Detroit Lions Final Roster Prediction

I mentioned yesterday that I was eager to see how the cuts would play out. Well I decided to put on my Jim Schwartz hat and take a crack at the final 53-man roster to see who makes it and who doesn't. I will go by position:

Quarterback
- Kept: D. Culpepper, M. Stafford, D. Stanton
- Cut: None
- Week 1 Starter: D. Culpepepr
- Obvious...with 3 spots to fill and 3 players to fill them, this was an easy one to start with.

Running Back
- Kept: K. Smith, M. Morris, A. Brown
- Cut: A. Cason, Tristan Davis
- Week 1 Starter: K. Smith
- The tough choicse here was Aaron Brown or Aveion Cason. I've made my feelings known on this issue. Also, who is Tristan Davis???

Fullback
- Kept: Jerome Felton, Terrelle Smith
- Cut: None
- Week 1 Starter: J. Felton
- Again...too easy, but I do love the Jumbo Package with both of these guys in the game at the same time.

Wide Receiver
- Kept: C. Johnson, B. Johnson, D. Northcut, D. Williams, D. Looker
- Cut: J. Standeford, K. Colbert, A. Jennings, G. Holt
- Week 1 Starters: C. Johnson, B. Johnson, D. Northcut (Slot)
- This one hurts me because I love John Standeford. I think he does things the right way and busts his butt all day. He just doesn't offer anything on Special Teams. If Northcut is not ready to go, then I think he makes the squad.

Tight End
- Kept: B. Pettigrew, D. Gronkowski, W. Heller
- Cut: C. Fitzsimmons, C. Butler
- Week 1 Starter: B. Pettigrew
- Fitzsimmons has been a Lion for a while, which should earn him some kind of award, but I think his time has run out. He has been outpreformed by both Heller and, surprisingly, Gronkowski, who looks like he was a steal in the 7th round. I doubt Gronkowski would clear waivers so that we could put him on the practice squad otherwise I'd flip-flop him and Fitz.

Offensive Tackle
- Kept: J. Backus, G. Cherilus, J. Jansen, E. Salaam
- Cut: L. Murtha
- Week 1 Starters: Backus & Cherilus
- I was not sure how many tackles would be kept, so I am guessing 4, especially with the Lions woes at O-Line. Cherilus should be cemented at Right Tackle, but if Backus struggles, don't be surprised if Jansen vaults him for the starting slot.

Offensive Guard
- Kept: S. Peterman, D. Loper, M. Ramierez
- Cut: M. Brown, T. Metcalf
- Week 1 Starters: Loper & Peterman
- I wish we were stronger here, but we just aren't.

Center
- Kept: D. Raiola, D. Gerberry
- Cut: D. Gandy
- Week 1 Starter: Raiola
- None of the reserves are reliable options at backup center.

Defensive Tackle
- Kept: G. Jackson, C. Darby, S. Hill, L. Cohen, A. Fluellen
- Cut: O. Harris, S. Smith
- Week 1 Starters: Jackson & Darby
- It was hard to pick starters here especially because it will be D-Tackle by committee with players swapping in and out on run and pass downs. Something about Smith just turns me off, and since IAF can play inside as well we can afford one less tackle.

Defensive End
- Kept: D. White, C. Avril, J. Hunter, I. Alama-Francis
- Cut: O. Martin, S. Conover
- Week 1 Starters: D. White, J. Hunter
- Need a reliable option opposite White and Avril has not become the D-End we want him to. We also have Fluellen that can play End.

Linebacker
- Kept: E. Sims, L. Foote, J. Peterson, D. Levy, J. Dizon, Z. Follett, D. Bing
- Cut: R. Alexander, S. Smith
- Week 1 Starters: Sims, Peterson, & Foote
- I was only going to put 6 here and cut Follett who I have a man-crush on, but after the way he hit on Special Teams in Preseason game 3, I had to keep him and trim the fat elsewhere.

Cornerback
-Kept: P. Buchannon, A. Henry, W. James, E. King, K. Smith
- Cut: R. Robinson, C. Roberson
- Week 1 Starters: P. Buchannon & A. Henry
- Smith could be out and Robinson in depending on how the injury to Smith plays out. I would love if they were able to move Henry to Safety to play opposite Delmas, but they don't have a reliable CB to play opposite Buchannon.

Safety
- Kept: L. Delmas, K. Pearson, M. Manuel, S. Schweigert
- Cut: C. Lowry
- Week 1 Starters: Delmas & Pearson
- Delmas is a lock to start, but the other spot is still up for grabs. The only reason I pencilled in Pearson is because he has been starting next to Delmas.

Kicker
- Kept: J. Hanson
- Cut: B. Cundiff
- Week 1 Starter: Hanson
- Could be Cundiff if Hanson's recovery takes longer

Punter
- Kept: N. Harris
- Cut: none
- Week 1 Starter: Harris
- Duh

Long-Snapper
- Kept: D. Mulbach
- Cut: None
- Week 1 Starter: Mulbach
- Duh