Predicting Detroit Lions' Starting Lineup After the 1st Wave of Free Agency

What a long, strange journey—OK, it was only the first two weeks of free agency, but a lot has changed for the Detroit Lions...especially the depth chart.

The defensive line lost half of its starters. The offensive line has a gap between the center and left tackle. And that's only the trenches.

But for all of the seismic activity, there is probably more continuity than meets the eye, particularly when you look at a few key positions. So I've crafted the starting lineup while throwing a little light on the depth chart to reset your picture of this team.

Click through to find out what your 2015 Lions look like after the first wave of free agency. Take a look at who could be on the field come September.

Quarterback

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

1. Matthew Stafford
2. Dan Orlovsky
3. Kellen Moore

While there are a few out there who believe Moore is getting the short end of the stick, Stafford is going to be under center come September. That much is obvious.

Let's use this opportunity to confront those who would trade—or even cut—Matthew Stafford. I'm not making this up. The comment section here will probably have at least one person who will insist it's the right choice.

My query for you folks is who (realistically) are you getting to replace him?

Teams spend years or even decades trying to find a consistent starting quarterback. Can you guess the last Lions signal-caller to start a game in as many straight seasons (six) for Detroit as Stafford?

Eric Hipple from 1981 to 1986. 

You're not getting a better quarterback than Stafford anytime soon. And he's more than earned the right to captain the offense in the second year of Joe Lombardi's reign because he completely changed up his game and helped guide Detroit to 11 wins in 2014.

Running Back

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

1. Joique Bell
2. Unknown (Rookie)
3. Theo Riddick
4. George Winn

Fullback: Emil Igwenagu 

The Lions aren't going to target a running back in the first round, despite all the hype stirred up recently:

"

The #Lions hosted #UGA RB great Todd Gurley today for a pre-draft visit. #Detroit picks 23rd overall in the #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/YGvh6HQAn0

— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) March 16, 2015"

Will Todd Gurley be an excellent pro? Probably. He has all the tools, but it's hard to envision he would be the best player available overall that early in the draft. Running back is too devalued of a position, and positional value is a part of the BPA equation. Otherwise, more teams would draft kickers in the first round.

Besides, Bell posted a career-high 860 yards as the bruiser among the group last season. He isn't a top-tier back, but he's reliable enough to keep the starting job.

The most likely competition could come from a back drafted in the second or third round, probably more of the home run-hitting variety. The top candidates for that distinction include Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson and Ameer Abdullah.

Lastly, there isn't another fullback on the roster and nobody really on the radar. Igwenagu can probably handle the duties, although Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler could be the guy if he's available in the sixth round.

Wide Receiver

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

1. Calvin Johnson
2. Golden Tate
3. Corey Fuller
4. Jeremy Ross
5. T.J. Jones

Not everything has to be hard. 

Johnson and Tate teamed up to give Detroit the best one-two punch it's had outside since Brett Perriman and Herman Moore both recorded 100 catches in 1995. 

The current Lions duo combined for 2,408 yards on 170 catches, and that was with Johnson essentially missing a quarter of the season.

The rest of the picture is a bit murky. Detroit has already opted to bring Ross back into the fold to presumably duke it out with Fuller, Jones and Ryan Broyles for the third spot. I could be talked into any combination there and only left Broyles off because of the team's reluctance to give him any run in 2014.

It remains to be seen if general manager Martin Mayhew will bring in any new blood via the draft. Kenny Bell is a personal favorite in the sixth round if possible, and Nelson Agholor has been mentioned as a Day 2 target.

Tight End

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

1. Eric Ebron
2. Brandon Pettigrew 
3. Joseph Fauria

The only way Ebron doesn't start is if he went home after the season and worked his way through the latest PS4 games (or XBox One games if you're into that sort of thing).

The knock on Ebron coming out of college was an inability to block. He did so adequately during his rookie campaign, albeit with some gaffes along the way. And neither of the other two presents the same big-play potential.

Fauria can still play the tall red-zone target that resulted in seven touchdowns in 2013. It's unknown how much further he can push it since he spent most of last season either hobbled or sidelined by an ankle injury. Plus, he only averaged one catch per game.

Lastly, Pettigrew gets the other starting spot by default. He's the most proven blocker of the trio, and Fauria probably won't be able to overtake him—if he does at all—until the regular season is underway. The coaching staff will feel more comfortable with the veteran over the UCLA product.

Left Tackle

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

1. Riley Reiff
2. Cornelius Lucas

There's no real contest here.

Lucas, who was an undrafted free agent last summer, did play well in his only start at left tackle. He stonewalled the Chicago Bears, failing to give up a quarterback pressure and helping pave the way for a 6.3-yard rushing average around the left end.

