The position battles to watch on offense as the Lions prepare to open training camp

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Allen Park — With training camp starting Wednesday for the Detroit Lions, let's look at the position-by-position competitions worth monitoring, starting with the team's offense. 

Quarterback

The Lions have welcomed stability at the starting quarterback position, but there's intrigue with what's happening behind Jared Goff on the depth chart. 

The selection of Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2022 draft was met with understandable excitement. Because he was a couple years older than teams prefer prospects at the position, and also coming off a recent ACL injury, the team was able to snatch the former Heisman frontrunner 30 to 40 spots later than he would have otherwise come off the board. 

Hooker was outstanding his two seasons at Tennessee, completing better than 68% of his passes for more than 6,000 yards, with a ridiculous 58-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Throw in above-average mobility and demonstrated on-field leadership and you could have reasonably figured the Lions got a long-term, high-end backup, who just might showcase enough in preseason and injury fill-in opportunities to unveil starting potential. 

But an overhaul of his mechanics, particularly his footwork, have led to some glaring inconsistencies in Hooker's early on-field work this offseason. That's opened the door for Nate Sudfeld, the less-exciting, but unquestionably more steady option, to stay in the mix to back up Goff. 

Hooker is going to be the player to watch in the preseason. And outside another injury, there's almost no way he doesn't make the roster. But will it be as QB2, or does he need another year of seasoning before the Lions are comfortable with him being a snap away from seeing the field in the regular season/playoffs? 

Running back 

Detroit has one of the league's better backfield tandems in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who in their first seasons with the Lions combined for 1,960 yards rushing (4.9 YPC) and 23 touchdowns on the ground. It will be interesting to see how much Gibbs can expand his pass-catching production in his second season, but the camp competition to watch is for the third spot on the depth chart, between incumbent Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki.

Reynolds is a known commodity. Playing with a blue-collar mentality that appeals to the coaching staff, his most significant contributions have come on special teams. That said, his 4.4 yards per carry when called upon to help with the backfield load is better than adequate. 

Vaki, meanwhile, is one of the roster's most-interesting players. Primarily a safety at Utah, he posted eye-popping numbers in a short stint as an injury replacement at running back, resulting in a full-time position change entering the NFL. 

The Lions have yet to practice in pads, but you can already see the potential of Vaki's ball-carrying and pass-catching explosiveness porting to the next level in his first several practices with the team. Plus, the team viewed him as the best special teams player coming out of the draft. 

There's a very real scenario where both Reynolds and Vaki make the roster, but can the rookie show enough in camp and the preseason to be the one who gets the call if Montgomery or Gibbs get banged up? 

Wide receiver

With Amon-Ra St. Brown a set-it-and-forget-it option, and Jameson Williams positioned for a breakout in his third season, the jostling starts for the No. 3 job. Based on reps and performance through the early portion of the offseason program, Kalif Raymond enters camp in pole position. Ultra-popular in the building, the tone-setting grinder has averaged 43 catches during his three seasons in Detroit and has the complete trust of Goff. 

Behind that trio are former Michigan standout Donovan Peoples-Jones and second-year burner Antoine Green, who are both capable of pushing Raymond for playing time with a strong showing in August. Peoples-Jones showed flashes after being acquired at last year's trade deadline, but wasn't able to build on that momentum in OTAs earlier this offseason. Green, meanwhile, was getting some hype from the coaches, but battled a minor injury that limited his ability to showcase his growth. 

Further down the depth chart are a few options who could win a roster spot if they're able to build on their early offseason showings. Daurice Fountain, a member of last year's practice squad, offers unique size and high-point ability, undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams is a grinder who was one of the most productive receivers in the Big Ten the past two seasons, and Kaden Davis opened some eyes with his ability to make plays downfield in May and June. 

Tight end

Sam LaPorta rewrote the record books as a rookie and there's nothing to suggest a sophomore dip, while partner in crime Brock Wright also returns after the Lions matched a three-year contract offer from the 49ers. The tandem hogged the playing time at the position last year and are primed to do the same in 2024. 

The competition to watch will be for the third job. It's been held by James Mitchell the past couple years, but Shane Zylstra, a touchdown machine on the practice field, won't make the team's decision easy. It would also be unwise to write off Parker Hesse, a bigger-framed, block-first option who could help overcome the roster's lack of a traditional fullback. 

Offensive line

Detroit's offensive line has been the subject of steady praise the past few years, but that's hit a new level this offseason, with multiple pundits and publications calling the unit the best in the league. The starting five remains the roster's strength, and could potentially be as good as it has ever been following the offseason addition of Kevin Zeitler to backfill the void created by Johah Jackson's departure. 

The backup situation is more fluid, both inside and at the swing tackle spot. With the guards, the Lions have Kayode Awosika, rookie Christian Mahogany and the recently signed Ike Boettger (17 starts) set to duke it out. 

Colby Sorsdal, the second-year player out of William & Mary, also figured to be in that mix, but it's looking more like the Lions are going to give him an opportunity to play tackle this offseason. That puts him in position to push Dan Skipper as the top backup behind Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. 

Of course, mammoth rookie Giovanni Manu will draw plenty of attention as he makes the leap from the Canadian collegiate ranks, but there's little reason to think he'll be anything more than a developmental player his first season or two. 

Kicker

The level of intrigue around the kicking job almost feels silly, but it's legitimately interesting and obviously important. Veteran Michael Badgley is back in the fold, and despite converting nearly 86% of his field goal attempts in a Lions uniform, he can't seem to get a firm hold on the job.

Undrafted rookie James Turner looked primed to push Badgley, but he was swapped out in June for UFL standout Jake Bates, who notably hit multiple 60-plus yarders for the Michigan Panthers last season, including a 64-yard game-winner in the team's opener. 

If Bates comes anywhere near to matching Badgley's consistency from 45 yards and in, the clear edge in leg strength should propel him to unseating the veteran option.