The rookies, quarterbacks and players rehabbing injuries have been in Allen Park for a few days now, but training camp really gets underway when the veterans report Tuesday and practice kicks off Wednesday.

Detroit enters 2024 as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in February, but first the foundation must be laid and that begins with training camp over the next month.

Here are five things I'll be looking out for when camp kicks off this week:

1. Cornerback competition

The Lions completely revamped the cornerback room, acquiring Carlton Davis via trade, signing Amik Robertson in free agency, and bringing back Emmanuel Moseley, all before drafting Terrion Arnold in the first round and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round of this year's NFL Draft.

Just how will roles and playing time shake out? Davis enters camp at one of the outside spots. Arnold was opposite him with the first-team defense during OTAs and minicamp and we could certainly see that combo on the outside to start camp.

Brian Branch is currently on Active/PUP, but when he returns the Lions play to use his versatility a little more than they did his rookie season by adding some safety to his duties. He will still see time at nickel, where he thrived as a rookie. How will reps for Robertson and Rakestraw shake out? Both have the versatility to play inside and outside. Will Moseley be ready to go at the start of camp coming off his second straight ACL tear, and what will he look like when he does get on the field? Don't forget he was a starter on the outside for a very good 49ers defense in 2022.

No position group went through more change than the cornerback room this offseason. Detroit looks to be much more talented with better depth, and the competition for playing roles and roster spots is expected to be fierce. Coaches are hoping that makes everyone better.

2. Second-year players

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta and linebacker Jack Campbell made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Teams, while Branch was arguably one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league last season.

Gibbs, LaPorta and Branch combined for 22 touchdowns, the most from a Lions rookie class since 1934. Gibbs and LaPorta were the NFL's first set of rookie teammates to each produce 10 touchdowns in their first season. Campbell recorded the second most tackles by a rookie (89) and was the only rookie to record at least 80 tackles, five tackles for loss and have 2.0 sacks on the season.

We typically see players take their biggest leap in development in their second season as the game slows down for them after a entire year in the league under their belt. If that's true for this second-year crew, what kind of numbers could they produce?

I'll definitely have a little closer eye on Campbell, who is expected to take over the MIKE job on a full-time basis.

"Let me tell you first off he's a man," Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said of Campbell this offseason. "He's a grown man. He's really taken control of this offseason the way he should take control of it.

"He's a true MIKE backer. He's a guy that lives, breathes green dot mentality as a MIKE linebacker. He's done a really good job – all our guys have – of transforming their body because they've had a true offseason in the NFL."

Another second-year player to watch is quarterback Hendon Hooker, who is competing with veteran Nate Sudfeld to be Jared Goff's backup.

3. Kicker competition

Can the incumbent Michael Badgley, a reliable player down the stretch for Detroit last season and during their playoff run, hold off big-legged UFL sensation Jake Bates, who stood out with the Michigan Panthers this spring.

Badgley is a career 82.4 percent field goal kicker but has just five makes on 13 attempts from 50-plus yards. He did make a critical 54-yard field goal to help propel the Lions past the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs last season. Bates made 77.3 percent of his attempts (17-for-22), but four of those misses came from 50-plus yards. He also had makes from 64, 62 and 60 yards.

Will consistency and experience win out or can the youngster step in and win the job? Expect head coach Dan Campbell and special teams coordinator Dave FIpp to put both kickers in as many pressure situations as they can think up in camp. The preseason games will be huge for both players as well. The new kickoff rules and the accuracy of placing the football in the landing zone could also factor into the competition.

4. Depth along both lines

The starters upfront along both the offensive and defensive lines is pretty well set, but what will the depth in the trenches look like?

The offensive line is arguably the top unit in the league led by tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow, considered by most to be the best in the league at their respective positions. Last season, the Lions faced a number of injuries upfront but players like Graham Glasgow, Kayode Awosika and Dan Skipper stepped in and the unit didn't skip a beat. Can Christian Mahogany push Awosika, Sorsdal and others for a role? And when Giovanni Manu returns from Active/NFI, can he take big enough strides in camp to be a depth player?

On defense, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport make up a formidable front four. Reader isn't ready to start camp (Active/PUP) as he's still rehabbing a torn quad suffered last season. That could give young players like Brodric Martin, Chris Smith and Mekhi Wingo an opportunity to show what they can do inside early on. Can Levi Onwuzurike finally break through and be the player the Lions thought he could be when they selected him in the second round in 2021?

Detroit needs more production opposite Hutchinson on the edge and are hoping the veteran Davenport can make a significant impact in that department when he returns from Active/PUP, but can others like John Cominsky, Josh Paschal and James Houston be part of that conversation too? When the pads come on after the acclimation period we'll start to get answers to what Detroit's depth upfront on both sides of the ball will look like.

5. Jamo development

Detroit's offense was one of the best in the NFL last season and more of the same is expected from that side of the ball. What could take Ben Johnson's offense to a new level is if third-year wide receiver Jameson Williams becomes the player the Lions drafted him to be in 2022 (12th overall).

Williams had a red-shirt year of sorts his first season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. He was suspended the first month of last season and dealt with some early injuries, but really came on strong at the end of the year. We can count on one hand the number of players in this league with the kind of speed Williams has, but can he be a complete weapon at the position in Year 3?

He's going to see a significant rise in snaps as the No. 2 option at receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Will we also see a significant uptick in targets and receptions? If he becomes a consistent weapon all over the field – not just on the go balls – Detroit's offense has the potential to be the most explosive unit in the league.