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The five player additions that will define the Detroit Lions season

By Ash Thompson

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers is hit by Ronnie Harrison #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide diving towards the endzone during the third quarter of their game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers is hit by Ronnie Harrison #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide diving towards the endzone during the third quarter of their game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia celebrates with Matthew Slater #18 of the New England Patriots after the AFC Championship Game against te Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia celebrates with Matthew Slater #18 of the New England Patriots after the AFC Championship Game against te Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Lions have added players to go with their new coaching staff. Here are the five that hold the key to the Lions season in their hands.

The Detroit Lions have brought in a lot of new faces. Some of the people that those faces are attached to have been handed starting roles, others will have to fight for a roster spot. Not least of the new faces is, of course, head coach Matt Patricia. His debut is undoubtedly the most important but this is a players-only list.

With new coaching comes new schemes and new priorities. Players who were the apple of the previous staff’s eye are now fighting to justify their pay. Hired guns have come in to take their jobs. Entirely new jobs have been created, and as Akeem Spence learned some positions have been eliminated as well.

There are only 53 final roster spots so going over all 90 players in profiles would be pointless filler. Most of them are names that everyone but their parents will forget before the first snap of week one. With all due respect to six foot, six inch, 250-pound punter and University of Minnesota Golden Gophers legend Ryan Santoso, he’s not making the team barring injury.

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There are a few additions that do matter, however. These players are key to the Lions success in 2018. There is a defensive tackle, two linebackers, an offensive lineman and a running back on this list. It is no coincidence that these were the weakest spots on the 2017 roster. At least, they were the poorest performing groups.

The free agents were lowkey additions in relation to the silly money that teams were throwing around when the league year opened. They are not going to redefine what it means to be a Detroit Lion. If they don’t do their jobs though, the team is sunk.

The two rookies on the list need to be good, and they need to do it now. If they develop slowly the team could have problems. Without further ado, here are the five most important players making their debut in Lions silks for the 2018 season.

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