Predicting Detroit Lions' First Wave of Roster Cuts

September's first dawn will be filled with handwringing and an unhealthy obsession with Twitter for a lot of players. They'll be biding their time by checking the latest rumors until their teams have to cut their rosters down to 75 men (4 p.m. ET deadline).

Some, however, will know what's coming. There are certain Detroit Lions at camp who are holding tight to a dream but will be able to look around and understand that youth must be served, especially when its practice-squad eligible.

There's no fun in telling someone that it isn't working out. Here are five players who can start processing the pain now so it isn't so intense when their hopes are extinguished.

CB Crezdon Butler

Uncredited/Associated Press

The roster churn of Mohammed Seisay—albeit with a net gain of a sixth-round pick—won't save Crezdon Butler from the early axe.

Butler is essentially the Pittsburgh Steelers' version of Jonte Green or Chris Greenwood if the Lions had cut bait with the two quicker. There is a lot to like physically with all three players, yet they can't put it all together.

Presuming Nevin Lawson is as healthy as he claims, the Lions won't be shifting around their cornerbacks on roster. The starters and young talent have their spots locked, and Josh Wilson is flat-out a better player, which isn't a bold statement to make.

In short, a sixth-rounder is worth more than a sixth-year cornerback to a team with a set depth chart.

S Taylor Mays

Al Behrman/Associated Press

The same roster symptom affecting Crezdon Butler has spread to the back of the secondary and infected Taylor Mays. He, like Butler, has nether the skill nor the potential to warrant a spot ahead of his younger competition.

Isaiah Johnson will get an extended chance to make the roster. He's a big, physical banger who can be molded in defensive coordinator Teryl Austin's image. And Brian Suite turned heads during the early practices of OTAs and minicamp.

Mays barely saw the field last year with the Bengals, finishing with 61 snaps and two tackles, per Pro Football Focus. That wasn't the start of a new trend. He hasn't played more than 255 snaps since 2010.

Maybe Mays could all of a sudden snap into the second-round player he was drafted to become. However, the harsh truth is the Turk will deliver the message that Mays' days as a camp body are limited.

G Taylor Boggs

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

This summer won't be a new experience for Taylor Boggs. Undrafted free agents know a thing or two about living on the edge.

The odds are slim that Detroit will carry two reserve interior linemen. Manny Ramirez is slated for the first-guy-off-the-bench role and has the experience to be a guiding presence during training camp.

Boggs isn't going to change either scenario. He has never started an NFL game and has five total credits (games) to his NFL resume.

Torrian Wilson and Al Bond are the younger horses champing at the bit to make the practice squad. Since Boggs doesn't have that ability (too many years in the league), he has no choice but to crack the 53-man squad. It's likely the Lions already know that won't be happening.

TE David Ausberry

Chris Keane/Associated Press

Sensing a theme here?

Older guys have to make their impressions fast to warrant consideration for the 75-man roster, since every team wants to stash young potential over middle-aged mediocrity. The latter of which will probably be the name of my book that I'm always meaning to write.

David Ausberry isn't beating out a healthy trio of Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria. Considering the logjam of younger players at wide receiver and in the secondary, the Lions would rather let the veteran try to find work early than force him to scramble late if he has no chance of making this team.

That's a merciful spin on a tough business. Ausberry has played 36 snaps the last two seasons with 11 career receptions.

Jordan Thompson is a young, athletic tight end with a year in the offensive system and practice-squad eligibility. He'll win this one easily.

WR Greg Salas

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The Lions are desperate for one or two of their wide receivers to distinguish themselves from the pack that lags far behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.

Ryan Broyles has been the subject of debate and speculation for years. His dazzling potential made a few cameos early in his career, but injuries might have robbed him of his explosion. Everyone will have a close eye on him over the next month.

The same can be said for Corey Fuller. The former sixth-rounder is a tall blazer Detroit is hoping will become the home run threat who makes defenses pay for paying too much attention to the top options.

And we'll get our first look at another sixth-round pick, T.J. Jones. He even has some limited return experience, giving fans hope that Jeremy Ross will be run off the roster.

You won't find Greg Salas' name in this discussion. The former Ram and Jet has 16 catches in the last three years. He'll need that many catches in three preseason games to even give himself a chance, and that may not be enough.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings 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.