6 Detroit Lions Facing Make-or-Break Season in 2015

Greek philosopher Heraclitus is famous for having said that "[c]hange is the only constant in life." Who knew that he was such a huge NFL fan?

Every team in the NFL—including the Detroit Lions—is continuously in a state of flux. Good players (and bad players) come and go, and there are always a number of guys who are facing make-or-break situations.

The following slides outline six such Lions. No player on this list is guaranteed a future with this team for a host of reasons, ranging from performance to availability. The only way to ensure continued employment in Detroit is with a big 2015.

Additionally, don't take a player's inclusion here to mean that he hasn't played well or can't be good. It simply means that the time has come to decide this player's fate one way or the other.

WR Corey Fuller

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Corey Fuller's "debut" season didn't quite go as planned for the speedster from Virginia Tech. He snagged a total of 14 receptions for 212 yards and a score.

He had hoped to be the third wide receiver in an offense aching for another threat behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. Unfortunately for him, Jeremy Ross beat him out for the honor.

There was a highlight, though, that Fuller isn't likely to forget. His late touchdown that sealed the comeback win over the New Orleans Saints was a beautiful toe-tapper along the back of the end zone. While it demonstrated an ability to do his job calmly with the game on the line, it might have also proven that he's listening to the experienced veterans:

"

Johnson said he told Corey Fuller, who caught game-winning TD Sunday, to stay ready because the big play was coming.

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) October 23, 2014"

Detroit drafted Fuller because of his speed and with the knowledge that he would take time to develop. After a first-year redshirt and a taste of the action in 2014 (429 snaps, per Pro Football Focus), it's time to find out if Fuller can take the next step.

He'll be an exclusive-rights free agent next offseason, so it won't take a huge investment to keep him around after 2015. However, roster spots could be hard to come by considering the competition in camp this season and another redshirted rookie (T.J. Jones) hungry for an opportunity.

WR/KR Jeremy Ross

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Jeremy Ross might have fought off Corey Fuller last season, but he's facing much more heat than the former Hokie.

Ross broke out in 2013 by notching two return touchdowns. He brought an electricity to the return game that had been sorely missing, and he even added a receiving score against the team that cut him loose a couple months prior.

But the magic didn't return in 2014. He was still among the top 11 in both punt- and kick-return averages, yet the ability to break the big return seemed to evade him, unlike so many opposing gunners.

That frustration gave way to desperation, which begot poor decisions like fielding too many punts inside the 10 and bringing kicks out from deep in the end zone. Detroit decided to bring in competition (Ameer Abdullah and Vernon Johnson), although Ross seems to be taking it well, according to Justin Rogers of Mlive.com:

"

'I can't really focus on who is in here,' Ross said at Tuesday's Taste of the Lions event at Ford Field. 'I just have to prepare and win my spot every single year. Nothing is given. I have to earn everything that I get. That's the same mindset I have this year. I will just work hard and everything else will just take care of itself.'

"

The attitude is right. Now he better hope his hands, routes and vision get on the same page because there are too many receivers on the roster for him to be a one-trick pony.

CB Bill Bentley

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

There's been no indication that the Lions are disappointed in Bill Bentley's play. It's been his lack of availability that has been the cause for concern, and until he adds that bullet point to his resume, his qualifications will be lacking.

And now he finds himself embroiled in the hottest competition of Detroit's offseason.

"

I think the Lions like Nevin Lawson, which could mean Bill Bentley and Quandre Diggs enter camp vying for the same job

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) May 2, 2015"

Bentley beat out Nevin Lawson last season, but only held the job for three snaps before an ACL injury ended his season. That brought his games-missed total to 31 over three years, which will play a role in the team's nickelback decision.

And the additions of veteran Josh Wilson and sixth-rounder Quandre Diggs will make things even more difficult since the former has long been coveted by general manager Martin Mayhew, and the latter could be the steal of the late rounds (although Falcons DT Grady Jarrett might have an argument).

Time is running out for Bentley to prove he can endure the rigors of an NFL season. Now it might be too late.

RT LaAdrian Waddle

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The injury bug wasn't much kinder to offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle. After he successfully won the starting right tackle job from veteran Corey Hilliard, the ailments started mounting.

A calf strain and then concussions limited him to three games and five snaps in the first seven games. An ACL tear eventually finished off his season in Week 15.

It was a sad sequel to the hope his rookie season provided when he racked up a nice 7.3 PFF grade in eight starts, which would have been the 26th-best mark for offensive tackles (I took out his fill-in play against Cincinnati).

Now, the road back to the field is uncertain and the list of challengers is growing:

"

LaAdrian Waddle's rehab is going well, but Mayhew said he doesn't know if he'll be ready by the start of the regular season.

— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) May 3, 2015"

Even if Waddle joins the team before the regular season starts, will he be healthy enough to beat out former undrafted free agent Cornelius Lucas and seventh-rounder Corey Robinson? His roster spot is almost assured in 2015, but if the other two put on a strong showing along with the next guy on this list, the soon-to-be restricted free agent might be looking for work elsewhere.

OT Michael Williams

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

The Lions drafted then-tight end Michael Williams because they had fallen in love with his blocking and tenacity. It turns out he was so adept at the former and full of the latter that Detroit had no choice but to convert him to a full-time offensive tackle instead of an occasional goal-line type of tight end.

According to head coach Jim Caldwell, things are going well, as he had this to say last December, per Justin Rogers of Mlive.com:

"

In the trenches, you don't get any breaks. So, a guy has to be willing to do it as well. (Williams) has been extremely willing and he's made an improvement by leaps and bounds. He keeps getting better.

"

Caldwell also described to Rogers the advantage that converted tight ends have over established tackles: athleticism. His ability to get out of his stance quickly and move could be an asset if offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi decides to revive the stretch play.

But there are only so many tackle spots available on the roster. Detroit will keep working the waiver wire to keep the competition fierce, so if Williams doesn't show enough improvement, his tenure in Detroit could be short.

DT Haloti Ngata

David Richard/Associated Press

This might have more to do with perception than reality.

The perception is that Haloti Ngata is washed up. There have been multiple articles that have lamented his career arc and his place on it. There are quite a few "ifs" and "maybes" when discussing Ngata's possible contributions and long-term viability.

I haven't seen anything that Kyle Meinke of MLive.com has written that would suggest he's of that opinion. But he did pose the question to Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who responded as such:

"

Asked Chuck Pagano if Haloti Ngata's game has slipped at all with age. Response: "Have you seen his tape?"

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) March 24, 2015"

It's easy to overthink players' abilities and value in the long months between the Super Bowl and September. Yet the tape and the grades (mostly) never lie. Ngata put up the highest PFF grade of his career (18.4) despite missing four games due to a suspension last season. The second-highest grade? It came in 2010, which doubled as a contract year.

Coincidentally, since the Lions opted not to extend his contract, they've allowed him to head into the season without any long-term security, almost giving credence to the detractors discussed above. It's hard to imagine a better confluence of talent, opportunity and motivation.

All combine statistics are sourced from NFL.com. All advanced stats, rankings and grades are courtesy of 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.