Justin Rogers ranks top 25 Detroit Lions in value for 2019

1. Kerryon Johnson, running back: Gone is the era of three yards and cloud of dust, but the team’s brass has made it clear, both in words and actions, the Lions will be committed to the run. Johnson might not be a traditional bell cow in the backfield, but he’s a star in the making, with the ability to pop off a big gain on any touch. He’ll be the engine that makes Detroit’s offense go.

2. Matthew Stafford, quarterback: This is the first year we haven’t listed Stafford No.1 here, but if the ground game and defense come together as hoped, this is the first year in a while the team could be successful without leaning too heavily on the quarterback.

3. Damon Harrison, defensive tackle: The Lions’ top priority on defense is stopping the run, and the difference in that ability before and after the addition of Harrison doesn’t need to be restated. He’s a dominant force on the inside and showed he’s not a slouch as a pass-rusher, recording 3.5 sacks in 10 games after coming over in a midseason trade.

4. Darius Slay, cornerback: The rules long have been bent toward favoring receivers, but with exceptional speed, footwork and ball skills, Slay is able to hang with the opponents’ best pass catcher, week after week. That’s an invaluable resource for any defense.

5. Jarrad Davis, linebacker: Davis took significant steps forward with his development last season, showcasing a newfound ability to rush the passer, while cleaning up many of his issues in coverage. If he can take another step forward this year, particularly with his pursuit angles and missing fewer tackles, he has the talent to become a Pro Bowl-caliber defender.

6. Frank Ragnow, center/guard: We’re working off the assumption the second-year man out of Arkansas is going to be Detroit’s starting center. The role of the position is critical, not just because of what happens after the snap, but also before it. Down after down, Ragnow will be responsible for getting the entire unit in the proper position to handle the defensive look.

7. Trey Flowers, defensive end: The crown jewel of Detroit’s free-agent spending spree, Flowers is a technician at the defensive end spot, rarely blowing an assignment. At the price tag, you’d love to see him rack up double-digit sacks, but as long as he’s setting a strong edge and regularly disrupting the pocket, as he’s done in recent years with New England, it will be money well spent.

8. Quandre Diggs, safety: After making a surprisingly smooth transition to safety, Diggs enters the 2019 campaign as the de facto leader of Detroit’s secondary. A unique playmaker, he plays with a high level of confidence in critical situations, and sets a physical tone with his hard-hitting style.

9. Kenny Golladay, wide receiver: While it wasn’t a great season for Detroit’s receiving corps, overall, Golladay thrived with expanded responsibilities and assignments, some of which were necessitated by injuries. Seeing more exotic coverages, and countering with additional snaps in slot, he managed 70 catches for 1,063 yards. He’s set himself up to be the focal point of the passing attack going forward.

10. Graham Glasgow, guard/center: The durable Glasgow might be making yet another position switch this season. After two years as a left guard, and last year at center, most of the reps have come at right guard this season. He’ll get plenty of opportunities to pave a path for the running backs at that spot.

11. A’Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle: After an early bump in the road, which included a healthy scratch to open the season, Robinson flourished in the new defensive scheme. You’re not going to get a ton of pass rush from him, but his athleticism and strength routinely show up in the ground game.

12. Taylor Decker, left tackle: Decker’s career arc was stunted by a shoulder injury two years ago, and while he was better last year, it still feels as if he wasn’t back to his normal self, particularly as a run blocker. With his next contract right around the corner, 2019 is a big opportunity to reassert himself as a well-rounded blindside option.

13. Da’Shawn Hand, defensive end: A revelation as a rookie, Hand didn’t finish nearly as strong as he started, recording eight tackles, one sack and one QB hit his final eight games. A year in the scheme, and in an NFL weight room, should lead to a more consistent second season.

14. T.J. Hockenson, tight end: The bar is typically set low for rookie tight ends, but expectations are higher for the well-rounded Hockenson, who was taken No. 8 in the draft. Charlie Sanders’ first-year, franchise record of 40 catches for the position isn’t an unreasonable bar for Hockenson, all while contributing solid blocking.

15. Devon Kennard, linebacker: A workhorse in his first year with the Lions, Kennard rarely left the field in 2018. Schematically reliable, he met expectations across the board, but doesn’t have a standout skill. The team added depth on the edge, which could lead to a lighter workload and improved efficiency, particularly with his pass rush.

16. Rick Wagner, right tackle: Left tackle is still viewed as the premium position along the offensive line, but enough teams are utilizing their top edge rushers across from the right tackle. Wagner has been good, not great since signing a monster deal that made him the top paid right tackle at the time.

17. Justin Coleman, cornerback: In the pass-heavy NFL, the nickel corner job is essentially a starting position. Coleman will be tasked with a variety of assignments, from covering slot receivers and tight ends across the middle, to providing reliable run support to an occasional blitz. And much like the CB2 spot, more playmaking would be a welcome change.

18. Tracy Walker, safety: The Lions eased Walker into things as a rookie, and he met or exceeded expectations at every turn. Now that Glover Quin is gone, the Lions will look to Walker to play a far more significant role in the defense. If he can carry the effective use of his length and instincts into the expanded playing time, the team could be pretty good at the safety spot.

19. Marvin Jones, wide receiver: The emergence of Kenny Golladay, and the addition of several passing-game weapons, likely will mean fewer opportunities for Jones. On the other hand, he should benefit from better coverage looks. The offense could really use the return of the deep ball connection he and Matthew Stafford had two seasons ago.

20. Romeo Okwara, defensive end: A waiver claim last season, Okwara went on to lead the Lions in sacks. With the addition of Trey Flowers, Okwara slides into the top backup spot on the defense line, but with the flexibility to play off-the-ball in some packages.

21. Kenny Wiggins, guard: Based on everything we’ve seen through the early stages of the offseason, Wiggins is trending toward a starting job. He’ll need to be better than the inconsistent performance he delivered last year, while filling in for an injured T.J. Lang.

22. Cornerback No. 2: It’s too early to say who will win the job opposite Darius Slay. Rashaan Melvin (pictured) is the front-runner, but Teez Tabor, Mike Ford and rookie Amani Oruwariye will have an opportunity to state their case. Whoever it ends up being, the Lions will be looking for a more consistent playmaker than they’ve had at that spot in recent years.

23. Danny Amendola, slot receiver: The Lions’ offense stalled out after trading away Golden Tate a year ago. Amendola isn’t as dynamic after the catch as Tate, but the new addition is a solid route runner with good hands. He should give the Lions back some stability in the slot.

24. Jesse James, tight end: A key piece in Detroit’s free-agency class, James is a complete tight end who despite just celebrating his 25th birthday already has 36 starts under his belt. He has the size and skills to be a reliable blocker, as well as a big target on third down and in the red zone.