The Detroit Lions wrapped up OTAs last week and that will do it for the offseason training program. The team cancelled their mandatory minicamp so they can start training camp early this summer since they are playing in the Hall of Fame preseason game July 31.
It's worth noting here that there were only a couple open practices to the media and they are unpadded practices, so it's hard to evaluate the big guys up front, but with that said, let's take a look at five players who caught my eye:
1. Wide receiver Jameson Williams
He's made a couple difficult catches in OTA practices and really seems to be on the same page with quarterback Jared Goff. Coaches and teammates have been raving about his spring, both on the field and in the meeting room, and many think he's poised for a breakout season. He had his first 1,000-yard season last year with seven touchdowns as he became one of the top deep threats in the NFL. He looks to have expanded his game to include the short and intermediate parts of the field, and if he stays healthy there's no reason he can't have a monster 2025.
View behind-the-scenes photos from 2025 Detroit Lions media day on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing with a Ford truck on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) laughing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Team Photographer and Assistant Creative Director Jeff Nguyen taking a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) and Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) posing together on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (43) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) speaking to the camera during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) laughing during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) and Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) doing a handshake on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) on screen during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) speaking to the camera during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten (49) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
The main studio set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) smiling ons set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) signing his signature during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) taking a selfie on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing with a Ford truck during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 12, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett (36) posing during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
2. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson
It's been good to see No. 97 back in the fold after missing most of last season with a broken leg. It's hard to evaluate pass rushers without the pads on, but the movement skills have looked good with Hutchinson. That's an important distinction coming off an injury like the one he suffered last season. He's made his presence felt in the offensive backfield in multiple team periods in OTAs and looks to be back to his old self, which opposing offensive tackles won't be all that excited to hear.
3. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
David Montgomery hasn't taken part in the open OTAs so Gibbs has gotten the bulk of the work. Where he's stood out to me the most is in the passing game. We all know how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands, and it seems like new offensive coordinator John Morton is really working to isolate him against great matchups in the pass game. Gibbs caught 52 passes for 517 yards and four touchdowns last season. That was on top of rushing for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Lions have a lot of weapons in the pass game, but I wouldn't be surprised if Gibbs nears 75 receptions this season.
4. Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold hasn't taken part in open OTA practices, and that's allowed fellow second-year cornerback Rakestraw a chance to get a lot of reps with the first-team defense opposite D.J. Reed on the outside. He's taken advantage of those reps, even earning a shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell about his play this spring. Rakestraw only played in eight games last year because of injury. Now healthy, he wants to prove he can make an impact. The way he's trending this spring, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard might have to find some packages or opportunities to get him on the field.
5. Tight end Sam LaPorta
LaPorta saw his numbers dip a little bit last year from his rookie season, but that's mostly because Detroit's offense has so many weapons and only one football to go around. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was asked Thursday who has stood out to him this spring, and LaPorta was the first name out of his mouth. LaPorta's made a couple great plays in the red zone and down the field in OTAs. Don't be surprised if LaPorta's numbers in 2025 look closer to the record-breaking numbers he put up as a rookie in 2023.
