Pride of Detroit
Before we get into my list of the nine biggest winners from Detroit Lions OTAs and minicamp, let’s make one thing clear: jobs are not won in the spring. Practices are very low-key, and coaches are using most of the time to start installing the playbook and getting their players up to speed mentally.
At the same time, our first look at the 2026 Detroit Lions also allows us to see where the depth chart initially stands heading into training camp. And having talked with just about every coach on staff over the past month, we also have some initial impressions to work with. So with that in mind, here are my nine biggest winners from the spring program.
With Sam LaPorta limited to walkthroughs and veteran Tyler Conklin missing the last couple weeks of practice, it was very interesting to see that it was undrafted rookie Miles Kitselman getting some time with the first and second-team offense. Kitselman received a modest $115,000 guaranteed in his UDFA contract, so he’s by no means a lock to make the roster. But amongst very young depth, Kitselman appeared to be the early standout.
All the early indications of a Year 2 jump for Isaac TeSlaa are there. He’s been uncontested third receiver alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and coaches have really praised just how comfortable he looks.
“He is just steady, he’s steady, he is consistent for a young guy, he doesn’t get frazzled,” coach Dan Campbell said. “I mean this as a compliment, what he’s done out here is in the spring, Phase II, OTAs and all of that, it has just been very—there’s been nothing like flashy about it, and that is a good thing.”
And he’s apparently improved on several things, from his breaks to his overall strength.
“He’s done a good job of going and getting the football since he’s been here and then now at the top of his breaks, they’re so much cleaner,” receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said. “He’s so much stronger. Last year, what I like to do is I like to watch where we were, especially from an athleticism standpoint to where he is now. It’s not even close.”
When the David Montgomery trade down, I admittedly looked at Scruggs as a throw-in piece. While he had 20 games of starting experience, I figured he’d be a bubble player who would have to really prove himself to land a spot on the 53. Now, I have him just outside of a “lock.”
Why? Well, because he’s consistently been the backup center during all of the spring, and because he’s also been repping at the other two interior offensive line spots, including some brief time with the starters at left guard. On top of that, apparently the Lions front office made it clear that they really wanted him as part of the Montgomery trade.
“He really wants me here,” Scruggs told...
