Crimson Tide NFL Team Rundown: Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions finished second in the NFC North Division last season behind the Minnesota Vikings, and one win out of the playoff. They had a busy offseason, signing key veterans on both sides of the ball, drafting positions of need, and gearing the team up to maybe win its first division title since 1983.

The Lions offense will funnel through quarterback Jared Goff, who appears to have had a resurgence in Detroit. In 2022, he threw for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns, while having seven picks, and was named to the Pro Bowl. Goff has plenty of weapons to distribute the ball to, including free agent signing David Montgomery, returning veterans Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Marvin Jones Jr., and 2023 draft picks Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. Detroit also has a young offensive line in place, with all five starters being 30 years old or younger.

Defensively, the Lions are also young, led by 2022 second-overall pick Aidan Hutchinson, who recorded 52 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions as a rookie. Hutchinson looks to develop more into a game-wrecker at edge rusher, but he can't do it all defensively. Isaiah Buggs, a sixth-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2019, helps anchor the middle of the Detroit 4-3 defensive scheme. While Buggs doesn't put up flashy numbers like Hutchinson does, he still plays a critical role for Detroit, totaling 43 tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack during 2022. At just 26 years old, Buggs hopes to be an anchor for the line and

In the linebacking core, Detroit is valuing speed and play recognition above all else. The Lions spent a first-round pick on Jack Campbell from Iowa while expecting second-year player Malcolm Rodriguez to take another step in his development and help lead the charge in the front seven. In the secondary, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is out with an injury for training camp and potentially some of the preseason, but he's expected to be a starting safety after a one-year stint in Philadelphia. The Lions also spent a second-round pick on Branch, who is already challenging to start.

Heading into training camp, the Lions were tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the most former Alabama Crimson Tide players on their roster with six. In addition to Branch, Buggs, Gibbs and Williams, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher and cornerback Saivion Smith and trying to win reserve jobs.

Pierschbacher was a multi-year starter on Nick Saban's offensive line, winning a national title in both 2015 and 2017. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft by Washington before spending 2021 with the Eagles, and then 2022 with the Lions. His versatility could be key as he can play both guard spots and center.

Smith was a transfer defensive back for Alabama, playing every game in the 2018 season before declaring for the NFL draft. He's only played in nine games across three seasons, and only one game in 2022. Special teams may be his best chance at sticking with the Lions.

Gibbs and Branch are essentially locks to make the roster, if not start. Gibbs transferred to Alabama in 2022, where he had 926 rushing yards, 444 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns. He declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, and Detroit made him the second running back taken in the first round behind Texas's Bijan Robinson (Falcons at No. 8). Gibbs should see a heavy workload in both the run and the passing game from day one.

Finally, Williams has had a rough start to his NFL career. First, he lost the bulk of his rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL in the national championship against Georgia in January 2022. Yet he still recorded his first career touchdown last season on his only catch. Now, Williams is suspended for the first six games 2023 for violating the NFL's gambling policy. He's projected as a starting wide receiver for Detroit once he returns from his suspension, but Williams has to show maturity moving forward.

Active Detroit Lions

#32 Brian Branch, S
#96 Isaiah Buggs, DE
#26 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
#66 Ross Pierschbacher, OL
#29 Saivion Smith, CB

Suspended
#9 Jameson Williams, WR