The Detroit Lions head into the 2021 NFL Season with a young core. This franchise is clearly rebuilding after opting to trade Matthew Stafford away for Jared Goff and a haul of future draft picks. Detroit has virtually no chance of making the playoffs this year, but this team has given itself a nice foundation to build upon for success down the road.
Dan Campbell came in and claimed he wanted some “knee biters” and it's safe to say he found some in the 2021 NFL Draft. Penei Sewell is a monster offensive tackle who was selected in the first round, while Levi Onwuzurike aims to be a beast on the defensive line. Detroit is making slow and steady progress but they need time to develop.
The Lions will likely prefer to keep young talent on their roster over struggling veterans looking to stay in the league. Finding solid potential is key in a rebuild and Detroit has plenty of youth to find some solid stars in the making. Before that though, the coaching staff will have to make sure they make the right decisions when it comes down to roster cuts. With that said, here are three cut candidates on the Lions roster bubble entering training camp.
Jashon Cornell
Jashon Cornell has had it rough since getting drafted in 2020. First, he suffered an Achilles tear that kept him sidelined throughout last season. Detroit seemed hopeful he'd return, however, Cornell was then popped with a three-game suspension after testing positive for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
At this point, it seems Cornell is a lost cause and the Lions would be better off keeping someone else on the roster. There are players on the team that will cause fewer headaches and while also having better potential to become a major contributor in the future. Not to mention, the front office has brought in some exciting young players to the defensive line, so it'd be tough for Cornell to make the final roster as it is.
Geronimo Allison signed with the Lions in the 2020 offseason but opted out due to COVID-19. Detroit was hopeful he could be a decent veteran to rely on, however, with the franchise going all-in on a rebuild, the Lions are more likely to keep younger receivers on the team. Allison was decent for the Green Bay Packers, but he hasn't done enough to guarantee himself a spot on the Lions.
The front office didn't do much to replace Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., or Danny Amendola. However, they did acquire Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sage Surratt as exciting rookies, while Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman provide veteran leadership. Include Quintez Cephus and Kalif Raymond into the mix and now Allison is the odd man out.
Tyrell Crosby
Tyrell Crosby looked to be the starting right tackle but after selecting Penei Sewell with their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Crosby now finds himself fighting for a backup role. It's possible he moves to the inside and plays guard, but with eight other offensive linemen competing for backup roles. The numbers are against Tyrell Crosby and he didn't perform well enough last year to guarantee his safety.
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