But his start against Green Bay proved this greenhorn isn't ready yet. He gave up six quarterback hurries, five of which came at the hands of Julius Peppers, albeit on the right side.

Reiff was an above-average left tackle by Pro Football Focus' grading system, coming in at 23rd overall. He gave up 13 fewer hurries (27) than popular free-agent Joe Barksdale and was only tagged for two sacks. Only an unforeseen signing would keep Reiff from starting at left tackle.

Left Guard

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

1. Unknown (Free Agent)
2. Rodney Austin

The Lions do not have their starting left guard on their current roster unless Detroit brings in a center and moves Travis Swanson over. That doesn't seem likely because the team likes what it saw from him in the middle, and center is a more important position.

Instead, it's probable that the Lions will bring in a stopgap veteran. That man could be Justin Blalock, but nothing is certain at this point, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:

"

Former #Falcons guard Justin Blalock, who visited the #Lions last week, recently checked in with the #Titans. No word yet on his next move

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2015"

Martin Mayhew probably envisions using Blalock for a year or two while bringing along a young offensive lineman, much like he did with Riley Reiff and the aforementioned Swanson.

Center

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

1. Travis Swanson
2. Rodney Austin

Again, Travis Swanson played well against Green Bay after starter Dominic Raiola was suspended. He only gave up a pair of hurries that game.

That is good enough to beat out Rodney Austin, who has never taken a regular-season snap.

This was the plan all along. Detroit drafted Swanson in the third round with a plan in mind, and now it's time for it to come to fruition. 

Right Guard

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

1. Larry Warford
2. Darren Keyton

If it were appropriate, I would leave the above alone and move on. Or maybe I would insert just a couple of asterisks with the words "dropped mic" in between.

Someone could potentially argue that Warford's step back last season could open up this race. But that person would have a hard time arguing against Warford's sack-less streak, which stretches back to the Week 8 tilt in London.

Even if the Lions select someone who doesn't translate to the left side, Detroit is unlikely to move Warford from a spot where he's excelled. It's a similar situation to when Stephen Tulloch went down against Green Bay and pundits speculated that DeAndre Levy would move to middle 'backer.

Right Tackle

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

1. LaAdrian Waddle
2. Cornelius Lucas
3. Michael Williams

Williams didn't get much run last year but did play well enough in the preseason to inspire hope that his transition from tight end has potential. However, it's premature to project him as anything other than a backup until we see him on the field this summer.

Some will want to see Lucas over Waddle since the latter's injury history has been a problem. However, Lucas is a more natural fit on the left side compared to the bruising Waddle.

Unless the Lions bring in someone to challenge Waddle, which isn't out of the question, this is his job to lose. One name to note going forward could be Corey Hilliard, whom Waddle beat out for the gig last year.

Left Defensive End

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

1. Jason Jones
2. Devin Taylor
3. Darryl Tapp

The defensive end depth charts could be mixed and matched once you get past the starters. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will use them all interchangeably, especially on passing downs, so don't get too tied up in the details there.

Jones is the obvious starter on the left side. The Lions kept him even though a release would have saved them $3.1 million in cap space, per Spotrac.com. They believe in his ability to set the edge against the run game.

Taylor makes the cut over Tapp by virtue of his size and ability against both the pass and run. And Larry Webster could see some run on the left side in obvious passing situations.

Defensive Tackle

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

1. Haloti Ngata
2. Tyrunn Walker
3. Unknown (Rookie)
4. Caraun Reid

You knew Ngata would be entrenched at a starter. The only question was whether there would be a need for another interior lineman if the Lions opted to switch to a 3-4 defense. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has the answer:

"

When Tyrunn Walker took his free-agent visit to the Detroit Lions last week, he said coaches assured him he wouldn't be doing much two-gapping this fall.

That important distinction almost certainly means the Lions won't be switching to a 3-4 defense this year, one question that's lingered since the loss of Ndamukong Suh, and it was enough to convince Walker to sign with the Lions over an offer from the New England Patriots and interest from several other teams.

"

Walker was a coveted pickup who comes to Detroit on a cheap one-year deal. It's possible that a rookie beats him out, but it's much more likely that the Lions want to see if Walker can stretch his small-snap efficiency into starter-worthy production:

"

Interesting comparison from @PFF: Nick Fairley: 297 snaps, +9.8 overall Tyrunn Walker: 284 snaps, +7.8 overall

— SideLion Report (@SideLionReport) March 13, 2015"

Reid and probably a draft pick from the first three rounds will round out the rotation. Neither of the presumed starters is under contract beyond 2015, and Martin Mayhew would do well not to leave himself in a similar position next offseason.

Right Defensive End

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

1. Ziggy Ansah
2. George Johnson
3. Larry Webster

Haloti Ngata will have a huge impact on this defensive line, but no lineman will be as important as Ziggy Ansah. He enters his third year with the weight of expectations after finishing as the fifth-highest graded defensive end on Pro Football Focus.

