The Lions Are About To Make Some BRUTAL Cuts...

The Detroit Lions are almost finished building their 2026 roster, and Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have some extremely difficult decisions ahead. After a full summer of training camp, preseason games and roster battles, A to Z Sports Detroit's Mike Payton reveals his final 53-man roster prediction for the Lions. The biggest question facing Detroit isn't whether they have enough talent. It's whether they have enough roster spots. Mike breaks down every position group, including some surprising decisions involving Luke Altmyer, Sione Vaki, Jackson Meeks, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and more. The quarterback room remains one of the biggest questions. Mike currently has Jared Goff and Luke Altmyer making the roster, but he believes Detroit could still explore outside options once NFL cuts happen. Josh Dobbs showed flashes during preseason, but turnovers and limited practice reps have created uncertainty around his future with the team. The running back battle is another difficult decision. Sione Vaki entered camp as the favorite for RB3 because of his special teams ability, but injuries opened the door for Jacob Saylors. Mike explains why availability may ultimately determine who makes the roster. At wide receiver, Detroit's fifth receiver competition appears to come down to what the Lions value most. Mike believes Tay Martin's special teams ability and willingness to do the dirty work gives him an edge, while Tom Kennedy and others may have a tougher path. The tight end room features another surprise. Jackson Meeks has continued making plays throughout camp and preseason, including a game-changing special teams play against Washington. Mike explains why Meeks may have done enough to earn a roster spot. The biggest roster debates come on defense. Mike explains why Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is the hardest player to project onto the final roster despite flashes of talent, why Khalil Dorsey has become nearly impossible to cut because of special teams value, and why Detroit's cornerback depth creates an incredibly difficult numbers game. Finally, Mike discusses the Lions' offensive line situation, including why Detroit may still need outside help at guard before Week 1. Who made Mike's final 53-man roster? Who got left off? And which decisions do you disagree with? Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Lions news, roster analysis, preseason reactions and everything you need heading into the 2026 NFL season. #DetroitLions #Lions #OnePride #NFL 0:00 Final Lions 53-man roster prediction 1:20 Quarterback: Altmyer vs Dobbs 3:39 Running back: Sione Vaki decision 5:39 Wide receiver: Tay Martin makes it 7:50 Tight end: Jackson Meeks earns spot 9:22 Offensive line roster decisions 11:38 Defensive line cuts 13:15 Linebacker decisions 14:23 Cornerback battle: Ennis Rakestraw out? 16:01 Safety room 18:00 Final roster thoughts Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more LIONS coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionsFans4Life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportslions/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsdetroitlions #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews