Detroit Lions training camp: Storylines, players to watch, position battles and more

Since their arrival some three and a half years ago, everything Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have been building has been to get to this point, right here, right now.

They have proof of concept, with a team that not only lived up to lofty expectations set a year ago, but far exceeded them. They have coaches who’ve been courted by other teams, only to remain in Detroit to see this through. They have a roster full of young, dynamic talent — among the NFL’s best. They’ve supplemented that core with veterans hungry to win and win for this city after tasting success in January.

These Detroit Lions, on paper, have everything needed to win a Super Bowl. Not often you can say that about this franchise.

But that’s where we are. And the road to New Orleans begins this week, as training camp kicks off in Allen Park, Mich.

Here’s what we’ll be watching in the weeks ahead.

Storylines to follow

Will Detroit’s success remain linear?

Oftentimes, success in this league isn’t linear. It’s what makes what the Lions have done so impressive. Each year of the Dan Campbell era, the Lions have shown noticeable improvement. From 3-13-1 to 9-8 to 12-5 and a trip to the NFC Championship game, it’s been a steady yet remarkable rise for a franchise that’s been anything but over the years. It’s a testament to Sheila Hamp, Chris Speilman, Campbell, Holmes and company for getting the organization this far, but the work isn’t done. The goal for these Lions now is clear. It starts with a division title, which could prove more difficult than last year with the Packers looking like a threat and the Bears on the rise. They should be aiming for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And if all goes according to plan, Campbell will be eating enchiladas in February.

GO DEEPER

Jack Campbell hitting next level after bumps in development

How will the Lions handle the target on their backs?

Even though the Lions were NFC North favorites entering the 2023 season, they hadn’t accomplished anything yet. Division title bragging rights belonged to Minnesota, and the Lions hadn’t hung a banner for winning one in 30 years. Of course, that all changed last season, which now elevates the Lions as the team to beat. While the team did well to turn a good roster into a strong one, they’ll now face a first-place schedule and what’s looking like a tougher division. The Packers nearly took down the 49ers to reach the NFC Championship, and they remain one of the league’s youngest rosters. The Bears have a rising defense and an offense that added No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, No. 9 pick Rome Odunze, star WR Keenan Allen and RB D’Andre Swift. Even the Vikings remained competitive without Kirk Cousins last year. The NFC North is coming for the Lions. They’ll need to be ready.

Is this the last dance for Campbell’s closest confidants?

For years, we’ve been wondering when Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn might leave Detroit. And for years, they’ve remained in their positions as OC and DC. It’s rare to have this kind of continuity in the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Campbell’s coordinators remain in Detroit — they like it here, after all. However, it does feel like a matter of time before the band breaks up. Things could look different a year from now, and if that’s what’s in store, it makes winning this year, with a team that has what it takes to do it, all the more important.

Is the new-look secondary enough to propel the defense?

When you have a team that makes it within a game of the Super Bowl and returns its core roster, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. The offense should remain one of the best in the league with Goff and Johnson running it. But what about the defense? Glenn’s group improved in some areas — most notably, a run defense that ranked 2nd in the league in yards per game allowed — but the passing defense was very much a liability, both in the regular season and the playoffs. Some new faces could help Glenn return to the man-heavy defense he wants to play, but we need to see results.

Players to watch

WR Jameson Williams: You can’t talk players to watch without talking Jameson Williams. Stepping into a larger role in 2024, this is his most important season yet. In terms of pure fit, Williams is everything the Lions need in this offense. He’s the perfect complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in the passing game, as his deep-threat ability can open up the underneath game for others, and vice versa. The spring showed a more focused Williams, working with the first-team offense. We’ll see what training camp has in store.

QB Hendon Hooker: Jared Goff has been durable in his Lions’ tenure, but these are things you have to think about when you reach contender status. The Lions will need to have a capable backup in the event Goff goes down for a bit, and they’re turning to Hooker — a 2023 third-round pick — to fill that role. Hooker has natural…