Top-graded Lions in preseason win over Steelers

The Detroit Lions wrapped up the preseason on Saturday with a 24-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Of course, with the deadline for rosters to be cut to 53 on Tuesday afternoon, it was a huge game for several players and a few stood out.

Related: Hendon Hooker, Lions win preseason finale 24-17 at home against Steelers

Here’s a look at the top-graded Lions in the final preseason game, according to Pro Football Focus.

Offense

• RG Jake Burton — 76.9
• WR Maurice Alexander — 76.7
• LG Duke Clemens — 75.5
• TE Shane Zylstra — 75.1
• RT Colby Sorsdal — 74.9
• QB Hendon Hooker — 71.7
• WR Jalon Calhoun — 70.6
• WR Kaden Davis — 67.5
• RB Jake Funk — 66.8
• RB Jermar Jefferson — 66.2

Meanwhile, the lowest-graded Lions on offense were TE James Mitchell (33.2), C Kingsley Eguakun (41.2), WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (45.6), LT Giovanni Manu (50.5) and RG Michael Niese (56.8).

Overall, not an incredible showing by many guys but Alexander made a strong final push for a spot in the wideout room while Peoples-Jones and Daurice Fountain may have sealed their fate as cuts.

Hooker had plenty of good and bad but it was nice to see him get a lot of playing time and flash his upside.

Overall, the Lions don’t have a ton of spots open on offense so most of these guys are likely practice squad bound, and it still wouldn’t be surprising to see Detroit look to swing a trade or put in a claim on a depth wide receiver.

Defense

• ED James Houston — 89.7
• LB Ty Summers — 89.0
• LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe — 79.6
• LB Isaac Ukwu — 76.6
• DT Mekhi Wingo — 69.8
• LB Abraham Beauplan — 69.7
• DL Patrick O’Connor — 69.3
• S Chelen Garnes — 67.2
• CB Rachad Wildgoose — 65.9
• CB Essang Bassey — 62.6

The lowest-graded Lions defenders were CB Steven Gilmore (38.7), DT Brodric Martin (40.3), S Brandon Joseph (46.2), CB Javelin Guidry (48.7) and DE Josh Paschal (52.0).

He’s only been a Lion for two weeks by Summers has really flashed and could be a sneaky candidate for a depth spot. He finished Saturday as the team’s leading tackler (by far) and also had 1.5 sacks.

Meanwhile, Houston and Wingo have had a pretty low-key the rest of the preseason. Does Saturday do enough to make up for that?

Either way, look for several of these guys to be practice squad players if they clear waivers in the coming days.

The Lions have some tough decisions to make ahead of the 3 p.m. Tuesday deadline to have rosters trimmed to 53.

The good news is we’re now just two weeks away from the start of the Lions’ regular season!