Coming off a trip to the NFC Championship Game last year, the Detroit Lions are positioned as Super Bowl contenders this year. The roster has been strengthened in key areas, and the core players from last year’s successful team are still intact.
The core of the roster under general manager Brad Holmes has primarily been built through the draft. The effectiveness of the 2024 draft class remains to be seen, but early indications are positive.
If ranking the league’s rosters overall, the Lions would easily be considered in the top five. Consequently, individual acknowledgments naturally follow from such a strong team composition.
ESPN has completed its annual position rankings for this year, based on a survey of NFL evaluators. While some may disagree with the placement or absence of certain players, the Lions had several players ranked in the top 10 across various positions according to the network.
The Detroit Lions have been well-represented in ESPN’s position rankings this year.
The Lions had seven players ranked in the top 10 in ESPN’s position rankings.
Here’s the breakdown of the Detroit Lions players who made the top 10 in ESPN’s position rankings:
1. QB Jared Goff – No. 9
2. RB Jahmyr Gibbs – No. 8
3. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – No. 7
4. TE Sam LaPorta – No. 4
5. OT Penei Sewell – No. 2
6. C Frank Ragnow – No. 8 (interior offensive lineman)
7. DE Aidan Hutchinson – No. 6
Running back David Montgomery, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, defensive back Brian Branch, and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu received honorable mentions or were listed in the “others receiving votes” category at their respective positions in ESPN’s rankings. It’s worth noting that Branch, despite primarily playing slot corner as a rookie, was considered among safeties in the rankings.
Not all evaluations were positive for Lions players among the ESPN poll respondents. Some evaluators expressed concerns about Frank Ragnow, noting signs of decline possibly influenced by his injuries from the previous year. Additionally, there were suggestions that Amon-Ra St. Brown’s performance might be bolstered by the offensive scheme, a critique viewed by some as an attempt to downplay his abilities unfairly.
Alongside the Detroit Lions, both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs also had seven players ranked in the top 10 in ESPN’s position rankings. The San Francisco 49ers led all teams with nine players in the top 10 across various positions.
