By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions enter the 2025 NFL season with one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league. But as impressive as that sounds, it also creates some tough situations—particularly when it comes to roster cuts. Following a challenging mandatory minicamp, a few players may already be facing the harsh reality that their time in Detroit could be coming to an end.
Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have built a competitive culture in Detroit. Backed by strong draft classes and smart decisions in free agency, the Lions are gearing up for another serious playoff run. However, with a tougher schedule ahead and new coordinators stepping in, the road to the Super Bowl will demand even more precision—and painful decisions.
With training camp on the horizon, not everyone on the current roster will get a chance to fight for a final spot. Some players may be released before they even get the opportunity to showcase their value in pads. Let’s dive into three Detroit Lions players whose futures are on shaky ground after the 2025 minicamp.
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1. Ronnie Bell – WR
The wide receiver room is looking increasingly crowded in Detroit. The Lions took big strides during the 2025 NFL Draft to bolster the position, selecting Isaac TeSlaa in the third round and Dominic Lovett later on. Both players bring exciting new potential and have already shaken up the depth chart.
With names like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and rookie TeSlaa looking like locks, and Kalif Raymond’s special teams versatility giving him an edge, the room is getting tight—really tight.
That spells trouble for Ronnie Bell.
Bell, who joined the Lions’ practice squad after a stint with the 49ers, has been grinding hard this offseason. But effort alone might not be enough this time around. He’ll be fighting for his life in training camp, going up against Lovett, Tom Kennedy (a preseason fan favorite), Malik Taylor, Jackson Meeks, and Jakobie Keeney-James.
Early buzz out of Detroit suggests Meeks could be a surprise standout, and Kennedy always seems to find a way to hang around longer than expected. All this adds pressure on Bell, who may find himself squeezed out before camp really kicks off.
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2. DaRon Gilbert – LB
The linebacker corps is another area where the numbers just don’t work in everyone’s favor. The Lions currently have ten linebackers on the roster, and in today’s NFL, that’s a hefty group.
At the top of the depth chart, veterans Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Derrick Barnes are firmly entrenched as starters. Behind them, you’ve got Malcolm Rodriguez (coming off a tough ACL injury), Trevor Nowaske, and others fighting for backup spots.
Unfortunately for DaRon Gilbert, he seems to be buried at the bottom of the list.
Gilbert is up against some stiff competition. Players like Grant Stuard, Ezekiel Turner, Zach Cunningham, and Anthony Pittman all bring more in-game experience, and Pittman’s special teams value is another major plus.
Gilbert may stick around for part of camp, especially as Rodriguez continues to recover. But when final cuts start rolling in, his name might be one of the first called. His path to the final 53-man roster looks nearly impossible at this point.
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3. Brodric Martin – DT
There comes a time when teams have to accept that a high draft pick didn’t pan out. That time may be approaching fast for defensive tackle Brodric Martin.
Taken in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Martin was a bit of a gamble from the start. Detroit even traded away three Day 3 picks to move up and grab him. Physically, he had the size and measurables that teams covet. But scouts questioned his agility and ability to shed blocks effectively—and those concerns have shown up on the field.
In two seasons, Martin has appeared in just five games, tallying a mere four tackles (with only one solo). That kind of production makes it hard to justify his spot, especially when you consider the depth ahead of him.
Alim McNeill and D.J. Reader are locked in as starters. Behind them, the Lions signed Roy Lopez for added depth and used their first-round pick this year on Tyleik Williams. Add in second-year lineman Mekhi Wingo, and suddenly Martin looks like the odd man out.
To make matters worse, he hasn’t made much of a case for himself during practices or limited game snaps. While it’s possible the team keeps him on the practice squad or lets him compete through camp, the writing could already be on the wall.
Simply put, the Brodric Martin experiment in Detroit hasn’t worked out.
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Final Thoughts
The Lions are no longer the underdog franchise just trying to keep pace. They’re built to contend—and that means there’s less room than ever for players who haven’t lived up to expectations.
Ronnie Bell, DaRon Gilbert, and Brodric Martin are all on the wrong side of the roster bubble heading into training camp. While surprises can happen, and a strong camp performance could shift their fate, they’ll need to deliver in a big way—and quickly.
As Detroit gears up for what could be its most high-stakes season in years, the margin for error is razor-thin. And for these three players, the clock may already be ticking.