​Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs will be entering the fourth year of his rookie contract this fall. Getty Images shows Gibbs among a strong representation of Lions on the All-PFF team, a squad compiled from PFF’s two decades of player tracking. The roster features 12 players on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball, with nine current Lions earning spots.
The team highlights Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeil, Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph. Although Branch and Joseph’s status remains up in the air, the sheer number of players who are among the franchise’s best in recent memory underscores the high ceiling of this roster. Gibbs is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top running backs, and as he progresses into his fourth season, the question becomes which players, if any, might surpass him. St. Brown has already earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025, and his three consecutive years of All-Pro recognition (two of which were first-team) cement his standing.
Penei Sewell has been viewed as one of the league’s top right tackles, often paired with Lane Johnson as the elite at that position. Aidan Hutchinson is commonly placed in the top five at the edge-rusher position. Jack Campbell’s recent contract reflects his prominence as one of the league’s leading linebackers. Sam LaPorta, despite coming off an injury, delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons for a tight end. Branch, Joseph, and McNeil have each had strong, albeit limited, bursts that have helped round out the roster. Injuries have currently affected some of these players’ positions, but their résumés were strong enough to earn them spots on the All-PFF team. This speaks to the Lions’ strong current roster while also highlighting how the franchise’s status has fluctuated over the past two decades.
Even with the departure of staples like Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, and Frank Ragnow—the anchors of recent playoff runs—their contributions helped build the Lions’ successful rebuild. Including those veterans in this mix accounts for 12 of the 24 roster spots for the franchise over recent years, illustrating how the last twenty years have intersected with the team’s most recent three seasons. While there’s room for debate, Matthew Stafford did receive the nod over Jared Goff in this context, reflecting Stafford’s longer tenure with the team and his continued success after leaving Detroit.
In the receiving corps, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate join St. Brown as the franchise’s best, with Rob Sims completing the quartet of the Lions’ most recent stalwarts on offense. Tate Ratledge is already emerging as a potential challenger to that group. On defense, Ndamukong Suh and Ezekiel Ansah were natural additions to the defensive line, while Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy were clear choices to join Campbell at linebacker. In the secondary, Darius Slay, Rashean Mathis, and Glover Quin rounded out the group, providing a robust lineup that supports the Lions’ legacy into the present day.