, leaving Bell stuck in a numbers game.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and TeSlaa are near locks to make the roster. Kalif Raymond, a special teams ace, likely holds the fifth spot. That leaves one—maybe two—slots up for grabs, with Bell competing against Tom Kennedy, Malik Taylor, Jackson Meeks, and Jakobie Keeney-James.
Early buzz out of Detroit hints at Meeks turning heads. Combine that with Kennedy’s reliable preseason performances, and Bell’s odds shrink quickly. Without a standout performance soon, Bell may not make it to training camp at all.
2. DaRon Gilbert: Linebacker Logjam Could Spell Trouble
If there’s one position group that appears overloaded, it’s linebacker—and DaRon Gilbert may be the odd man out.
Detroit enters training camp with 10 linebackers, a number far above typical modern NFL rosters. Veterans Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Derrick Barnes headline the starting group, while Malcolm Rodriguez, Grant Stuard, and Ezekiel Turner bring proven versatility.
Unfortunately for Gilbert, he finds himself buried beneath a deep and experienced depth chart. Players like Zach Cunningham and Anthony Pittman not only boast NFL reps, but Pittman brings vital special teams prowess—a key separator.
While Rodriguez’s recovery from ACL surgery could delay a decision, Gilbert’s lack of playing time and name recognition make him a prime candidate to be cut before or early in camp.
3. Brodric Martin: The Clock May Finally Expire on This Project Pick
When Detroit selected Brodric Martin in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they envisioned a developmental interior lineman who could grow into a rotational force. Two years later, patience is running thin.
Martin has appeared in just five games across two seasons, posting only four total tackles. Despite his ideal frame for a nose tackle, his lack of explosiveness and inability to disengage from blockers have stalled his progress.
The Lions didn’t stand pat this offseason either. They added veteran Roy Lopez, drafted standout rookie Tyleik Williams in the first round, and welcomed back Alim McNeill and D.J. Reader. Second-year tackle Mekhi Wingo is also surging up the depth chart.
That leaves Martin likely sitting seventh in a six-man room—a precarious position for a former Day 2 pick. Unless he turns heads dramatically this summer, his tenure in Detroit could quietly come to a close.
The Bottom Line
Detroit’s climb to the NFC elite has come with a price: fewer safe spots for fringe players. With depth across nearly every position and higher expectations than ever before, the Lions are treating this summer as a time to sharpen the blade, not soften it.
For players like Bell, Gilbert, and Martin, the message is clear—there’s no room for passengers on a team with championship aspirations.