Detroit Lions have four players facing more pressure than anyone else entering training camp. These aren't fringe roster hopefuls-they're familiar names who suddenly have everything to prove this summer.
The Detroit Lions will start reporting to training camp in less than 20 days, and it's time to talk about the players who need to show up ready to fight for their spots. This isn't about fringe roster guys or undrafted free agents trying to crack the 53. These are Lions players who have had comfortable roles, some of them starters, who now face real competition that could push them off the roster entirely. Detroit's depth has changed, the coaching staff's expectations have shifted, and at least two or three of these guys might not be wearing Honolulu Blue when the 2026 regular season kicks off.
I've got four of them. Let's break it down.
Wright has been with the Lions for a while, and he's consistently been the team's tight end 2. You know the deal with him. Once a year, he'll rip off a 35- or 40-yard touchdown out of nowhere, and then you don't really see much from him outside of a few short catches. He's been a blocking tight end, but his blocking has struggled as of late.
Then Detroit brought in Tyler Conklin , who is both a better blocker and has a lot more receiving juice than Wright. In a system like the one offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is planning to run, you need two receiving tight ends. Conklin can do that. That pushes Wright down to tight end 3, and you start wondering if he's making too much money for that role. He's due almost $5 million in 2026, and that is a lot of money for a guy who won't see the field much at tight end 3.
The Lions are going to run a lot of 12 and 13 personnel, so you'll see more three-tight end sets than usual. But you get the feeling they'd rather have somebody proficient in blocking, and that's where Miles Kitselman and Zach Horton both have potential to take over that spot. Wright has graded out in the low-to-high 50s in pass blocking and the 40s and mid-50s in run blocking throughout his career, per Pro Football Focus. He's got to show he can block at a higher level than he ever has. Training camp is going to tell us a lot.
This one was obvious before. Now it's even more obvious. Rakestraw not only has to get healthy, stay healthy, and be on the field for the first time in his career, but he's also carrying the weight of the entire Lions' 2024 draft class on his shoulders. The first-round pick from that class just got cut. Giovanni Manu is probably not long for the roster. Sione Vaki has been a solid special-teams contributor, but the Lions traded up for him expecting more. Makai Wingo is projected to miss the roster right now. Christian Mahogany has his own issues, which we'll get to.
So Rakestraw is essentially the guy who needs to prove the Lions got at least one good thing out of that draft class. That is a ton of pressure. If he can show that he's a suitable, serviceable cornerback, that alone would be impressive. If he can show he's a starter, then Detroit lucked out. Training camp is huge for him. Get on the field, get some reps, work through the preseason. You hate to see a guy like Rakestraw not succeed because, by all accounts, he's a great person. I think he can do it based on his work ethic, but we'll see.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Onwuzurike, a former second-round pick, dealt with back issues early in his career and had to have major back surgery. It was impressive that he was able to get back on the field and play NFL football after that. In 2024, it looked like he was turning the corner. He was second on the team in pressures, getting sacks, and playing well. Then he tore his ACL, and there's speculation it happened late in the season as a partial tear that got worse over time.
The only reason he's back with Detroit is a rare provision in the collective bargaining agreement. Because he was signed and then missed an entire season on the NFI list, his contract carried over to 2026 at a cheap number. You hate to say it out loud, but this could really be it for him. This summer could determine his entire career. He's got Tyler Lacy , rookie Skyler Gil Howard, Mehki Wingo, and others nipping at his heels. If you're judging based on OTAs and mandatory minicamp, he's behind right now. But if he can prove he's healthy and play as he did before the injury, he gets another lease on life.
Mahogany is projected to be the starting left guard, but Lions coach Dan Campbell said during OTAs that this competition is wide open. It's not Mahogany's job, guaranteed. He's going to have to fight off Miles Frazier , who started at left guard at LSU and played there last season. Ben Bartch has strong grades at left guard and some NFL starts. Juice Scruggs can play guard but might end up as the backup center. Giovanni Manu is getting a look there, too. And Michael Niese has been with the Lions for four or five years as an interior lineman.
If I'm the Lions, I've got my eyes on Bartch. He has a real shot to steal this job. Frazier was drafted relatively high and has the tools to win the spot. Mahogany is going to have to earn it, and training camp will tell us everything.
Those are the four guys under the most pressure for the Detroit Lions heading into the 2026 season. Let's see how it plays out.
Detroit Lions News
Mike Payton June 23, 2026
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 4 Detroit Lions players who are facing the heaviest pressure this summer
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