Detroit

Lions

Clark will be veteran depth as the Lions figure out where they’ll be early in the season with Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) being in doubt for Week 1. Clark played 437 defensive snaps for the Steelers last year and was an exceptional run defender, notching an 83.1 PFF run defense grade.

Rumors around Sewell possibly moving to left tackle kicked up after it was rumored that Taylor Decker was considering retirement. Decker has since been released, and with the team’s decision to move on from him comes the likelihood that Sewell, a three-time First-team All-Pro, will move to the left side of the line this upcoming season. Sewell played left tackle at Oregon before being drafted by the Lions, but has spent his entire career at right tackle with Decker occupying the LT slot. While the change isn’t set in stone, it sounds like Campbell expects it to come by the time camp rolls around, if not sooner.

In an article by Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers, Decker provided his timeline of the events that led to him requesting his release earlier this month. Most notably, Decker, who will turn 33 in August, was irked when the Lions asked him to take a pay cut after he announced on social media that he was returning for next season during the NFL combine. Decker believes it was made clear in his exit interview days after the end of the regular season that the Lions wanted him back as the starting left tackle and that he wouldn’t take a pay cut. Once the Lions asked him to take a pay cut, he considered the idea only for a few minutes before rejecting it. Decker told Rogers his interpretation of the pay cut request was that it was the Lions’ way of telling him he’s not the guy anymore after 10 years of starting at left tackle in Detroit. Still unsigned, Decker is mentally ready and physically confident he can play another season, though it’s still unclear if he will play. If he does, Decker could find a new team in the post-draft wave of free agency.

Reader, 31, played for the Lions last year, earning a 68.9 PFF defense grade. He totaled 18 solo tackles, one TFL and 20 quarterback pressures. The latter figure is impressive for a player listed at 6'3"/330. He should be able to meaningfully contribute again in 2026.

Bartch has started games in each of the last two seasons for the 49ers, but has spent a lot of time on injured reserve and hasn’t been able to take advantage of chances to win a full-time role. The Lions will add him as depth and hope he can stay healthy. Bartch has respectable PFF grades of 71.7 and 74.8 in his last two seasons.

It’s safe to assume Jahmyr Gibbs would be safe from any rookie running back the Lions add to their roster via the draft, but Isiah Pacheco, who was signed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract this offseason, may not be as safe. Pacheco, 27, was brought in to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Texans earlier this month, and the veteran running back appears to have lost a step or two after averaging over 4.5 YPC his first two years in the league. The Lions have picks in the first and second round of this year’s draft, but then won’t be on the clock again until the fourth round with the No. 118 overall pick. Any player selected on Day 3 could face an uphill battle to usurp Pacheco on the depth chart before Week 1, but any additions could make for interesting late-round flyers in fantasy drafts.

Chark, 29, last stepped foot on an NFL field as a member of the Falcons in two 2025 preseason games. He was released before the regular season began and did not sign with a new team. Chark spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jaguars after they drafted him via a second-round pick in 2018. He produced career highs across the board in 2019, catching 73-of-114 targets for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, and earned Pro Bowl honors for his efforts. He spent 2022 with the Lions, 2023 with the Panthers and 2024 with the Chargers. Over the course of his career, Chark caught 216-of-393 targets for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Turner entered the NFL as a first-round pick with the Saints in 2021. He totaled just 39 quarterback pressures and five sacks over his first four seasons before signing with the Cowboys via a one-year, $3 million deal last year. Unfortunately, a preseason ribs injury ended Turner’s 2025 season. He will likely operate as a rotational player in Detroit.

The former Rice Owl is back with the Lions after initially joining the team in 2024, when he last played regular season snaps. He participated in all four preseason games last year, including Detroit’s Hall of Fame game against the Chargers, bagging six solo tackles, four TFLs and four quarterback pressures. He was later waived at the end of August. Adams, 28, gets another chance to make the Lions’ final roster.

Dortch is following new Lions OC Drew Petzing from Arizona to Detroit. He turned 29 catches into 206 yards and three scores last year. Dortch is primarily a slot receiver and Amon-Ra St. Brown has the role locked down. At best, the former Cardinal will give ARSB the occasional breather. He could be an interesting PPR option if anything happens to St. Brown, but that isn’t something early fantasy drafters should plan for.