Detroit Lions: Way-Too-Early 53-Man Roster and Depth Chart Predictions

The Detroit Lions left the 2016 NFL draft a lot stronger and a bit deeper.

General manager Bob Quinn used three of his first five picks to add talent to the offensive line. There will be serious changes between the 2015 roster and this year's version along the front line.

Second-round pick A'Shawn Robinson added beef to the defense, and fourth-round safety Miles Killebrew should be a starter. But everyone else will still have to sing for his supper.

So how will the final roster shake out? Let's find out.

Quarterback

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Matthew Stafford
2	Dan Orlovsky
3	Jake Rudock

Despite some ludicrous suggestions regarding trading Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 draft will not be going anywhere soon. He's easily the best quarterback Detroit has had in three decades.

Dan Orlovsky still appears safe despite the selection of Jake Rudock in the sixth round. Opting to go with an unheralded rookie as the sole quarterback besides Stafford would be a bridge too far for any team.

This probably does signal the beginning of the end for Orlovsky's career in Detroit, however, but the final curtain shouldn't fall until the new year. Although you never know what to expect from a rookie general manager.

Running Back

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Ameer Abdullah
2	Stevan Ridley
3	Theo Riddick
4	Zach Zenner
5	Mike Burton (FB)

Abdullah will likely share the lead-back duties with Ridley in the hopes of creating an electric-hammer combination (trademark pending). Abdullah will handle the electric runs, while Ridley pounds away on the defense.

In terms of use, Riddick will be third in the rotation by virtue of his receiving ability. But the real question is who takes that fourth spot between Zenner, George Winn and seventh-rounder Dwayne Washington.

The rookie is interesting. He's big and has speed, but ultimately he won't get past his propensity for fumbling (10 in 227 career carries). Zenner gets the final nod over Winn based on the limited potential we saw last season.

As for the fullback, Burton will be on the roster and could see more work under offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.

Wide Receiver

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Golden Tate
2	Marvin Jones
3	Jeremy Kerley
4	T.J. Jones
5	Corey Fuller

The sky isn't falling. The Lions wide receivers as a whole will no longer be superior to most opponents, but they will be adequate to above average at a minimum.

And that's OK. You can't have an advantage at every position. 

Tate and Jones will split the lead-dog duties, much like Ameer Abdullah and Stevan Ridley. The unit will be similar to Seattle's in that solid quarterbacking will allow the team to amplify the talent on hand, which is more impressive than most pundits realize.

The three veterans at the top are locks for the 53-man roster. Jones showed enough last season to stick again, while Fuller won't get enough competition from Corey Washington, Austin Willis or Ryan Spadola to be cast off just yet.

But watch the waiver wire. Fuller is far from safe.

Tight End

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Eric Ebron
2	Brandon Pettigrew
3	Matthew Mulligan

With no action from the Lions, we can start to wonder if Pettigrew is going to return. His play has declined the last two years as he's battled injuries, with an ACL tear finishing his 2015 season.

We'll slot him in a starting role along with Ebron, although he may not be ready to go by the start of the season. Pettigrew will be a candidate for the PUP list.

The last spot is a toss-up between Mulligan, Casey Pierce, Tim Wright and Jordan Thompson. Mulligan has the best blocking chops, which gives him a leg up considering how much capital Bob Quinn has spent improving the beef of the roster.

Thompson is a wild card. If he has developed his blocking technique, he's an athletic player who will be given a shot. Wright could be the fourth tight end if Detroit keeps one due to his large red-zone presence.

Offensive Line

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Taylor Decker
2	Larry Warford
3	Geoff Schwartz
4	Laken Tomlinson
5	Riley Reiff
6	Graham Glasgow
7	Joe Dahl
8	Michael Ola

The party is over for the holdovers.

Quinn laid out all of his cards during this draft, grabbing two possible starters and a versatile depth guy. Travis Swanson, the starting center in 2015 and a 2014 third-rounder, is in serious jeopardy of losing his job.

The top seven above are locked in by virtue of talent, rookie status or both. And fifth-round pick Dahl told the local media after he was drafted that he could play center, per Kyle Meinke of Mlive Media Group.

That leaves Swanson battling—realistically—with Ola, Corey Robinson and Cornelius Lucas for the last spot. Considering there are already five guys who can man the interior positions, that leaves the semi-versatile Ola as the only viable option.

Defensive End

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Ziggy Ansah
2	Devin Taylor
3	Wallace Gilberry
4	Anthony Zettel
5	To Be Signed

Quinn spent much of the offseason adding depth to the roster because the Lions have had talent in the past but could never overcome injuries. He did a good job for the most part.

However, the defensive end depth chart is pretty bare once you get past the top two.

Gilberry is a career rotational end who would be the de-facto pass-rushing reserve because Zettel should only work at closed end or defensive tackle. He doesn't have the speed or quickness to get to the quarterback in the NFL.

These are the only four defensive ends on the roster. Quinn still has work to do here so expect another candidate or two to be signed prior to training camp. In fact, let's include a "TBS" since that final spot has yet to be signed.

Defensive Tackle

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Haloti Ngata
2	Tyrunn Walker
3	A'Shawn Robinson
4	Caraun Reid
5	Stefan Charles

A solid position has now returned as one of the strengths of the team.

