OTAs and minicamp gave us a glimpse at what the Detroit Lions' starting roster will look like in the fall, but training camp is where most jobs and roles are won and lost.
Which position battle are you looking forward to most? I asked the Detroitlions.com crew, and here's what they had to say:
Tim Twentyman: Wide receiver
The additions of DJ Chark via free agency and Jameson Williams in the NFL Draft (No. 12 overall pick) really gives that room some juice. Those two bring a size and speed element that was really lacking from the receiving corps last year. Couple that with the return of slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, plus the re-signings of Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond, and suddenly that's a room with a lot of talent and depth.
Detroit is so deep there now that a player like Quintez Cephus, who was having a really nice start to his second season last year before a collar bone injury ended his year Week 5, could be the No. 6 guy. How does the pecking order play itself out? Can Trinity Benson put himself into the mix after a good spring? What about the three undrafted players? It should be a fun competition to watch all spring.
Mike O'Hara: Backup quarterback
The competition I'm most interested in seeing in training camp is at a position the Lions hope they won't have to use. Tim Boyle and David Blough will compete to be the backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff. Goff is locked in as the starter, and much of the Lions' fortunes will depend on how he performs.
Head coach Dan Campbell made it clear during the offseason workouts that there will be legitimate competition for the backup job.
Blough and Boyle have similar backgrounds and some starting experience with the Lions. Blough went 0-5 as a starter in 2019 under head coach Matt Patricia and his staff. Boyle went 0-3 as a starter in 2021 under Campbell and his staff. It was his first season with the Lions. Blough was the No. 3 quarterback in 2021 and played only four snaps in one game.
There isn't a lot that separates Blough and Boyle statistically. In his five starts in 2019 Blough competed 54 percent of his passes with four TDs and six interceptions. In 2021 Boyle completed 64.9 percent of his passes with three TDs and six interceptions.
Blough seems to have a little more flair for the position. We'll see if that helps win the No. 2 job.
Editor's Pick: Cornerback
I'm interested to see the cornerback position in training camp. Last year that position was decimated by injuries. Several players had to step up as starting roles in the secondary were continuously shuffled.
Once everyone is healthy and on the field together, what does the Week 1 starting lineup look like?
