Lions look to bounce back, retooling through the draft after a playoff miss

The Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025, and they're doing it the hard way — through the draft. Still one of the more talented rosters in the NFC on paper, Detroit faces a cap crunch that limits its free-agent flexibility, putting the onus on head coach Dan Campbell's program and the team's homegrown core to reclaim its place among the conference's best.

A step back in 2025

After a dominant 15-2 campaign in 2024, the Lions took a step back in 2025 and missed the playoffs, a downturn tied in part to the loss of both coordinators the previous offseason — a blow that's hard for any team to absorb. Even so, Detroit embodied Campbell's energy and finished among the top five in both offensive and defensive grades, evidence that the talent and identity remain intact. This was a good team that fell short, not a broken one.

Retooling through the draft

With limited cap space and a roster full of players due significant money, the Lions can't rely on splashy free-agent additions. Instead, they must keep hitting in the draft, and they addressed the trenches by selecting offensive tackle Blake Miller at No. 17 to reinforce the line in front of quarterback Jared Goff. Detroit also reshaped its backfield, moving on from running back David Montgomery. After a couple of quieter drafts, the Lions need this class to hit.

Season outlook

Detroit enters 2026 as a bounce-back candidate in a competitive NFC North. The core that produced one of the NFL's best teams in 2024 is largely still here, and with Campbell's culture and Goff steering the offense, the Lions have the pieces to return to contention. The challenges are real — the cap squeeze, the need for young players to step up, and a division featuring the champion Bears and a dangerous Packers team. But a talented roster with a proven coach doesn't stay down long, and Detroit has every reason to expect a rebound.