In 2014, Ansah took a step forward rushing the passer, but it was the rest of his game that was impressive. He stuffed the run by anchoring and shedding blocks while also displaying an uncanny ability to diagnose plays as they were developing.

Johnson should be back based on Detroit's right to match any offer he receives (there were none at the time of publishing). However, Webster stirs up the most interest. The former basketball player drew plenty of praise from coaches last season despite never being active on game day. If he develops anywhere near the level the coaches have set publicly, the outside rush will be relentless.

Weak-Side Linebacker

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

1. DeAndre Levy
2. Julian Stanford

The Lions' best linebacker and arguably the best in the NFC North resides on the weak side of Detroit. And there's no scenario this writer can imagine where special teamer Julian Stanford bests him.

Levy finally started to garner the national attention he deserves. However, his Wikipedia page leaves something to be desired despite a second-team All-Pro nod in 2014.

The interesting subplot to watch with Levy is how Detroit handles his contract situation. The former Badger is entering the final year of his contract, and Martin Mayhew probably doesn't want him to test the market like Ndamukong Suh did.

Middle Linebacker

David Richard/Associated Press

1. Stephen Tulloch
2. Tahir Whitehead
3. Josh Bynes

Whitehead proved to be more than a capable backup during Tulloch's absence last year. After Tulloch went down in Week 2, the defense maintained its incredible pace against the running game.

This still won't be much of a battle, though. It's unlikely Detroit would have kept Tulloch on the roster with his $5.8 million cap hit if it intended to sit him down.

But there could be more of a rotation at the position on passing downs. Tulloch is coming off a famously torn ACL, so teams will be more than happy to test his mobility and speed.

Strong-Side Linebacker

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

1. Tahir Whitehead
2. Kyle Van Noy

Whitehead's loss in the middle doesn't mean he's going to sit on the bench. In fact, it just amplifies the pressure on last year's second-round pick to find his way quickly.

Van Noy missed the first half of last season with a core muscle injury. Once he did get on the field, he often looked lost and was frequently out of position.

That could have been rookie jitters or a delayed adjustment to the speed of the game. Regardless, his margin for error drops considerably when camp kicks off in July.

Cornerback

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

1. Darius Slay
2. Unknown (Free Agent)
3. Nevin Lawson (nickel)
4. Bill Bentley (dime)
5. Mohammed Seisay

The Lions have a gaping hole on the outside of the defense. They could probably make do at defensive tackle if necessary with guys like Xavier Proctor filling out the rotation, but putting Lawson or Bentley outside could be a recipe for disaster.

More than likely, the front office will bring in at least one veteran who could be a stopgap starter. And no one would be surprised if it burned a pick in the first three rounds in order to solve this problem for the future.

Otherwise, the rest of the roster should be able to handle its respective duties. Slay has shown himself capable of being a No. 1 cornerback, and Lawson's brief appearance last year gave hope that he can handle the nickel duties.

Strong Safety

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

1. James Ihedigbo
2. Isa Abdul-Quddus

The secondary was a relative strength last season because of the safety play, and both of these guys had a hand in that performance.

Abdul-Quddus started the first three games, as well as the New England tilt. He held his own, earning a positive PFF grade and notching 22 tackles in just those four games.

Meanwhile, Ihedigbo made his presence felt against the run, in coverage and as a pass-rusher. PFF credits him with three sacks and rated him the 14th-best safety of 2014.

Free Safety

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

1. Glover Quin
2. Don Carey
3. Nate Ness

While James Ihedigbo handled everything close to the line of scrimmage, Quin went to work everywhere else.

The former Houston Texan blossomed in 2014. He earned his first Pro Bowl invite by finishing as the third-best safety on PFF and grabbing a career-high seven interceptions. 

Carey will continue to provide valuable depth since he can be used in a variety of positions. The secondary, so long as Detroit finds another cornerback, should help the defense adjust to a Suh-less future.

Specialists

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Kicker: Matt Prater

This is a no-brainer. He recently inked a three-year deal after converting 80.8 percent of his field goals. And that number skews low because it took him a while to find his rhythm. It'll be interesting to see if Detroit even brings in competition this summer.

Punter: Sam Martin

Much like the place-kicking position, there's not much of a legitimate reason to bring in another punter. Martin has been a weapon by virtue of his consistency, the Dallas shank excepted.

Returner: Jeremy Ross

Ross is the only one here in any trouble. There isn't a stitch of dead money built into his contract, so if the Lions can find someone in the draft or in free agency who proves to be a better returner, Ross could see the door quickly. 

All salary-cap numbers are sourced from Spotrac unless otherwise noted. All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are sourced from Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.