On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions began their first Organized Team Activities session, which will continue over the next two weeks. With this being our initial look at the 2025 roster all together, there are several players I’m excited to watch once practices open to the media later this week.
QB Hendon Hooker
The Lions have made it clear that Hooker will need to compete for the backup quarterback spot against veteran Kyle Allen this offseason. While I fully expect Hooker to rise to the challenge, I’m curious to see how much progress he’s made since what was essentially his rookie season last year.
RB Sione Vaki
Speaking of players poised for growth, Vaki enters 2025 with a full year of experience learning the running back role. Though he’s unlikely to surpass the top two backs, an interesting battle for the RB3 spot should unfold between him and Craig Reynolds during training camp.
WR Isaac TeSlaa
Though TeSlaa may not participate in every practice, if he does, he’ll be one of the most intriguing players to watch. Arguably the most debated Lions draft pick of 2025, this week offers him his first chance to compete against NFL-level talent and show how he’s developing as a receiver.
WR Jameson WilliamsburgÂ
The Lions have high expectations for Williams. Offensive coordinator John Morton predicts a breakout season after Williams’ 1,001 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last year. The offense appears to be syncing well with him, so I’m eager to see if that chemistry is evident on the field.
OT Giovanni Manu
Manu’s development could significantly influence the offensive line’s future. If he makes a big leap in Year 2, he could challenge for the starting left tackle spot in 2026. If not, he might settle into a primary swing tackle backup role, which could create a difficult decision for Detroit at left tackle. Last we heard, Manu’s rookie season progress was dramatically better than his start.
It’s difficult to fully evaluate progress without live contact and pads, but even knowing where he lines up on the depth chart might provide insight.
G Tate Ratledge
Similar to Manu, judging Ratledge’s play during OTAs will be limited by the rules. But questions remain: Will he play center or guard? Will he be with the starters or backups? And if Frank Ragnow doesn’t participate, can we draw any conclusions about Ratledge’s role?
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson is participating while wearing a compression sleeve on his healed leg. The question is how involved he’ll be—will he only do individual drills, or will he have full access to all practice activities?
DT Tyleik Williams
It’s uncertain if we’ll see much from the Lions’ first-round pick after limited rookie minicamp involvement. Williams mentioned the plan is to be cautious and limit his reps. But if he does appear, it’ll be interesting to see how he matches up against NFL talent rather than just rookie minicamp opponents.
CB D.J. Reed
Reed is the biggest free agent signing for the Lions during the Brad Holmes era. How will he fare against Detroit’s strong receiving group? Can he bring genuine CB1 skills to the defense for the first time under this management?
CB Terrion Arnold
Alternatively, has Arnold advanced enough to be the team’s top corner? Arnold’s second-year development could be an underrated factor in Detroit’s success this season. He gained valuable experience last year and showed noticeable improvement by the end of the campaign.
