2025-2026 Predictions

[MichiganCardinal]

We survived the preseason! Bring on the predictions.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

My overall prediction is 11-6. They have a much tougher schedule on paper this year and so record wise I do think they won't repeat the 15-2 success from last year. 

[Motown Bombers]

Trey Hendrickson will not be a Lion. 

[MichiganCardinal]

Here’s a 53-man roster prediction.

QB (3): Jared Goff, Kyle Allen, and Hendon Hooker

Allen squarely won the backup gig, but I still the Lions will keep Hooker. I don’t think most Lions fans will love this, but I don’t think the Lions are ready to give up on Hooker and I don’t think he would survive waivers.

RB (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki

Assuming Vaki’s injury isn’t serious, anything other than this would be a shock.

WR (6): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa, Kalif Raymond, and Dominic Lovett

I really like Meeks, maybe even more than Lovett, but I think the Lions view Lovett as a possible heir apparent to Raymond and will stash him. Meeks is also probably slightly more likely to clear waivers to the practice squad.

TE (2): Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright

Usually I have a blocking TE I fall in love with during the preseason (see: Parker Hesse), but not this year. Neither Zylstra nor Horton has done anything to deserve a roster spot, and I don’t think either will be gifted one. Similar to carrying only four WRs into the 53-man last year, I expect us to have three TEs when the dust settles and we go into Green Bay, but roster spots are earned with this coaching staff.

OL (9): Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, Tate Ratledge, Penei Sewell, Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika, Giovanni Manu, and Trystan Colon (PUP: Miles Frazier)

I tried not to overthink this. I think the first eight I listed are a lock, with the last spot a little murkier. Colon was the better player before his injury and I think he gets the nod, possibly with a four-game IR designation after the cut to 53, promoting Muti from the practice squad. Eguekan has not looked like a serviceable NFL player this preseason.

EDGE (5): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, Ahmed Hassanein, and Al-Quadin Muhammed

I think the terms of a deal with Zadarius Smith have been agreed upon for well over a month, but both sides have agreed to wait until after roster cuts to put ink on paper. This allows them to bring a guy like Hassanein onto the roster, designate him to the IR the next day, and have him be our four weeks instead of the entire season. Then you can sign Z to replace him on the roster. This also assumes Campbell has been truthful about Paschal’s status and window of an early September return.

DT (5): Tyleik Williams, DJ Reader, Pat O’Connor, Roy Lopez, and Keith Cooper (PUP: Alim McNeill and Miles Frazier)

This was the trickiest position for me. Ultimately I think they carry five and Cooper extends the Lions’ streak of rostering at least one UDFA. They will want to rotate often here to keep Reader fresh and I think that makes it worth the extra spot.

LB (6): Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Zach Cunningham, Trevor Nowaske, and Grant Stuard (PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez)

If they have the room they may find a way to get Pittman on the roster too, but Stuard seems like a better version in all respects. Cunningham does offer some cut flexibility because of his veteran status, so he may get cut and return before week one.

DB (10): DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Rock Ya-Sin, Khalil Dorsey, Avonte Maddox, Loren Strickland, and Erick Hallett

I think they value the versatility that Hallett brings and that it will earn him a spot over Kennelly, who is assured a practice squad role if he clears waivers.

Special Teams (3): Jake Bates, Jack Fox, and Hogan Hatten

Money.

[holygoat]

10-6

[Jason_R]

https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/08/23/dan-campbell-hendon-hooker-postgame-texans-preseason-change-of-scenery/

He gone. 

[Jason_R]

Not afraid of the Packers or Bears. Maybe a split with the Vikings. 5-1 in division. 

3-1 against AFC North. 

3-1 against NFC East.

2-1 against grab bag of Chiefs, Bucs, Rams (who may be starting Stetson Bennett by the time they play Detroit).

13-4, tied with Eagles, who take NFC #1 seed due to win at home against Detroit. But I still think this is Detroit’s year.

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Motown Bombers]

12 hours ago, Jason_R said:

https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/08/23/dan-campbell-hendon-hooker-postgame-texans-preseason-change-of-scenery/

He gone. 

Change of scenery means not even practice squad. Hooker is a 27 year old project. I'm not sure where he lands. He probably ends up on someone's practice squad. The Raiders are intriguing since O'Connell went down with an injury. Their backup now is a 6th round pick from North Dakota State. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

14 hours ago, holygoat said:

10-6

Do you think they will forfeit a game? 😀

[holygoat]

34 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Do you think they will forfeit a game? 😀

Oops.

[1984Echoes]

12-5.

13-4 if they avoid injuries and Goff has good protection.

If they struggle with a few (hopefully very minor) injuries and O-Line learning curve issues, then 12-5.

[GalagaGuy]

11-6 Lions

10-7 Packers

8-9 Vikings

8-9 Bears

[lordstanley]

The schedule worries me more than anything else. 10-7, win the division on a tiebreaker. #3rd seed, win the wildcard week playoff game. After that I have no idea, but if they get that far they need not fear anyone, home or away. 

[Cruzer1]

13-4. The Lions are an elite team.

[MichiganCardinal]

This is a really well done analysis. Echos my thoughts pretty well.

[NYLion]

14 hours ago, lordstanley said:

The schedule worries me more than anything else. 10-7, win the division on a tiebreaker. #3rd seed, win the wildcard week playoff game. After that I have no idea, but if they get that far they need not fear anyone, home or away. 

The schedule, the very young interior offensive line, the defensive line being banged up and the ever present weakness at edge opposite of Hutch (we all know Davenport will be injured at some point). I can see this being a 10-7 or 11-6 season but being one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs once the offensive line matures and Alim is back, although I don't think we'll see him back to previous form until '26-'27. I could see a real possibility that this team has a much worse record than last year but is better going into the playoffs than last year assuming relatively good health.

Edited Monday at 05:33 PM by NYLion

[Jason_R]

What’s more likely, they go 10-7 or 17-0? Probably 10-7, but that’s only slightly more likely. 

Edited Monday at 05:44 PM by Jason_R

[MichiganCardinal]

18 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

What’s more likely, they go 10-7 or 17-0? Probably 10-7, but that’s only slightly more likely.

My favorite thing about going 17-0 would be going 17-0.

My second favorite thing about going 17-0 would be listening to people on sports talk radio still find things to complain about.

Edited Monday at 05:55 PM by MichiganCardinal

[Jason_R]

I had typed something longer but then clicked a pop up ad instead of submit. 🤦🏻‍♂️

The gist of it was that last year’s team had the sixth-worst injury luck on the defensive side of the ball of any team on record (past 25 years). This figure was calculated on games lost, so did not account for the magnitude of the players lost; on that score Detroit in 2024 may have had the worst defensive injury luck in NFL history.

We are all still stung by the way the last two seasons ended, getting picked apart in the secondary. But we are forgetting how dominant the defense looked the first month of last season. The defense is going to win games this season that the offense had to pull out of its hat last year. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Hongbit]

Hooker waived.  My only fear with this move is they pick up Nate Sudfeld again after he was released from SF.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see GB or MIN pick up Hooker just to gain intel on the Lions operation.

Edited Monday at 08:05 PM by Hongbit

[Motown Bombers]

I would be fine with adding Sudfield to the practice squad. Your practice squad QB should be someone you trust the QB room to break down film. That’s why the Lions always kept Blough on the practice squad. 

[Motown Bombers]

I hope the Packers or Vikings sign Hooker for intel on the Lions operation since it seemed like Hooker had no idea what was going on with the operation. 

[GalagaGuy]

Hooker has a masters, dude will be fine without football.