Last year's defensive line struggled with injuries. Ngata needed half of the season to get healthy, and Walker broke his leg early.

The selection of Robinson will help keep the run-stuffing load off of Ngata and provide some depth muscle. Reid will rotate in as much as Robinson, while Charles will stick as the last defensive tackle because he can play outside if needed.

Yes, that means Gabe Wright, last year's third-round pick, will probably be on his way out.

Outside Linebacker

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	DeAndre Levy
2	Josh Bynes
3	Kyle Van Noy

Detroit's defense as a whole gets a huge bump with the return of Levy. He was set to be the engine that kept the defense humming in the absence of Ndamukong Suh, but a hip injury cost him all but a handful of snaps.

The Lions will be using a lot of sub-packages so there won't be a traditional SAM and WILL 'backer on the field at the same time very often. They'll be much more likely to use rookie safety Miles Killebrew instead when possible.

Van Noy is likely facing the end of his rope. If he doesn't show significant progress, he might not make it out of camp.

Inside Linebacker

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Tahir Whitehead
2	Antwione Williams

Last year, the Lions carried seven linebackers. Things will be different this season.

Detroit doesn't have the talent at the position to justify carrying more than the five specified here, with the exception of adding Brandon Copeland as a deep reserve pass-rusher.

Otherwise, the Lions would be better off carrying an extra defensive back who can help in the sub-packages Detroit will run and on special teams. Whitehead and Williams will have little competition for these spots based on the current roster.

Unless, of course, Stephen Tulloch never actually gets cut.

Cornerback

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Darius Slay
2	Darrin Walls
3	Nevin Lawson
4	Quandre Diggs
5	Alex Carter
6	Crezdon Butler

Six cornerbacks?

Yes, sir, we're following the Patriot way here. It also makes sense since there are so many youngsters on the depth chart who have yet to prove themselves.

Slay is the unquestioned stud of the group. Walls will battle it out with Lawson for the opposite job, but Walls gets a head up by virtue of his outside experience.

Carter is the unknown of this bunch since he didn't play last year. He'll be given every opportunity to prove he can be an NFL corner, leaving Butler to hang on by a thread.

Safety

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
1	Glover Quin
2	Miles Killebrew
3	Tavon Wilson
4	Rafael Bush
5	Johnson Bademosi

Special teams will win out and force Detroit to carry five safeties.

Wilson and Bademosi are guys who have made their bones in the third phase of the game. Neither will see much playing time on defense, although Wilson is getting the initial bump up the chart over Bush based on potential.

However, Killebrew will win the starting job next to Quin by September. He's the most talented of the trio and will fill in as a "money linebacker," making it easier for Detroit to carry just five linebackers.

Special Teams

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Depth Chart	Player
Punter	Sam Martin
K	Matt Prater
LS	Jimmy Landes

The reign of Don Muhlbach appears to be at its end.

Detroit drafted Jimmy Landes from Baylor in the sixth round. And you don't draft long snappers unless you're planning on using them.

Otherwise, everything here stays the same. Martin will continue to be a solid top-10 punter, while Prater will be the model of consistency the Lions need at place kicker.

53-Man Roster Projection

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Here is your final way-too-early 53-man roster prediction.

53-Man Roster Projection

	Player	Position
1	Matthew Stafford	QB
2	Dan Orlovsky	QB
3	Jake Rudock	QB
4	Ameer Abdullah	RB
5	Stevan Ridley	RB
6	Theo Riddick	RB
7	Zach Zenner	RB
8	Mike Burton	FB
9	Golden Tate	WR
10	Marvin Jones	WR
11	Jeremy Kerley	WR
12	T.J. Jones	WR
13	Corey Fuller	WR
14	Eric Ebron	TE
15	Brandon Pettigrew	TE
16	Matthew Mulligan	TE
17	Taylor Decker	OT
18	Larry Warford	OG
19	Graham Glasgow	C
20	Laken Tomlinson	OG
21	Geoff Schwartz	OL
22	Joe Dahl	OL
23	Riley Reiff	OT
24	Michael Ola	OL
25	Ziggy Ansah	DE
26	Devin Taylor	DE
27	Wallace Gilberry	DE
28	Anthony Zettel	DE
29	To Be Signed	DE
30	Haloti Ngata	DT
31	Tyrunn Walker	DT
32	A'Shawn Robinson	DT
33	Caraun Reid	DT
34	Stefan Charles	DL
35	DeAndre Levy	LB
36	Josh Bynes	LB
37	Kyle Van Noy	LB
38	Tahir Whitehead	LB
39	Antwione Williams	LB
40	Darius Slay	CB
41	Darrin Walls	CB
42	Nevin Lawson	CB
43	Quandre Diggs	CB
44	Alex Carter	CB
45	Crezdon Butler	CB
46	Glover Quin	S
47	Miles Killebrew	S
48	Tavon Wilson	S
49	Rafael Bush	S
50	Johnson Bademosi	S
51	Sam Martin	P
52	Matt Prater	K
53	Jimmy Landes	LS

Brandon Alisoglu has covered the Detroit Lions for five years. You can find his work on About.com, Bleacher Report, Yahoo, CNN and others. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.