The Detroit Lions is an American football team that competes at the professional level. The National Football Conference (NFC) North Division is composed of teams that compete in the National Football League (NFL), and the Detroit Lions is one of those teams. They have enjoyed a satisfactory level of success throughout their history.
Over the course of their existence, the team has been led by several legendary figures who are held in the highest regard. There have been numerous occasions to see how much individuals have progressed from the previous year. There are NFL expert picks who have a good chance of exceeding everyone’s expectations throughout the forthcoming season. Let’s look at players on the Lions roster to watch out for in 2023.
5 Detroit Lions to watch out for in 2023
Below are some of the Lions to keep an eye on in the upcoming games:
- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson’s debut season was highlighted by outstanding play. He demonstrates leadership qualities both on and off the playing field. During the 2022 season, he ended the year with 9.5 quarterback sacks, 15 total quarterback hits, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. After having such a successful debut in the NFL, it will be fascinating to watch Hutchinson this season.
- WR Jameson Williams
The Lions’ offseason plans, which were generally upbeat, were dealt a blow when Williams was handed a six-game ban for violating the NFL’s rules on gambling. Williams will have missed 18 of the first 23 games he played in the NFL by the time he becomes eligible to play again. Williams is going to be under a lot of scrutiny this summer because of the mess he created for himself. However, he has Kerby Joseph’s support among others to keep kicking. Williams will have to make the most of the practice opportunities given to him to demonstrate why the team chose to select him so early in the first place.
- CB Cam Sutton
Sutton is coming off a season that was his finest ever. During his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played in 16 games and had 15 pass breakups, in addition to three interceptions. Fans in Detroit are demanding that kind of output from Sutton, who is anticipated to be a solid veteran presence for the team in the defensive backfield. During Sutton’s offseason workouts with the Lions, it will be thrilling to pay special attention to how he gets along with the team’s younger cornerbacks like Jerry Jacobs and Will Harris. The ex-Steelers defensive back will be a practical guide to younger players in Detroit’s secondary who have less experience.
- DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The signing of Gardner-Johnson throughout the summer may have been the most significant acquisition made on the defensive side of the ball. The former defensive back for the Eagles is coming off a great season in which he set a career-high with 67 total tackles and recorded six interceptions. He is an adaptable defensive back who can play either cornerback or safety, depending on the situation. It will be intriguing to watch where Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator for the Lions, deploys him during all the voluntary offseason activities and training camp.
- DT Alim McNeill
It seems as though McNeill is prepared to advance to the next level as an NFL defensive tackle. As a result of changing his routine, the defensive tackle is currently in the greatest shape of his career. He has cut his body fat percentage by 13 percent. In addition, he is anticipated to transition into a new role as a 3-tech defensive lineman for the upcoming season. It ought to make it possible for him to flourish more as a pass rusher while also making it possible for the 6-foot-2, 330-pounder to continue to block running lanes. McNeill, who played in all 16 games of the previous season for Detroit, only had one sack to show for his efforts. The Lions could surely benefit from a more regular performance from McNeill.
Conclusion
At its practice facility in Allen Park, the Detroit Lions are currently participating in a full slate of organized team exercises. The buzz surrounding Dan Campbell’s team is growing, as they have established themselves as the preseason favorite to win the NFC North division in 2023. Here, we have seen the highlights of players to watch out for in the coming matches. They have bought themselves high expectations and we can only hope they keep their lights burning.
