Detroit Lions' biggest roster weaknesses following cutdown day

The Detroit Lions made the necessary cuts to get down to a 53-man roster on Tuesday, but the team will continue making moves ahead of the start of the season as general manager Brad Holmes looks to shore up the team.

Coming off of an NFC Championship Game appearance, the Lions still own one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. That’s not to say there aren’t holes, though, and some of those are more obvious after roster cuts.

While the roster structure will change before the season begins, it’s still interesting to see only four wide receivers on the 53-man roster. Kicker Jake Bates won the kicking job for now, but you have to think he will be on a short leash this season.

Now that we know what the roster will look like, more or less, let’s identify the three biggest areas of weakness for the Lions.

Detroit Lions' biggest weaknesses

Wide receiver

It may seem strange to list wide receiver as a position of weakness considering Amon-Ra St. Brown exists, but the depth behind the star is questionable, at best.

Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond are solid options who were always going to play a role, but they aren't guaranteed to be adequate options in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the depth chart. Adding to that, the only other wide receiver on the roster currently is UDFA Isaiah Williams. Detroit has added a few receivers to the practice squad, but they are hardly guaranteed solutions.

A St. Brown injury would be devastating to this team. Even if/when more receivers are added to the active roster, a St. Brown injury would still be devastating.

The Lions need to add a body or two to this room before the real games begin, and chances are the solution isn't on the practice squad.

EDGE

Again, it may seem weird to point out the edge rushers when Aidan Hutchinson is on the roster. Look past the star, and there’s not much to be excited about.

Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal and James Houston are the other edge rushers on the roster. Those three combined for just four sacks in 2023, meaning the Lions may have to rely on Hutchinson as much as ever.

Kicker

The Lions decided to stick with Jake Bates after the kicker had an up-and-down summer. Bates ended up hitting 6-of-7 field goals in the preseason and made both of his tries from 50-plus yards, but he also missed an extra point and a chip-shot field goal during exhibition play.

While Bates has the job for now, the young kicker has no big-game experience and has a history of inconsistency. The Lions should add another option to the practice squad.