Which Lions Rookie Has the Best Chance to Start in Week 1?

The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season with one of the deepest rosters in football, which makes it difficult for rookies to immediately carve out starting roles. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have built a team filled with veteran talent and young stars already locked into key positions. Still, every year at least one rookie manages to force his way into the lineup, and this season there are a few names worth watching closely.

Among Detroit’s rookie class, offensive lineman Blake Miller may have the clearest path to becoming a Week 1 starter.

Miller enters the NFL with the type of polish and versatility coaches love. Throughout college, he consistently showed strong pass protection skills, physicality in the run game, and the intelligence to handle multiple responsibilities up front. Those traits fit perfectly within Detroit’s offensive identity. The Lions pride themselves on dominating the trenches, and adding a technically sound lineman like Miller gives them another player capable of contributing early.

The biggest reason Miller has a legitimate chance to start immediately is the uncertainty surrounding Detroit’s offensive line depth entering training camp. While the Lions still possess one of the NFL’s top starting units, there are questions about long-term stability and competition at multiple spots. Injuries always play a role over the course of camp and preseason, and Detroit has shown in recent years that they are not afraid to trust young offensive linemen if they prove ready.

Miller also benefits from entering a system with elite veterans around him. Playing alongside established leaders could accelerate his development and allow the coaching staff to simplify his responsibilities early in the year. If he performs well during camp and preseason action, it would not be surprising to see the Lions trust him with a starting role right away.

Another rookie worth monitoring is edge rusher Derrick Moore. While his path to a starting job is more difficult, the talent is absolutely there.

Moore brings explosiveness, power, and versatility to Detroit’s defensive front. His motor and physical style fit exactly what Dan Campbell wants from his defenders. The challenge, however, is the competition ahead of him. Veteran pass rusher DJ Wonnum already has experience in Detroit’s system and provides proven production at the NFL level. That veteran reliability is difficult for a rookie to overcome before Week 1.

Still, Moore should not be completely counted out. The Lions heavily rotate defensive linemen, meaning even non-starters can play major snaps. If Moore impresses during camp with his ability to pressure the quarterback and defend the run, Detroit may find ways to get him on the field early. Even if he does not officially start Week 1, he could quickly become an important piece of the defensive rotation.

One dark horse candidate to watch is defensive back Keith Abney. Detroit’s secondary has improved dramatically over the past few seasons, but there could still be opportunities for a young player to emerge.

Abney’s athleticism and versatility make him an intriguing developmental prospect. He has the physical tools to compete at the NFL level, and the Lions coaching staff has done an excellent job developing defensive backs in recent years. However, the road to a starting role is difficult considering the current depth chart.

Much of Abney’s opportunity could depend on injuries or inconsistent play ahead of him. Former first-round corner Terrion Arnold is still expected to hold a major role in the secondary, and Detroit invested heavily in his development. For Abney to seriously contend for a starting spot by Week 1, he would likely need to capitalize on either an injury situation or struggles from players above him on the depth chart.

Even then, simply earning meaningful defensive snaps as a rookie would already represent a strong early step in his development.

Overall, Blake Miller feels like the rookie with the best chance to immediately crack Detroit’s starting lineup. His combination of NFL-ready technique, positional value, and potential opportunity along the offensive line gives him the clearest path entering training camp.

That said, both Derrick Moore and Keith Abney are players Lions fans should keep a close eye on throughout the preseason. Detroit’s roster is deep enough that rookies do not need to start right away to make an impact, but history shows that talented young players always find a way onto the field eventually.